Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witemeyer

 

I absolutely loved this book! If you love fairytales and books that are similar then you must definitely pick this one up. It is the 3rd(and I believe final) book in the Texas Ever After series. This had so many fairytale nods to it! Scarlett Radcliffe is sent away from home when her uncle tries to have her killed because she is heir to her father's estate. Fast forward 15 years and Letty is now days away from being able to claim her inheritance and once and for all put her uncle away. But first she needs to make it home to her mother safely. That is where Philip Carmichael comes in. He is hired to find Scarlett and get her safely home to her mother. As they get to know each other on the trip Philip can't help but wonder if the sweet girl he knows as Letty(with the red cloak and her wolf Rusty as her companion) will change once she dons her rightful place as Scarlett Radcliffe, heiress to the Radcliffe empire. 

Such a sweet story! And so many references to beloved fairytales! I loved Letty's kind and loving and natural personality. I loved her dog Rusty! He almost felt human! The suspense in a couple parts had me closing the book quickly but then opening it again because I couldn't stand not knowing what happened! Author Karen Witemeyer never disappoints and Cloaked in Beauty was I believe my favorite of the 3 books! 

A Troublesome Heart by Holly Schindler

 

Y'all! I've been looking forward to a Ruby's Place installment for several Christmases now and I have to say, they never disappoint and they always get me in the Christmas spirit. There's just something special about Ruby's Place that reminds the reader of the magic and specialness of Christmas. 

This year's installment takes us back to a few years after the speakeasy that became Ruby's Place was busted. Charlie has regrets about that time that he cannot seem to overcome. Walter is a young boy who is a "tenderheart" much to his mother's dismay. And the town crank is about to secretly remind everyone about the magic of Christmas. 

All of author Holly Schindlers books have captivated me, but the Ruby's Place books are special and truly magical. If you are looking for some books to get you in the Christmas spirit this year I highly recommend you check these books out!

All The Days Of My Life by Debbie Viguie

 

Fans of The Psalm 23 Mysteries have waited a hot minute for this one! It did not disappoint! As exciting as all of the others in the series and just as fast-paced!

When Cindy's church decides to set the example and return to camp Green Pastures for a team-building retreat none of the staff is overly thrilled about going back there. Jeremiah is not happy that Cindy is going. Memories of his last trip there still haunt him and many others. Just as predicted things do not go well. Will they all survive or is someone of their friends destined to not make it back? 

Seriously, you will not be able to put this book down. Of course you need to start at the beginning of the series to understand all of the characters. We are nearing the end and I find myself biting nails, holding my breath and praying for characters that I have come to be invested in! Eeep! What will happen next? I'm staying tuned!

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

 

This is book 10 that I have read in the Mystery Puzzle of famous mysteries.

Honestly I can't figure out why this is even considered a mystery. To me it isn't even a psychological thriller. A bunch of college kids drinking and doing drugs. They do something horrible and then have problems dealing with the outcome. I'm wanting to read all of these books so I kept plodding through it but it was long with no redeeming of characters by the end. And speaking of the end...I felt let down and disappointed. But hey, another book down! Go me!

Shadow of Fear by Susan Sleeman

 

As always author Susan Sleeman starts out one of her books with an exciting scene that grabs the reader and doesn't let them go until the very end! Kinsley is being shot at and Devan Graham comes to the rescue of all people! Kinsley is best friends with Dev's sister Jada and years ago Jada made her promise to never date her brother. Even though Kinsley has had a crush on Dev for years she would never break her promise to Jada. Now they are all adults and Kinsley's life is in danger. Can Dev continue to keep his feelings for her secret? Especially since she is now under his protection. As a killer stalks closer and closer to Kinsley, Dev must do everything in his power to keep her safe. 

This is the last of the Shadow Lake Survival series. We are introduced to characters that will be in the next series Lost Lake Locators. I enjoyed the suspense of this one. Having so many suspects kept me guessing as to who was behind the attempts on Kinsley's life and why. The romance between Kinsley and Dev is sweet and I found myself routing for them. A great ending to this series and I'm very much looking forward to the Lost Lake Locators series. 

Gingerbread Danger by Amanda Flower

 

When one of Bailey's employees falls off the roof of the new Candyworks factory foul play is suspected. Of course Bailey is on the job to find out exactly what happened. Caught in the midst of her parents visit, Margot pushing her to help make the Christmas parade a success, being pushed to plan her wedding and Juliette constantly needing her pet pig Jethro pigsat, Bailey has very little time to add investigating to her plate, but she is determined to find out what happened and why. 

I love the Candy Shop Mysteries! Bailey has a good heart and a desire to make everyone as happy and successful as she is. The Amish country setting is perfect for all of the mysteries she finds herself in. I love her relationships with the townspeople and how she has found her place among the Amish and English people. The animals that are always involved in author Amanda Flowers' books are entertaining as well. In Gingerbread Danger Juliette's pet pig Jethro is front and center ready to help Bailey in a pinch as well as get into all kinds of mischief! If you are looking for a cozy mystery to read for the Christmas season this would be the perfect book for you, it will make you want to go back and read the rest of the series as well. 

COVER REVEAL: FATHOMS: Lisa T. Bergren

 

I'm excited to join in the cover reveal for Fathoms by @lisatbergren releasing from @enclavepublishing in April 2025! This is the final book in the romantic fantasy trilogy, Oceans of Time, and is available to preorder in hardcover today.

Synopsis:

Can the She-Wolves of Siena survive the lion’s den?

Luciana Betarrini is living a nightmare. Blinded in battle, she is unsure what her future holds.

When Lady Tiliani Forelli volunteers to serve as the young Lady Romano’s governess—in order to protect the child—Luciana quickly follows suit, volunteering as a tutor. But as they navigate life in the treacherous neighboring castello, they find Lord Ercole a chameleon of adversaries, intent on mastering the She-Wolves of Siena any way he can.

Together, Luciana and Tiliani must find a way to bring Ercole down, and buy time for Domenico and Marcello to establish new allies. But Luciana continues to find herself at a crossroads: Is she willing to risk leaving Sir Giulio Greco forever in order to chase healing through the time tunnel? Or is she called to accept her plight—in light of the myriad blessings of her new medieval life—and make her way through the best she can?

COVER REVEAL:

PREORDER HERE

The Mystery of Mistletoe Hall by Benedict Brown

 

Lord Edgington decides to take Christopher and his mother, and of course a full variety of servants, to his longtime co-worker and friends place. Christopher isn't too happy about leaving traditions behind along with his father, but he is assured they will be back for Christmas day. Upon arrival in the midst of a snowstorm they find the house empty with no host or any information. Soon more guests arrive and of course they all end up stranded at Mistletoe Hall with a murder to solve and suspicion pointing fingers at each of the guests. Will Lord Edgington and Christopher be able to find out who the murderer is before the next victim?

As always This installment of the Lord Edgington Investigates series was entertaining as well as an offering of humor along with a great mystery. Christopher is developing in his detective skills, but usually is on the wrong track while at the same time managing to accidentally offer the final piece to the puzzle to solve the crime. I enjoyed Mistletoe Hall and it kept me guessing until almost the final reveal! If you enjoy cozy mysteries along with a bit of humor then I definitely recommend you try this series out.

Tomorrow's Promise by Bethany Klassen

 

Nathan Royce is the preacher for the town of Albury. He's a lonely man until he meets Hazel McKinney. Hazel is very sheltered and protected by her bitter father. He refuses to let her have any friends and they remain secluded on their farm outside of town. 

Matthew Ellison was introduced in the first book, Sins of the Past. He has married Nathan's sister Emma. They have settled in Albury even though Matthew's past has caused him to have to take a different job.

As the preacher, Nathan hopes to be able to visit the McKinney farm and hopefully tell Hazel's father about the Lord. The man wants nothing to do with the Lord, and Hazel tries to encourage him to not come back. 

When evil threatens to come to the town of Albury Matthew is quickly enlisted as the Sheriff to help protect the town and hunt down a killer. 

I really enjoyed Tomorrow's Promise, it was a sweet romance that had a lot of tense suspense to it. I loved all of the characters and definitely plan on reading the first book(which I just purchased!). I loved how patient and kind Nathan was to Hazel. I loved Hazel's faith. Even though she wasn't allowed to go to church, she still maintained a relationship with the Lord. I also liked her resilience and desire to have her freedom away from her father but yet waiting for the Lord's timing. Author Bethany Klassen is a new author to me and I must say I am looking forward to future books by her. If you like a good western romance with a bit of suspense to it then I highly recommend reading this book. But don't be like me! Read the first book first and then this one! 

**I received a copy of the book from the author, all opinions are my own**

Over the Edge by Irene Hannon

 

When Lindsey Barnes inadvertently sees a murderer she is once again subject to a traumatic experience. Detective Jack Tucker is called to the scene of the murder. He can't understand why their key witness Lindsey is so cool towards him. When unexplainable things begin to happen to Lindsey everyone thinks it is just the trauma of her experience. Jack is ready to chalk it up to a mind that has been subject to too many bad things, but is that the case or is someone legitimately targeting Lindsey? 

While to me the relationship between Lindsey and Jack was a bit rushed I like them as a couple. I wanted to see them together and I thought they fitted together well. I enjoyed the mystery of who was the murderer. Author Irene Hannon never disappoints with her mysteries and I enjoyed this one very much. I look forward to reading Jack and Bri's sister Cara's story in the next Undaunted Courage book!

What's the Story, Morning Glory? By Julie Lessman: BLOG TOUR

Welcome to the Blog Tour for What's the Story, Morning Glory? by Julie Lessman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: What's the Story, Morning Glory?
Author: Julie Lessman
Publisher: Julie Lessman LLC
Release Date: October 1, 2024
Genre: Memoir Devotional (half fiction/half nonfiction)

“DEAR LORD, JULIE ... OUR WHOLE LIFE IS IN THIS BOOK!" 

My heart went out to my sweet husband as he walked into our kitchen one day with a noticeable gulp, ashen-faced after reading my latest novel.“Yes, I know, babe,” I said with a repentant smile and a conciliatory hug, “but nobody really knows that.” 
Ahem. Until now ... 

Trust me, "What’s the Story, Morning Glory? A Memoir Devotional with a 'Novel' Approach to Practical Christianity" is not a book I wanted to write. As a novelist, I have never been partial to nonfiction, either reading it or writing it, but I had little choice when God convinced me otherwise through a number of point-blank arm-twistings I couldn’t deny and not-so-gentle proddings from family and friends. 

Despite all the encouragement, I wasn’t really sure where to begin. “It will be fiction and nonfiction combined,” the Holy Spirit whispered within, and just like that, the idea for this book took flight. First, I would tell my “real” and very personal story behind the life-lesson stories in my novels, then I would follow it up with the excerpt from my books where I teach that same life lesson to my characters, finally culminating in corresponding Scriptures, a bulleted “Takeaway” list, and a related prayer. 

Thus, What’s the Story, Morning Glory: A Memoir Devotional with a “Novel” Approach to Practical Christianity was born. A memoir devotional that when combined with scenes from my novels, becomes a “novotional” where I relate the life lessons God personally taught me through His Word. I am simply a child of God who applied these lessons and Biblical precepts to every situation in my life and consequently, saw nonstop answers to prayer and blessings galore. It is my profound hope and prayer that through my own very simple and personal stories and examples, I can do the same for others. Therefore, the format for each chapter of this book will be as

1. The Real Story (How I learned and applied the spiritual lesson in my own life)
2. The Novel Story (The scene where I teach the spiritual lesson to my characters)
3. The Scripture Story (Scriptures applicable to the spiritual lesson)
4. The Takeaway Story (Bulletized points for spiritual lesson in easy-to-read/apply format)
5. The Prayer Story (Specific prayer related to the spiritual lesson)

I pray this bottom-line, albeit somewhat quirky, 1-2-3 devotional blesses you as much as God's spiritual life lessons have blessed me! 

Hugs,
Julie Lessman  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon

Also Available

     

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About the Author

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, Silver Lining Ranch, and The Cousins O’Connor series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 21 Romance Writers of America and other awards. Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2014, Best of 2015, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017-20, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Window was an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers' Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner. 

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets.

Connect with Julie by visiting julielessman.com to follow her on social media, read both romantic and spiritual excerpts from her books, or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card, a character named after you in Julie's next book & a signed paperback copy of that book, plus a signed paperback copy of What's the Story, Morning Glory!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 24, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 1, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only for print copies. Gift card open to all locales. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

 

MY REVIEW

 If you have read author Julie Lessman's books in the past you know she writes fiction that has "Passion with a Purpose." What's the Story, Morning Glory? is a step away from fiction...but maybe not! It is a devotional with a "novel approach" which means that it is part fiction, part non-fiction, "A Novotional" so to speak. 

Julie Lessman shares real stories from her life as well as sharing excerpts from some of her most beloved novels(O'Connor's y'all!). What's the Story, Morning Glory? shows us that not only is she passionate in her novel writing, but she is passionate about her walk with Christ. 

So many chapters spoke to my heart as I read. One of my favorite chapters was the one on marriage. I have been married for 39 years and you would think I'd have this marriage thing down, but alas as I was reading this chapter I was convicted over and over again on recent events in my marriage. Whew! I love that Julie Lessman shares about her marriage experiences to give examples and to guide the reader to delve into God's Word to see what He has to say about marriage. 

Marriage is not the only subject in the book of course. A multitude of topics are covered and each chapter has a true story from Julie Lessman's life, a novel story of a scene from one of her books dealing with that topic and then scriptures to help have victory in any given circumstance. 

This is a different type of devotional than I have ever seen, and I think it is a neat approach to teach and guide a person in their walk of faith. If you have never read any of Julie Lessman's novels let me encourage you to do so, I think that the excerpts in this devotional will have you wanting to run and grab them! As she shares real-life experiences alongside of her novel excerpts you can see why her tagline is "Passion with a Purpose." May these experiences and excerpts spur us on to a more passionate walk of our own! 

**I received a complimentary copy of the book from the author. All opinions are my own**

The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year by Ally Carter

 

Maggie Chase is a cozy mystery writer. She refers to Ethan Wyatt as the leather jacket guy. He writes action thrillers and always seems to be the life of the party. Maggie has a way of blending into the background. When both are summoned to spend Christmas on an estate in England they have no idea what is about to happen to change their world. 

When their hostess disappears from a locked room Maggie and Ethan join forces to try and find her with the hope that she is still alive and one of her guests didn't do her in. At first Maggie has nothing but disdain for Ethan, but as the mystery unfolds she finds more and more that she truly never knew who Ethan really is. Yet much to her dismay there is an attraction that draws her to him throughout their time together. 

I truly enjoyed this story from author Ally Carter! I loved the back and forth between Maggie and Ethan. I loved how he was able to help Maggie find out who she truly is. I enjoyed how each of their stories was told through past recollections and how they were able to open up to each other and find safety in being vulnerable. The "who-done-it" was kind of obvious to me, but not the why, so that was surprising. There were a lot of red-herrings along the way to get to the final reveal which made for some exciting moments. I enjoyed the romance between Maggie and Ethan as well. There was a bit of sexual tension, but nothing graphic which made this reader happy. I think I have pretty much read everything that Ally Carter has written and have enjoyed all of her works. This one did not disappoint!

Target Acquired by Lynette Eason

 

Kenzie King is the only woman on her SWAT team. She is also the only team member that is a doctor so that makes her the perfect medic for the team. It seems that someone on the team is not happy that she is there and may be targeting her to quit. There have been several instances where Kenzie and her teams lives have been in danger. Cole Garrison is the team leader. He is determined to find who is threatening Kenzie, but will it require him to get too close to her? 

I truly enjoyed this book and read it so quickly! I loved the characters, I loved the backstory set in the 40's, and I loved the suspense. I really liked how the backstory brought Kenzie and Cole's story full circle. The "who-done-it" remained a mystery to me until the end! I'm definitely a fan of the Lake City Heroes series and am excited for the next book. 

**I received my copy of Target Acquired from Netgalley. All opinions are my own**

Death On A Summer's Day by Benedict Brown

 

Christopher and his Grandfather, Lord Edgington, head to the country to meet Grandfather's old friends. What Christopher doesn't realize is how much these old friends don't actually get along. In fact, one of them is a murderer!

Lord Edgington is there to confront his childhood friends and finally find the truth of what happened many years ago to one of them. With both an old and new murder to solve Christopher is worried about his Grandfather as his mind seems to be slipping and he doesn't think his Grandfather is capable of pulling off an unbiased investigation. As always Christopher stumbles and bumbles around as he tries to help Lord Edgington figure out who the culprit is. 

Laced with humor and insight into human character Death on a Summer's Day was not only entertaining, but also managed to keep me guessing the culprit to the very end. I enjoyed this installment a lot and look forward to the next one in the series.

A Body At A Boarding School by Benedict Brown

 

When the murdered body of Christopher's headmaster at boarding school is found by Christopher his grandfather, Lord Edgington, is on the case. With so many suspects crawling out of the woodwork will the murderer ever be found? Who knew that so many nefarious things happened behind the scenes at boarding school? Christopher had heard rumors of teachers partying after hours, but he had no clue to what extent that activity had become. Once again Lord Edgington enlists his grandson in helping to solve the murder before the local police.

It cracks me up the way Christopher manages to stumble on a good motive for murder while being totally clueless as to what he just revealed! The rest of the characters in the book have some crazy personalities that make a person crack up or want to reach in and give a good shaking to. Even Lord Edgington cracks me up with his flair for the dramatic when he's wrapping up a case. He does like an audience! The series is an entertaining cozy mystery read that I have enjoyed very much. 

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

 

This was the 9th book in the Mystery Puzzle that I did over the winter. It was very interesting and kept me reading. I don't know that it was much of a mystery story, but it was entertaining and kept me invested in it because the characters were interesting. Small town, mean mom's, lots of secrets and a death. And honestly the person that died didn't generate a lot of sympathy from me. Eeep! Anyway, an interesting and fast read even though it was almost 500 pages long. 

THE PUZZLE

Shadow of Doubt by Susan Sleeman

 

Brooklyn is being hunted by a hacker that she used to be in love with. That is until he turned greedy and she had to turn him in. Now is is seeking revenge and will stop at nothing to find her. Colin works for the Maddox brothers teaching survival classes and caring for his mother who has lupus. Now he is protecting Brooklyn from an unknown evil. Of course neither Brooklyn nor Colin have time for a relationship. Brooklyn's life is not her own with the hacker still on the loose and Colin is dedicated to the care of his mother. But neither can stop the attraction they have for each other. 

Book 5 I think was my favorite so far. I loved the characters Brooklyn and Colin. Their story moved quickly and excitingly. I loved how both of the characters cared for Colin's mother and her health. The scene when Brooklyn is finally confronted by the person/s after her was creative and exciting and had my heart pounding and my nerves on edge! An exciting read as are the rest of the Shadow Lake Survival books. I highly recommend!

The Day of the Jackal by Frederick Forsyth

 

This is the 8th book in the mystery book puzzle that I did over the winter:

I have to say this is a case where I liked the movie better than the book. The book plodded along and I couldn't see much mystery in it so don't understand why it was considered a great mystery story. But it did have its interesting parts and I finally finished it so I feel accomplished! I liked the movie version with Richard Gere and Bruce Willis, but my husband watched a different version that sounds like it covered the book better. 

Murder at the Spring Ball by Benedict Brown

 

This is the first book in the Lord Edgington Investigates series. Christopher goes to his ancestral home and his grandfather, Lord Edgington, assigns him the job of planning a spring ball. Lord Edgington has been a recluse for 10 years since his wife passed away. He is now ready to re-enter society. To celebrate he serves a champagne that he has been saving for years. His daughter drinks the champagne before the toast is over and dies before their eyes. Now Lord Edgington calls on Christopher to help him solve who murdered his daughter. 

The beginning of the series we are introduced to Lord Edgington and his grandson Christopher. Christopher makes a good sounding board for his grandfather while also coming up with some wild ideas of his own. I enjoyed the fun wit displayed by Christopher and Lord Edgington along with the mystery of who the killer was. I was kept guessing to the very end and was definitely surprised in who the murderer was. A fun yet cozy mystery with a bit of sobriety thrown in as murder is never fun. I'm definitely a fan and am going to enjoy this series.

  

Shutter Island by Dennis Lehane

 

Marshal's Teddy and Chuck arrive on Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of one of the patients from the psychiatric hospital. Now stuck on the island with a hurricane coming Teddy and Chuck are finding that nothing on the island is as it seems. 

This one was a bit of a mind bender. An interesting read and yes, by the end I pretty much had it figured out, but that didn't take away from what an engrossing story it was. 

This is the 7th mystery book from the puzzle I did this past winter:

For all of my Christian Fiction readers, this definitely is not the book for you unless you don't mind foul language and sexual descriptives. The mystery was good, the other was not necessary.