By Kelly Bridgewater
Books that I can't wait to read this Fall.
(All covers come from Goodreads.)
The Clovertone Charade by Sara E. Ladd
A Token of Love by Carrie Turansky
Of Gold and Shadows by Michelle Griep
Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright
All We Thought We Knew by Michelle Shocklee
Waiting for Christmas by Lynn Austin
Across the Ages by Gabrielle Meyer
Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen
Cloaked in Beauty by Karen Witmeyer
What about you? Any covers capture your fancy?
By Kelly Bridgewater
When Madison McDowell returns from several years teaching
overseas, she has high hopes of picking up where she left off at her family's
Christmas tree farm in Oregon. But between damage from a recent wildfire and
the neglect due to her sister Addie's unwillingness to invest, the farm is in
sad shape. In fact, Addie is intent on selling the property. And to top it off,
her former high school flame, the now-widowed Gavin Thompson, has plans to
break Madison's heart again by turning his neighboring property into a dusty,
noisy dirt bike track for his daughter.
With the odds stacked against her, Madison decides
there's only one thing to do: double down on her dreams. It will take a ton of
hard work--and some help from an unlikely ally--to save the farm she so dearly
loves. But it may take a miracle to restore her relationship with her sister.
Bestselling and award-winning author Melody
Carlson charms and delights with this uplifting Christmas story full of old
memories and new beginnings.
My
Thoughts:
The
Christmas Tree Farm by Melody Carlson has all the
Hallmark Christmas movie feels. I'm not a fan of any type of Hallmark movies,
but I do enjoy a nice Christmas story that touches the heart. I have not found
that many in book format, but I do have a few on my shelf. Carlson does bring a
character home that is trying to revive her family legacy, the Christmas Tree
Farm. There is conflict between her and her sister that dives deep into their
past. Sparks between the main heroine and the boy next door. A child of his
that bridges the gap between them. I enjoyed watching Madison work really hard
at attempting to keep her family farm in the black. I would have liked to have
seen some struggle. The story was too perfect. She plants 6000 tree seedlings
in two weeks. Has just enough help to finish the job quickly. Christmas went
well. A little difficulty with the kitchen but really nothing that stopped her
from pursing her dream to keep the farm moving forward. While readers will see
the dreams of the boy next door, readers will never know if his dreams come
true. Overall, The Christmas Tree Farm
by Melody Carlson fits perfectly in the Hallmark Christmas genre. It was nicely
written. Surrounds Christmas time. Has the perfect happily-ever-after ending. But
for me, a little too perfect that had me shaking my head in disbelief.
I received a complimentary copy of The Christmas Tree Farm by Melody
Carlson from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My
Ratings: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Purchase The Christmas Tree Farm
By Kelly Bridgewater
Back in March, while working at t a University,
I had the opportunity to go over and help students complete their 24-25 FAFSA.
I enjoyed helping students as they answered questions, and we came through with
the correct solution to solve their problems.
It felt really good to help them.
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Reminded me of why I wanted to be a teacher in
the first place for a spell in my life.
I know it can be hard at times, but I enjoyed
knowing how to help them.
Missed when I taught English 101 and 105 when I
was a graduate student. I loved watching students as their writing grew. I
loved watching students as their knowledge of research and how to dig deeper
into the question, then write a research paper about that topic.
I really miss teaching students.
If it didn’t cost money, I would love to go
back and earn my Ph.D in English and then teach at the college level.
I have talked with my son that I would love to
teach a class about the development of the mystery novel. From Edgar Allen Poe
to Arthur Conan Doyle to Agatha Christie to modern stories and television
shows.
I think it would be interesting and would
definitely capture the students’ attention. What is better than comparing and
contrasting the different types of story types and what is included now vs.
what was included when Poe wrote the first detective novel.
What about you? Ever have a glimpse of a career that you might have chosen, but life moved forward, and you do not pursue it. What was your dream career that you did not follow?
By Kelly Bridgewater
Two fearless women—living a century
apart—find themselves entangled in the mystery surrounding the biggest
scientific controversy of the nineteenth century: the classification of the
platypus.
1808 Agnes Banks, NSW
Rose Winton wants nothing more than
to work with her father, eminent naturalist Charles Winton, on his
groundbreaking study of the platypus. Not only does she love him with all her
heart but the discoveries they have made could turn the scientific world on its
head. When Charles is unable to make the long sea journey to present his
findings to the prestigious Royal Society in England, Rose must venture forth
in his stead. What she discovers will forever alter the course of scientific
history.
1908 Sydney, NSW
Tamsin Alleyn has been given a
mission: travel to the Hunter Valley and retrieve an old sketchbook of
debatable value, gifted to the Public Library by a recluse. But when she gets
there, she finds there is more to the book than meets the eye, and more than
one interested party. Shaw Everdene, a young antiquarian bookseller and lawyer,
seems to have his own agenda when it comes to the book. Determined to uncover
the book's true origin, Tamsin agrees to join forces with him.
The deeper they delve, the more intricate the mystery of the
book's authorship becomes. As the lives of two women a century apart converge,
discoveries emerge from the past with far-reaching consequences in this
riveting tale of courage and discovery.
My Thoughts:
If readers are not familiar with Tea Cooper, I
believe it is time to start reading her novels. She writes Australian fiction
that brings the world of Australia and science together. I have adored
Elizabeth Camden who brings American history to life. Cooper does the same
thing with science discoveries in Australia. I am not a fan of science. It was
the class that I hated in school. I enjoyed the Math part of Chemistry but that
was all. However, with The Naturalist’s Daughter, Cooper uses two
different time periods, both in the past, 1808 and 1908, to show the importance
of family and the discovery of platypus. I loved how Cooper kept piling on the
mystery. Every time I think the 1908 heroine may be closer to solving the
mystery, Cooper throws in a different twist that makes me want to keep reading.
The amount of historical research involved is mind-blowing. To make the
observations realistic, Cooper had to have spent tons of time diving into the
world of what makes a platypus. From its skeleton, to its breeding process, and
the venom they have to defend themselves. The characters are three-dimensional
and lifelike. I enjoyed this story and hope Harper Muse keeps publishing her
backstories so readers can read them. Highly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of The
Naturalist’s Daughter by Tea Cooper from Harper Muse Publishing, but the opinions
stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Purchase The Naturalist’s Daughter
By Kelly Bridgewater
Book: Winter’s Maiden
Author: Morgan L. Busse
Genre: Adult Viking Fantasy
Release date: August 6, 2024
Warrior. Survivor. Daughter of the North.
From the moment she is born, Brighid fights to survive in the wastelands of
Nordica as a clanless one. But when a new power arrives offering a trial to
join the Nordic warriors, Brighid enters, hoping to rise above her station.
Soon she becomes one of their fiercest fighters and joins the war against the
south.
Kaeden carries the blood of the ancient Eldaran race in his veins but turns
away from his heritage after the death of his parents. Years later, he is
called back to his homeland and invited to be a healer for the southern forces.
With the help of an old mentor, the power inside of him starts to awaken.
However, his life is turned upside down when a mighty warrior of the Nordic
forces is captured.
As Kaeden interacts with the enemy, he discovers there is a darkness behind the
Nordic Wars, one that is manipulating the people of the north. But who will
believe him? And is there a power strong enough to break the hold of this
hidden adversary? Or will the world burn in the flames of war?
My Thoughts:
Winter’s Maiden
by Morgan L. Busse reminded me a lot of Hunger Games. Different clans of
people trying to survive of what the elite is allowing them to not have. Of
course, there is some mystery about the heroine, Brighid’s parents. Who are
they? What is so unique about her powers? The story takes place during a
battle, so the horrors of war and prisoners of war are shown. There are healers
that come into their power and can use them for good. There are people that use
the powers of healing for bad. No real romance in the plot, which is very nice.
The story focuses on gifts and powers. What makes this story different is the
setting. It is located in the Viking realm of Nordica, which could have
actually been a real place in the past. The fighting to survive is the same. As
for the characters, yes, I need to see who Bridghid’s father is and who was her
mother. There are hints of who it actually could be, but Busse has not revealed
that information in the first installment. The story ends in a moment that
leads readers to believe there will be a second book in the series. Overall, Winter’s
Maiden by Morgan L. Busse is not a bad read, but it kind of reads like
every other dystopian society story. Fight to survive. Someone sees the
injustice and decides to go against the current.
I received a complimentary copy of Winter’s
Maiden by Morgan L. Busse from Enclave Publishing, but the opinions stated
are all my own.
My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Purchase Winter’s Maiden
Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of multiple series including The Ravenwood Saga and Skyworld series. She is a three-time Christy Award finalist and won the INSPY, Selah, and Carol Award for best in Christian speculative fiction. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.
A long time ago when I wrote Daughter of Light (the first book in my Follower of the Word series), I mentioned the Nordic Wars and how it changed people’s perspective on beings with power. It was a side comment to answer my main character’s question, but I was intrigued with the idea and knew someday I wanted to write about it.
Now almost twenty years later, here is that story.
Some questions I’m asked when people realize Winter’s Maiden ties in with Daughter of Light is do they need to read my first series? The answer is no. Winter’s Maiden takes place 400 years before the events in Daughter of Light. It involves a country and culture I never explored in my previous series, not to mention the world looked different back then. However, fans of my first fantasy series will appreciate seeing familiar places, races, and what happened back then to create the world in Daughter of Light.
So, what do new readers have to look forward to? Here are a few: a Viking-Inspired culture with my own twist, a female character who is strong but doesn’t need to prove that, a healer who is built like a berserker but is actually a pacifist, a power that allows a person to see inside the soul of another, battles that don’t read like a historical textbook, and deep questions I’m known to explore in my novels.
In the end, I love that I was able to revisit a world I created over twenty years ago and write a story that’s been on my heart for almost as long. I consider it one of my best books yet and cannot wait for readers to finally get to read Brighid’s story.
The Lofty Pages, August 15
Madi’s Musings, August 15
By the Book, August 16
Texas Book-aholic, August 17
Inklings and notions , August 18
Where Faith and Books Meet, August 19
Locks, Hooks and Books, August 20
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 21
Simple Harvest Reads, August 22 (Guest Review from Mindy)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, August 22
Blossoms and Blessings , August 23
Stories By Gina, August 24 (Author Interview)
Romances of the Cross, August 24
Labor Not in Vain, August 25
Hannahbandanarama, August 26
Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, August 26
Wishful Endings, August 27
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 28
To celebrate her tour, Morgan is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/2d973/winter-s-maiden-celebration-tour-giveaway
For the director of music. Of the Sons of Korah. According to alamoth.[b] A song.
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1 God is
our refuge and strength,
an
ever-present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not
fear, though the earth give way
and
the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
3 though its waters roar and foam
and
the mountains quake with their surging.[c]
4 There
is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the
holy place where the Most High dwells.
5 God is within her, she will not
fall;
God
will help her at break of day.
6 Nations are in
uproar, kingdoms fall;
he
lifts his voice, the earth melts.
7 The Lord Almighty is
with us;
the
God of Jacob is our fortress.
8 Come
and see what the Lord has
done,
the
desolations he has brought on the earth.
9 He makes wars cease
to the
ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he
burns the shields[d] with
fire.
10 He says, “Be still, and know that I
am God;
I will
be exalted among the nations,
I will
be exalted in the earth.”
11 The Lord Almighty is with
us;
the
God of Jacob is our fortress.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2046&version=NIV
By Kelly Bridgewater
Diamonds and danger dazzle in
Ciesielski's latest enchanting romp through post-war Europe as estranged
spouses and jewel thieves hunt an elusive Valkyrie tiara.
November
12, 1918. It was a match made in
champagne-soaked heaven, but all too soon the bubbles dried up, and Esme Fox
awakens the morning after celebrating the end of the Great War to find herself
shockingly and accidentally married. She gathers her belongings and slips out
before her new husband can stop her. After all, she knows it's best to leave
before he does.
Four years later, Jasper Truitt,
after having made a name for himself in the underground world of jewel thieves,
is on the hunt for a valuable heirloom: a one-of-a-kind winged tiara--the last
Valkyrie tiara ever created. So it's with great surprise that he discovers it
at a charity event atop the head of a woman he's never forgotten. His long-lost
wife . . . who happens to be pursuing the tiara for a vengeful opera diva
desperate to obtain the jewel for herself.
The reunion is cut short when Esme
vanishes--again--but their separation is temporary. With a hitman on their
heels and a deadline looming, the pair find themselves in an epic game of cat
and mouse across Europe following leads from the French Riviera to a shop of
wonders in Venice, a fairy-tale castle in Bavaria, and a veritable circus
thrown by a champagne heiress, all before a dramatic horseback flight through
the French countryside.
In the end only one can win, and with
both of their hearts on the line, the winner may well turn out to be the loser.
In her latest glamorous historical romance, J'nell Ciesielski
spins a sparkling story filled with her signature snappy dialogue and vivid
atmosphere that will keep you reading late into the night to see what happens
next.
My Thoughts:
The Winged Tiara
by J’nell Ciesielski reads a lot like her previous two books, The Brilliance
of Stars and To Free the Stars. Two main characters have a past that
ties them together, but their ultimate goal in the story overtakes them
pursuing a relationship with each other. Ciesieskli keeps the characters hoping
all across Europe as they hung for the Valkyrie tiara. They intertwine at
different places, not on purpose, argue, and appear to be working together, but
then one gives the other the slip, and this happens over and over again. As the
story moves along, the main thread is the hunt for the tiara, but the tension
and strife between Jasper and Esme takes over the storyline. I do enjoy the
hunt for the tiara. I like how creative Ciesielski made the hunt. It was not so
simple to seek the tiara. However, there were moments that I wish were a little
shorter, then onto another clue to find it. If readers were looking for a
spiritual thread, there is not one. Just a good enjoyable story. Overall, The
Winged Tiara by J’nell Ciesielski does encapsulate a treasure hunt between
the two unlikely partners who really do not want to be partners, but enemies. I
enjoyed the overall storyline.
I received a complimentary copy of The Winged Tiara by J’nell Ciesieskli from
Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Purchase The Winged Tiara
By Kelly Bridgewater
This semester will be my last semester for my
oldest to be in college. In December, he will graduate with his Bachelor’s
degree in Theater.
I hope he finds work in this field.
He wants to be a voice actor like Robin
Williams.
He does Disney Character impersonations
already. He has videos on YouTube.
He enjoys participating in comedic theater.
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My youngest son is a sophomore this year.
He is maturing and growing into a little man.
He is taller than me, and I can’t believe it.
Lord,
Be with all the students this year that have to
attend school. Open their brains to fill it with the knowledge they need. Help
them to understand the importance of a good education. Work hard. Get good
grades and move forward in life as they serve you.
Guide the teachers to teach the truth and plant
seeds of enjoyment in the students’ lives as they instruct day in and day out.
Encourage them and help them to not grow weary.
Help the parents to understand that the
teachers are humans. They can make mistakes, but they are there to help educate
their children.
Encourage those who work in Education but are
not the actual teachers. Administrative Assistants. Principals. Professors.
Financial Aid Counselors. Admissions Counselors. Deans.
Help the entitlement of parents and students to
disappear. Must earn what they think they are entitled to.
Amen.
By Kelly Bridgewater
About the Book
Title: Beyond Ivy Walls
Author: Rachel Fordham
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: August 14, 2024
Genre: Historical Romance
Reminiscent of Beauty and the
Beast, a recluse and a young woman discover that the scars of life are no
match against an act of love.
Iowa,
1903. All of Monticello believes Otis
Taylor has been away fostering his musical genius. But the truth is that his
father exiled him long ago, rejecting Otis's appearance and the scars that came
with it. Now that he is the last living Taylor, Otis has covertly returned to
settle his family's affairs and rid himself of his past for good. However, he
soon discovers that he may not have been the only discarded Taylor and begins a
tireless search for his missing niece.
At twenty-three years old, Sadie West
left her family farm and found employment at the Hoag feather duster factory.
It isn't a romantic job, but she's hardly had a glimmer of romance since her
beau went off to college, leaving her with no promise of a future together.
Desperate to save money and help her family make ends meet, she trespasses and
finds shelter in an abandoned building--and is thrown in the path of the town's
mysterious bachelor.
Otis's wounds are deep, but as Sadie's friendship with him
grows, she begins to fall for the man beneath the mask. The mystery of his
long-lost niece, however, is more complex than either could have imagined, and
Sadie may be the key to Otis Taylor finally finding his way home.
My Thoughts:
Beyond Ivy Walls
by Rachel Fordham is definitely a Beauty and the Beast re-telling. The
parallels between the two stories are pretty obvious. The difference is that
Sadie comes from the country, but she has whole household of sisters with a Mom
and Dad. The Disney version Belle only lives with her inventor father. The
hero, Otis Taylor, is not a tall, overbearing hairy guy who is gruff right from
the start. Instead he is a little shy and a standoffish, but he is polite and
gives Sadie a place to live in exchange for her work on cleaning his house up.
A castle vs. a mansion. While Fordham does describe the setting that the
readers populate, I would have liked to see more of the castle. It is not
really a creepy place to go. People in town admire the structure. Otis just
keeps the curtains close because he is ashamed. As for the characters, Otis is
the character who needs to change a lot. He learns to accept himself with all
his scars and learns to open his heart to a number of people. I imagine it is
hard to create a widely popular storyline and try to come up with something
different. With this story, Fordham did a wonderful job at showing how everyone
should look at the character of a person, not at their faults whether they are
physical or mental. Overall, Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham’s plot
moved nicely and kept me strolling through the story.
I received a complimentary copy of Beyond Ivy Walls by Rachel Fordham from
Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.
My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop
Rachel Fordham is the author of The Letter Tree, Where the Road Bends, A Lady in Attendance, A Life Once Dreamed, The
Hope of Azure Springs, and Yours Truly, Thomas. Fans expect stories with heart and she delivers, diving deep
into the human experience and tugging at reader emotions. She loves connecting with people, traveling to new
places, and daydreaming about future projects that will have sigh-worthy endings and memorable characters.
She is a busy mom, raising both biological, adopted and foster children (a cause she feels passionate about).
She lives with her husband and children on an island in the state of Washington.
Connect with Rachel by visiting rachelfordham.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
(1) winner will receive print copies of the author’s previous 6 novels: The Hope of Azure Springs, Your's Truly,
Thomas, A Life Once Dreamed, A Lady in Attendance, Where the Road Bends, and The Letter Tree!
(2) additional winners will receive one Rachel Fordham backlist print copy of their choice!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below.
Giveaway began at midnight August 7, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 14, 2024. Winner
will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.
US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
