Lisa Carter: The Sound of Falling Leaves

 By Kelly Bridgewater

After aspiring opera singer Tessa loses her voice in a fire, she needs both a place to heal and a way to keep music in her life. She retreats to her aunt's apple orchard in rural North Carolina to collect folk ballads. But amid the autumn splendor of this isolated Appalachian community, she uncovers an unnerving connection between a murder case and a long-ago disappearance. Tessa gets a glimpse into an almost-forgotten world, encounters a corrupt, small-town political dynasty, and finds superstition and prejudice at every turn.

She's also drawn to Zeke, the handsome but enigmatic orchard caretaker, who shows her that mountain justice is neither impartial nor just. But battling a conspiracy of silence, Tessa isn't sure if she can trust him. Yet somewhere in the mists of the Blue Ridge Mountains, evil lurks, and a killer is determined to keep the past where it belongs--dead and buried.

 

My Thoughts:

The Sound of Falling Leaves by Lisa Carter was not one of my favorite suspense novels. While I really enjoyed the aspect of the suspense near the end of the story, the getting there was  kind of weird and left much to be desired. It didn't twist and turned. It actually begged for some suspense in the beginning of the story. It didn't truly capture my attention. I wanted more. I wanted to put the novel down a couple of times because there was not that much suspense. The characters seemed kind of bland too. One wanted to seek justice for his murdered foster sister and the other one wanted to work on her dissertation with a nearby folk singer who disappeared into the great world. The romance wasn't that moving either. Actually, I had a hard time believing the romance was happening at all. The hero and heroine were mad at each other, then all of a sudden, they went on a picnic and were kissing. I didn't buy that at all. Overall, the suspense left something to be desired, and I had a hard time believing the romance either. Even with these elements, Carter does know how to craft a story, but I think she forgot what the story was supposed to be about before she finished the novel, then came back to write it the way it should have been written from the beginning.

I received  a complimentary copy of The Sound of Falling Leaves by Lisa Carter from Gilead Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Sound ofFalling Leaves

Deborah Raney: Reason to Breathe

By Kelly Bridgewater

 

 We are excited to introduce Deborah Raney's new series with a blog tour and giveaway for book #1-Reason to Breathe-hosted by JustRead Tours.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

From Amazon

Title: Reason to Breathe
Series: Chandler Sisters #1
Author: Deborah Raney
Publisher: Gilead Publishing
Release: October 23, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Women's Fiction / Romance


Phylicia thought life was passing her by, but maybe this was love's plan all along. . .About

At twenty-nine, Phylicia Chandler put her life on hold to care for her dying mother with her sisters, Joanna and Britt. Now Mom is gone and their father stuns them all by running off with a woman young enough to be their sister. Life is moving forward all around her, but Phylicia feels stuck--until her father's protégé, Quinn Mitchell, presents the sisters with an intriguing business opportunity to purchase a trio of cottages just outside of Langhorne, Missouri. Joanna and Britt are convinced the three of them should launch a vacation rental venture, but Phylicia remains skeptical.

To complicate matters, Quinn soon finds himself falling hard for Phylicia. But how can he pursue this beautiful, talented woman twelve years his junior when she's still reeling over her father's hasty engagement to a younger woman? Quinn is determined to give Phylicia her happily-ever-after. But first, he must help her come to terms with her discovery of long-held family secrets and persuade her that true love can transcend their differences.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads   Amazon   B&N  Christianbook   Book Depository

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My Thoughts:

Deborah Raney is a popular author of contemporary women's fiction. She has been around writing for a while and pretty well-known in the Christian fiction community. I can honestly say I haven't read that many of her books, but I do have a ton of them downloaded to my Kindle. Sometime I will get around to reading them. As for her first book in A Chandler Sister Novel series, Reason to Breathe, I enjoyed spending time with the three sisters and start learning more about them.

I enjoy a writer who has a good grasp on the basics when it comes to writing. A good writer should be able to dive into the character's perspective without jumping into other character's perspective. They should also be able to jump into the setting without overwhelming the reader but allow them to experience the setting as a compliment to the story. Raney does a wonderful job at both of these aspects.

Characters make or break a novel. Having a younger sister myself, I love the idea of a series told from each sister's point of view. I'm not that close to my sister, but I have always wanted a closer relationship. It was nice to see the three sisters and have them work together on the house. I enjoyed learning about the sister's from Phee's viewpoint as she traveled through the death of her mother. I really can't wait to see how the other two sisters' stories will develop.

The plot. After losing my daddy three years ago, I understand what it feels like to lose a parent. The only issue I have with the plot is the three sisters ability to carry on without really focusing on their deceased mother or their grief at all. Why didn't it come up at all? I know when I gathered with my brother and sister even now conversations always end back to our Daddy and something he had done. He didn't disappear from our lives. I wanted to see more of the realistic hurt of the grief. On the other hand, the twist with Phee's parentage was an interesting side story, and I wondered if Raney will return to that storyline.

Overall, Reason to Breathe by Deborah Raney is a wonderful tale of three sisters as they move on after the loss of their mother who died with cancer and how to handle a father who doesn't want to face the truth. I enjoyed the story. It reminded me a lot of a version of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women, which I enjoyed. I believe fans of Beth K. Vogt and Catherine West might enjoy this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Reason to Breathe by Deborah Raney from Gilead Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About the Author:

From Amazon

DEBORAH RANEY's first novel, A Vow to Cherish, inspired the World Wide Pictures film of the same title and launched Deb's writing career. Twenty-plus years, thirty-plus books, and numerous awards later, she's still creating stories that touch hearts and lives. Her awards include RWA's RITA® Award, ACFW's Carol Award, the National Readers Choice Award, and the HOLT Medallion. Deborah is also a three-time Christy Award finalist. She and husband, Ken Raney, traded small-town life in Kansas for life in the friendly city of Wichita. They love traveling to visit four children and a growing brood of grandchildren who all live much too far away. Find out more about Deb's newest releases at www.deborahraney.com.

FROM THE AUTHOR: I went from full-time stay-at-home mom for 20 years to full-time author. My passion is my family--my husband and I have four kids and eight darling grandkids...and counting! But since, if a mom does her job right, she eventually puts herself OUT of a job, I'm delighted to have discovered my next career.

I have written more than thirty books, have two non-fiction books published, and contributed to several anthologies. But my first love is fiction. The fifth and final book in my Chicory Inn Novels series for Abingdon Press released last year, and much of my backlist is being re-released via Raney Day Press. The first book in my new Chandler Sisters Novels series from Gilead Publishing will release in October 2018.

A typical writing day for me begins early--usually before 6 a.m.--with the business side of things: answering e-mail and reader mail, updating my website, writing blog posts, reading for research. Our routine is much quieter now than when we had four kids at home! When my writing time begins mid-morning, I have a routine that sets the stage: lighting scented candles, choosing music to write by, and brewing a perfect cup of coffee. I have a cozy office that looks out over our front yard, but I often take my laptop out to the back deck where the birds, squirrels, ducks, geese, bunnies, and an occasional egret (or even a rare coywolf or deer!) provide entertainment.

My husband and I enjoy movies, but believe it or not, my first choice of entertainment is READING! As much as I enjoy the actual process of writing, I am an extrovert by nature, and doubt I'd have lasted long in this business were it not for the company of several wonderful online writers' groups, connecting with other authors at retreats and conventions, and meeting aspiring writers when my husband and I teach at conferences around the country.

Probably the most exciting event in my writing life so far was having my first novel made into a movie by World Wide Pictures. Certainly a dream come true for any author, and I feel blessed beyond words to still get to be doing what I love as my day job. (Taken from Amazon.)

CONNECT WITH DEB:  Website   Facebook  Twitter   Pinterest  Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive (US only):

• a print copy of Reason to Breathe 
• $15 Amazon gift card

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below.

Giveaway will begin at midnight December 3, 2018 and last through 11:59pm December 10, 2018. US only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 _____________________________________________

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

Liz Tolsma: When the Heart Sings

By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book:

Title: When the Heart Sings
Series: Music of the Heart #2
Author: Liz Tolsma
Publisher: Gilead Publishing
Release Date: October 9, 2018
Genre: Historical Fiction/ Romance

Natia has a secret, and she's hiding him right beneath her captor's nose . . .

The Nazis have forced Natia and Teodor from their Polish farm to a labor camp. Separated, Natia is chosen to be the housekeeper for the camp's overseer, and her husband Teodor is sent to work in the factory. Despite the strict camp rules--and the consequences for disobeying them--Natia finds a way to communicate with Teodor by sending messages through song as she passes Teodor's dormitory.

But then Natia finds a Jewish orphan on the overseer's doorstep. She is determined to protect the boy and raise him as the child she and her husband were unable to bear--but if her German captors discover how much she's hiding, both she and Teodor may pay the ultimate price.

From Amazon

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads  Amazon  B&N  Christianbook  Book Depository

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My Thoughts:

World War II novels are wonderful and one of my favorite genres. I enjoy reading about the greatest generation and the heroic acts they endured. Soldiers who went into battle just to defend Old Glory. I love their attitudes. I know with a historical romance there will be a struggle wrapped in a historical setting and filled with adventure. Liz Tolsma's newest novel When the Heart Sings does exactly that.

I love the concept of her story. Using songs to share her heroine's current situation and love for her husband and the ability to sooth the baby was a wonderful twist on a familiar topic. I flew through the story and really enjoyed it. There were moments of realistic horror that made me cringe, but I knew the reality of the treatment of Jews and Poles was horrifying. The plot moved fast, and I had a hard time putting the novel down.

The romance was between a husband and a wife. It showed how deep a romance can go even if the most horrific of places. I loved how Natia and Teodor Palinska cling to the hope of getting back together holds their hope of leaving the horrible concentration camp.

The only problem I had with the plot is being another concentration camp story. When I first started reading the World War II genre, I didn't mind, but now tons of authors have written stories on the horrors that occurred during at the concentration camps. From Kristy Cambron, Joel Rosenberg, Kate Breslin, and Tolsma among a number of others, the idea appears to be the same. How to share the horror and make the reader cringe.

Overall, When the Heart Sings by Liz Tolsma is a wonderful story blanketed with the horrors of World War II reality. The novel is fast-paced and captured my imagination. Fans of Kristy Cambron, Joel Rosenberg, Kate Breslin, and Anna Schmidt will enjoy this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of When the Heart Sings by Liz Tolsma from Gideon Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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From Amazon

About the Author:

Passionate might best describe Liz Tolsma. She loves writing, research, and editing. Her passion shone through in her first novel which was a double award finalist. On any given day, you might find her pulling weeds in her perennial garden, walking her hyperactive dog, or curled up with a good book. Nothing means more to her than her family. She's married her high-school sweetheart twenty-eight years ago. Get her talking about international adoption, and you might never get her to stop. She and her husband adopted three children, including a son who is a U.S. Marine, and two daughters. (Taken from Amazon.)


CONNECT WITH LIZ: Website  Facebook  Twitter   Pinterest

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

 

• (1) winner will receive (US only) a print copy of

When the Heart Sings

• Just One More Chapter' throw pillow seen HERE

Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. 

Giveaway will begin at midnight November 26, 2018 and last through 11:59pm December 3, 2018. US only. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found HERE

.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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

Thank you for stopping by!!!!!!

Robin Caroll: Darkwater Secrets

By Kelly Bridgewater

A murder investigation uncovers sordid secrets and haunting mistakes

The Darkwater Inn stands tall and proud in the French Quarter, the hub of New Orleans. Bourbon Street is bustling, and general manager Adelaide Fountaine has her hands full with a hotel at capacity. But she is shocked when a body is found: a hotel guest stabbed with a kitchen knife.

Detective Beau Savoie, Adelaide's childhood friend, is on the case. As Beau digs into the victim's past, he unearths a shocking connection between Adelaide and the murdered guest. Beau is hurt that his friend--the woman he's quietly loved for years--kept the truth from him. To make matters worse, the stress of the investigation has sent Adelaide right into the comforting arms of her coworker Dimitri. But Beau can't press Adelaide too hard . . . because he's keeping secrets of his own.

Can Adelaide and Beau afford to hide from the truth with a killer on the loose?

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

A romantic suspense or suspense is a genre I have read quite widely in, so I have a good idea of what works and what doesn't. Some of my favorite suspense or thrillers writers are Steven James, Carrie Stuart Parks, and Lynette Eason. They know how to capture an audience with plenty of page-turning suspense and having me guess who the bad guy is from the beginning, chasing clues with every page. Darkwater Secrets by Robin Caroll is my first chance to read her book. I had a hard time calling this novel a suspense novel.

The setting in New Orleans came to life was one of Caroll's strongest suites when it comes to her writing. She brings the French Quarter to life and allows me to travel to a city that I have never or desired to visit. Caroll brought the history and the traditions of the city to life for me.

The plot was the problem I had with the novel. A mystery usually introduces the killing of the victim either in the prologue or in the first chapter, then the story moves forward, trying to follow the clues to solve the mystery. BUT . . . Caroll waited until Chapter three to show the murderer attacking and killing the dead person. The first two chapters introduce you to  Adelaide, Dimitri, and Beau and set the stage for the story. Another element that bothered me was that Caroll started to have the characters follow the trail of clues, leading us toward a justifiable reason to suspect a person. Then the next chapter, Caroll had the person claim he did the murder and turned themselves into the police. This was only around page 182 in the novel. For the next eighty pages, Carroll dragged me along to solve the issues mentioned in the first couple of chapters then ended the novel with the person appearing in court for his sentencing.

As for the characters, I found them not that interesting. None of them learned and changed from the beginning to the end. Static characters. Of all three main characters, Dimitri stood out the most because he wants to become a chef not the CEO of his father's hotel business. Never once was any of the character's lives in danger. They were never threatened by the murder or had any reason to be afraid.

Overall, Darkwater Secrets by Robin Caroll did not flow like a standard suspense novel. Caroll introduced the murdered body too late and showed her cards too early, making me want to close the novel and wandered why I should keep reading. I don't know how I feel about reading the next book in the series. If you are fans of Lynette Eason, Carrie Stuart Parks, or Steven James, like me, then this book might heavily disappoint you too. Fans of Colleen Coble, Brandilyn Collins, or Lorena McCourtney might enjoy this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Darkwater Secrets by Robin Caroll from Gilead Publishing through JustRead tours, but the opinion stated are all my own.

My Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Jen Turano: Finding Margo

By Kelly Bridgewater

Off the charts and on the run.

International pop star Margo Hartman could use a night off. A grueling tour and overbearing entourage have sent her over the edge. It's time for this diva to disappear. And who would think to look for the superstar in a small Dutch town in Ohio?

Sheriff's deputy Brock Moore is undercover as well. He knows Margo isn't who she appears to be, but her uncanny resemblance to a local Amish woman is raising all sorts of questions... the kind that make her a target for a killer.

Both are determined to find answers, but their mutual attraction stands in the way of either of them doing it alone.

Is finding Margo the solution to Brock's problems or just the beginning...?

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

I have read all of Jen Turano's Gilded Age historical romances and enjoyed them thoroughly. She features brave heroines who are not afraid to stand up to the men in their lives and reach for their ultimate goals in life. She brings the time period and setting to life with her writing. As an end result, I figured I knew what I was expecting when I picked up another Turano novel.

Jen Turano is a good writer who uses concise words to invite her readers into the story. This time around in her latest novel, Finding Margo, is a contemporary novel set in a Amish community located in Ohio. Usually with Turano's novels, I have no problem imagining the setting. This time around Turano uses vague descriptions that left much to the imagination. I had to use my stereotypical ideas to create the setting. Also, she does a good job at staying in Margo and Brock's point of view. They never cross and interrupt each other.

The problems I had was with the plot and the characters. The plot has been done a number of times.  I figured out the ending the moment Margo entered the town and noticed it all looked familiar. While the suspense with her being shot at might have ramped up the tension, I really didn't see it that way. It felt odd and out place in this novel. I had no problem staying glued to the story, but it was completely predictable. On the other hand, the characters appeared really one-dimensional. I didn't feel bad for rich, rock star Margo who finds out the truth about her past. She seemed fake and careless. With Brock, the hero, he is in town to help solve the murder of her sister-in-law, but there appears to be something not mentioned with him.

Turano reminds the readers about God waiting for everyone to return to him in time. It wasn't preachy, but it was a gentle reminder that God always loves us. Even though this book wasn't for me, I still believe the novel will be enjoyed immensely by fans of contemporary romance books. Not for the romantic suspense fans because the story doesn't rely on the suspense that much.

In conclusion, Jen Turano's Finding Margo is a well-written novel about returning to God, but I had a hard time with the predictable and unoriginal plot riddled with lackluster characters.

I received a complimentary copy of Jen Turano's Finding Margo from Gilead Publishing and the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

What do you think of writers who have written in one genre, then dip their toes in a different genre? Does it usually work? Or is it hard to accept their new genre