Rachel Scott McDaniel: Above the Fold

By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book:

Title: Above the Fold

Author: Rachel Scott McDaniel

Genre: Historical Romance

Publication Date: December 3, 2019

After losing the love of her life to a big city journalism job, Elissa Tillman pours herself into the suffragette movement and her secretarial work helping keep her father’s Pittsburgh newspaper afloat.

Cole Parker returns to the steel city with the phantom failures of his past nipping his heels. All he asks of the future is a second chance with the woman he once spurned.

The murder of a millionaire offers the perfect chance for Elissa to prove to her father and the world that she’s a serious journalist. But there’s a catch—she has to compete for the story. Against none other than Cole Parker, the very man who shattered her heart.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Above the Fold by Rachel Scott McDaniel is a delightful debut novel. After finishing the novel, I had a hard time believing Above the Fold was written by a first-time novelist. It was well-written. I loved how McDaniel made readers feel like she was actually in the 1920's. She really captured the essence of the era and allowed her characters to swim around in this world. As for the plot,  I have read a number of stories during this time period about journalist, but McDaniel added a twist with her mystery, which I enjoyed. The romance was between two people who used to be in a relationship, but life happened, and they went their separate ways. The romance sprinkled and bloomed along with the story. Overall, Above the Fold was a captivating debut novel with plenty of history, romance, and a little mystery to round out the plot. I believe fans of Julie Lessman's O'Conner's series might enjoy reading this novel too. I can't wait to see what McDaniel comes up with next.

I received a complimentary copy of Above the Fold by Rachel Scott McDaniel through the Celebrate Lit Tours, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase Above the Fold

About the Author:

From Goodreads

 Rachel Scott McDaniel is an award-winning author of historical romance. Winner of the ACFW Genesis Award and the RWA Touched By Love award, Rachel infuses faith and heart into each story. She currently enjoys life in Ohio with her husband and two kids. Rachel can be found online at www.RachelScottMcDaniel.com and on all social media platforms.

More from Rachel

What does the classic movie His Girl Friday, famous mystery writer Agatha Christie, and my husband’s grandfather all have in common? They were all used as inspiration for my debut novel Above the Fold.
His Girl Friday is one of my favorite stories. This movie captures the thrill of the newspaper world—that drive within the reporter’s heart to get the scoop, that hum of activity from the newsroom to the firing of the presses, and that inescapable pursuit to beat out the opposing paper. But what I loved most about this movie was the chemistry between the two main characters. They share a romantic history. In turn, there is major tension, but man oh man is there spark! So this triggered my creative mind. What would happen if I switched the roles and had the heroine be the one that gets jilted? What if I set this story in the 1920s when the profession of journalism was male-dominated? What if I add some more mystery? Cue Agatha Christie.
My husband and I love Christie’s Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple series. Did you know that she wrote over 74 books? That’s staggering to me. My mind reels at how intricate and varied all her plots are. My husband and I would try to guess who the murderer was at the beginning of a story and more often than not, we were wrong! On one particular night we were watching a PBS version of Miss Marple and an idea struck me. What if I changed my story to go this route? What if I made this person the villain instead of that one? The idea that came to me had nothing to do with the story we’d been watching, but one thing that’d been said flickered a light in me. I love it when that happens! And I also love it when I can incorporate pieces of my personal life into the book. This brings me to the biggest inspiration of the story—my husband’s grandpa.
Grandpa Jay Lewis had two loves in his life—his wife and the newspaper press. He’d started working for the local newspaper during his early teens and made his way up the ranks until he became the press foreman. Here’s a picture of Jay when he was in his early 20s. The hat shown was made of folded newsprint paper and worn to keep the ink from dripping on his head. But the expression in this picture says it all—the press was his happy place. He’d worked with the presses for over five decades, until he no longer had the strength. In 2004, he passed away, but his legacy lives on in the hearts of many. So in tribute to Jay and his great passion for the newspaper world, I included him in the cast of characters. I only hope I was able to capture his zeal.
So there you have it. Inspiration came to me in a myriad of ways, but they all worked together to bring you a story that I pray delights your heart.

Blog Stops

April Hayman, Author , January 14

Robin’s Nest, January 14

Godly Book Reviews, January 15

Where Faith and Books Meet, January 15

Just the Write Escape, January 16

Writings, Ramblings, and Reflections, January 16

Through the Fire Blogs, January 17

mypreciousbitsandmusings, January 17

Betti Mace, January 18

All-of-a-kind Mom, January 18

Texas Book-aholic, January 19

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 19

janicesbookreviews, January 20

Emily Yager, January 20

She Lives to Read, January 21

For the Love of Literature, January 21

Inklings and notions, January 22

Life of Literature, January 22

Daysong Reflections, January 23

For Him and My Family, January 23

Stories By Gina, January 24

Jacquelyn Lynn, January 24

Hallie Reads, January 25

Beauty in the Binding, January 25

Back Porch Reads, January 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 27

Batya’s Bits, January 27

Giveaway

 

 

To celebrate her giveaway, Rachel is giving away the grand prize package of an Autographed Paperback copy of Above the Fold, A Custom Newspaper-Themed Book Cozy, An Above the Fold vintage-style bookmark!!

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/f46d/above-the-fold-celebration-tour-giveaway

Susan May Warren: The Way of the Brave

By Kelly Bridgewater

Former pararescue jumper Orion Starr is haunted by the memory of a rescue gone wrong. He may be living alone in Alaska now, but the pain of his failure--and his injuries--has followed him there from Afghanistan. He has no desire to join Hamilton Jones's elite rescue team, but he also can't shirk his duty when the call comes in to rescue three lost climbers on Denali.

Former CIA profiler and psychiatrist Jenny Calhoun's yearly extreme challenge with her best friends is her only escape from the guilt that has sunk its claws into her. As a consultant during a top-secret mission to root out the Taliban, she green-lighted an operation that ended in ambush and lives lost. When her cathartic climb on Denali turns deadly, she'll be forced to trust her life and the lives of her friends to the most dangerous of heroes--the man she nearly killed.

Her skills and his experience are exactly what's needed to prevent another tragedy--but in order to truly set Orion free from his painful past, Jenny will have to reveal hers. They'll have to put their wounds behind them to survive, but at what cost?

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren is a gut-clenching trek through and up Mount Denali in Alaska. I have always wanted to go to Alaska, so Warren does a wonderful job at bringing Alaska to me. I also love snow, winter, and cold weather. While the characters have to endure horrible conditions to survive. I love how Warren introduced us to some very brave characters who would do anything to survive. I had a hard time putting the novel down. I couldn't wait to see who would survive and leave the mountain. As for the romance, it happened between two couples. Nothing too touchy feeling. No Hallmark moments. Thank God for that. But enough sparks to satisfy those who need to have it in a story. Warren does a wonderful job at allowing her readers to experience the falls and climbs through the whiteout conditions and give readers a moment to gasp with the characters. My favorite part is the organic faith of the some of the characters. I enjoy seeing them call out or question God in a realistic fashion. It made the moments a little more realistic for me as the reader. Overall, The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren is a delightful read that captured the true essence of what it means to be a hero. Fans of her previous couple of series would enjoy The Way of the Brave. Ronie Kendig also has a book, Hawk, with a hero and heroine fighting a snowstorm, waiting to be rescued.

I received a complimentary copy of The Way of the Brave by Susan May Warren from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Way of the Brave

Word and Verse for 2020

By Kelly Bridgewater

Word of the Year:

PEACE

Verses of the Year:

Colossians 3:15 - "Let the peace of God rule in your heart."

John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you, My Peace I give to you."

What about you? Do you pick a word and verse to help guide you through the year? If yes, what have you decided for 2020? If not, what do you do instead? I would love to hear your ideas.

Rachel Dylan: End Games

By Kelly Bridgewater

When elite members of the military are murdered on the streets of Washington, DC, FBI Special Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini must work together to bring the perpetrator to justice. Unfortunately, all evidence points to a Navy SEAL sniper whom Bailey refuses to believe is guilty.

When Bailey and Marco start to connect the dots between the victims, including a link to a powerful defense contractor, they wonder if there's a deeper cover-up at play. Then Bailey is targeted, and it becomes clear that someone is willing to kill to keep their dark secrets.

With the stakes getting higher by the moment in a twisted conspiracy, there's a rush against the clock to determine whom they can really trust. As allies turn to enemies, the biggest secret yet to be uncovered could be the end of all of them.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

I enjoy a thrilling chase through a suspense novel. I have tried Rachel Dylan before, and I didn't enjoy her novels. But this is a new series, and I thought I would give her another try. Again, I was quite disappointed. The novel begins with three women talking, which I assume are the three heroines in this series. Then readers are taken to a dead body where I meet the hero of the story. The plot instantly jumps into the procedure of finding the killer of the dead body. Interview and then thinking. Then interview. Not quite the high action I want in a suspense novel. Because of these things, the plot left me wanting a lot more. The romance was told not shown to us. It didn't grow organically between the two characters. Dylan had to tell us when they started to like each other, and it appeared to be not natural to the storyline. As for the characters, there wasn't much transformation in their personalities over the course of the story. Also, I really didn't empathize with any of them.They were static characters on a page moving around. Overall, End Game by Rachel Dylan did not read like a suspense novel. It read more like a report on the incident from someone who heard it third hand. I didn't really enjoy this novel. Pick up a book by Lynette Eason. More much action.

I received a complimentary copy of End Game by Rachel Dylan from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 2.5 out of 5 stars

Click here to purchase End Game

Sarah E. Ladd: The Thief of Lanwyn Manor

By Kelly Bridgewater

In Regency England an advantageous match could set up a lady for life. Julia knows Matthew Blake, copper mine owner and very eligible bachelor, is the gentleman she should set her eyes upon. But why can’t she steal her gaze away from his younger brother, Isaac?

Cornwall, England, 1818

Julia Twethewey needs a diversion to mend her broken heart, so when her cousin invites her to Lanwyn Manor, Julia eagerly accepts. The manor is located at the heart of Cornwall’s mining industry, and as a guest Julia is swept into its intricate world. It’s not long, though, before she realizes something dark lurks within the home’s ancient halls.

As a respected mine owner’s younger son, Isaac Blake is determined to keep his late father’s legacy alive through the family business, despite his brother’s careless attitude. In order to save their livelihood—and that of the people around them—the brothers approach the master of Lanwyn Manor with plans to bolster the floundering local industry. Isaac can’t deny his attraction to the man’s charming niece, but his brother has made clear his intentions to court the lovely visitor. And Isaac knows his place.

When tragedy strikes, mysteries arise, and valuables go missing, Julia and Isaac find they are pulled together in a swirl of strange circumstances, but despite their best efforts to bow to social expectations, their hearts aren’t so keen to surrender.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

The Thief of Lanwyn Manor by Sarah E. Ladd is a Regency mystery. The characters of Julia and Issac are fantastic and enjoyable. The characters do have their predictable happily-ever-after moment by the end of the novel, but I still enjoy watching the character interact in this world. I really liked the hunt for the mystery of the stolen jewels and silver. I liked hearing about the curse on the house. Even though I wish Ladd would have spent more time talking about the curse and the past owners. It was hinted at a couple of times by certain members of the community, but I felt that it wasn't truly flushed out for the readers to grasp. I think it would have made the mystery elements a little more intriguing. Even though the mystery element left me begging for more explanation, I still found myself delighting in the plot and enjoyed Ladd's writing style.

I received a complimentary copy of The Thief of Lanwyn Manor by Sarah E. Ladd from Thomas Nelson Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Thief of Lanwyn Manor

Favorite Books of 2019

By Kelly Bridgewater

Another year is in the books and another year is before us.

I really enjoy doing this post every year to give a nod to some of my favorite books that has captured my attention for the previous year. (All Images come from Goodreads.)

So for 2019, here are my favorite reads:

Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright



Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright




Far Side of the Sea by Kate Breslin



Becoming Us by Robin Jones Gunn



The Medallion by Cathy Gohlke



Storm Rising by Ronie Kendig



The Killing Tide by Dani Pettrey



Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano



Memories of Glass by Melanie Dobson



How about you? Did any of these books capture your attention? Are there different books you want to add to your favorite books of 2019 that I didn't include?

Grace Hitchcock: The Gray Chamber

By Kelly Bridgewater

Will Edyth prove her sanity before it is too late?

On Blackwell Island, New York, a hospital was built to keep its patients from ever leaving.

With her late father’s fortune under her uncle’s care until her twenty-fifth birthday in the year 1887, Edyth Foster does not feel pressured to marry or to bow to society’s demands. She freely indulges in eccentric hobbies like fencing and riding her velocipede in her cycling costume about the city for all to see. Finding a loophole in the will, though, her uncle whisks Edyth off to the women’s lunatic asylum just weeks before her birthday. Do any of Edyth’s friends care that she disappeared?

At the asylum she meets another inmate, who upon discovering Edyth’s plight, confesses that she is Nellie Bly, an undercover journalist for The World. Will either woman find a way to leave the terrifying island and reclaim her true self?

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

The Gray Chamber by Grace Hitchcock is a delightful glance into the world of insane asylums during the 1900's. I have always known that asylums were some pretty creepy places during the 1900's, but Hitchcock does a fabulous job at showing the horrors that occurred to normal woman who were sent there by the men who claimed to love them. No wonder some of the women actually went crazy. Horrible things and abuse happened to them while they were imprisoned in these places. I couldn't imagine the horror, uncleanliness, and the abuse some of these sane women had to put up with. I really enjoyed how Hitchcock made Edyth a fighter who struggled for her freedom and was willing to help others escape too. I really liked the element of including Nellie Bly in the story too. I knew some of what she did, but this made it a little more realistic. Overall, The Gray Chamber was a quick and delightful read. I enjoyed this book and hope for more mysteries from Hitchcock. If you enjoyed this story, then pick up Elizabeth Blyer Younts novel The Bright Unknown.

I received a complimentary copy of The Gray Chamber by Grace Hitchcock from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars