Friday, February 22, 2019

Dear Abby - Dog Songs: Who Let the Dogs Out by Baha Men (2000)

Dear Friends,

I'm back with another dog song for you.   "Who Let the Dogs Out" was a hit for the Baha Men in 2000.  This Bahamian group made it to the top 40 with this song.  It became a hit after being featured in the movie Rugrats in Paris.  It is now a popular song at sporting events.

My Momma is not a fan of this song.  She says it is one that gets in your head and refuses to leave!

For me it just raises questions, most especially:  who DID let the dogs out?   The song never answers that.

I found a video of the song that has the music with photos of cute puppies.  Enjoy!  (And sorry if the song gets stuck in your head too!)



I'd love to hear form you in the comments, below.  Do you remember this one?  And do you know who let the dogs out?

Have a great day!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Book Review - Secrets at Cedar Cabin by Colleen Coble

Book Synopsis
From USA TODAY bestselling author Colleen Coble comes the third book in her beloved Lavender Tides series.

Her mother lied about her identity and her husband wasn’t who she thought he was—can Bailey even trust herself anymore?

Running for her life in the wake of her mother’s murder, Bailey Fleming escapes to the only place she can think of—a remote, dilapidated cabin in Lavender Tides. Intending to finally get to the truth behind the lies of her past, Bailey only finds more questions when bodies are discovered near her cabin hideout along with traces of a dangerous human trafficking ring. In an unlikely partnership with FBI agent Lance Phoenix, Bailey races to understand the mystery surrounding her life and circumstances before the murderer tracks her down.

Meanwhile, Lance is determined to rescue his sister, Ava, who was abducted after running away from home as a teenager. An unexpected lead brings him to the remote cabin, and he wonders if Bailey—with her suspicious past and strange connections to his sister’s case—is really who she claims to be and if she can somehow lead him to Ava.
Filled with Colleen Coble’s custom blend of suspense and romance, Secrets at Cedar Cabin takes us back to the evocative landscape of Washington’s coast where nothing is quite as it seems.


 

Purchase Links

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My Review 

Secrets at Cedar Cabin is the story of Bailey Fleming.  After her mother is murdered, she fears for her own life and goes on the run.  She ends up in a remote cabin in Lavender Tides.  There she meets Lance Phoenix, an FBI agent who is searching for his sister who is a victim of human trafficking.  There are twists and more twists as this story unfolds.

 

This is the third book in the Lavender Tides series by Colleen Coble.  I recommend reading this series in order, as there are key plot points that build between the books.

 

Colleen Coble is always a fun read.  I know when I pick up one of her books that I will be up late at night reading.  They are so fast paced and have so many twists and turns.  This book was no exception!

 

I really liked Bailey as a protagonist.  She is a kind person, a nurse who works with geriatric patients, and she has had some big disappointments in life with lies by her late mother and her ex-husband.   I really was pulling for her to find happiness.   Lance is also a strong and sympathetic character, although we don't get to know him quite as well in this story.

 

The mystery in this novel deals with human trafficking.  It was very intense and the stakes were very high.  This made me even more compelled to stay up reading.

 

The faith aspect of the story is well done;  faith is presented as a source of strength and courage, as seen in practice by several characters in this novel.  

 

On a light note I will add that I enjoyed reading about Bailey's cat, Sheba.  Sheba is a Savannah cat, a breed I knew nothing about before this novel.  They are a cross between serval and domestic cats, and I found the descriptions in this book fascinating!

 

I recommend Secrets at Cedar Cabin to fans of romantic suspense, women's fiction, and Christian fiction.   I will add that I recommend Colleen Coble's fiction in general;  she is an author who never disappoints!

 

Author Bio

Best-selling romantic suspense author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 4 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

Connect with Colleen

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

 

 

Thursday, February 21, 2019

Book Review and Giveaway - Past Due for Murder by Victoria Gilbert

Book Synopsis
Has a curse fallen on the small town of Taylorsford, Virginia? After a young woman goes missing during a spring bonfire, library director Amy Webber must wade through the web of lies only to find a truth that she may not want to untangle.

Spring has sprung in quaint Taylorsford, Virginia, and the mayor has revived the town’s long-defunct May Day celebration to boost tourism. As part of the festivities, library director Amy Webber is helping to organize a research project and presentation by a local folklore expert. All seems well at first—but spring takes on a sudden chill when a university student inexplicably vanishes during a bonfire.

The local police cast a wide net to find the missing woman, but in a shocking turn of events, Amy’s swoon-worthy neighbor Richard Muir becomes a person of interest in the case. Not only is Richard the woman’s dance instructor, he also doesn’t have an alibi for the night the student vanished—or at least not one he’ll divulge, even to Amy.

When the missing student is finally discovered lost in the mountains, with no memory of recent events—and a dead body lying nearby—an already disturbing mystery takes on a sinister new hue. Blessed with her innate curiosity and a librarian’s gift for research, Amy may be the only one who can learn the truth in Past Due for Murder, Victoria Gilbert’s third charming Blue Ridge Library mystery.


My Review
Amy Webber works at a library in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.  In the midst of May Day plans, a local student goes missing and Amy gets involved in the mystery.

This is my first read in the Blue Ridge Library Mysteries series.  It appealed to me  because it is set in a library.  I also love the Blue Ridge Mountains and found that setting intriguing.

Past Due for Murder is the third book in this series, but I had no problem learning the characters and catching up, so I feel this book worked fine as a standalone.

The mystery was interesting.  I had it figured pretty early on but enjoyed seeing Amy solve the case -- before the police did!   This is a particularly well paced mystery and I found it a quick read.

There is a character who is a folklore professor and story elements involving fairy folk in the mountains.  I absolutely loved these details and felt they added so much to the book.

Amy is a smart, kind, relatable character, and I also enjoyed her relationship with her beau, Richard.  There is even a pet rescue storyline involving an adorable kitten!

I greatly enjoyed Past Due for Murder and now need to go back and catch up with the other reads in the series.  I recommend this book for fans of cozy mysteries, and especially for readers who also enjoy a library setting.
Author Bio
Raised in a historic small town in the shadow of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Victoria Gilbert turned her early obsession with books into a dual career as an author and librarian.

Victoria’s first cozy mystery series, the Blue Ridge Library Mystery series, garnered her a three-book deal with Crooked Lane Books, which has since been expanded to five books. The first two books in the series have been optioned by Sony Pictures Television, and the first three were or will be produced in audiobook by Tantor Media.

Victoria also just inked a 2-book deal with Crooked Lane for a new cozy series, the Booklovers B & B series, set in historic Beaufort, NC.

A member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and Sisters in Crime, Victoria is represented by Frances Black at Literary Counsel.

Author Links:
Website/blog: http://victoriagilbertmysteries.com/
Facebook author page:  https://www.facebook.com/VictoriaGilbertMysteryAuthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VGilbertauthor
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/VictoriaGilbert
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/victoriagilbertauthor/

Purchase Links:
Amazon     B&N    Kobo    Indie Bound   GooglePlay


Giveaway
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Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Death by a Whisker: A Cat Rescue Mystery by T. C. LoTempio

Book Synopsis
Getting used to life back home in Deer Park, North Carolina, Sydney McCall and her right-hand tabby, Toby, are helping her sister Kat run the local animal shelter. Syd and Kat are all excited about the prospect of the shelter’s newest fundraiser: shopping channel queen Ulla Townsend. Shelter admin Maggie Shayne vehemently refuses to have anything to do with the woman, but the fundraiser ensues as planned. That is, until Ulla turns up dead in the middle of the event.

The cause of death is determined to be an allergic reaction, but Syd and Toby are sniffing out something fishy. When Syd met Ulla, it was clear she was distasteful and rude. And right before the event, Syd spotted some behind-the-scenes drama between Ulla and her manager. As they begin to investigate, they realize there is no shortage of suspects, and Maggie is at the top of the list.

Now Syd and Toby must claw their way to the truth before everything goes paws up at their animal shelter in Death by a Whisker by national bestselling author T. C. LoTempio.

Author Bio

While Toni Lotempio does not commit – or solve – murders in real life, she has no trouble doing it on paper. Her lifelong love of mysteries began early on when she was introduced to her first Nancy Drew mystery at age 10 – The Secret in the Old Attic.  She (and ROCCO, albeit he’s uncredited) pen the Nick and Nora mystery series from Berkley Prime Crime – the first volume, MEOW IF ITS MURDER, debuted Dec. 2, 2014. Followed by #2, CLAWS FOR ALARM.   #3, CRIME AND CATNIP, was released in December. She, Rocco and Maxx make their home in Clifton, New Jersey, just twenty minutes from the Big Apple – New York. Catch up with them at www.tclotempio.net and www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com  

Where to find them:
ROCCO’s blog:
www.catsbooksmorecats.blogspot.com
Website:
https://www.tclotempio.net/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.lotempio.5 
Twitter: @RoccoBlogger – https://twitter.com/@RoccoBlogger

Purchase Links:
Amazon    B&N    Google Play

Giveaway
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Book Spotlight and Giveaway - We Shall See the Sky Sparkling by Susana Aikin

Book Synopsis
Set in London and Russia at the turn of the century, Susana Aikin’s debut introduces a vibrant young woman determined to defy convention and shape an extraordinary future.

Like other well-bred young women in Edwardian England, Lily Throop is expected to think of little beyond marriage and motherhood. Passionate about the stage, Lily has very different ambitions. To her father’s dismay, she secures an apprenticeship at London’s famous Imperial Theatre. Soon, her talent and beauty bring coveted roles and devoted admirers. Yet to most of society, the line between actress and harlot is whisper-thin. With her reputation threatened by her mentor’s vicious betrayal, Lily flees to St. Petersburg with an acting troupe–leaving her first love behind.

Life in Russia is as exhilarating as it is difficult. The streets rumble with talk of revolution, and Lily is drawn into an affair with Sergei, a Count with fervent revolutionary ideals. Following Sergei when he is banished to Vladivostok, Lily struggles to find her role in an increasingly dangerous world. And as Russian tensions with Japan erupt into war, only fortitude and single-mindedness can steer her to freedom and safety at last.

With its sweeping backdrop and evocative details, We Shall See the Sky Sparkling explores a fascinating period in history through the eyes of a strong-willed, singular heroine, in a moving story of love and resilience.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Books-a-Million | IndieBound


Author Bio
Born in Spain of an English father and a Spanish mother, Susana Aikin is a writer and a filmmaker who has lived and worked in New York City since 1982. She was educated in both England and Spain; studied law at the University of Madrid, and later Creative Writing at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. In 1986 she started her own independent film production company, Starfish Productions, producing and directing documentary films that won her multiple awards, including an American Film Institute grant, a Rockefeller Fellowship, and an Emmy Award in 1997. She started writing fiction full time in 2010. She has two sons and now lives between Brooklyn and the mountains north of Madrid.

For more information, visit Susana Aikin’s website. You can also find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, and Goodreads.


Giveaway
During the Blog Tour we will be giving away a paperback copy of We Shall See the Sky Sparkling! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.  

Giveaway Rules 
– Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on February 28th. You must be 18 or older to enter. 
– Giveaway is open to US only. 
– Only one entry per household. 
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. 
– Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.  
We Shall See the Sky Sparkling

 

Friday, February 15, 2019

Dear Abby - Dog Songs: Hounds of Love by Kate Bush

Dear Friends,

Continuing with my dog song series, I am going to get a little creative this week.   "Hounds of Love" by Kate Bush is our featured song this week.   This is NOT a song about dogs, although it does feature "Hounds" in the title.  I have several favorite old songs like this, though, that I would like to share with you during this series.

"Hounds of Love" was the title song from Kate Bush's 1985 album.  (It is my Momma's favorite song from the album.)  This is a song about being afraid to fall in love ... with the image of falling in love being like running from hounds. 

From my pup perspective:  this is a beautiful song, but she sings about being chased by "hounds of love" like that is a bad thing.  I bet those hounds were perfectly delightful!

I'm including the official video for this song here.  It is filmed in an old movie style, and I just learned that it was a homage to the Alfred Hitchcock movie The 39 Steps



Do you remember this song?  What did you think of the music video?  I'd love to hear from you in the comments.

Talk to you next week!

Love,
Abby xoxoxo

Book Review - The Lost Girls of Paris by Pam Jenoff

Book Synopsis

1946, Manhattan
One morning while passing through Grand Central Terminal on her way to work, Grace Healey finds an abandoned suitcase tucked beneath a bench. Unable to resist her own curiosity, Grace opens the suitcase, where she discovers a dozen photographs—each of a different woman. In a moment of impulse, Grace takes the photographs and quickly leaves the station.

Grace soon learns that the suitcase belonged to a woman named Eleanor Trigg, leader of a network of female secret agents who were deployed out of London during the war. Twelve of these women were sent to Occupied Europe as couriers and radio operators to aid the resistance, but they never returned home, their fates a mystery. Setting out to learn the truth behind the women in the photographs, Grace finds herself drawn to a young mother turned agent named Marie, whose daring mission overseas reveals a remarkable story of friendship, valor and betrayal.

Vividly rendered and inspired by true events, New York Times bestselling author Pam Jenoff shines a light on the incredible heroics of the brave women of the war and weaves a mesmerizing tale of courage, sisterhood and the great strength of women to survive in the hardest of circumstances.

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Purchase Links

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My Review
The Lost Girls of Paris begins in New York City in 1946.  Grace Healey is on her way to work, and while passing through Grand Central Station she discovers an abandoned suitcase.  On an impulse she looks inside and finds a folder with photos of women -- just their first names written on the back.  She is determined to find out more about this mysterious folder.  It leads her to the story of Eleanor Trigg, a spymistress during World War II London.  Eleanor recruited young women to work across the continent during World War II.  Although they were ostensibly radio operators, they often did much more dangerous work in secret.   One of those women was Marie Roux.  Her story is also featured here.

This is just a remarkable book.  There are so many layers of storytelling, from 1946 New York to 1944 London and France.  Most impressively, though, Pam Jenoff tells the story from the perspective of three different women:  Grace Healey (New York), Eleanor Trigg (London), and Marie Roux (London and France).

I love historical fiction set in the 1940's, especially during the years of World War II.  I had never heard of Vera Atkins (the inspiration for Eleanor Trigg) or Special Operations Executive (SOE) and their work before this book.  

The characters in The Lost Girls of Paris are beautifully drawn.  I especially found recent widow Grace and young single mother Marie to be very sympathetic, and I read their stories with great interest.  Eleanor was more of a cipher, rarely seen outside of work;  I never was quite as engaged in her story for that reason, although this in no way impacted my interest in this book.

The historical details are subtle but perfect.  The author also does a fine job of sense of place across a variety of different locations and settings.

There was so much that intrigued me about this novel.  What prompted Grace to take the photos and investigate the story?  Why did Marie leave her young daughter impulsively to join SOE?  Who was Eleanor and was she to be trusted?  

I read this book in about 48 hours because I was compelled to know the answers to these questions and to find out what happened to these women.   The Lost Girls of Paris is sure to be one of my favorite reads of the year, and I cannot recommend it highly enough for other fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone who loves 1940's history.

Author Bio

Pam Jenoff is the author of several novels, including the international bestseller The Kommandant’s Girl, which also earned her a Quill Award nomination. Pam lives with her husband and three children near Philadelphia where, in addition to writing, she teaches law school.

 

Connect with Pam

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


Book Review - Castle on the Rise by Kristy Cambron

Book Synopsis
A storied castle. A band of rebels.

A nation chasing a centuries-old dream of freedom.

And three women who rise above it all . . .

When Laine Forrester travels overseas to attend her best friend’s vineyard wedding, she expects to find the bride on the brink of a fairy-tale life. But after a series of unforeseen setbacks, it seems the storybook lives they’d imagined are suddenly ripping apart.

With hopes of resurrecting a happy ending, Laine agrees to accompany the newlyweds to the groom’s home in Ireland—never expecting she’d be the one drawn in by its wide-open moors, backroads bordering the Irish Sea, and a mysterious castle that dares to keep its secrets hidden.

From the storied streets of Dublin to the shores of the Emerald Isle, Laine is drawn in to the land and its rich history. The castle ruins whisper stories of Issy—a photojournalist battling through the 1916 Easter Rising, and Maeve—the castle’s lady of legend, fighting for survival through the 1798 rebellion that started it all.

Spanning more than two centuries, Castle on the Rise unites the legacy of three women who must risk mending the broken places within for life, love, and the belief that even through the depths of our pain, a masterpiece of a story can emerge.

My Review
Castle on the Rise begins with Laine Forrester traveling to her best friend Ellie's wedding in France.  They all travel on to Ireland.  From there the story branches into three storylines:  we have Laine, a newly divorced single mother, in present day;  Issy, a budding photojournalist, in 1916 Ireland;  Maeve, an Irish lady in love with a pirate during the 1798 Irish rebellion. 

This is the second book in the Lost Castle series.  I read the first book last year, and it was one of my favorite books of 2018.  I was so glad to read more about Ellie (from The Lost Castle) in this book, and to continue her story.

There are three Irish stories that comprise this book.  It took me a while to find my footing as a reader, as the storylines switched back and forth on a chapter to chapter basis.  I was most interested in the contemporary storyline of Laine, recovering from a painful divorce and slowly warming to Ellie's brother-in-law Cormac.   I really liked Laine as a protagonist.  She has a background in antiques, as I do, and I found her work researching antiques at the family's castle to be fascinating.   I also loved Cormac as a romantic lead.  He was so quiet and wise.  I marked his line to Laine in the book:  "Funny thing about Dublin -- the rain always stops, just not in the moment we may want it.  So like God.  His plan, His timin'" (p. 176).

Issy's 1916 storyline was also very interesting.  I especially liked the details of early photography, and her fascination with her new Kodak camera, as well as her dedication to chronicle the Easter Rising on film.  I loved this description:  "Issy squeezed the camera case just to feel the leather against her skin.  How she wished to capture the moment -- anything to remind her that the world had so much more to offer than what transpired within the confines of ladies' parlors in County Wicklow" (p. 85).

Maeve's storyline was a little harder for me to get into, although I enjoyed it more as the book went on.  I often read and enjoy dual storyline historical fiction, and perhaps I just found triple storyline fiction a bit of an adjustment.  

Kristy Cambron's descriptions are beautiful.  She has a masterful ability to create a strong sense of time and place.  I loved her description of places in Ireland, and especially loved the castle that figures prominently in this story.  

The storylines all came together in an interesting way -- with some good detective work from Laine and Cormac.  Without spoilers, I will add that I loved the last chapter of the book.

I recommend the Lost Castle series to fans of historical fiction, and especially to readers who want to explore another time and place (and who love mysterious old castles!).  I look forward to reading the third book in this series.

Friday, February 8, 2019

Dear Abby - Dog Songs - "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" by Lobo (1971)

Dear Friends,

I have an oldies song that involves a dog for you today.   It is called "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo."  It's about a young hippie couple who are taking a road trip with their dog named Boo.  They have adventures, including getting stuck in the mud, taking food and working to pay off their debt, and ending up back in Los Angeles, ready to go again.

The lyrics include the chorus:

"Me and you and a dog named Boo 

Travellin' and livin' off the land 
Me and you and a dog named Boo 
How I love being a free man"

This song was a hit in 1971.  It was written and performed by Lobo (real name Kent LaVoie).  Kent LaVoie is originally from Tallahassee, Florida.  He was in a band called The Rumours in the 1960's with Gram Parsons and Jim Stafford.  He also played in a band called the Sugar Beats.  He decided to try a solo career, and recorded under the name Lobo ("the wolf").  "Me and You and a Dog Named Boo" was his first hit.  It went to #5 on the charts, and received a gold record.  Lobo had two other 1970's hits - "I'd Love You to Want Me" and "Don't Expect Me to Be Your Friend."

I found a video of this song so you can listen.   Have you heard this one before?



I always love to hear from you in the comments.   Wishing you a good weekend!

Love,
Abby xoxoxo

Book Review - With This Pledge by Tamera Alexander

Book Synopsis

What can a woman–a mere governess–do against the scourge of slavery?
.
Elizabeth “Lizzie” Clouston’s quietly held principles oppose those of the Southern Cause–but when forty thousand soldiers converge on the fields of Franklin, Tennessee, the war demands an answer. The Carnton home, where she is governess, is commandeered as a Confederate hospital; and Lizzie must summon fortitude to assist the military doctor with surgeries that determine life or death–even as she fears for the life of Towny, her fiancé and lifelong friend.
.
A young soldier’s dying words convey an urgent message that Lizzie promises to deliver, yet she knows little more than the boy’s first name. That same night, decorated Mississippi sharpshooter Captain Roland Ward Jones extracts a different promise from Lizzie: that she intervene should the surgeon decide to amputate. Even if it costs him his life.
.
Lizzie is nothing if not a woman of her word, earning the soldiers’ respect as she tends the wounded convalescing within Carnton’s walls. None is more admiring than Captain Jones, who doesn’t realize she is already pledged to another. But Captain Jones holds secrets of his own, which prove costly for Lizzie. Because a betrothed woman shouldn’t harbor feelings for a man other than her intended. Especially not when that man is a slave owner.
.
When Towny vanishes after a crushing battle in Nashville, Lizzie must confront the costs of war. And torn between love, principles, and promises made, she struggles to be true to her own heart while standing for what she knows is right–no matter the cost.
.
.

 

Purchase Links

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My Review
With This Pledge is set at Carnton Plantation in Franklin, Tennessee during the Civil War.  Lizzie Clouston is a governess in the house.  When the war moves close to home (the Battle of Franklin), the house becomes a makeshift hospital, and Lizzie is recruited to work as a nurse.  As she takes care of the soldiers she develops a special bond with a sharpshooter from Mississippi named Roland Jones.  She is engaged to another man and deeply conflicted about her feelings.  This novel is Lizzie and Roland's story, but it is also the story of how the war effects the family and community.

Although I am a great fan of historical fiction, I am not really a Civil War buff (despite growing up in Georgia).  For that reason I was surprised at how engrossed I was in this novel.  It is beautifully told with solid historical research.  (After you read the book, be sure to visit Tamera Alexander's website to see photos of the real people and places that inspired this novel!)  

I appreciated how nuanced this book was.  The protagonist, Lizzie, has strong moral beliefs against slavery, but she also feels strongly about taking care of the wounded military men.  I particularly liked Tempy, the family's cook, and Lizzie's warm friendship with her.  I also admired Lizzie's determination to do what was right and her sense of independent thought.  She was a natural with medical care (her father was a pharmacist) and I think at a later time she would have become a doctor.

Lizzie and Roland's story is fascinating, especially because it was based on fact.  The author did a wonderful job at character development in general, and of these two characters in specific.

In some respects, this novel reminded me a bit of the PBS series Mercy Street, especially as it dealt with medical care during the Civil War.  I think that anyone who enjoyed that series will also really love this novel.

I have to add that I loved the way Lizzie and the McGavock family (including the family's young children) reached out to the soldiers to provide comfort and a sense of home during the Christmas season.  There is a storyline about Lizzie reading A Christmas Carol to the soldiers evenings during the holiday season.  The sense of time and place in these scenes is exceptional.

I found With This Pledge utterly fascinating and look forward to reading the upcoming books in the Carnton series.  I also plan to catch up with the author's other series.   Very highly recommended for fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone interested in Civil War history.

Author Bio
Tamera Alexander is a USA Today bestselling novelist whose works have been awarded and nominated for numerous industry-leading honors, including the Christy Award (two-time winner, seven-time finalist), the RITA Award (two-time winner, four-time finalist), the Carol Award, the Maggie Award, the Booksellers Best Award, and Library Journal’s top distinction, among others. After seventeen years in Colorado, Tamera and her husband now reside in Nashville, Tennessee, where they live a short distance from Belmont Mansion and Belle Meade Plantation, the setting of Tamera’s two USA Today bestselling Southern series.

 

Connect with Tamera

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram



I received a copy of this book from TLC Book Tours.

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Murder, She Meowed (A Pawsitively Organic Mystery) by Liz Mugavero

Book Synopsis
Kristan “Stan” Connor loves concocting tasty organic treats for dogs and cats—and she also loves her fiancé, pub owner Jake McGee. But she’s not so enthusiastic about finding a dead body at her own bachelorette party . . .

Stan and Jake’s wedding will soon take place on the town green in Frog Ledge, Connecticut, followed by a reception at their beloved Irish pub filled with friends, family, and their four favorite canine companions. Stan just has to endure the traditional girls’ night out first. Male strippers jumping out of gigantic cakes aren’t her preferred entertainment. But the hired hottie never gets around to taking it all off . . . because someone takes him out first with one of Stan’s kitchen knives. A heartbroken Stan recognizes the victim as one of the delivery men from the local farm—who must have been moonlighting for some extra cash. Now the guest list has turned into a suspect list—and Stan’s making a vow to find the killer . . .

Includes Gourmet Pet Food Recipes!


Author Bio
Liz Mugavero has been writing stories since she could hold a pen. Before that, she would tell them to anyone who would listen (not many at the time). After deciding early on she would write books for a living, she practiced by writing bad, angst-filled poems, short stories and even a storyline for a soap opera–all by age 15. She never wavered from her goals despite all the usual questions including, “So are you going to be an English teacher with that degree in English?” or, “That writing thing sounds nice, but how are you REALLY going to make a living?”

She went on to get a master’s in writing and publishing and spent time in journalism, PR, and presently, corporate communications. And she’s confident this writing thing IS the way to make a living.

Aside from writing, she loves animals (has a houseful), the beach, reading other writers’ masterpieces and Starbucks coffee.

Author Links
Webpage – http://www.lizmugavero.com;
Twitter – https://twitter.com/lizmugavero;
GoodReads – http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6475412.Liz_Mugavero;
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/author.liz.mugavero/

Purchase Links
Amazon – B&N  – KoboGoogle PlayIndieBound

Giveaway

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Thursday, February 7, 2019

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - The Novel Art of Murder (Mystery Bookshop) by V.M. Burns

Book Synopsis
Mystery bookstore owner Samantha Washington is trying to keep her grandmother from spending her golden years in an orange jumpsuit . . . 

The small town of North Harbor, Michigan, is just not big enough for the two of them: flamboyant phony Maria Romanov and feisty Nana Jo. The insufferable Maria claims she’s descended from Russian royalty and even had a fling with King Edward VIII back in the day. She’s not just a lousy liar, she’s a bad actress, so when she nabs the lead in the Shady Acres Senior Follies—a part Nana Jo plays every year in their retirement village production—Nana Jo blows a gasket and reads her the riot act in front of everyone.

Of course, when Maria is silenced with a bullet to the head, Nana Jo lands the leading role on the suspects list. Sam’s been writing her newest mystery, set in England between the wars, with her intrepid heroine Lady Daphne drawn into murder and scandal in the household of Winston Churchill. But now she has to prove that Nana Jo’s been framed. With help from her grandmother’s posse of rambunctious retirees, Sam shines a spotlight on Maria’s secrets, hoping to draw the real killer out of the shadows.

Author Bio
V.M. Burns was born in Northwestern Indiana and spent many years in Southwestern Michigan on the Lake Michigan shoreline. She is a lover of dogs, British historic cozies, and scones with clotted cream. After many years in the Midwest, she went in search of milder winters and currently lives in Eastern Tennessee with her poodles. Her debut novel, The Plot is Murder was nominated for a 2017 Agatha Award for Best First Novel. Valerie is a member of Mystery Writers of America, International Thriller Writers, and a lifetime member of  Sisters in Crime. Readers can learn more by visiting her website at vmburns.com

Author Links:
Website:  http://www.vmburns.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vmburnsbooks/
Twitter:  @vmburns

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