Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Altered To Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery) by Christina Freeburn

Book Synopsis

Looking for a craft cozy so memorable you’ll stay up late scrapping about it? Well, welcome to the town of Eden.

Faith Hunter, who is supposed to be planning her wedding, instead finds herself distracted by the town scrapbook she was commissioned to create. Eden’s oldest mystery, the founding family’s exodus nearly a hundred years ago, remains unsolved.

A search through the family’s abandoned mansion leads to the uncovering of bones on that very property. And then ex-boyfriend Steve Davis announces a surprise heir has staked a claim.

How can Faith not be distracted? Now she’s determined to dig up the truth left behind.

Because scrappers are multi-taskers extraordinaire, Faith can’t say no when family friend Wyatt Buford asks her to look into his deadbeat father’s disappearing act and his connection to the murder.

Her quest for answers unearths secrets past and present that some would prefer stay buried at any cost. Faith’s resolve to present the facts and nothing but about Eden’s history could lead to her own future being cut short.

See what I mean about memorable? Delve in to Eden and you’ll find a cozy you won’t soon forget.

Author Bio
The Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery series brings together Christina Freeburn’s love of mysteries, scrapbooking, and West Virginia. When not writing or reading, she can be found in her scrapbook room or at a crop. Alas, none of the real-life crops have had a sexy male prosecutor or a handsome police officer attending. 

Christina served in the JAG Corps of the US Army and also worked as a paralegal, librarian, and church secretary. She lives in West Virginia with her husband, children, a dog, and a rarely seen cat except by those who are afraid or allergic to felines.


Author Links:
Webpage: www.christinafreeburn.com
Blog: www.theselfrescueprincess.wordpress.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christina-Freeburn-Author/245592138834150
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChristinaFreeb1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/ChristinaFreeburn

Giveaway
(1) Print Copy - Altered To Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery) by Christina Freeburn - U.S. ONLY.  Ends 12/7.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Dear Abby - Famous TV Dogs: Snoopy

Dear Friends,

I hope you had a nice Thanksgiving!  I had a wonderful time with my family, and I am happy to be back visiting with you.

Snoopy is one of my favorite TV dogs.  He started out in the Peanuts comic strip by Charles Schulz in 1950.  Snoopy was inspired by Charles Schulz's dog Spike.  Snoopy was almost called "Sniffy," but there was another comic strip out with a dog named Sniffy.

Charles Schulz and his dog Spike

I like Snoopy's imagination.  He is sometimes an author, sometimes a flying ace, and sometimes just a very happy beagle.  Over the years, Snoopy has had over 100 alter egos!

Snoopy even had his own song, "Snoopy vs the Red Baron" (1966, by the Royal Guardsmen).  It went to number 2 on the Billboard chart.




Snoopy's first TV appearance was in A Charlie Brown Christmas on December 9, 1965.  He appeared in many other TV specials after that, including It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966), Charlie Brown's All Stars (1966), You're in Love, Charlie Brown (1967), He's Your Dog, Charlie Brown (1968), Snoopy Comes Home (1972), and many more.

Here is Snoopy from A Charlie Brown Christmas:

And he was featured prominently in It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, too:

One of my favorite things about Snoopy is his happy dance.  I have a happy dance too, but Snoopy's is much jazzier!



Are you a fan of Snoopy and his appearances in the Peanuts TV specials?  I would love to hear from you in the comments.

Have a wonderful weekend!  I look forward to visiting with you next Friday.

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - Etched in Tears (A Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery) by Cheryl Hollon

Book Synopsis

When a famous glass artist is murdered at his own exhibit, deadly secrets are put on display, and it’s up to glass shop owner Savannah Webb to see through a killer’s cover.

Celebrated glass artist Dennis Lansing is returning to St. Petersburg, Florida, for an exhibit at the world-renowned Salvador Dali Museum. His unique style of embedding document images in his art is at the vanguard of contemporary glasswork. But as Savannah’s first boyfriend and a former apprentice to her father, Dennis’s return home has her reflecting on the past—a trip down memory lane that takes a dark turn when Dennis is found murdered at the museum with an old reference letter from her father in his pocket. A search through her father’s records sheds new light on Dennis’s history, but it seems his present life wasn’t so transparent either. Now, with a gallery of suspects to consider, it’s up to Savannah to figure out who fits the mold of a murderer.

Author Bio
Cheryl Hollon now writes full-time after she left an engineering career of designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for creating glass art. In the small glass studio behind her house in St. Petersburg, Florida, Cheryl and her husband design, create, and produce fused glass, stained glass, and painted glass artworks. Visit her online at http://cherylhollon.com, on Facebook or on Twitter @CherylHollon. 

Purchase Links
Amazon  B&N Hudson Booksellers BAM IndieBound
This book will also available at Target and WalMart.

Giveaway
(2) Print Copy Etched in Tears (A Webb’s Glass Shop Mystery) by Cheryl Hollon.  Ends 11/29.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Dear Abby - Vintage Thanksgiving Dog Illustrations

Dear Friends,

I am taking next week off for some family time, but I wanted to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving and share a few vintage Thanksgiving illustrations of dogs.

Calling All Girls magazine from 1960.  A young girl shares the wishbone with her dachshund.

Calling All Girls magazine from 1962.  A girl eats Thanksgiving lunch while her dachshund watches from the window.  (I am sure he will get some food too!)

Betsy McCall paper doll page from McCall's magazine.   "Betsy has a wonderful Thanksgiving."  Little illustration of Betsy's dog Nosy.

Saturday Evening Post magazine from 1933.  Three beagles are determined to share the Thanksgiving turkey!

Household magazine from 1952.  A busy Thanksgiving kitchen is pictured, complete with the family's eager dog.

Two beagles in this A.E. Kennedy illustration succeed at pulling the turkey off the table!

Vintage Thanksgiving postcard of a bulldog watching a Turkey.

A happy little dog sits in a chair at Thanksgiving on this postcard.  "For what we are about to receive let us be Thankful."

This World War II vintage illustration is from 1945.  The family dog helps a mother and her son, a sailor, cook dinner.  The illustration is by J.C. Leyendecker.

This illustration, also by J.C. Leyendecker for The American Weekly magazine, shows a little boy carrying a turkey home - although his little terrier dog thinks it is for him.  This is a 1950 illustration.

A maid carries a turkey while the family's dog follows eagerly.  This illustration is dated 1905.

This postcard depicts a man in Pilgrim clothes bringing a pumpkin and basket of apples home, with the help of his dog.

I hope you enjoyed these vintage Thanksgiving dog pictures.  And more importantly, I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!   I am grateful for readers and friends here, and look forward to catching up with you again in a couple of weeks.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Book Review and Giveaway - Christy by Catherine Marshall

Book Synopsis
Some stories are evergreen, their themes and lessons standing the test of time and connecting with readers generation after generation. Reconnect with Catherine Marshall's beloved Christy as it celebrates its 50th anniversary with a new edition! 

As nineteen-year-old teacher Christy struggles to find acceptance in her new home of Cutter Gap, some see her-and her one-room school-as a threat to their way of life. Her faith is challenged and her heart is torn between two strong men with conflicting views about how to care for the families of the Cove. Yearning to make a difference, will Christy's determination and devotion be enough?

My Review
All readers have comfort books that they love and return to again and again.  Christy is one of those books for me.  I received a copy of this book from my parents long ago as a gift.  I was a young teen, and I read it over and over during my teen years.  When I heard that Christy was being re-released on its 50th anniversary, I was eager to re-read this favorite book again.

Christy tells the story of a young schoolteacher who leaves her home in Asheville, North Carolina to travel to the small mountain community of Cutter Gap.  There she teaches in a one room school, despite struggles from community members.  She also meets two very different men who interest her.  The book was inspired by Catherine Marshall's mother, Leonora Whitaker.

I love what the Marshall and LeSourd families write in the Forward to this book:

"The story of Christy ultimately presents this challenge:  Do I have the courage, the hope and the faith to step into my future - no matter where in the world that takes me?" (p. 14).  This is a lovely insight to the heart of this novel.

It was a delight to re-read this novel again after many years, and to visit Christy and the people of Cutter Gap.  Catherine Marshall was a gifted writer who especially excelled at creating a strong sense of place and vivid characters.  

This edition is lovely, and I especially liked the list of Characters and the two page map of Cutter Gap, Tennessee.  I think other readers will also find these book tools helpful as they read this long, rewarding novel.

I cannot recommend Christy highly enough for anyone who loves historical fiction, Christian fiction, or novels with strong and inspiring female characters.

Giveaway
Celebrate the new 50th anniversary edition of Christy by entering to win one of TWO $50 Visa cash cards (details below) and by attending a Facebook Live party on December 5!

TWO grand prize winners will receive:

• One copy of Christy
• One $50 Visa Cash Card

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on December 5. The winner will be announced at the Christy Facebook Live Party. RSVP for a chance to connect with authors who've been impacted by Christy and other readers, as well as for a chance to win other prizes!

RSVP today and spread the word-tell your friends about the giveaway and Facebook Live party via social media and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 5th!

I received a copy of this book from Litfuse.