Dear Abby - On Height

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a good week!  I am doing fine.  It is beautiful spring weather here, and I am enjoying walks these days.

My Uncle Dave sent me a funny meme to share with you this week.   It shows a dachshund on stilts:  "Quarantine Day 58: I built myself a Doberman." 

This meme made me think about height.  As most of you know, I am a rescue and traveled across country to live with my Momma.  When she first saw me she loved me and she also said, "she's so tall!"  I am, of course, not tall by dog standards, but I am tall by dachshund standards.  I am a proud dachshund - Jack Russell mix dog.  Momma says I am the height of a Jack Russell and the length of a dachshund.  That sounds about right.  You can see my height in this picture -- I am standing (ahem, rear view of me!) by my late, great brother Barney Fife.  He was a standard dachshund.

I am not allowed to walk stairs or to jump up and down, although I do climb onto the (low) bed in the bedroom I share with Momma.   Here is another picture I found of me from my early days.  I was about one year old here.

I hope all is well with you and your pups, whether they are long and low or tall!  And I wish you a happy weekend.

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Book Review and Giveaway - Dali Summer by T.J. Brown

My Review
Dali Summer is a historical novel set in 1917 Cadaques, Spain.  It is the story of Dolors Posa, a quiet, reserved librarian who is living her life with tremendous caution.  Dolors was born out of wedlock and her mother committed suicide;  her grandmother, who raised her, instilled a sense of shame in Dolors. One summer Dolors' life changes as she meets a brother and sister who are "summer people" in Cadaques. The sister is a beautiful fortune teller and the brother is handsome, mysterious, and a bit more reserved. Dolors also meets a young painter (13 years old) on the beach named Salvador Dali.

I wanted to read this novel because the setting and characters sounded unique and interesting.  I love novels that feature art history and was intrigued by the Dali character.

This is a really unusual book.  Dolors became color-blind (she only sees black, white, and gray) as the result of a childhood accident. During the summer of 1917 she begins to have visions and headaches and sees vivid colors.  This is a big part of the story.  The visions add a bit of a magical realism element to the storytelling.

Dolors is a unique character.  She has such a strong sense of decorum that she is repressed and afraid to live.  Her grandmother is a thoroughly awful person who has treated Dolors badly all her life, and Dolors still lives her life according to her grandmother's wishes.  There are a couple of other characters in this book who are highly unsympathetic and who cause harm to Dolors (I won't say more, no spoilers) and I found some of these scenes difficult to read.

It was heartening to see Dolors break free of her grandmother's grip over the summer as the result of her new friendship with the summer people and a young Dali.  I enjoyed the book more as Dolors felt more freedom to live her life and pursue her own dreams.

The sense of time and place in Dali Summer is beautifully evoked by T.J. Brown.  I could really picture the small beach town from the author's description.

Dali Summer is a novel that will interest readers who are intrigued by art history and the early life of Salvador Dali, fans of historical fiction, and anyone who wants to spend some time in 1910's coastal Spain.

Book Synopsis
Her wild and vivid visions inspire an icon…
 
Nothing is more important to prim, colorblind Dolors Posa than family and living down the shame of her illegitimate birth, but when the sudden onset of fantastical visions threaten her sterling reputation, she must search for answers before the inhabitants of the tiny village of Cadaqués brand her as demente– crazy like her mother. In a quest to stop her hallucinations, she befriends a beautiful, intoxicating fortune teller and her handsome anarchist brother, as well as becoming a reluctant muse for thirteen-year-old Salvador Dali. In a summer that changes everything, Dolors must choose between her family’s reputation and a life filled with adventure, friendship, rapturous color and the possibility of love.
 
Set against the political upheaval of 1917 Spain, Dali Summer captures the fierce spirit of Catalonia, the generosity and stubbornness of its people and the blossoming promise of a woman who thought life was bland and empty and had long ago had passed her by.

 

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

Author Bio
Well behaved women rarely make history. Teri Brown lived that quote way before she ever even heard it. The two things she is most proud of, (besides her children), is that she jumped out of an airplane once and she beat the original Legend of Zelda video game. She is a novel writer, head banger, pet keeper, math hater, cocktail drinker, booty shaker, book reader, city slicker, food fixer, French kisser, rule breaker, wine sipper and word scribbler. She loves her husband, kitties and chocolate.
 
Find out more about Teri at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.


Giveaway 
One lucky reader will win a copy of Dali Summer (your choice - print or eBook).  The winner will be chosen to Rafflecopter entry (see below).  Giveaway ends midnight, 5/21.  The winner will be notified by email and needs to respond within 48 hours or a new name will be drawn.  Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Dear Abby - Videos Abby Likes: Dachshunds Take a Bath

Dear Friends,

I hope you are having a good week!  The big news here is that I got a B-A-T-H.  (Yes, I know how to spell -- at least certain words, like T-R-E-A-T and B-E-D. Those are good words!)  I have never liked baths.  When I first came to live with my Momma I would scramble to get out of the tub and end up accidentally scratching Momma's arms (oops, sorry about that!).  It was unusually warm earlier this week and Momma decided I needed a bath.

She put me in the tub and the bath went smoothly.  It was easier than I remembered!  And on a hot day it actually felt good.  This was a first!

Here's the surprising part of the story -- that night when Momma was in the shower I peeked up over the edge of the tub because I have decided that maybe I don't hate baths as much as I thought.  (I didn't get back in the tub -- but I did think about it.)

I found a dachshund video to share with you.  It features two miniature dachshunds who LOVE baths.  One of them even swims in the bathtub.  Before you visit the link, I will let you know that it is not a good idea for dachshunds to go on stairs or to jump -- it can hurt their backs!  But the excitement of these little doxies in the bathtub is well worth a share.



I hope you enjoyed this video.  If you have a dog, does your pup enjoy baths?

Love,

Abby xoxoxo

Book Spotlight and Giveaway - The Abolitionist's Daughter by Diane C. McPhail

Book Synopsis
In her sweeping debut, Diane C. McPhail offers a powerful, profoundly emotional novel that explores a little-known aspect of Civil War history—Southern Abolitionists—and the timeless struggle to do right even amidst bitter conflict.

On a Mississippi morning in 1859, Emily Matthews begs her father to save a slave, Nathan, about to be auctioned away from his family. Judge Matthews is an abolitionist who runs an illegal school for his slaves, hoping to eventually set them free. One, a woman named Ginny, has become Emily’s companion and often her conscience—and understands all too well the hazards an educated slave must face. Yet even Ginny could not predict the tangled, tragic string of events set in motion as Nathan’s family arrives at the Matthews farm.

A young doctor, Charles Slate, tends to injured Nathan and begins to court Emily, finally persuading her to become his wife. But their union is disrupted by a fatal clash and a lie that will tear two families apart. As Civil War erupts, Emily, Ginny, and Emily’s stoic mother-in-law, Adeline, each face devastating losses. Emily—sheltered all her life—is especially unprepared for the hardships to come. Struggling to survive in this raw, shifting new world, Emily will discover untapped inner strength, an unlikely love, and the courage to confront deep, painful truths.

In the tradition of Cold Mountain, The Abolitionist’s Daughter eschews stereotypes of the Civil War South, instead weaving an intricate and unforgettable story of survival, loyalty, hope, and redemption.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | IndieBound

Author Bio

Diane C. McPhail is an artist, writer, and minister. In addition to holding an M.F.A., an M.A., and D.Min., she has studied at the University of Iowa distance learning and the Yale Writers’ Workshop, among others. Diane is a member of North Carolina Writers’ Network and the Historical Novel Society. She lives in Highlands, North Carolina, with her husband, and her dog, Pepper.

 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Instagram

Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a copy of The Abolitionist's Daughter! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. 

Giveaway Rules 
– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on May 22nd. You must be 18 or older to enter. 
– Paperback giveaway is open to the US only. 
– Only one entry per household. 
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. 
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.  

Abolitionist's Daughter 

Book Review and Giveaway - The Lost Lieutenant by Erica Vetsch

My Review
The Lost Lieutenant is set in Regency period England (1813).  It is the story of Evan Eldridge, a war hero who ends up an Earl ... married to a woman he likes but barely knows, Diana Seaton. Their story is complicated by their pasts -- she is raising her late sister's illegitimate baby, while he has lingering issues (similar to PTSD) from the war.  They also have a real threat in the present day to contend with.

I wanted to read this novel because I love the Regency period.  I found it intriguing that much of the novel focuses on a male character instead of the typical female protagonist found in books set in this era.

The Lost Lieutenant was a lovely, satisfying read!  I really liked the characters, particularly Evan, who was brave and so fundamentally decent.  I enjoyed the slowly developing relationship between Evan and Diana, and their restoration of an abandoned manor house.  Their relationship with Diana's infant nephew was also a sweet aspect of their story.

The book is well written with a great deal of historical detail.  The author does an especially good job with consistent usage of early 19th century language.

The character development in The Lost Lieutenant is intriguing, as we get to know Evan gradually over the span of the book.  I especially enjoyed his interest in rescuing abandoned war horses.

I recommend The Lost Lieutenant for fans of historical fiction, and especially for anyone who enjoys Regency period settings.

Book Synopsis
Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.

Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn't have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there's something he can't quite remember. It's important, dangerous--and if he doesn't recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone's very life.

Readers who enjoy Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter will love diving into this brand-new Regency series filled with suspense, aristocratic struggles, and a firm foundation of faith.

Read an excerpt from Kregel by clicking here!
 
He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well?

Author Bio

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Twitter (@EricaVetsch), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

Giveaway