#BookReview for “The Color of Ice” by Barbara Linn Probst ~ 5⭐️

Summary:

Set among the glaciers and thermal lagoons of Iceland, and framed by the magical art of glassblowing, The Color of Ice is the breathtaking story of a woman’s awakening to passion, beauty, and the redemptive power of unconditional love. 


The stunning new novel by the author of award-winning novels Queen of the Owls and The Sound Between the Notes . . .


Cathryn McAllister, a freelance photographer, travels to Iceland for a photo shoot with an enigmatic artist who wants to capture the country’s iconic blue icebergs in glass. Her plan is to head out, when the job is done, on a carefully curated “best of Iceland” solo vacation. Widowed young, Cathryn has raised two children while achieving professional success. If the price of that efficiency has been the dimming of her fire—well, she hasn’t let herself think about it. Until now. 


Bit by bit, Cathryn abandons her itinerary to remain with Mack, the glassblower, who awakens a hunger for all the things she’s told herself she doesn’t need anymore. Passion. Vulnerability. Risk. Cathryn finds herself torn between the life—and self—she’s come to know and the new world Mack offers. Commitments await her back in America. But if she walks away, she’ll lose this chance to feel deeply again. Just when her path seems clear, she’s faced with a shocking discovery—and a devastating choice that shows her what love really is.

Review:

“Barbara Linn Probst consistently delights each of our senses with her storytelling. I often know nothing of her subjects, but down the rabbit hole I fall. All of her stories are so original, smart and alluring. You always close her books in love with something new!

She has me filling up an imaginary art studio with works of art…picture it, the piano playing as you peruse the artwork and stories of Georgia O’Keefe and now truly exotic pieces of blown glass. She is creating a cohesive collection.

Her writing is so dynamic as we learn more about the characters she develops and we fall for them too. “The Color of Ice” is unique & original. She fights for a strong woman. I admire her work. I think you would, too!”

5 Stars.

About Author:

Barbara Linn Probst is an award-winning author of contemporary women’s fiction living on an historic dirt road in New York’s Hudson Valley. Her acclaimed novels Queen of the Owls (2020) and The Sound Between the Notes (2021) were gold and silver medalists for prestigious national awards, including the Sarton and Nautilus Book Awards. The Sound Between the Notes was also selected by Kirkus Reviews as one of the Best Indie Books of 2021. Barbara has also published over fifty essays on the craft of writing for sites such as Jane Friedman and Writer Unboxed, along with two nonfiction books. Her third novel The Color of Ice will be released in October 2022. Learn more on http://www.BarbaraLinnProbst.com.

Order Here:

https://amzn.to/3MGQS06

#BookReview & #AuthorInterview for “The Paris Library” by Janet Skeslian Charles ~ 5⭐️

Summary:

An instant New York Times, Washington Post, and USA TODAY bestseller—based on the true story of the heroic librarians at the American Library in Paris during World War II—The Paris Library is a moving and unforgettable “ode to the importance of libraries, books, and the human connections we find within both” (Kristin Harmel, New York Times bestselling author). 

Paris, 1939: Young and ambitious Odile Souchet seems to have the perfect life with her handsome police officer beau and a dream job at the American Library in Paris. When the Nazis march into the city, Odile stands to lose everything she holds dear, including her beloved library. Together with her fellow librarians, Odile joins the Resistance with the best weapons she has: books. But when the war finally ends, instead of freedom, Odile tastes the bitter sting of unspeakable betrayal.

Montana, 1983: Lily is a lonely teenager looking for adventure in small-town Montana. Her interest is piqued by her solitary, elderly neighbor. As Lily uncovers more about her neighbor’s mysterious past, she finds that they share a love of language, the same longings, and the same intense jealousy, never suspecting that a dark secret from the past connects them.

“A love letter to Paris, the power of books, and the beauty of intergenerational friendship” (Booklist), The Paris Library shows that extraordinary heroism can sometimes be found in the quietest places.

Review:

Have you ever read a book that you feel like you literally dove into it? Well, that’s what happened to me when I read “The Paris Library” by Janet Skeslian Charles.

I am definitely enamored by books that have either “Paris” or “library” in the title, And Janet’s novel has proven to be a favorite of mine. I felt like I waited for this book to be released forever.

This story takes place during World War II when the Nazis overtake Paris and the Americans are asked to leave Paris for their own safety. But, the librarians stay behind. They were considered the enemies, but they were true heroes. They were delivering books secretly in Paris to the soldiers fighting the Nazis.

I donate books to Operation Paperback and it’s the same idea (donating books to the soldiers and vets), but I had no idea how long this is been going on. I fell down the rabbit hole and discover it was going on definitely for several wars. Janet informed me it probably began during World War I.

While the Nazis were banning books and banning the delivery of books we had ordinary civilians, especially women that were making these books still come alive in the eyes of the soldiers. Between the characters humanity and heroism, I was often moved to tears. I always hope that if I was alive during these times I would choose to be doing the same thing. I believe words matter, stories matter and they help us get through really tough times. What these people in the library were doing was truly insurmountable, but they never turned away from their cause.

I loved to be reminded of the old library ways, before technology. It had me reminiscing quit a bit.

I was deeply in love with the character named, Lily. She had a bit of my heart in her. I was reminded of how important it is that we learn from our elders, that we ask them questions, and that we revel in their stories, because there’s a lot for us to learn. I’m gonna say it ~ I am a Lily! #TeamLily

Janet Skeslian Charles writes with such superb intent you will be moved. You will also be surprised that she hasn’t written 20 or more books, because she’s so talented.

There’s a quote that I adore in this book, Okay there’s a few. But, there is one that I’m absolutely in love with and I carry around with me every day. I am not going to give any way, because I want the reader to be as excited as I was reading it for the first time when they’re reading the book.

What Janet has to say really matters! I highly recommend this novel and following Janet Skeslian Charles to see what she brings us next. You’ll be so glad you did.

5 Stars.

About Author:

Janet Skeslien Charles divides her time between Paris and Montana. She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with family. 

The backdrop of her debut novel MOONLIGHT IN ODESSA is the booming business of email-order brides, an industry where love and marriage meet sex and commerce. 

Her second novel THE PARIS LIBRARY is based on the true story of the courageous librarians at the American Library in Paris during World War II. Janet learned about the story when she worked at the Library.

Interview:

https://www.facebook.com/Thewritereview/videos/440069027343086

Order Here:

https://amzn.to/3TfdBTv

#BookReview for Patricia Sands’ new novel, “The Secrets We Hide” ~ 5⭐️

Summary:

The deep traditions and values of Kaito Tanaka’s Japanese heritage are severely tested when he returns home to Honolulu from duty in Vietnam to find his wife, Hana, in the grip of progressive mental health challenges.

As Hana’s condition worsens, Kaito’s life becomes absorbed in protecting and caring for her and their daughter, Kiana. Hana becomes increasingly reclusive while their daughter Kiana grows troubled and rebellious. A friend’s mysterious death followed by Kiana’s sudden disappearance cut deeply into Kaito’s soul. Meditation is Kaito’s drug of choice. Secrecy hides the truth from others but Kaito’s commitment to Hana is unwavering.

As years go by, Kaito begins to make an annual pilgrimage to a Buddhist retreat in Koyasan that renews his spirit. In the end, a serendipitous coincidence there opens the door to happiness – if he can allow himself to accept it.

“Set against lush backdrops in Hawaii, Japan, Corsica, and the south of France, this beautiful story of resilience perfectly balances the heartbreak and destruction of mental illness with the compassion and serenity of an unforgettable hero.” Barbara Claypole White, bestselling author of The Perfect Son and The Promise Between Us.

Review:

Do not miss Patricia Sands new novel “The Secrets We Hide”. It all begins with a gorgeous cover, which Patricia is known for. 
Then, Fall in love with the next deep, evocative, soul-stirring journey. What I enjoyed most was that this story was different than her others…yet, carried the same elements of endearing humanity between characters, huge heart and graceful beauty of each location!! Patricia is not only a great story teller, she creates characters you never want to say good-bye to and places you add to your bucket list to visit

Patricia Sands is one of my favorite authors! I love walking alongside her characters on their journey. 

Grab ”The Secrets We Hide” and see where on the globe Patricia takes us and what parts of your heart crack open!

5 Stars.

About Author:

Bestselling author Patricia Sands lives two hours north of Toronto, Canada, in The Blue Mountains, when she isn’t somewhere else, and calls the south of France her second home. An admitted travel fanatic, she can pack a bag in a flash and be ready to go anywhere … particularly the south of France. With a focus on travel, women’s issues and aging, her stories celebrate the feminine spirit and the power of friendship. 

Her award-winning 2010 debut novel, The Bridge Club, is a book-group favorite, and The Promise of Provence, which launched her three-part Love in Provence series (followed by Promises to Keep and I Promise You This), was a finalist for a 2013 USA Best Book Award and a 2014 National Indie Excellence Award, an Amazon Hot New Release in April 2013, and a 2015 nominee for a #RBRT Golden Rose award in the category of romance. Her fifth novel, Drawing Lessons, was released by Lake Union Publishing on October 1, 2017.
Lavender, Loss & Love, ~A Season of Surprises ~and The First Noel make up the the Villa de Violettes series, based on the Love in Provence characters.
The Bridge Club ~ Tenth Anniversary edition ~ was released in September 2021 and is now in Kindle Unlimited.

On August 25, 2022, her novel THE SECRETS WE HIDE will be released.

Sands also contributes to such Francophile websites as The Good Life France and Perfectly Provence and loves to visit Book Clubs either live or on ZOOM! Info on her website.

Find out more at Patricia’s Facebook Author Page, Amazon Author Page or her website. There are links to her books, social media, and a monthly newsletter that has special giveaways, photography from France, and sneak peeks at her next book. She loves hearing from readers.

Patricia has led six 10-day tours of the French Riviera and the countryside of Provence. She will be co-hosting another ‘Sold Out’ women’s tour of Provence in September 2021 with her good friend Deborah Bine aka The Barefoot Blogger. 

Find out more at Patricia’s Facebook Author Page, Amazon Author Page, Goodreads or her blog where you will find links to her books, social media, and monthly newsletter. She loves hearing from readers, so don’t hesitate to email her.

Follow Patricia at the links below:

Instagram: @psands.stories

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorPatriciaSands

Website: https://patriciasandsauthor.com

Join Patricia’s Monthly Newsletter!! One you do not want to miss!! It is one of my favorites each month: https://www.subscribepage.com/v3p4z6

Book Trailer:

Order Book Here:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3CGtcFQ

Barnes & Nobles: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-secrets-we-hide-patricia-sands/1141743924?ean=2940185732144

KOBO: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-secrets-we-hide-3

Universal Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/u/4jgJnD

Apple: https://books.apple.com/us/book/the-secrets-we-hide/id6443186571

#BookReview, #AudibleReview, #Interview & #Giveaway for Jamie Gehring’s “Madman in the Woods” ~ 5⭐️

Summary:

A haunting account of the sixteen years when a young Jamie Gehring and her family lived closer than anyone to Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, sharing their Montana land, their home, and their dinner table with a hermit with a penchant for murder–and Gehring’s investigative quest twenty-five years later to reclaim a piece of her childhood by answering the questions, why, how?

As a child in Lincoln, Montana, in the 1980s and ’90s, Jamie Gehring had no idea that Ted Kaczynski–the self-sustaining hermit in the adjacent cabin–was anything more than the neighbor who brought her painted rocks as a gift. Ted was simply Ted, and erratic behavior, surprise visits, and chilling events while she was riding horses or helping her dad at his sawmill were dismissed because he was “just the odd hermit.” He was, in fact, the Unabomber, for seventeen years mailing explosives to strangers, the longest-running domestic terrorist in American history.

As an adult with this knowledge, the innocence of her youth robbed, Gehring needed to reconcile her lived experience with the evil that hid in plain sight. In this book, through years of research probing Ted’s personal history, his writings, his secret coded crime journals, her own correspondence with him in his Supermax prison cell, plus interviews with others close to Kaczynski, Gehring unearths the complexity, mystery, and tragedy of her childhood and the hermit on the hill. And she discovers a shocking revelation–she and her family were in Kaczynski’s crosshairs.

A work of intricately braided research, journalism, and personal memories, this book is a chilling response to the question: Do you really know your neighbor?

Review:

See the world of Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber through the eyes of his young neighbor, Jamie Gehring, while he lived in Lincoln, Montana. Jamie knew him since she was a toddler until his arrest when she was 16. 

The story that she shares with us is personal in both a heartfelt and terrifying way. Your heart will warm and then chill one paragraph later. It is such a moving read.

I read Jamie Gehring’s book and then I listened to it on audible because I really enjoyed “Madman in the Woods”. Once I heard she was the audible narrator, I couldn’t wait to hear this Ted Kaczynski story in Jamie’s voice. 

She is so heartfelt as the narrator. I was impressed with her on the Netflix Unabomber Documentary, so I knew she was special and had an on air talent.

There were times when I could hear her voice crackling because I could tell she wanted to cry but she was holding it all in. There were other times where I felt her angst so clearly I wanted to jump through my iPad and hug her. I felt her heart. She puts it all out on the paper.

“Madman in the Woods” is loving, touching, creepy and lyrically written. You can sense Jamie Gehring’s wish for a proper understanding to the Unabomber’s crimes and activities. 

She researched diligently back as far as his infancy and childhood because she wanted there to be an explanation for what he was doing besides simply being Evil. I felt her hearts cry seeking that answer, just so much as I am sure Ted’s family wished, too.

Wait until you see what a gifted writer she is. Jamie has a certain tempo to her story. I loved how she makes you slow down at certain parts and really listen to what she is saying. I was enamored. She was reminding us how important these parts were to Ted’s story, and to her story!! I would tear up.

This true crime story is written like no other I have read. There is a sense of heart in the undertow of this devastation.  The warmth that the author shares breaks your heart. We have to remember that this is not just Ted story; it’s Jamie story of the entire Gehring’s family. It is a story about the victims.

I am honored and touched that she shared her story with us. And I’m sure you will feel the same way. 

There are so many books on the Unabomber, this is by far my favorite. I think it’s because of the seriously intimate writing. It’s almost like it can’t quite possibly be real, but it is. That is the significance of the story. Not many of us are neighbors of a killer. She makes this awareness clear.

Also, I’d like to add that this wasn’t a story about the Unabomber written in a clinical fashion like so many others. Jamie writes with such a personal narrative of her memories and interactions with Ted. I felt every emotion as she walked the path of life with him around the same woods she lived.

She also discusses all of her sources, which will easily lead you to more if you choose to fall down the rabbit hole like I was when I found her book.

I am left deeply satisfied now, maybe my quest is over. I have learned so much in her story about the Unabomber. My thirst for knowledge about Ted Kaczynski is fulfilled at the moment. I was addicted, so this is such a relief. I’m so happy I found Jamie’s book.

I will admit that I’m addicted to Jamie Gehring’s solace voice among this tragic story.

I want to say on behalf of the United States, I am very grateful to the Gehring family. And thank you Jamie for opening your world so that we may have a better understanding of America’s most awful terrorist, serial killer, well; Madman in the Woods!

5 Stars.

LEAVE A COMMENT FOR A CHANCE TO WIN AN AUDIBLE COPY OR SELF-LOVE PACKAGE!

About Author:

Jamie Gehring is a Montana native who grew up sharing a backyard with Ted Kaczynski, the man widely known as the Unabomber. She was featured in Netflix’s Unabomber—In His Own Words where she discussed her family’s role in Ted’s capture.

Her childhood was spent in endless exploration of a backyard held in common with the Unabomber—a serial killer obsessed with dismantling technological society. 

Book Trailer:

https://www.facebook.com/McHorsky/videos/1237026687148204

Order Here:

https://amzn.to/3s7UK0O

“Annie’s Antics” Live Interview with guest, Jamie Gehring:

https://www.facebook.com/groups/worldofthewritereview/permalink/1720236355022861

To Keep in Contact with Jamie Gehring-

https://www.instagram.com/jamiegehringauthor/

https://www.facebook.com/jamiegehringauthor/

and of course, her website

https://www.jamiegehring.com/

#BookTour, #NewRelease & #BookReview (#Tissues) for Alison Ragsdale’s “The Child Between Us” ~ 5⭐️

Summary:

My beautiful girl, you are my missing piece. You came into my life and changed everything, placing your warm little hand in mine, and looking up at me with your sky-blue eyes, so full of hope. Little did we know what lay ahead, but for a while at least, we had each other…

When I first met you, darling Marina, you were just five years old. You took my breath away, with your long, dark waves and pink cheeks. You needed me, and I instantly knew I’d do anything to protect you. When six years ago, my heart was shattered, I was left utterly broken – but I didn’t know just how lost I was until you filled that hole in my heart.

You quickly became the centre of my world, your sweet laugh my favourite sound. But then things started to change… I put my pain down to work stress, but when the diagnosis came through it was worse than I could ever have imagined.

Our world is about to come crashing down around us, little one, and I don’t know how to stop it. I’ve finally discovered the truth behind the betrayal that rocked me to my core all those years ago. The pain of my past could be the one thing that saves us – or tears us apart. We’re just becoming a family, Marina, should I risk everything to trust the one person who hurt me? They could be your only hope.

We only have each other… But if I don’t make it, what will happen to you?

The Child Between Us is a heart-wrenching story about an impossible choice and what it really means to be a mother. Readers who love Kate Hewitt, Jodi Picoult and Diane Chamberlain will be utterly gripped.

Publication Day: September 28th, 2022

Review:

Alison Ragsdale truly enjoys bringing us through life experiences that teach us compassion, empathy and how to understand the human condition in a more loving manner.
I feel as though her stories make me a better person. She shares lessons on the importance of family and love, in general. Anything that makes me think about being a better, more understanding or forgiving person is a book that I would always recommend. So, I am highly recommending this story.
At the center of “The Child Between Us” you’ll meet a Mother, sisters and a child.
I don’t know where Alison Ragsdale comes up with these genius scenarios. I’m always left thinking deeply.
Behind the doors of families there is always something going on that isn’t being shared with the world. Alison Ragsdale brings these to light. She makes you stare in the mirror and ask yourself “What would I do?”.
Her tear inducing, soul-stirring, moving stories have you investing in Kleenex tissues.
Don’t miss Alison Ragsdale’s novel that may leave a painful ache in your heart, but will make you appreciate family so much more leaving that ache to warm you up and call a family member of your own.
Alison’s ultimate lesson is always love. I highly recommend this book.


Thank you Bookouture & NetGalley for the Advanced Reading Copy.

5 Stars.

#Bookouture #Netgalley #AlisonRagsdale #BookTour #TheChildBetweenUs #Tissues

About Author:

A former marketing executive, originally from Edinburgh, Alison now lives near Washington D.C. with her husband and dog. She was educated in England and holds an MBA from Leicester University.

For more information on upcoming books go to www.alisonragsdale.com.

 SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralisonragsdale

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/AlisonRagsdale

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisonragsdalewrites/ 

Bookouture Email Sign Up:https://www.bookouture.com/alison-ragsdale

Website:www.alisonragsdale.com

Order Here: https://geni.us/B0B63J99BRsocial

#BookReview for Robert Dugoni’s “What She Found” (Tracy Crosswhite Book #9) ~ 5⭐️

Summary:

An Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling series.

Solving a decades-old disappearance sets Tracy Crosswhite on a dangerous collision course with the past in a pulse-pounding novel by New York Timesbestselling author Robert Dugoni.

Detective Tracy Crosswhite has agreed to look into the disappearance of investigative reporter Lisa Childress. Solving the cold case is an obsession for Lisa’s daughter, Anita. So is clearing the name of her father, a prime suspect who became a pariah. After twenty-five years, all Anita wants is the truth—no matter where it leads.

For Tracy, that means reopening the potentially explosive investigations Lisa was following on the dark night she vanished: an exposé of likely mayoral graft; the shocking rumors of a reserved city councilman’s criminal sex life; a drug task force scandal compromising the Seattle PD; and an elusive serial killer who disappeared just as mysteriously as Lisa.

As all the pieces come together, it becomes clear that Tracy is in the midst of a case that will push her loyalties and her resilience to the limit. What she uncovers will come with a greater price than anyone feared.

Review:

Robert Dugoni always satisfies all my reading needs with his Tracy Crosswhite novels. Excitement, page-turner, likable characters, guessing until the very end! Robert Dugoni is one of my favorite authors!
She is back working in cold cases. These novels are always exciting and feel so true to life.
Tracy has always been one of my favorite characters and I’m so happy that Robert Dugoni is still writing novels with her as the protagonist.
She was the reason I fell in love with his writing to begin with, and I’ve never let go,

If you haven’t read any of his novels, I say you must! He is a keeper for the TBR list!

I just reviewed What She Found by Robert Dugoni. #WhatSheFound #NetGalley! I received a copy of this book from Thomas and Mercer via #NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

5 Stars.

About Author:

Robert Dugoni is the critically acclaimed New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and #1 Amazon bestselling author of the Tracy Crosswhite police series set in Seattle, which has sold more than 8 million books worldwide. He is also the author of The Charles Jenkins espionage series, the David Sloane legal thriller series, and several stand-alone novels including The 7th Canon, Damage Control, and the literary novels, The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell – Suspense Magazine’s 2018 Book of the Year, for which Dugoni’s narration won an AudioFile Earphones Award and the critically acclaimed, The World Played Chess; as well as the nonfiction exposé The Cyanide Canary, a Washington Post Best Book of the Year. Several of his novels have been optioned for movies and television series. Dugoni is the recipient of the Nancy Pearl Award for Fiction and a three-time winner of the Friends of Mystery Spotted Owl Award for best novel set in the Pacific Northwest. He has also been a finalist for many other awards including the International Thriller Award, the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, the Silver Falchion Award for mystery, and the Mystery Writers of America Edgar Award. Robert Dugoni’s books are sold in more than twenty-five countries and have been translated into more than thirty languages.

Website: www.robertdugoni.com

Twitter: @robertdugoni

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorRobertDugoni

#BookReview for Sara Ackerman’s Newest Release “ The Codebreaker’s Secret“ ~ 5⭐️

SUMMARY:

A brilliant female codebreaker. An “unbreakable” Japanese naval code. A pilot on a top-secret mission that could change the course of WWII. The Codebreaker’s Secret is a dazzling story of love and intrigue set during America’s darkest hour.

1943. As war in the Pacific rages on, Isabel Cooper and her codebreaker colleagues huddle in “the dungeon” at Station HYPO in Pearl Harbor, deciphering secrets plucked from the airwaves in a race to bring down the enemy. Isabel has only one wish: to avenge her brother’s death. But she soon finds life has other plans when she meets his best friend, a hotshot pilot with secrets of his own.

1965. Fledgling journalist Lu Freitas comes home to Hawai’i to cover the grand opening of the glamorous Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, Rockefeller’s newest and grandest project. When a high-profile guest goes missing, Lu forms an unlikely alliance with an intimidating veteran photographer to unravel the mystery. The two make a shocking discovery that stirs up memories and uncovers an explosive secret from the war days. A secret that only a codebreaker can crack.

REVIEW:

Sara Ackerman does it again with THE CODEBREAKER’S Secret. I love heading to Hawaii and learning more about the history there. Sara always brings up things that I never knew existed.

Sara introduces us to another sensational part of the history Through a dual timeline that relations. In the earlier years bringing Isabell Cooper I’m on the codebreakers reading the code from the enemy during World War II. She lost her brother and it’s full of vengeance but then she meets her brother’s best friend Mateo and things start to change course.

1965 is a year when a Hawaiian hotel owned by the Rockafellers has a guest go missing and only a couple breakers I can figure things out. I had fun reading about something that involves the Rockefellers boating, being from Long Island, New York. Sara is always teaching me about “firsts”.

Thank you Sara Ackerman for bringing Hawaii to life and taking me away with a book I did not want to put down.

5 Stars.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Website

http://www.ackermanbooks.com/

Twitter

ackermanbooks

Sara writes books about love and life, and all of their messy and beautiful imperfections. Born and raised in Hawaii, she studied journalism and later earned graduate degrees in psychology and Chinese medicine. She is the USA Today bestselling author of The Lieutenant’s Nurse and Island of Sweet Pies and Soldiers, with several more in the works. She blames Hawaii for her addiction to writing, and sees no end to its untapped stories. Sara lives on the Big Island with her boyfriend and a houseful of bossy animals.

#BookReview & #LiveInterview for “No Names to be Given” by Julia Brewer Daily ~ 5 Stars

Summary:

The widely anticipated debut novel by Julia Brewer Daily is a glimpse into the lives of women forced by society to gift their newborns to strangers. Although this novel is a fictional account, it mirrors many of the adoption stories of its era.

When three young unwed women meet at a maternity home hospital in New Orleans in 1965, they are expected to relinquish their babies and return home as if nothing transpired. Twenty-five years later, they are brought back together by blackmail and their secrets threatened with exposure—all the way to the White House.

Told from the three women’s perspectives in alternating chapters, we are mesmerized by the societal pressures on women in the 1960s who found themselves pregnant without marriage.

How that inconceivable act changed them forever is the story of No Names To Be Given, a novel with southern voices, love exploited, heartbreak and blackmail.

Review:

In a time where DNA testing and Ancestry research is becoming ever so popular again, here comes a novel that makes you want to jump down that rabbit hole further. This 3-4 decades long saga truly reaches into your soul so deeply. It pulls at your heart strings and turns the faucet of your tears on full blast! You better have tissues by your side.

I learned so much about parts of the American culture I was not aware of. Being only in the 1960s when it begins, I find myself ashamed of myself as an American for not knowing this has gone on. This is why I’m grateful for authors like Julia Brewer Daily. They find these nuggets of really super cool and interesting things to share with the world that we all should know. She does it with a little bit of mystery, even a thrilling moment here and there that will shock you. Her heart, warmth and value of friendship bleeds through the pages.

“No Names to be Given” takes a piece of history and teaches us a lesson by opening up her very own heart and weaving the gripping, enthralling & mesmerizing story. I couldn’t get enough, even down to the last sentence I wanted more.

What a show stopper in storytelling for a debut novel!

5 Stars..

CLICK PLAY TO WATCH REPLAY!

https://streamyard.com/mpczqz5f2tbi

#NewRelease & #BookReview for “Geographies of the Heart” by Caitlin Hamilton Summie ~ 5 Stars

Published by Fomite Press January 18, 2022

Summary:

From the author of the award-winning short story collection, To Lay to Rest Our Ghosts

Sarah Macmillan always puts family first, but she can’t quite stretch her arms wide enough to hold on to everyone as they all age: her career-minded, inattentive younger sister, Glennie; their grandparents, who are slowly fading; or a pregnancy Sarah desperately wanted. But it’s her tumultuous relationship with Glennie that makes Sarah feel the loneliest. She’d always believed that their relationship was foundational, even unbreakable. Though blessed with a happy marriage to Al, whose compassion and humor she admires, Sarah grows increasingly bitter about Glennie’s absences, until one decision forces them all to decide what family means—and who is family. Narrated by the chorus of their three voices, this elegantly told and deeply moving novel examines the pull of tradition, the power of legacies, and the fertile but fragile ground that is family, the first geography to shape our hearts.

Review:


I have to say that Caitlin Summie Hamilton has become a writer close to my very own heart. When reading her novel, expect to take your heart on a walk. She will touch places you may have forgotten you had. She may remind you of someone who has had to deal with what one of her characters is experiencing. 
Hamilton is so extraordinary at touching your soul and expressing her characters in a way that you are feeling them immensely. 
I was truly enamored with “Geographies of the Heart”!
I know I took part of my story in while reading, so I needed tissues. I have a feeling you may, too. #Tissues

5 Stars.

Author Bio:

Caitlin Hamilton Summie earned an MFA with Distinction from Colorado State University, and her short stories have been published in Beloit Fiction Journal, Wisconsin Review, Puerto del Sol, Mud Season Review, and Long Story, Short, and elsewhere. Her first book, an award-winning short story collection called TO LAY TO REST OUR GHOSTS, was released in August 2017 by Fomite. Her first novel, GEOGRAPHIES OF THE HEART, is from Fomite just released January 2022. She spent many years in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Colorado before settling with her family in Knoxville, Tennessee. She co-owns the book marketing firm, Caitlin Hamilton Marketing & Publicity, founded in 2003.

She is available to speak or lead workshops about book marketing & publicity or crafting short stories.

Caitlin’s Website: https://caitlinhamiltonsummie.com

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#NewRelease, #BookReview & #StampYourPassport for Baltimore, USA 🇺🇸 with ”Stand by Me” by Pat Simmons 

Published November 2nd, 2021 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Summary:

Acclaimed inspirational African American romance author Pat Simmons brings you a love story filled to the brim with everything you’re looking for: Emotional, poignant fiction that explores what it means to take care of familyChristian romance that delves into the connection between two peopleAn uplifting story about embracing love and giving others–and yourself–one more chanceWhen it comes to being a caregiver, Kym Knicely has been there and done that. Then she meets Charles Chaz Banks and soon learns that every caregiving situation is different. Chaz takes care of his seven-year-old autistic granddaughter, Chauncy. Although Kym’s attraction to Chaz is strong, she has to decide whether a romantic relationship can survive and thrive between two people at different stages in life. It’s a journey with a different set of rules that Kym has to play by if she and Chaz are to have their happily ever after and the faith and family they envision.

Review:


Pat Simmons delivers a totally satisfying story between the pages of the exceptional covers! 
This is the book to read on a crisp day, wrapped in a blanket with hot cocoa! This feels like the ideal times of year, although I can see myself grabbing this as I run to the beach!
This love story captured my attention and made sure I fell in love, too! 
“Stand by Me” will renew your hope or expand it…whichever you need.

I was given a copy of this book by the author in exchange for a fair and honest Review. 

5 Stars.