Hot Tea, Rest, and Hallmark Movies

Basically, that's what I've been doing for the last two weeks; drinking hot tea, resting, and watching Hallmark Movies. 

Being under the weather is never fun but I am thankful for doctors, antibiotics, hot tea, warm blankets, and TV. I've been so out of it, I haven't even felt like reading much because the antibiotics give me brain fog and make me woozy. I'm content to lay on the couch, bundled up warm and snuggly with blankets and the remote. 

Today, the sun is shining bright and I can hear the wind whipping outside. It's a might deceptive though. I pulled my groggy body off the couch and stepped outside to feed the kitty and whoa! It's cold!!! I know the temps aren't like in some places but I rebel against them anyway. :-)

I hope y'all are staying warm. I've heard about some ridiculously arctic-type temps and wind chills happening in various places. I can't even imagine dealing with that kind of cold. Brrrr...

What's the weather like in your neck of the woods?

Review ~ Loving the Mysterious Texan: A Texas Lawman Romantic Suspense: Garrison's Law Book 5 by Mary Connealy

Kindle Edition, 216 pages

Published: January 14th 2019

Garrison's Law enters the Gothic Romance Genre. 
Amnesia, murder, treasure and ghosts.
A woman wakes up next to a dead man with no idea how she got there, who he is.....who SHE is. 

Grey Devereau drags a terrified woman out of his cousin's bed...his very dead cousin. It looks for all the world like she killed him. But then everyone who knows Victor wants to kill him eventually. Grey included. 

Lanny Cole, the young woman hired to research the history of the Devereau family, can't remember a thing. 

Grey steps in with an alibi and Lanny realizes that if Grey is her alibi, then she's his. She decides to trust him, but then she's suffered a head injury. So she's probably making one stupid decision after another. 

And then someone else dies. And a hurricane cuts them all off from help. And then someone else dies.... 

And the rumors of ghosts and treasure can't be true. Sure Grey saw the ghost, in fact, he's pretty sure the ghost saved his life as a child. But he was upset at the time and he doesn't believe in ghosts. 

Chills and thrills abound in an old island home built by a loathsome pirate. He's not a Garrison, but when he gets in trouble, he turns to his old friend Case Garrison for help. 

Garrison's Law just got spooky. 

About Mary Connealy

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is independently publishing a contemporary romantic suspense series called Garrison's Law, book one is Loving the Texas Lawman. Her new historical series, High Sierra Sweethearts begins with The Accidental Guardian. She is a two-time Carol Award winner and has been a finalist for the Rita and Christy Awards. She's a lifelong Nebraskan and lives with her very own romantic cowboy hero. She's got four grown daughters and four spectacular grandchildren.
Find Mary online at:
MaryConnealy.com | Seekerville | Petticoats & Pistols | Facebook | Blog

Review

4 stars

I genuinely enjoyed this modern day Gothic. It’s the fifth book in the Garrison’s Law series and the first one I’ve read. There is no trouble keeping up with characters as only one Garrison is in the book. So never fear. If you haven’t read the others you won’t be lost; unless you find yourself with amnesia, in a hidden tunnel, in inky blackness.

Connealy’s talent transcended any expectations I had when I started this book. Well known for her historical cowboy romances with a heavy dose of humor (which I am quite fond of), 

Loving the Mysterious Texan is dark and creepy. I was spellbound.

There are two drawbacks for me. The first is the speed in which the main characters ‘fall in love’. It’s pretty much immediate. You’ll see why it’s kind of far-fetched when/if you read it. Or you can read the comments of another reviewer on Goodreads who explains it all quite well. The second drawback is at the end of the story (even though this isn’t labeled a Christian book both characters have faith in God as in classic Bible believing Christians), the idea of ghosts being real is perpetrated. I wasn’t expecting that. If neither of those things are a deterrent, you might like this book as much I did or maybe even more.

I borrowed it through KU and didn’t have to leave a review but I appreciate the time and effort an author puts into writing a book. Even though I can’t give it 5 stars, I do wholeheartedly give it 4.

Anne & Rebecca Review ~ Code of Valor (Blue Justice #3) by Lynette Eason + Giveaway

Paperback, 336 pages

Publish January 1, 2019, Revell

What Detective Brady St. John really needs is a relaxing vacation. Unfortunately, just as the sun is setting on his second day at a friend's cabin on Lake Henley, he hears a scream and races to rescue a woman from her would-be killer. When the killer escapes only to return to finish the job, Brady vows to utilize all of his many resources to keep her safe--and catch those who would see her dead.

Financial crimes investigator Emily Chastain doesn't trust many people. And even though she let the detective who saved her life in on a few pertinent facts about why she was being attacked, there are some things you just don't share with a stranger. Little does she suspect that the secret she is keeping just might get them both killed.

Bestselling and award-winning author Lynette Eason sends readers on a race for the truth in this heart-stopping story of risk, regret, and redemption.

Rebecca's Review

4 STARS

"You really have no idea how beautiful you are, do you?"

Emily Chastain has overcome so many obstacles; one of which is her daily struggle to maintain any semblance of an healthy self image, so many experiences from her teen years silently taunting her with half-truths and lies. It's a good thing that she's a fighter, because when her past barrels uninvited into her present, her best friend goes missing, and she's kidnapped and drugged, it's going to take more than acute financial investigative skills to stay alive . . .. along with her hero several times over . . . . Detective Brady St. John.

Brady St. John is supposedly on a quiet vacation when terrorizing screams break the evening silence. Quickly assessing the situation, he dives into the nearby lake to rescue the young woman who has slipped over the side of a speedboat, escaping what appeared to be an assailant. The situation quickly escalates, propelling Emily and Brady into the cross hairs of a determined killer; for it's what Emily doesn't know, that has the potential to endanger the lives of those around her. 

What an exciting addition to the author's Code of Valor series; she has written in wonderful characters who are allowed the time to have deep, meaningful conversations; and she has crafted a story line that is guaranteed to keep the most seasoned sleuths happily perplexed, sitting on the proverbial "edge of their seats", until all the pieces of the puzzle glide into place. 

Book was provided courtesy of Baker Publishing through the Interviews & Reviews book review program.

Rebecca is a graduate of Bryan College with a degree in Christian Education and is currently serving at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gastonia, North Carolina as the Director of Children's Ministry. With over 30 years of experience in her field, she has had many opportunities to use her love of reading and writing in creative ways across the generations. A wife, mother of four "nearly" grown children, and grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren, Rebecca has been able to return to her love of reading and more recently reviewing, with a renewed passion for the "beauty of story".

Anne's Review

4 STARS

Code of Valor is a fast-paced suspense containing some intense scenes that are quite descriptive. From beginning to end, there is no lag time in this story. Eason’s writing is tight and detailed, showing her powerful skills with a pen or keyboard as it nowadays.

Even though I read the first two novels, I had a hard time keeping up with all of the characters in this one. There are a lot of them; good guys and bad guys. I’m still not sure I completely understand the complexity of the wrap-up other than it was about money but it’s still a page-turner I recommend to fans of Christian contemporary suspense. 

My friend, Rebecca, sent me a paperback copy but I also received an electronic copy from the publisher through Netgalley. No review required. No compensation received. 

GIVEAWAY RULES:

Please leave a comment thanking Rebecca for passing along her copy of the book. :-)

US ONLY (48 Contiguous states)

LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS!!! 

NO EMAIL, NO ENTRY!!! 
ENDS JAN 24

Rebecca Reviews ~ The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright

Publication Date: January 22, 2019
Bethany House Publishers

About the Story

Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, in 1908. When clues lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a post-mortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death.

A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother--who is battling dementia--compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman who haunts the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns--and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.

As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, can they overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined?

The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright

Rebecca's Review

5 STARS!!!

"You are the reason the voices are never heard. . . . . .come . . . come quickly." 

Two women, separated by time and eternity, yet inexplicably drawn together by a postmortem photograph and a cryptic letter crafted by one whose mind has become crippled beyond recognition. Both are determined to find answers to the question that continually rages in their minds; "who am I"? 

Dorothea Reed, orphaned at a young age and now a postmortem photographer, is drawn to the small town of Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin to search for clues about her birth mother, never imagining the trail would lead to the front door of a local mental asylum whose residents simply live in order to die. And then there are the unexplained sightings of a local woman who has been dead for years, the cursed Misty Wayfair. 

One hundred years later, Heidi Lane returns to her home town of Pleasant Valley after being summoned by her aging mother. Heidi has a myriad of questions about her past that she's not sure her remaining parent can answer; for it appears that someone, or something, is determined to destroy Heidi's thin thread of equilibrium. And what about that old photograph; the one she happened upon in the town's antique store, the woman could be her twin. 

It's so rare to read a book with this many layers . . . . and yet every single one of them carries its own weight so beautifully . . . . while together they appear as a single thread. It's magnificent to behold. 

"Fix your eyes on the target and let the arrow fly. The rest will follow." 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

Rebecca is a graduate of Bryan College with a degree in Christian Education and is currently serving at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gastonia, North Carolina as the Director of Children's Ministry. With over 30 years of experience in her field, she has had many opportunities to use her love of reading and writing in creative ways across the generations. A wife, mother of four "nearly" grown children, and grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren, Rebecca has been able to return to her love of reading and more recently reviewing, with a renewed passion for the "beauty of story".

Review ~ The Curse of Misty Wayfair by Jaime Jo Wright

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication: January 22nd 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

About the Story

Left at an orphanage as a child, Thea Reed vowed to find her mother someday. Now grown, her search takes her to Pleasant Valley, Wisconsin, in 1908. When clues lead her to a mental asylum, Thea uses her experience as a post-mortem photographer to gain access and assist groundskeeper Simeon Coyle in photographing the patients and uncovering the secrets within. However, she never expected her personal quest would reawaken the legend of Misty Wayfair, a murdered woman who allegedly haunts the area and whose appearance portends death.

A century later, Heidi Lane receives a troubling letter from her mother--who is battling dementia--compelling her to travel to Pleasant Valley for answers to her own questions of identity. When she catches sight of a ghostly woman who haunts the asylum ruins in the woods, the long-standing story of Misty Wayfair returns--and with it, Heidi's fear for her own life.

As two women across time seek answers about their identities and heritage, can they overcome the threat of the mysterious curse that has them inextricably intertwined?

Purchase Link:

CBD

My Review

5 STARS!!!

The Curse of Misty Wayfair is a shoo-in for my Top Ten in 2019 already! Wright wove just the right amount of creep factor in this ‘ghostly’ tale of lies, loves, and the living to keep me glued to the pages. My heart rate stayed elevated pretty much the whole time. Reluctantly, I admit to a bit of anxiety as I read along because the intrigue is of mountainous proportions but I simply couldn’t put the book down.

It has taken me over a week to process my thoughts about the story and the most revelatory conclusion I came to (not sure if anyone else has or will) is that the course of a family’s future can be dramatically changed from one seemingly innocuous lie. 

But then no lie is really innocuous, is it?

I marked some great passages for quotes and this is one that really struck me as true.

“That while the past—the consequences of the past—might have a dire effect on me, it still doesn’t change who I am. We weren’t created to find our identity in life. We were created to discover our Creator. In doing so, our identity is defined.” 

~Simeon Coyle, The Curse of Misty Wayfair, 306

Jaime Jo Wright continues to wow the literary world with her astonishingly enigmatic  time-slip stories.  She is a virtuoso at composing suspense resonating with hope and healing that can only come from the One who is the original Master Writer.

I received a copy from the publisher. No review was required. No compensation was received.

**Stuff & Nonsense (nor owner of said blog) is not affiliated in any way with CBD. 

Link is provided as a courtesy only.

Review ~ Flights of Fancy (American Heiresses #1) by Jen Turano

Paperback, 352 pages

Published January 1st 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

About the Book

Miss Isadora Delafield may be an heiress, but her life is far from carefree. When her mother begins pressuring her to marry an elderly and uncouth duke, she escapes from the high society world she's always known and finds herself to be an unlikely candidate for a housekeeper position in rural Pennsylvania.

Mr. Ian MacKenzie is known for his savvy business sense and has built his reputation and fortune completely on his own merits. But when his adopted parents are in need of a new housekeeper and Isadora is thrown into his path, he's unexpectedly charmed by her unconventional manner.

Neither Isadora nor Ian expected to find the other so intriguing, but when mysterious incidents on the farm and the truth of Isadora's secret threaten those they love, they'll have to set aside everything they thought they wanted for a chance at happy-ever-after. 

Purchase Link:

CBD

If you're on *Goodreads, the publisher is giving away 10 print copies. 

Enter to win at the following link -- 

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/show/287445-flights-of-fancy

My Review

4.5 STARS!!!

He had the sneaking suspicion her question was completely serious, which spoke volumes about her experience, or lack thereof, in the kitchen.

Delightfully engaging, Turano once again takes readers on a fanciful jaunt into the countryside with an heiress seeking anonymity from an unsuitable suitor. But fanciful isn’t the only thing going on here. What struck me most about this story is Isadora’s journey to becoming better—a better person, that is.

While many assumptions are made about Isadora’s abilities (or inabilities as the case may be), one thing she is not in want of is self-examination. And when ‘Izzie’ finds herself lacking, she owns up to it and changes. Her transformation is miraculous; like a butterfly emerging from its chrysalis. Along the way, there is plenty of entertainment and laughter which is classic Turano style.

Ian MacKenzie is a successful businessman hoping to climb even higher by marrying a society girl. His adoptive parents own the farm where Isadora is masquerading as a housekeeper and he spends a lot of time there helping them out. Shenanigans are happening in the area, some that turn rather dangerous. But amidst it all, Ian also discovers there is more to life than climbing the proverbial social ladder.

Christian fiction is all the better for the added addition of Jen Turano’s books. Each one has its eccentricities, making them exceptionally entertaining while faith in the Lord is woven skillfully throughout as well. It’s never overdone, like Izzie’s attempts in the kitchen. J

I highly recommend Flights of Fancy to historical fiction fans. It’s a sweet treat if there ever was one! I was gifted a copy from the publisher and author with no expectation of a review. No compensation has been received.

*Stuff & Nonsense (nor the owner of said blog) has no affiliation or influence with the giveaway on Goodreads. Link is provided as a courtesy only.

Pressing Me Out of My Comfort Zone

Amy's 20th birthday

As many of you know, my daughter passed away 6 1/2 years ago at age 28 after a lifelong battle with multiple disabilities. Two months after Amy's death, I participated in a workshop taught by the talented writer/author Alice Wisler on Writing the Heartache. This workshop freed a fountain of words that poured out of me. 

Over the next 10 months or so, I continued writing and showed some of my scribbling (for lack of a better word) to a couple of author friends and was encouraged by them to take my writing to the next level and submit a couple of articles for publication. They were super kind in offering advice and even critiques but my deep-seated fear of rejection and lack of confidence kept me from taking that next step, until God intervened.  

In October 2018, I was contacted by the founder and senior editor of the online publication Broken but Priceless:The Magazine asking me if I would be their guest writer in January. My initial thought was "I am not a writer" and that's what I responded back to Erin. She told me to pray about it because as she was praying about who to ask, I kept coming to mind. That gave me pause. Even though we are friends on social media, I had never spoken to Erin about writing. 

Embracing this opportunity the Lord provided, I emailed Erin back to tell her I would do it even though I couldn't imagine why anyone would want to read what I write. For many, it wouldn't seem like a big deal or even a challenging thing to do. For someone who fears rejection and lacks confidence, it's a big thing. I have much to learn about the craft of writing but I know this is the path I am supposed to be on at this time. Where it will lead, I don't know for sure. But I know the One who does and that is good enough for me!

Philippians 4:13 ~ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

If you would like to read my article titled Grief is not Temporary, you can sign up for your FREE copy of the magazine to be delivered to your inbox. Erin Elizabeth Austin and those who write regularly for Broken but Priceless share a much needed ministry encouraging those who live with chronic illness or are caregivers for someone suffering a chronic illness/disease. 

If you are in a hurting and/or desert place, I hope that you'll find refreshment among the stories shared by these women. I know I've been encouraged by their faith and fortitude in the face of their many trials and tribulations. May God bless you and keep you and make His face shine upon you and give you peace. Amen!

Here is the link to the magazine if you would like to sign up>>>Broken but Priceless Ministries

SALE!!!! An Hour Unspent by Roseanna White

Bethany House Publishers (September 4, 2018)

Once London's top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war. But not until he rescues a clockmaker's daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.

Evelina Manning has constantly fought for independence, but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiancé to end the engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clockwork repair with her father, she can't help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems.

As 1915 England plunges ever deeper into war, the work of an ingenious clockmaker may give England an unbeatable military edge--and Germany realizes it as well. Evelina's father soon finds his whole family in danger--and it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape.

ON SALE -- E-BOOK-- .79!!!!

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON

CBD

I don't know how long the sale will last so hurry over before it ends!

ALWAYS double check the price before you buy!

WINNERS!!!

TAMMY G won the autographed copy of Flights of Fancy by Jen Turano!!!

CAROL Z won the Kindle copy of The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz!!!

Thanks to all who entered the giveaways and the fun conversation about funny or odd Christmas gifts on Jen's interview. If you would like to stay informed of future giveaways, please sign up to follow the blog through GFC or email. Both options can be found in the right sidebar. 

Happy New Year!!!