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The Spark Of Love (Mesquite Springs #3) Review

My Review

Amanda Cabot has put so many wonderful books out over the years and I have read them all.
I always get excited when I see she has an upcoming book ready to publish as her books are ones not to miss.
The Spark Of Love is the third and final book in the Mesquite Springs series and I am sorry to see it end but greatly anticipate what she’ll have out next.
I enjoyed my time in the little town of Mesquite Springs and meeting it’s residents.
This book taking place in the Texas Hill Country is full of intrigue,action,suspense and believable characters.
This is a great conclusion to the trilogy and though it can easily be read as a standalone it makes for such fun reading to read the whole series.

Pub Date: 01 Mar 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

GoodReads Synopsis

When a spurned suitor threatens her, heiress Alexandra Tarkington flees New York for Mesquite Springs in the Texas Hill Country, where her father is building a hotel. But the happy reunion she envisions is not to be as her father insists she return to New York. Instead, Alexandra carves out a niche for herself in town, teaching schoolchildren to paint and enjoying the company of Gabe Seymour, a delightful man she met on the stagecoach.

But all is not as it seems. Two men, each with his own agenda, have followed her to Mesquite Springs. And Gabe is an investigator, searching for proof that her father is a swindler. When a series of apparent accidents threaten her life, Alexandra and Gabe will have to work together to discover the truth. And perhaps along the way they will discover that the sparks of attraction they’ve felt from the beginning are more than sparks–they’re love.

Bestselling author Amanda Cabot invites you back to 1850s Texas for this exciting and heartwarming tale of treachery, love, and learning to trust. 

Amazon Buy Link

About The Author

With both parents avid readers, it’s no surprise that Amanda Cabot learned to read at an early age. From there it was only a small step to deciding to become a writer. Of course, deciding and becoming are two different things, as she soon discovered. Fortunately for the world, her first attempts at fiction, which included a play for her fifth grade class entitled “All About Thermometers,” were not published, but she did meet her goal of selling a novel by her thirtieth birthday. Since then she’s sold more than forty novels. When she’s not writing, Amanda enjoys sewing, cooking and – of course – reading.

Thank you for visiting. Have a wonderful day!

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Blog Tour For The Painter’s Girl By Helen Fripp

Today I am so excited to be a part of the blog tour for The Painter’s Girl by Helen Fripp.

My Review

The Painter’s Girl is set in Paris, 1860. Mimi Bisset grew up in the slums with an alcoholic mother.
She vows to never take that path for herself doing whatever job she can find to support herself, even though life has never been easy for her. A mother’s heart never forgets. Giving up her daughter has been the hardest thing she has ever done in her life though at the time she thought she was doing the right thing so her daughter will have a chance at a better life. Mimi is the darling of the circus life where she preforms but an unfortunate injury puts a stop to that. Always having had an interest in painting she’s pulled into the world of impressionist artists and the glamour that goes with it.
Life is rosy and bright with what looks to be a sure thing romance blooming but once again the sky darkens for her. When she discovers a secret has been kept from her she is outraged and can concentrate on nothing else. Her main objective is to have her daughter back with her and if this can’t happen nothing else matters in life.
The story is fast paced and I enjoyed the descriptions of the art world. I felt like I had gone on a little trip to Paris.
The book kept my attention and was hard to put down. I recommend this historical fiction.

Publication Date: March 22, 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own. 

Snyopsis

The Painter’s Girl: Absolutely heartbreaking historical romance set in Paris by Helen Fripp

‘I want to paint you,’ he whispers. In his high-ceilinged studio filled with golden light she takes in the canvases propped against every wall, the paints like jewels. She thinks of the pictures she longs to paint, of her lost little girl playing in sunlit gardens. Will she ever see her daughter again?

Paris, 1860s. For Mimi Bisset, survival is everything on the cobbled streets of the Paris slums. She tries to forget the pain of losing her daughter Colette: born out of wedlock and forcibly given away to a rich family. But Mimi’s world turns upside down after a chance encounter with handsome artist Édouard Manet. Boldly posing for portraits on Manet’s chaise longue, Mimi feels a wild freedom – and as Manet teaches her how to layer the vivid paints on canvas herself, a passion grows between them that breaks all the rules…

At Manet’s side, Mimi is caught up in his world. They dance all night at Paris’s new can-can clubs and drink absinthe at masked balls. But one day, strolling by the Seine on her lover’s arm, Mimi catches a glimpse of familiar green eyes… it’s Colette, with a family who Manet knew all along.

Although she’s reeling that the man she loved kept such a secret from her, Mimi is filled with hope she’ll finally get her daughter back. But when a terrible rumour begins to circulate about Mimi, the only place she has to go is back to the slums. Destitute, hungry and alone, can Mimi clear her name? Or will her heart shatter all over again when she loses her daughter for a second, final time?

A completely gripping and heartbreaking read that will whisk you away to 19th-century Paris. Perfect for anyone who loves Marie Benedict, Chocolat and Dinah Jefferies.

Buy links

Buy: https://geni.us/B09S6WH9N1social

Touring With These Blogs @bookouture

About The Author

I love delving into the past and uncovering new stories, and in my writing, the tiniest historical detail can spark an idea for a whole chapter. My female characters rail against the social constraints to which they are subject and often achieve great success, but they are of course flawed and human, like the rest of us. It’s the motivations, flaws, loves and every-day lives of my characters that I love to bring life, against sweeping historical backdrops – and I will find any excuse to take off and research a captivating location or person for my next story.

My first novel is set in the Champagne region in France, and I’m currently working on my next one, set in late eighteenth century Paris. I spent a lot of time in France as a child, have lived in Paris and spent a year with my family in a fishing village in South West France, so that’s where my books have ended up being set so far. Who knows where next!

Author social media

Twitter: https://twitter.com/helenfripp

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/helen.frippauthor.3

Thank you for visiting today. Have a wonderful day!

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The White Girl- Review

My Review

“Australia’s leading indigenous storyteller makes his American debut with this immersive and deeply resonant novel, set in the 1960s, that explores the lengths we’ll go to save the people we love—an unforgettable story of one native Australian family and the racist government that threatens to separate them.”
The author writes with an unmatched authenticity of a lifetime of residency in Australia.
The author is not afraid to lay the truth on the line in “The White Girl” . Though fiction, it is based on Australia’s not to distant past when the government had a racist policy of separating Indigenous children from their family. Today we know this as Stolen Generations.
The story focuses on one family, a grandmother who has raised her granddaughter after her mother disappears. We can feel the strength,courage and love these women have.
These characters will inspire us to be strong and remind us a little kindness goes a long way.
Highly recommended!

Pub Date 15 Mar 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

GoodReads Synopsis

Odette Brown has lived her whole life on the fringes of a small country town. After her daughter disappeared and left her with her granddaughter Sissy to raise on her own, Odette has managed to stay under the radar of the welfare authorities who are removing fair-skinned Aboriginal children from their families. When a new policeman arrives in town, determined to enforce the law, Odette must risk everything to save Sissy and protect everything she loves.

In The White Girl, Miles-Franklin-shortlisted author Tony Birch shines a spotlight on the 1960s and the devastating government policy of taking Indigenous children from their families.

About The Author

Born Australia

Website

https://www.tony-birch.com/

Tony Birch is the author of Ghost River, which won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Indigenous Writing and Blood, which was shortlisted for the Miles Franklin Award. He is also the author of Shadowboxing and three short story collections, Father’s Day, The Promise and Common People. In 2017 he was awarded the Patrick White Literary Award. Tony is a frequent contributor to ABC local and national radio and a regular guest at writers’ festivals. He lives in Melbourne and is a Senior Research Fellow at Victoria University.

Does this sound like something you’d be interested in reading?

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Drawn By The Current(Windy City Saga #3) Review

My Review

Drawn by the Current is another amazing book in the Windy City Saga by Jocelyn Green.
The reason I love this author’s book so much is that though historical fiction they are based on true events. We find a wonderful mixture of fact and fiction effortlessly mixed into this book with plenty of research into details to back up her writing.
Another one taking place in Chicago she reawakens the tragedy of the SS Eastland, a passenger ship used for touring, capsizing on 24 July 1915. Many lives were unfortunately lost. close to 1,ooo. The author’s writing honors these passengers and crew members lives.
I was captivated while reading this page-turner , may we never forget the victims of this tragedy.
This is one of my absolute favorite authors. This story is worth staying up late for.


Pub Date 01 Feb 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own. 

GoodReads Synopsis

A birthday excursion turns deadly when the SS Eastland capsizes with Olive Pierce and her best friend Claire on board. Hundreds perish during the accident, and it’s only when Olive herself barely escapes that she discovers her friend is among the victims.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, Olive returns to her work at an insurance agency and is soon caught up in the countless investigations related to the accident. But with so many missing, there are few open-and-shut cases, and she tries to balance her grief with the hard work of finding the truth. Is she just overwhelmed, or is someone trying to impede her investigations? When clues surface that impact those closest to her, how deep will she dig?

Newspaper photographer Erik Magnussen begins helping Olive with her cases, and they develop a fast friendship. Just when Olive begins to unravel the secrets, more setbacks arise. It will take everything she’s got to find the truth and stay ahead of those who want to sabotage her progress.

About The Author

Jocelyn Green is a former journalist who puts her investigative skills to work in writing both nonfiction and historical fiction to inspire faith and courage.

The honors her books have received include the Christy Award in historical fiction, and gold medals from the Military Writers Society of America and the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association.

Complex and nuanced characters, rich historical detail and twisting plots make her novels immersive experiences. Her fiction has been praised by Historical Novel Society, Romantic Times, Library Journal, historians specializing in her novels’ time periods, as well as popular and acclaimed authors Laura Frantz, Lori Benton, Jody Hedlund, Sarah Sundin, Joanne Bischof, Julie Lessman, and more.

Jocelyn loves Broadway musicals, the color red, strawberry-rhubarb pie, Mexican food, and well-done documentaries. She lives in Iowa with her husband, two children, and two cats she should have named Catticus Finch and Purrman Meowville.

Visit her at jocelyngreen.com.

Amazon buy link here

Thank you for stopping by. Have a wonderful weekend.

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First Line Friday-The Tobacco Wives

Happy Friday, welcome. Today I am featuring The Tobacco Wives by Adele Myers.I have seen great reviews for this one but haven’t read it yet. I’d love for you to join me and list the first line of the book you are currently reading in the comments then jump over to Reading Is My Super Power and find some other great First Line Friday books as well.

For the audience of Fiona Davis and Lisa Wingate, a vibrant historical debut set in 1946 North Carolina following a young female seamstress who uncovers dangerous truths about the Big Tobacco empire ruling the American South.

“Myers brilliantly seduces us with her setting—a North Carolina town of beautiful socialites, opulent dresses, and elegant soirees—before revealing a terrible secret that threatens the entire community. This is a story of courage, of women willing to take a stand in the face of corporate greed, and most definitely a tale for our times.” —Fiona Davis, New York Times bestselling author of The Lions of Fifth Avenue

Maddie Sykes is a burgeoning seamstress who’s just arrived in Bright Leaf, North Carolina—the tobacco capital of the South—where her aunt has a thriving sewing business. After years of war rations and shortages, Bright Leaf is a prosperous wonderland in full technicolor bloom, and Maddie is dazzled by the bustle of the crisply uniformed female factory workers, the palatial homes, and, most of all, her aunt’s glossiest clientele: the wives of the powerful tobacco executives.

When a series of unexpected events thrusts Maddie into the role of lead dressmaker for the town’s most influential women, she scrambles to produce their ornate gowns for the biggest party of the season. But she soon learns that Bright Leaf isn’t quite the carefree paradise that it seems: A trail of misfortune follows many of the women, including substantial health problems. Although Maddie is quick to believe that this is a coincidence, she inadvertently uncovers evidence that suggests otherwise.

Maddie wants to report what she knows, but in a town where everyone depends on Big Tobacco to survive, she doesn’t know who she can trust—and fears that exposing the truth may destroy the lives of the proud, strong women with whom she has forged strong bonds.

Shedding light on the hidden history of women’s activism during the post-war period, at its heart, The Tobacco Wives is a deeply human, emotionally satisfying, and dramatic novel about the power of female connection and the importance of seeking truth. 

. Does this sound like a book you’d be interested in? Leave your first line in the comments below. Have a great weekend and thanks for stopping by.

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The Lighthouse on Moonglow Bay (Moonglow Bay #3)Review

My Review

We once again return to Moonglow Cove, Texas,a beautiful and charming area. With the breeze coming off of the water and the delicious out of the way seafood restaurants that are so unpretentious you’re sure to want to stay awhile to sample all there is to offer.
The view from the lighthouse is fabulous.
I love stories about sisters and this one is a hit.
Sisters who are estranged get a very unexpected inheritance from their grandmother.
The thing of it is there are conditions with it and they must be followed to the specifications listed or it’s all forfeited .
These sisters haven’t seen each other for six years after an argument that left them not speaking.
One of the conditions is they must live together in the family lighthouse in Moonglow Bay and must reconcile. These women used to be the best of friends, the older one protecting and looking out for the younger one as they didn’t have the best home life growing up.
They soon realize being apart from each other they’ve missed out on so much in the lives of each other, like one of the sisters has a daughter leaving the other feeling sad and left out because she hadn’t known this.
Another strange condition of the will is the sisters must keep an old family starter mother sourdough alive and bake with it and enter a baking contest at the end of the summer.
What I loved about this book is it’s real honestly, the characters could be your neighbors or even yourself.
I could definitely see these situations happening in real life and the character interaction was so charming with a little dram mixed in.
The book has such a positive vibe to it though.
I love seeing strong,positive women. Very uplifting,positive and charming. A fun and entertaining book.
Can’t wait to read the next in the series!

Pub Date 15 Mar 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Amazon Buy Link

GoodReads Synopsis

Lori Wilde returns to Moonglow Cove, Texas, with a heartwarming novel about two estranged sisters who must come together after they receive a bizarre inheritance from their grandmother.

It was an inheritance neither sister expected–a lighthouse in Moonglow Cove, left to them by a grandmother they never knew! Harper and Flannery weren’t exactly best friends either. For years, Flannery had held down the home front, taking care of their sick mother and raising a daughter, while Harper sent nothing but checks. And after their mother’s funeral the two sisters had an argument that left them not speaking for six years–why, Harper didn’t even know she has a niece!

But life has a way of changing when you least expect it. And the sisters discover their grandmother’s will has a stipulation: the two of them must live there, work out their issues… and compete in baking challenges with a hundred-year-old sourdough starter. If either of them gives up, or fails to keep the starter alive, they lose the lighthouse. Will they be able to come together and see their grandmother’s wish come true? Or will these two sisters forever be estranged? 

About The Author

BIO

Lori Wilde is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers’ Weekly bestselling author of 97 works of romantic fiction. Her writing has won numerous awards and her books have been translated into 26 languages, with more than four million copies of her books sold worldwide. Her series The Wedding Veil Wishes inspired three movies from Hallmark starring Lacey Chabert, Autumn Reese, and Alison Sweeney. The movies broke viewing records for Hallmark.

Lori is a registered nurse with a BSN from Texas Christian University, along with a Master in Liberal Arts from the same university. She holds a certificate in forensics and is also a certified yoga instructor. A sixth-generation Texan, Lori lives with her husband, Bill, in the Cutting Horse Capital of the World.

Thank you for stopping by today.

Does this sound like a book you would enjoy reading? Which are your favorite books by this author?

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Until Leaves Fall In Paris Review

Amazon Buy Link

My Review

With so many historical fiction ww11 books out there knowing which books to give your time to can be a daunting task. Not a problem with Sarah Sundin’s books though with each one meticulously researched they are automatic reads for me.
I was intrigued with this one starting with the gorgeous cover.
I am a big fan of books that grab my attention by being unique and this one definitely is.
American ballerina Lucie Girard is a ballet dancer in Paris but knows she must leave the ballet to protect the Jewish owners so they can escape the Natzi’s advance towards Paris in 1940 so she buys their bookstore, Green Leaf Books .
We meet Paul a widower and his precious young daughter who is so smart.
His daughter convinces him to go to Lucie’s bookshop which is where they meet. Paul is an American as well living in Paris who just wants to return home but has been convinced to keep his factory running and while doing so obtains military information from his German customers.
Sparks fly but Lucie is convinced Paul is siding with the German’s to whom he sells his vehicles to.
I loved everything about this book as it really drew me in.
The plot is incredible and we find as we read we become wrapped up in the resistance,sabotage,hiding RAF pilots,hidden messages in books, an incredible escape that you could just feel the tension from.
The author is a master at taking you along with her on her writing journey because you are going to experience what she is writing about as though you are there.

Highly recommended!

Pub Date 01 Feb 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

GoodReads Snyopsis

When the Nazis march toward Paris, American ballerina Lucie Girard buys her favorite English-language bookstore to allow the Jewish owners to escape. The Germans make it difficult for her to keep Green Leaf Books afloat. And she must keep the store open if she is to continue aiding the resistance by passing secret messages between the pages of her books.

Widower Paul Aubrey wants nothing more than to return to the States with his little girl, but the US Army convinces him to keep his factory running and obtain military information from his German customers. As the war rages on, Paul offers his own resistance by sabotaging his product and hiding British airmen in his factory. But in order to carry out his mission, he must appear to support the occupation—which does not win him any sympathy when he meets Lucie in the bookstore.

In a world turned upside down, will love or duty prevail?

About The Author

Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling author of Until Leaves Fall in Paris (February 2022), When Twilight Breaks (2021), the Sunrise at Normandy series, and three more World War II series.

Sarah’s novels have received starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, and Booklist. When Twilight Breaks and The Land Beneath Us were finalists for the Christy Award, The Sky Above Us won the 2020 Carol Award, and When Tides Turn and Through Waters Deep were both named to Booklist’s 101 Best Romance Novels of the Past 10 Years.

A mother of three, Sundin lives in California and enjoys speaking to community, church, and writers’ groups. Sarah serves as Co-Director for the West Coast Christian Writers Conference. Please visit Sarah at http://www.sarahsundin.com, on Facebook at SarahSundinAuthor, on Twitter at @sarahsundin, and on Instagram at @sarahsundinauthor.

Thank you for stopping by today.

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Can’t Wait Wednesday

Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we’re excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they’re books that have yet to be released. 

I have really been looking forward to reading this one……..

Paperback, 384 pages

Expected publication: May 10th 2022 by Sourcebooks Landmark

Amazon Buy Link

From GoodReads

Women’s work is a matter of life and death

Nora Beady, the only female student at a prestigious medical school in Bologna, is a rarity. In the 19th century women are expected to remain at home and raise children, so her unconventional, indelicate ambitions to become a licensed surgeon offend the men around her. Under constant scrutiny, Nora’s successes are taken for granted; her mistakes used as proof that women aren’t suited to the field.

Everything changes when she allies herself with Magdalena Morenco, the sole female doctor on-staff. Together the two women develop new techniques to improve a groundbreaking surgery: the Cesarean section. It’s a highly dangerous procedure and the research is grueling, but even worse is the vitriolic response from men. Most don’t trust the findings of women, and many can choose to deny their wives medical care.

Already facing resistance on all sides, Nora is shaken when she meets a patient who will die without the surgery. If the procedure is successful, her work could change the world. But a failure could cost everything: precious lives, Nora’s career, and the role women will be allowed to play in medicine.

What are you looking forward to reading?

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WWW Wednesday 9 March 2022

Welcome to WWW Wednesday! This meme was formerly hosted by MizB at A Daily Rhythm and revived on Taking on a World of Words.

The Three Ws are:

What are you currently reading?
What did you recently finish reading?
What do you think you’ll read next?

So let’s get started shall we?

Currently Reading

Would you say it’s pretty obvious I’m behind on my NetGalley reviews? But there’s really no wrong time to read a book right? As long as we enjoy a book it can be read any time of the year in my opinion.

I am also reading this to post a review on the publication date.

This is what I finished recently

This one got a lot of hype but I wasn’t overly impressed with it.

I also finished this recently. It was a lovely feel good rom com I enjoyed a lot.

What’s On The Agenda next

This one sounds very interesting and informative.

I’ve really gotten into cozy mysteries lately. They are so much fun to read and try to figure out who did it and why.

What’s your thoughts on these books? Have you read any of them?

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Top Ten Tuesday-Books with my favorite theme/trope

This weeks topic is book with your favorite theme/trope. I enjoy lots of different themes so this week I’m choosing “People In Uniform” as my theme. Top Ten Tuesday is hosted by The Artsy Reader Girl so visit her blog to find some other great tropes this week.

My Top Ten People In Uniform books I’ve enjoyed.

These are exciting books I’ve read in one of my favorite tropes. What are some of your favorite themes/tropes to read?