It’s almost Halloween. It sure has come around again quickly. Are you reading anything scary this weekend? I couldn’t pass checking out this book from my local library this past week. I live in PA and have been a believer of ghosts since my childhood when I had an experience. It’s time for Book beginnings on Fridays! Whether you have a Halloween book or not, please share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading — or just a book you want to highlight.
My Book Beginning
The mansion known as Baleroy was built in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia in 1911 and was sold a few years later to the father of the present owner, GeorgeMeade Easby. Easby is proud of his mansion , and rightly so. The thirty-three room structure boasts a domed turret, a mansard roof, and ornamental decoration along with other unique architectural features. But the house islso believed to be one of the most haunted houses in America.
GoodReads Synopsis
Hauntings lurk and spirits linger in the Keystone State Reader, beware! Turn these pages and enter the world of the paranormal, where ghosts and ghouls alike creep just out of sight. Authors Mark Nesbitt and Patty A. Wilson shine a light in the dark corners of Pennsylvania and scare those spirits out of hiding in this thrilling collection. From apparitions of fires and soldiers struggling in the cold at Valley Forge, to ghostly children stalking dormitories at Gettysburg College, these stories of strange occurrences are sure to send a chill up your spine. Around the campfire or tucked away on a dark and stormy night, this big book of ghost stories is a hauntingly good read.
Are you doing any scary reading this weekend? Does this sound like a book you’d enjoy reading? Let me know in the comments.
Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend.
This small-town holiday novel will get you talking. We have a family that has to pull together during a stressful time and three generations of the Murphy women are up for the challenge. Because I enjoy the author’s writing style I am looking forward to reading her other books in this series to catch up on the back stories. I recommend this warm and fuzzy Christmas book to you.
Pub Date 26 Oct 2021 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.
GoodReads Synopsis
In the newest installment of New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey’s Peachtree Bluff series, three generations of the Murphy women must come together when a hurricane threatens to destroy their hometown—and the holiday season in the process.
When the Murphy women are in trouble, they always know they can turn to their mother, Ansley. So when eldest daughter Caroline and her husband, James, announce they are divorcing—and fifteen-year-old daughter Vivi acts out in response—Caroline, at her wits end, can’t think of anything to do besides leave her with Ansley in Peachtree Bluff for the holidays. After all, how much trouble can one teenager get into on a tiny island?
Quite a lot, as it turns out.
As the “storm of the century” heads toward Peachtree Bluff, Ansley and her husband, Jack, with Vivi in tow, are grateful they’re planning to leave for the trip of a lifetime. But Vivi’s recklessness forces the trio to shelter in place during the worst hurricane Peachtree has ever seen. With no power, no provisions, and the water rising, the circumstances become dire very quickly…and the Murphy sisters, who evacuated to New York, soon realize it’s up to them to conduct a rescue mission. With the bridges closed and no way to access Peachtree Bluff by land or air, they set sail on Caroline’s boat, The Starlite Sisters, determined to rebuild their beloved town—as well as their family.
In “pitch-perfect tones” (Publishers Weekly) and written with her signature Southern charm, New York Times bestselling author Kristy Woodson Harvey explores the magic of Christmas, the power of forgiveness, and the importance of family in a tale that reminds us that, no matter the circumstances, home is always where we belong—especially during the holidays.
About The Author
Kristy Woodson Harvey is the New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of seven novels including UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKY, FEELS LIKE FALLING and the Peachtree Bluff Series. Kristy is the winner of the Lucy Bramlette Patterson Award for Excellence in Creative Writing, a finalist for the Southern Book Prize, her work has been optioned for film and her books have received numerous accolades including:
She blogs with her mom Beth Woodson on Design Chic about how creating a beautiful home can be the catalyst for creating a beautiful life. Design Chic is the inaugural member of the design blogger hall of fame, sponsored by Traditional Home, and winner of Amara’s Best Luxury Blog, as chosen by Roberto Cavalli. She also loves connecting with readers on kristywoodsonharvey.com.
Harvey is a Phi Beta Kappa, summa cum laude graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s school of journalism and holds a master’s in English from East Carolina University, with a concentration in multicultural and transnational literature. Her writing has appeared in numerous publications and websites, including Southern Living, Traditional Home, Parade, USA Today, Domino, Our State and O. Henry. She has been seen in Today.com, Women’s Health,The Washington Post, US News and World Report, The Huffington Post,Marie Claire’s The Fix, Woman’s World, Readers’ Digest, Bustle, New York Live and North Carolina Bookwatch, among others.
She is a proud member of the Tall Poppy Writers, serves on the board of Beaufort Historical Association, and is a member of the University of North Carolina’s Women’s Leadership Council. She is a frequent speaker at fundraisers, book conferences and private events. She lives in North Carolina with her husband and seven-year-old son where she is working on her next novel.
Books from the Backlog is a fun way to feature some of those neglected books sitting on your bookshelf unread. If you are anything like me, you might be surprised by some of the unread books hiding in your stacks.
This weeks neglected book
The Fortune Teller’s Promise Other title (Before You Go) by Kelly Heard Published by Bookouture October 30, 2019 Genre Women’s Fiction.Literary Fiction Print Length 297 pages Format ARC Source NetGalley Amazon
About The Book
Western Virginia, 1979. Dell Shaw knows the relationship between a mother and daughter should be something warm, soft and safe. But her relationship with her former beauty queen mother, Anita, has never been like that. And then one day, Anita packs up and leaves home, abandoning Dell to look after her alcoholic father and grow up alone.
When Dell meets handsome Mason, who has his own scars, she begins to think she can build a new, happy family with him. A year later, she’s shocked to find herself heartbroken and alone with a new-born baby girl and only her mother to turn to. When Anita refuses help and instead arranges for the local church to take the baby away, Dell knows she won’t ever speak to her mother again.
But all that changes on the day Dell discovers her daughter is missing.
Anita knows where the child might be. There’s only one problem—Anita is in a coma, fighting for her life. As Dell divides her time between her mother’s bedside and searching for her daughter, she finds herself discovering new things about her past that make her wonder if she can forgive her mother after all. But will she be able to reconcile with her mother and find her daughter before time runs out?
An unforgettable and heart-wrenching debut about the endurance of love, the power of forgiveness, and finding beauty in the world around us. Your must-read book of 2019. Perfect for fans of Where the Crawdads Sing, Kristin Hannah and Kerry Lonsdale.
Why did I add The Fortune Teller’s Promise to my bookshelf?
I enjoy reading emotional page turners. Hopefully it’ll have a happy ending.
I’ve had this on my shelf for over two years and it’s not even 300 pages. I really need to get to this one.
Have you read this one or would you read it if you haven’t ?
Can’t-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted , 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. It’s based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.
I’ve started reading Christmas books for the season and what could be more fun than reading a combination of two of my favorite genres, Cozy Mystery and Christmas? My pick this week is, As The Christmas Cookie Crumbles
As The Christmas Cookie Crumbles
A Food Lover’s Village Mystery #5
Pub Date 09 Nov 2021
Beyond The Page Publishing
by Leslie Budewitz
Print Length 285 pages
Summary
Erin is one smart cookie, but can she keep the holiday spirit―and herself―alive till Christmas?
In Jewel Bay, all is merry and bright. At Murphy’s Mercantile, aka the Merc, manager Erin Murphy is ringing in the holiday season with food, drink, and a new friend: Merrily Thornton. A local girl gone wrong, Merrily has turned her life around. But her parents have publicly shunned her, and they nurse a bitterness that chills Erin.
When Merrily goes missing and her boss discovers he’s been robbed, fingers point to Merrily—until she’s found dead, a string of lights around her neck. The clues and danger snowball from there. Can Erin nab the killer—and keep herself in one piece—in time for a special Christmas Eve?
Includes delicious recipes!
Does this sound like a book you’d be interested in reading?
Let me know in the comments what book you’re waiting to read.
I am questioning myself why this is the first book I’ve read by this author and why I’ve just been introduced to the Twilight, Texas series. This book is an emotional overload and I LOVED it! I have a lot of catching up to do as this is the twelfth book in the series and I want to read them all. If you haven’t read an author before I believe reading a Christmas book by them is a great way to try them out as I believe author’s make their Christmas books a little more special. We start out at Christmastime in Twilight,Texas. It’s a beautiful time,cold,twinkling lights,everyone in a festive mood. Care takers of the living manger, friends Joel and Jana make a shocking discovery in the manger. A days old baby with a note from his mother saying she’ll return when she’s able to. As we get to know Joel and Jana we discover some baggage Jana has that’s she’s kept hidden all her life. As the couple take care of the baby jointly they make discoveries not only about each other but about themselves and how letting go and learning to trust can be accomplished. Who is the mother of the baby though and why has she abandoned her baby? Will she return to claim her baby? This is an emotional book with the responsibility of the baby along with Joel having such a profound effect on Jana, bringing to the surface memories she thought she had tucked away for good. If you read no other Christmas books this year I suggest you read this one!
Pub Date 26 Oct 2021 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own. #SecondChanceChristmas #NetGalley.
New York Times bestselling author Lori Wilde returns to Twilight, Texas, with a love story filled with the magic of the season, about a couple who discover an abandoned baby on Christmas Eve-Eve.
It’s Christmastime in Twilight, TX. The lights are twinkling, carols are being sung, and the cookies are baking. And this year, best friends Joel and Jana discover a shocking surprise: as they are organizing the living Nativity, they find a sweet little baby in the manger with a note saying the mother will return…soon.
Jana tucks the infant into her arms, and she and Joel make the impulsive decision to take the baby home. Jana is spontaneous, Joel is a planner, but they agree that it’s better to care for this precious bundle for the holidays, in hopes that the mother really will come back by New Year’s.
As the days pass, the pair begins to fall in love with the child and they’re also forced to face facts: their relationship goes far deeper than friendship. As the spirit of Christmas—and the magic of Twilight, TX—takes over, this unlikely couple must open up to the feelings they’ve been hiding from each other all along.
About The Author
Lori Wilde is an award-winning, New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers’ Weekly bestselling author of 96 works of romantic fiction. Her books have been translated into 26 languages, with more than four million copies of her books sold worldwide. Her breakout novel, The First Love Cookie Club, has been optioned for a TV movie, as well as her Wedding Veil Wishes series.
Lori is a registered nurse with a BSN from Texas Christian University. She holds a certificate in forensics and is also a certified yoga instructor. A fifth-generation Texan, Lori lives with her husband, Bill, in the Cutting Horse Capital of the World; where they run Epiphany Orchards, a writing/creativity retreat for the care and enrichment of the artistic soul.
It’s Tuesday! It’s time to share your excerpts and teasers from books we are currently reading, have read or are planning to read. So, feel free to join us by sharing the first paragraph or (a few) of a book you are reading or thinking about reading soon.
Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, now being hosted by Ambrosia at The Purple Booker. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!
I am on the first chapter of this one.
The excerpts are from the paperback version.
First Chapter…….
Sixteen year old Duff Martin was missing.
And his older brother Allen,and his mother Candi, were in a panic.
His bed hadn’t been slept in,Allen’s car was gone, and it appeared some of Duff’s clothes might be missing.
Candi was hysterical! Oh my God! What happened? Is this because of last night? We have to call the police.
Teaser
Duff Martin didn’t run away from home, but he was on a mission.
Something his mother said last night triggered a long-forgotten memory.
All he could think afterward was what if it was my fault.
And the only way he could know for sure was to go back to the place where it all began.
Synopsis from GoodReads
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Sharon Sala delivers her first holiday romance in the Blessings, Georgia series, where the glow of a small-town Christmas and excitement of a winter love story will warm your heart!
It’s been years since Wade Montgomery stepped foot in Blessings, Georgia, but the Blessings Christmas spirit is just like he remembers it. The whole town has come together to help his uncle after a disaster nearly destroyed the family business. Being back in Blessings reminds Wade of everything he’s been missing, especially when he runs into his old flame, Birdie Knox.
Bridgette “Birdie” Knox isn’t so eager to jump into the holiday season. Every year, she’s reminded of the secrets that tore her family apart. But with Wade Montgomery back in town, Birdie is starting to believe in Christmas magic. There’s no guarantee Wade will stick around, but if Birdie had her wish, she’d never have to say goodbye to him again.
Does this sound like a book you would want to keep reading?
Thank you for stopping by. Have a marvelous Tuesday.
This is a collection of three novella length Christmas stories in one book. I really enjoy the writing style of this author so these were a true delight to read. The stories had a common theme of second chance romances. The couples all had a past history but due to some hurts and misunderstandings they went their separate ways. Being that it’s Christmas time with joy being in the air it seems like the perfect time for a second chance at the possibility of love working out this time. Some of these couples meeting up again was by mere coincidence but the outcome had the couples talking out the past and putting it behind them. You can’t always forget what happened in the past but you can forgive what happened. I recommend these sweet holiday romances.
Pub Date 26 Oct 2021 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.
GoodReads Summary
Three fan-favorite Jill Shalvis novellas are together for the first time in this holiday anthology!
One Snowy Night It’s Christmas Eve and Rory Andrews is desperate to get home to her family. Problem is, her only ride to Lake Tahoe comes in the form of the annoyingly handsome Max Stranton, her long-time crush, and his big, goofy, lovable dog. A long road trip in a massive blizzard might be just what they need to face their past…and one steamy, snowy night is all it takes to bring Max and Rory together at last.
Holiday Wishes When Sean O’Riley shows up for his older brother’s bachelor weekend, the last person he expects to see is Lotti Hartford, the woman he lost his virginity to a decade ago. As the weekend continues, Sean realizes he wants to leave his hook-up life behind, but can he convince Lotti to open her heart to him again?
Mistletoe in Paradise Years after their secret fling ended, Hannah isn’t eager to see James during their families’ annual joint holiday-themed yacht adventure. But when they’re the only people who show up, James and Hannah are stuck together on the high seas for days. As the former lovers try to make the best of the Christmas snafu, they soon realize the best things in life can’t be planned, and sometimes love is sweeter the second time around.
Multiple New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jill Shalvis lives in a small town in the Sierras full of quirky characters. Any resemblance to the quirky characters in her books is … mostly coincidental. Look for Jill’s bestselling, award-winning heartwarming and full of humor novels wherever books are sold and visit her website for a complete book list and daily blog detailing her city-girl-living-in-the-mountains adventures. Her most recent book, ALMOST JUST FRIENDS, was just published last month and her next book, THE SUMMER DEAL, comes out in June.
There is so much going on in this historical novel it’s really hard to know where to start. Young Emma Swan becomes a sculptress during WW1 in a male dominated field. The author has written with an authenticity in all of his historical novels and continues the tradition with this one as well. Emma is a character who is hard to get a handle on, she has relationships with men and she either doesn’t care about them or they don’t care about her. The one man she loved didn’t give her the love and respect she needed so she has soured on men. Despite how much she has going for her I don’t think she is a truly happy person. Emma settles into making masks for disfigured soldiers returning from war so they can have a somewhat normal life after the ravages of war. There is so much betrayal taking place here, from a friend,from men,she herself doing it. I enjoy reading about flawed characters but I want to see how they have spiritual and mental awareness and growth and it was not shown in this book. There are also some hard to read about subjects here. Overall I did enjoy the book.
Pub Date: 23 Feb 2021 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.
GoodReads Summary
From acclaimed author V.S. Alexander comes an absorbing, immersive novel set during World War I, as a talented and ambitious artist finds an unusual calling.
May 1917 The elegant streets of Boston are thousands of miles away from the carnage of the Western Front. Yet even here, amid the clatter of horse-drawn carriages and automobiles, it is impossible to ignore the war raging across Europe. Emma Lewis Swan’s husband, Tom, has gone to France, eager to do his duty as a surgeon. Emma, a sculptress, has stayed behind, pursuing her art despite being dismissed by male critics. On the bustling sidewalk she spies a returned soldier. His brutally scarred face inspires first pity, and then something more–a determination to use her skill to make masks for disfigured soldiers.
Leaving Boston for France also means leaving behind Linton Bower, a fiery, gifted artist determined to win her. Emma’s union with Tom has been steady yet passionless, marred by guilt over a choice she made long ago. In Paris, she crafts intricate, lifelike masks to restore these wounded men to the world. But in the course of her new career she will encounter one man who compels her to confront the secret she’s never revealed, not even to Tom. Only by casting off the fa�ade she has worn for so long can she pursue a path through heartbreak and turmoil toward her own unexpected future. . . .
Praise for V.S. Alexander’s The Traitor
“Alexander brings his signature commitment to historical accuracy to The Traitor , immersing readers in the intrigue of the resistance. Fans of Anthony Doerr’s All the Light We Cannot See and Alex Rosenberg’s The Girl from Krakow will fall under the spell of this powerfully moving novel.” — Booklist
I’m happy to share my historical women’s fiction with you thanks to Kensington Publishing. My novels feature strong women protagonists whose lives take them on incredible journeys in settings fraught with danger and intrigue. Along the way, they learn about life, love, and themselves.
My writings include: The Magdalen Girls (2017), The Taster (2018), The Irishman’s Daughter (2019), The Traitor (2020), and The Sculptress (2021). Two more novels are scheduled for the coming years. I hope you enjoy reading my books as much as I enjoy writing them.
Excellent,excellent Southern historical fiction. The 1930’s is not an easy time for anyone but especially the colored folks in Parsons, Georgia. It’s an unbearably hot summer and folks are just trying to make it through the best they can especially Opal Pruitt, a young black woman working as a housekeeper, coming of age during a very turbulent time. She lives with her granny , a very religious woman who keeps her in line. I loved granny’s character the most . She is an incredibly strong willed and religious woman that everyone has a tremendous amount of respect for. The book is so heartwarming yet heartbreaking at the same time. The black family unit in this book is so strong, very protective of each other. Very religious. Change is coming though, the Klan is moving in and these innocent people are right in their path though they’ve minded their own business and done nothing to provoke it. It’s sad to see how many years have passed in time and how the unjust behavior continues to this day, and we call ourselves progressive? Though this book takes place in the 1930’s these subjects are still relevant today. It’s a haunting read with it’s tragedies but very realistic . When will we realize this behavior benefits no one and needs to change? Excellent book I recommend to you!
Pub Date 13 Apr 2021 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.
GoodReads Summary
This summer has the potential to change everything.
The summer of 1936 in Parsons, Georgia, is unseasonably hot, and Opal Pruitt can sense a nameless storm coming. She hopes this foreboding feeling won’t overshadow her upcoming eighteenth birthday or the annual Founder’s Day celebration in just a few weeks. As hard as she works in the home of the widow Miss Peggy, Opal enjoys having something to look forward to.
But when the Ku Klux Klan descends on Opal’s neighborhood of Colored Town, the tight-knit community is shaken in every way. Parsons’s residents—both Black and white—are forced to acknowledge the unspoken codes of conduct in their post-Reconstruction era town. To complicate matters, Opal finds herself torn between two unexpected romantic interests, awakening many new emotions. She never thought that becoming a woman would bring with it such complicated decisions about what type of person she wants to be.
In When Stars Rain Down, Angela Jackson-Brown introduces us to a small Southern town grappling with haunting questions still relevant today—and to a young woman whose search for meaning resonates across the ages.
Angela Jackson-Brown is an award winning writer, poet and playwright who teaches Creative Writing and English at Ball State University in Muncie, IN. She is a graduate of Troy University, Auburn University and the Spalding low-residency MFA program in Creative Writing. She is the author of the novel Drinking From A Bitter Cup and has published in numerous literary journals. Angela’s play, Anna’s Wings, was selected in 2016 to be a part of the IndyFringe DivaFest and her play, Flossie Bailey Takes a Stand, was part of the Indiana Bicentennial Celebration at the Indiana Repertory Theatre. She also wrote and produced the play It Is Well and she was the co-playwright with Ashya Thomas on a play called Black Lives Matter (Too). In the spring of 2018, Angela co-wrote a musical with her colleague, Peter Davis, called Dear Bobby: The Musical, that was part of the 2018 OnyxFest in Indianapolis, IN. Her book of poetry called House Repairs was published by Negative Capability Press in the fall of 2018, and in the fall of 2019, she directed and produced a play she wrote called Still Singing Those Weary Blues. Her new novel, When Stars Rain Down, to be published by Thomas Nelson, an imprint of HarperCollins, is forthcoming in 2021.
Thank you for stopping by. I hope your day is great!
Barbour has an amazing series of books out called Heroines of WW11, of which this is one. These are brave women who risk it all for a very important cause during the time period of WW11. The author writes with a passion for her work rarely seen now a days. Immaculately researched we find a photojournalist who is bored with her assignments in London as she photographs mothers standing in ration lines. Wanting more and to make a difference she jumps at the chance to go to France. We can feel the tension in the story as the Nazis are here and they are determined to wipe out every “insignificant person”. Determined to get to the front line photojournalist, Nellie enlists Jean-Paul Breslau of the French underground but there are many detrimental happenings in the pathway including finding a sweet, hidden special needs child. Nellie will do everything in her power including giving her life to keep the children safe from the advancing Nazis. Absolutely amazing book. I have read many WW11 books but none quite like this. This story will stay with me! I also enjoyed reading the author notes at the back of the book telling which part of the story was based on truth. Fascinating, I’ve learned a lot reading this book.
Pub Date 01 Oct 2021 I was given a complimentary copy of this book. Thank you. All opinions expressed are my own.
GoodReads Summary
A Photojournalist Risks Her Life to Save a Very Special Child
Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.
Journalist Nellie Wilkerson has spent the bulk of the war in London, photographing mothers standing in milk lines—and she’s bored. She jumps at the chance to go to France, where the Allied forces recently landed. There she enlists Jean-Paul Breslau of the French underground to take her to the frontlines. On the journey, they stumble upon a great tragedy, leaving a girl with special needs being orphaned.
Can Nellie and Jean-Paul see the child to a safe haven while being pursued by the Nazis, who are pressed by the advancing Allies and determined to destroy all they can before they flee?
Liz Tolsma has lived in Wisconsin most of her life, and she now resides next to a farm field with her husband, their son, and their two daughters. All of their children have been adopted internationally and one has special needs. Her novella, Under His Wings, appeared in the New York Times bestselling collection, A Log Cabin Christmas. Her debut novel, Snow on the Tulips, released in August of 2013. Daisies Are Forever released in May 2014. When not busy putting words to paper, she enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping with her family. Please visit her blog at www.liztolsma.blogspot.com and follow her on Facebook and Twitter (@LizTolsma). She is also a regular contributor to the Barn Door blog.
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Vegan Book Blogger 