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 Blog Tour for The Secret Pianist by Andie Newton

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Secret Pianist

Sisters. Traitors. Spies.

When a British RAF Whitley plane comes under fire over the French coast and is forced to drop their cargo, a spy messenger pigeon finds its way into unlikely hands…

The occupation has taken much from the Cotillard sisters, and as the Germans increase their forces in the seaside town of Boulogne-sur-Mer, Gabriella, Martine and Simone can’t escape the feeling that the walls are closing in.

Yet, just as they should be trying to stay under the radar, Martine’s discovery of a British messenger pigeon leads them down a new and dangerous path. Gaby would do anything to protect her sisters but when the pianist is forced to teach the step-daughter of a German Commandant, and the town accuses the Cotillards of becoming ‘Bad French’ and in allegiance with the enemy, she realizes they have to take the opportunity to fight back that has been handed to them.

Now, as the sisters’ secrets wing their way to an unknown contact in London, Gaby, Martine and Simone have to wonder – have they opened a lifeline, or sealed their fate?

Readers can’t get enough of USA Today bestselling author Andie Newton:

‘A brilliant tale of resistance, sisterhood and dangerous secrets. Andie Newton is a master storyteller!’ Sara Ackerman, USA Today bestselling author of The Codebreaker’s Secret

‘If you believe every WW2 story has already been told, think again. This one is special.’ Paulette Kennedy, bestselling author of The Witch of Tin Mountain

MY THOUGHTS

The Secret Pianist is historical fiction at its finest. Sisters Gaby, Martine and Simone Cotillard live in northern France. After their aunt passed away, they continue to live in her house and run her seamstress shop as they are accomplished seamstresses themselves.

When we think of war animals we think of horses and dogs, this one involves carrier spy pigeons. A common enough thing used during the war; the pigeons were trained to carry secret messages to a set destination. One of the sisters finds a British messenger pigeon that had dropped from a plane involved in Operation Columbia. She and her sisters decide the keep the pigeon and use it to send messages back to London.

The book had so many twists and turns I hadn’t seen coming. When there is a terrific hardship such as this neighbors turn on neighbors. Who can you trust, who is ready to turn you in to the Germans.

Each sister has a backstory and plays an important role in the story Gabriella is an accomplished pianist and has been made to give piano lessons to the Commandant’s stepdaughter, which of course gets the neighbor’s tongues wagging.

The book is so detailed, I could vividly picture all that was going on. Some surprising things happened that I wouldn’t have expected. Well-developed characters, I could feel my heart beating faster as I read. Tension, tenacity, suspense and a slight bit of romance. Based on true occurrences and well researched.

Excellent book, I wish I could give it more than 5 stars. I’m on the hunt for more books by this author.

Pub Date 12 Jan 2024
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Purchase Links

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/47WCr2t

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/3SEGjzL

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/3Esf2Iy

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Author Bio –

Author Bio: Andie Newton is the USA Today bestselling author of A Child for the Reich, The Girls from the Beach, The Girl from Vichy, and The Girl I Left Behind. She lives in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with her family. When she’s not writing gritty war stories about women, you can usually find her trail-running in the desert and stopping to pet every Yellow Lab or Golden Retriever that crosses her path. Andie is actively involved with the reading and writing community on social media. You can follow her on X (Twitter) @andienewton and Instagram, or check out her author page on Facebook.

Social Media Links –

(Twitter) @andienewton, Instagram, Facebook.

Publisher links:

One More Chapter:

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HarperCollinsUK:

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HarperCollins360 US:

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Two Christmas cozy mystery reviews for you: A Nutcracker Nightmare (A Killer Chocolate Mystery Book 2) and The Twelve Suspects of Christmas: a heartwarming Provence cozy mystery perfect for the holiday season

250 pages BooksGoSocial October 20,2023 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Grannies, gangsters, murders—and a rollicking journey across France!

It’s January 4, 1961, and Marseilles housemaid Annie Malian is in love. It’s also the day her fiancé René takes his life under peculiar circumstances.

Many decades later, an old Christmas postcard addressed to Annie arrives, and all her doubts come flooding back.
At 84, there’s no time to waste!
Annie enlists the help of Rose Tassy, an eccentric retired teacher and amateur sleuth.
Thus begins an unforgettable journey from Provence to a quaint village in Picardie and then on to the sparkling Riviera, with a detour through wintry Paris.

Amid yuletide festivities, Annie and Rose navigate perilous terrain. Their list of suspects quickly grows. Was it Rene’s older brother? Maybe the ex-gangster turned chicken farmer? The powerful Monegasque tycoon?
Stumped, Rose begins to question her detective mettle when a new death compounds the plot…

This Christmas, will Annie receive the overdue truth as a gift?

MY THOUGHTS

Based on factual and fiction happenings and locations, I enjoyed this book a lot. It’s quirky and it stands out among the rest.

Our protagonists are two elderly women who set off on a trip through France to solve a years old cold case. Amateur sleuth Rose Tassy, and Annie Malian brave the wintry elements after receiving an old Christmas postcard addressed to Annie. Her love interest was said to have committed suicide but did he really?

These two, at first can’t agree on anything and I can just imagine what the arguing in the car sounded like, but a mutual respect soon settles over the two.

So many suspects, so little time, it seems as though this case will stay unsolved with so many suspects but when things start to hear up with the clues there’s no telling what will happen. This is my first time reading this author and I’m hoping I’ll be able to read more cases with these two in the driver’s seat.

Pub Date 20 Oct 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

302 pages Crooked Lane Books publisher October 17,2023 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and Laura Childs, when twin sisters Hanna and Alex help out at the local high school reunion, volunteering takes a turn when they find a former classmate’s dead body.

Hanna and Alex, owners of the Murder and Mayhem book and chocolate shop, are busy preparing for the Harriston High School’s reunion weekend. Neighbors will connect with old friends and perhaps try to avoid old foes. One person no one can avoid is Kyle, the former star quarterback, who is busy using his entire playbook to try and score with Hanna, even threatening her if she doesn’t play nice. At the reunion, Alex glimpses more drama than nostalgia as insults are flung around like a football at a Friday night game. The party is put on hold when Alex finds the dead body of none other than Kyle himself, bludgeoned to death by a nutcracker that the sisters admired earlier in the night.

Hanna quickly becomes the prime suspect—someone saw her slap Kyle in the face at the reunion dance. She’ll need her sister, their sleuthing canine, Watson, and their old friends and colleagues to help break this case wide open. While looking through old yearbooks and taking a stroll down memory lane, Alex uncovers a few secrets about Kyle, now, it seems like everyone had a motive to kill him.

But when the suspects start becoming the victims, Alex and Hanna know that they can’t melt under the pressure—they must find the killer before they become just another yearbook memory.

MY THOUGHTS

A Nutcracker Nightmare is the second book in Killer Chocolate, a cozy mystery series. Though I am reading the second one first I still was able to enjoy the story fully. I do need to read that first one now.

Sisters Alex and Hanna live together and jointly own Murder and Mayhem: Killer Chocolates and Bookshop in fictional Harriston, Montana where this is set. When they signed up for a best chocolates competition, they didn’t realize the competition would be delayed several times and finally fall right during the Christmas season when they were swamped with candy orders. Can the sisters keep up with everything including trying out recipes of new chocolate favors to create for the shop?


I did think it was pretty neat that the names of their chocolates go with the theme of their shop. Some of the names of the chocolates include True North Nicotine Caramel, recipe included and Gingerbread Gelsemine Truffle, recipe included. In real life would these names of chocolates be off putting or draw people in? I’d say both.


With high school reunion weekend coming up, some of the former students are looking forward to it and some just want to try to avoid their foes. When an arrogant former student shows up everyone tries to avoid him. They know how rotten he still is. One of the sisters is accused of murder because of an action that was said to have happened.

Will this candy maker still be able to stir the chocolate pot, or will the cooking fires be growing cold? The victim was very unlikable so many had a reason to want him out of the picture.
Loved the Christmas theme, it was there but not overwhelming. I enjoyed this mystery set around the holidays and it kept me reading to see how it was solved.

Pub Date 17 Oct 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own,

Have you read these or plan on it? We have snow coming in again tonight and into tomorrow. After what happened during our last snowstorm you know I’ll be staying in. Be safe and stay warm.

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Review of two Amish books: Matched and Married and Murder of an Amish Bridegroom

318 pages Zondervan publisher September 7, 2021 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Neither Margaret nor Owen has any interest in getting married. But in the small Amish town of Birch Creek, where marriage is on everyone’s mind, their plans don’t stand a chance.

Margaret Yoder can’t seem to catch a break. Even though she’s dedicated to her Amish faith, her wild rumspringa won’t stay in the past, and her mother keeps pressuring her to get married. To placate her mother and get away from former “friends”, she decides to return to Birch Creek to visit family—and pretend to find a husband.

Like Margaret, Owen Bontrager isn’t looking for a spouse, something that’s hard to avoid in Birch Creek, where an ad for brides in the local paper has brought a swarm of single women to the thriving town. When he meets Margaret in an unexpected way, they discover they have more in common than they ever expected. In some ways, they are a perfect match.

Margaret struggles to keep her goal of avoiding romance in order to focus on being a faithful member of the Amish church, and it doesn’t help that she finds Owen intriguing. Knowing they don’t have a future together; she returns home and gives in to her mother’s insistence that she get married.

Can Margaret betray her feelings for Owen and become a dutiful daughter and wife to the man of her mother’s choosing? Or will Owen find a way to free Margaret of her past by giving her the future they both are surprised to find they desire?

MY THOUGHTS

Matched and Married is the second book in the Amish Mail-Order Bride series by Kathleen Fuller. Before I read this book today, I hadn't read an Amish book of hers in several years. The past several years she has had a contemporary fiction series which I have been reading.
Margaret Yoder is a young Amish woman ready to settle down after a rather wild rumspringa, running around period the Amish do before deciding if they want to join the church. Her past won't stay in the past though, it shows up on her doorstep in the form of former Englisher friends who want her to continue the behavior she has put behind her. With three daughters and Maragret the last, her mother just wants her to get married. Everything Maragret does seems to be met with her mother's disapproval. Margaret has no intentions of getting married anytime soon though. Going to Birch Creek to visit family will be the perfect escape from old temptations and to appease her mother she'll pretend to look for a husband. Her aunt whom she is staying with understands her and enjoys her visit though she's not looking for a husband. Meeting a local in Birch Creek, Owen Bontrager while out foraging for herbs for the natural medicines she makes Margaret is pleased to find out he's not looking for a spouse either. Knowing that she won't be in Birch Creek long she tries hard to concentrate on being a strong Amish church member but the more she's around Own the more intriguing she finds him. He's smart and they have interesting conversations which draws them closer. Knowing her mother wants her to return home soon to find a suitable match will she be able to go home and just forget about Owen and the awakening her heart has had towards love?
I've always enjoyed this author's series and this one too, though I don't feel the mother should have been so domineering.

Pub Date 07 Sep 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

272 pages Crooked Lane Books publisher December 5, 2023 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

The quiet Amish lifestyle isn’t all that it seems in this debut cozy mystery series, for fans of Amanda Flower and Wanda E. Brunstetter.

Petunia Yoder is Blueberry, Pennsylvania’s youngest old maid, at twenty-two years of age, and completely unmarriageable. But she’s determined to celebrate her friends’ weddings with joy and a full heart. Unfortunately, Petunia’s best friend, Eden Beiler, is playing a dangerous game with a man who is ruining her reputation.

Ike Smoker is the community’s iceman—the one who cuts, stores, and sells the ice—and when Petunia discovers him dead with an ice pick in his chest, Eden is found on the scene with blood on her hands. Homicide detective Asher Nate is new to the area, and he has a challenge on his hands. The Amish community sticks close together, and he doesn’t understand the subtleties and nuances of the clues he uncovers. He needs an Amish interpreter, and he asks Petunia if she’ll help. In a bid to keep her best friend out of prison, she agrees.

The community is filled with people who had good reason to hate Ike Smoker, especially as Petunia and Asher begin to uncover his secrets. Was someone trying to protect their family’s reputation? Or to exact revenge for a sin buried deep in the past?

There’s a litany of damning clues that litters the ground—and if Petunia and Asher can’t come up with the truth, they could end up as the next ones on the killer’s list.

MY THOUGHTS

Murder of an Amish Bridegroom is the first book in An Amish Seamstress cozy mystery series. I've read quite a few Amish books by the author, but this is her first cozy mystery, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Overall, I thought the book was good, the characters were well developed, and I wasn't able to guess who did it before it was revealed. I liked the fact that it took place in the state I live in, that's kinda neat. There were a lot of characters in the book which did make it a bit hard to keep track of who was who and what their purpose was. The dialogue was a bit simplistic at times and some of the conversations unbelievable. I'm not sure I would believe a police detective would allow a civilian to help with the case by letting our main character be as involved and questioning people as she did. Overall, a solid presentation that surprised me with the secrets revealed and I will continue the series, after all it is fiction so there will be some inconsistencies compared to what's realistic and what's not.

Pub Date 05 Dec 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Are either of these books on your radar to read?

Have a great day and I’ll see you in the next posting.

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A BREATH OF FRESH AIR BLOG TOUR By Jessica Redland

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Breath of Fresh Air

Rosie feels like there’s something missing in her life.She loves her job as the manager of Willowdale Hall Riding Stables, caring for the horses and teaching children to ride, and she loves the home she shares with her mother in the beautiful Lake District. But she can’t help wondering how her life might look if things had been different. What if her father had been around to help care for her mother? And what if she’d found someone special herself?

When Hubert Cranleigh – the owner of Willowdale Hall – is taken ill, his son Oliver steps into the breach. Brooding and distant, Rosie is furious when he claims not to know who she is. Especially when they have a history.

Rosie’s life is about to be turned upside down, but with the New Year comes new opportunities. What Rosie feels is missing from her life might be closer than she thinks, and with more significant consequences than she could ever have imagined…

Take a breath of fresh air and escape to the Lake District with million-copy bestseller Jessica Redland, for an uplifting story of family, friendship and love.

Purchase Links – https://mybook.to/freshairsocial

MY THOUGHTS

This is the second book in the Escape to the Lakes series by Jessica Redland. The author writes such brilliant books, I especially loved her hedgehog series. Another animal series would be most welcome. Recently I read her cat Christmas book, recommended.

As you can probably see by my words, I really enjoy this author’s writing. The author’s books are uplifting, full of energy, love, and community. I really enjoyed the setting of Willowdale Hall Riding Stables, the horses all sounded so lovely. Riding anyone? I want to visit Willowdale Hall, the lovely estate along with Willowdale Hall Riding Stables on the property Rosie and her mom live on.

I liked the characters a lot in this book, except for one, not too nice person. This is Rosie and her moms’ story but also Rosie and Oliver’s story. This is about how Rosie and Oliver meet again after some years. There book has such a connection between past and present, it’s evident right away. Some mistakes and misunderstandings in the past are still influencing present happenings.

The story is full of love, compassion, understandings, helping others in their time of need and you know the characters will continue to be there in the future for each other when help is needed. Some big secrets are revealed, and I think that’s good, it explains a lot and helps the characters to progress in life.

There is a cliff hanger at the very end, and I can’t wait to read the next book to see how this is revolved.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

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AUTHOR BIO

Jessica Redland writes emotional but uplifting stories of love, friendship, family and community. Her Whitsborough Bay books transport readers to the stunning North Yorkshire Coast where she lives with her husband, daughter and sprocker spaniel. Her Hedgehog Hollow series, set in a hedgehog rescue centre, takes readers into the beautiful rolling countryside of the Yorkshire Wolds.

Social Media Links

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004465368404

Twitter https://twitter.com/JessicaRedland

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

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JessicaRedlandNews

Bookbub profile: Jessica Redland Books – BookBub

Thanks for visiting the blog today and your kind words. Enjoy your day.

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Blog Tour for The Island Cottage by Jane Lovering

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Island Cottage

When Brid Harcus is sent to the Orkney Islands, in the far reaches of Scotland, she has high hopes for her trip being short, straightforward and lucrative.

Her mother has inherited a cottage from her Great Aunt Jennet which has been unlived in and unloved for decades, and the time has come to make it habitable and saleable. Easy, right?

But Midness Cottage has other ideas. For one thing it’s rather more ‘fixer upper’ than Country Living, with a resident goose and her goslings who have made themselves at home. And Brid definitely hadn’t planned for the strongly-held local belief that the cottage is meant to be the home of the Orkney Witch, and whomever lives in it must fulfil this role. Not the best message for the estate agent brochure and of course Brid doesn’t believe in magic, let alone have healing powers.

But Orkney does have healing powers. Its beauty and peace are enchanting, its people welcoming, and Brid’s handsome new friend Magnus is rather charming too. When her life back in York starts calling her home, will Brid sell up and ship out? Or did the last Orkney Witch cast a spell and leave a legacy of love if only Brid believed in magic…

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/TheIslandCottagesocial

MY THOUGHTS

One thing I love about the author’s books is their association with cottages. As someone who lives in the US, I associate cottages as being a UK thing. Yes, we have them here but not the same way as I see them over there. In my mind the cottages there are magical, cozy, maybe a bit small but perfect for a couple and maybe throw in a few fairy lights.
I just love books with cottages.


A fifty-year vacant cottage sits on Orkney Islands, in the far reaches of Scotland. Inherited by Brid Harcus’s mother she doesn’t want it, so Brid knows she’ll pop in make quick work of the repairs and make a nice turn around profit quickly. When she arrives, it’s vacant alright except for the goose and her goslings that she’s super protective of. Woe is anyone who dares to go near them.


Brid hasn’t counted on having such a handsome neighbor as Magnus. Lifelong resident Mangus knows the cottage called Midness Cottage is known to outsiders as the “Witches’ Cottage, as Brid’s great Aunt Jennet was known as while living there.


Can Brid fix the cottage quickly with Magnus’s help and not scare off the tourists who’ve heard rumors? Will Brid be able to open up to Mangus even though she’s planning on leaving soon as the fix up is done? I loved Magnus’s character; he reminded me of a big bumbling guy that finally gets seen for his compassionate and genuine side. Fun, heartwarming, a true joy to read. I loved it.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

VISIT OTHER BLOGS ON THE TOUR HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Lovering is a bestselling and multi-award winning romantic comedy writer. Most recently Jane won the RNA Contemporary Romantic Novel Award in 2023 with A Cottage Full of Secrets. She lives in Yorkshire and has a cat and a bonkers terrier, as well as five children who have now left home.

Social Media Links –  

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jane.lovering

Twitter: https://twitter.com/janelovering

Newsletter Sign Up: https://bit.ly/JaneLoveringNews

Bookbub profile: Jane Lovering Books – BookBub

Enjoy your day. Thanks for stopping in.

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Odd Mom Out Promo Post

ABOUT THE BOOK

Odd Mom Out

Life just got life-y…

On the night that Trudy Asp discovers her ex is engaged to the same dental hygienist who’s been picking at her teeth for ten years, her daughter, Madison, suddenly announces that she too is getting married, in Europe.

Frumpy, floundering, and forced to live with her martini-swilling mother, Trudy is swamped by these revelations. And on top of it all, she’ll be wearing the second most scrutinized gown at the wedding.

Having packed on the pounds during the demise of her marriage, the idea of being eyeballed by her ex and his scrawny fiancée Zelda, is truly horrifying. To make matters worse, there’s the paralyzing fear of a transatlantic flight — something Trudy has avoided for decades.

When Zelda offers to stand in for her, Trudy is forced to confront the forces that stole her marriage and threaten to steal her daughter’s wedding too. With three months until the ceremony, Trudy must get to Europe, squeeze herself into a gown, and claim the role she wants more than anything: Mother-of-the-Bride.

Will this Odd Mom Out sink or swim? Or will she drown in a sea of humiliation?

Purchase Links

VISIT OTHER BLOGS ON THE TOUR HERE

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Sandy Day is a recovering chatterbox and writer of riveting slice-of-life poetry, memoir, and fiction. She has authored five books to date, with two in the works. A graduate of Glendon College, she studied creative writing under Michael Ondaatje and bp nichol. A lover of cheese, coffee shops, and illustrations, she lives on the shore of Lake Simcoe in Georgina, Ontario, Canada. You can find and follow her on Substack and sandyday.ca – it rhymes!

Social Media Links –

Substack https://sandydayauthor.substack.com/

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

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

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5103092.Sandy_Day

Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/sandyday

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The Women of Pearl Island 

350 pages Harlequin Trade Publishing Park Row December 7, 2021 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Set on a secluded island off the British coast, The Women of Pearl Island is a moving and evocative story of family secrets, natural wonders and a mystery spanning decades.

When Tartelin answers an ad for a personal assistant, she doesn’t know what to expect from her new employer, Marianne, an eccentric elderly woman. Marianne lives on a remote island that her family has owned for generations, and for decades her only companions have been butterflies and tightly held memories of her family.

But there are some memories Marianne would rather forget, such as when the island was commandeered by the British government during WWII. Now, if Marianne can trust Tartelin with her family’s story, she might finally be able to face the long-buried secrets of her past that have kept her isolated for far too long.

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MY THOUGHTS

I’ve had The Women of Pearl Island on my shelf for over 2 years and now that I’ve read it, I regret waiting so long.

This is a different read, an ending I couldn’t possibly have seen coming. A story that is a time slip, taking place in two time periods, 2018 and 1955. Set on a secluded island off the British coast, there are secrets, lots of secrets. You really feel locked in while reading this as it’s so hard to put down.

A young woman is hired as a personal assistant to an elderly woman who’s lived on this secluded island all of her life. There were family members at one time, now she lives with memories of the past and butterflies.


As we slide back and forth in the time periods the book takes on a surreal and mystical quality during the old lady’s musings when the past comes to life. The atmosphere changes as the book progresses but there is a foreboding feeling hovering over the book. The cover will fool you into thinking the book is one way, but the inside is different than you could imagine.


The author is very talented, and the presentation is excellent. You can vividly imagine the two time periods. A compelling read that will have more searching for more by this author.

Pub Date 07 Dec 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Polly Crosby grew up on the Suffolk coast, and now lives with her husband and son in the heart of Norfolk.

Polly’s third novel, Vita & the Birds, came out in May this year. Her first novel for young adults, This Tale is Forbidden – a dystopian fractured fairytale with hints of the Brother’s Grimm and The Handmaid’s Tale – is out in January next year with Scholastic.

In 2018, Polly won Curtis Brown Creative’s Yesterday Scholarship, which enabled her to finish her debut novel, The Illustrated Child. Later the same year, she was awarded runner-up in the Bridport Prize’s Peggy Chapman Andrews Award for a First Novel. Polly received the Annabel Abbs Creative Writing Scholarship at the University of East Anglia.

Polly can be found on Twitter, Instagram & Tiktok as @WriterPolly

Website: pollycrosby.com

Have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping in.

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When Hattie Finds Love: Heartwarming Amish romance set in Missouri (Paradise Valley Book 4)

286 pages Zebra Books November 28,2023 publish date grab a copy here

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hattie Schrock’s lively optimism makes her the Widows Club’s most outgoing member. The circle has helped her through widowhood—and in building a thriving popcorn shop with her cousin. So when Elsie bets Hattie that she can’t help Paradise Valley’s most cantankerous man learn to be happier, Hattie tackles the challenge head-on. But what can she do when she finds Christian Beachy is far more complicated—and appealing—than she thought?
 
Christian lives his faith through hard work, supporting his overbearing sister, and growing the Valley’s best vegetables. After all, a good Amish man should be dedicated to duty. Yet suddenly, Hattie’s warm-hearted attentions and knack for unexpected adventures is showing him life can be so much more—especially if Hattie can share it with him. But when he discovers her wager, can she and the Widows Club ever convince him that her growing love is the real thing—and that risking together forever will be the sweetest, most fulfilling chance of all?

MY THOUGHTS

The Paradise Valley series by Amy Lillard is one of my favorite Amish series. This is the fourth one in the series and I’ve read them all. There is just something about the author’s books, the characters are fun and realistic, the charming setting makes you want to visit, and the foods all sound so delicious. This one has me carving buttered popcorn, which I’m going to make myself some right now.

I enjoy having the character carry over from other books in the series. It’s always nice to read about characters we are already familiar with and get an update. This one had a mention of the boy in the wheelchair, and I was glad to see an update on him.


Paradise Valley, Missouri continues on as the setting for the Paradise Valley series as we see a return of the ladies from the Whoopie Pie Widows Club. The ladies are widows who help each other through their grieving the loss of a spouse with friendship, spending time together and baking together and great encouragement.


Member Hattie is an optimistic person, seemingly always cheerful and when she gets challenged, she meets it head on. Her challenge is to get cankerous Christian Beachy, a widow to smile. Upon further inspection, she thinks this may not have been her smartest move agreeing to the challenge. As their time together increases, will his smiles also start to blossom with her outgoing personality?


Looking forward to more heartwarming stories by the author.

November 28,2023 publication date.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

FREE AMY BOOK

published

December 10, 2023 grab here

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy loves nothing more than a good book. Except for her family…and maybe homemade tacos…and nail polish. But reading and writing are definitely high on the list.

Born and bred in Mississippi, Amy is a transplanted Southern Belle who now lives in Oklahoma with her deputy husband, their genius son, two spoiled cats, and one very lazy beagle. Oh, and don’t forget the stray kitty that has taken up residence on her front porch. ^..^

When she’s not creating quirky characters and happy endings, she’s chauffeuring her prodigy to guitar lessons, orchestra concerts and baseball practice. She has a variety of hobbies, but her favorite is whatever gets her out of housework.

Amy also writes contemporary romances under the pen name Amie Louellen.

An award winning author, Amy is a member of RWA and ACFW. She loves to hear from readers. You can find her on Facebook, Instagram, Google+, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest. For links to the various sites, check her website: http://www.amylillardbooks.com.

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping in.

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Stalking Around the Christmas Tree (A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Book 4)

282 pages Crooked Lane Books October 17, 2023 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Tis the season to solve a murder—and innkeeper Holly White knows she’ll have to make her list and check it twice if she wants to catch the killer in the 4th Christmas Tree Farm mystery from bestselling author Jacqueline Frost.

For inn keeper Holly White, Christmas time in Mistletoe, Maine, is the ultimate holiday gift. Business at the Reindeer Games Inn is booming, her wedding to Sheriff Evan Gray is nearly here, and the annual parade is about to begin. The town is lucky to have another gift this year with the state’s ballet company staying for several performances of The Nutcracker. But disaster strikes when Tiffany, the lead ballerina, shows up dead on a float during the parade, the Rat King’s mask nearby. Holly will have to spruce up her sleuthing skills if she wants to catch the killer before Christmas—and her wedding day.

Immediately, Holly discovers that Tiffany had more than a few secrets. She finds out that the star of the show had a super fan that no one knows anything about. And the show’s understudy slips some other intriguing information Holly’s way: not only was Tiffany secretly seeing someone romantically, but there seems to be more than one rat in this company. When Holly discovers a secret passage leading to Tiffany’s dressing room, with footprints leading out; she wonders if this is evidence of a secret lover—or a stalking killer.

MY THOUGHTS

The Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series is one of my favorites.
I just love this series, in one of the previous books it focused on the Christmas tree farm, it was such a wonderful book.

Now there is a gift shop/bakery and its totally Christmas related. How can you go wrong with a town named Mistletoe. Mistletoe is in Maine, with lots of snow there’s no worries about the town’s folks getting into the holiday spirit.


Inn keeper Holly White is one busy lady, the ladies from the Nutcracker ballet are staying at Holly’s Reindeer Games Inn while practicing for their big show and on top of that she’s planning a wedding this Christmas. When a ballet dancer is discovered dead the investigation starts.


When it’s discovered that the ballet dancer is hiding more than a few things could those secrets have led to her death? I remember Sheriff Evan Gray in the other books, now he’s about to be a married man with his Christmas wedding.

With a terrible murder to investigate right before their wedding will Evan and Holly’s wedding plans go on as planned or will they blow away in the freezing cold wind?
I’ll be on the lookout for more books in this intriguing holiday mystery series.

Pub Date 17 Oct 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jacqueline Frost is a mystery-loving pet enthusiast who hopes to make readers smile. She lives in rural Ohio with her husband and three spunky children. Jacqueline is a member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Sisters in Crime (SinC).

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Blog tour for Sunrise Over Strawberry Hill Farm by Alison Sherlock

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sunrise Over Strawberry Hill Farm

She drives a tractor. He arrives in a red Ferrari. What could possibly go wrong?

Flora Barton is desperate to save her family home Strawberry Hill Farm. She only needs one thing – a great business idea to keep the farm afloat!

So, when Nico Rossi arrives from Italy with a crazy plan to save the farm, Flora should be overjoyed. The trouble is the Rossi men are infamous playboys and sensible Flora doesn’t trust impetuous Nico at all.

Nico has been trying to escape the famous Rossi surname his whole life. Arriving in sleepy Cranfield after recently losing his beloved grandfather and family vineyard, he has no intention of staying on any longer than necessary. But he soon realises how desperate the situation is and throws caution to the wind to help turn the farm into a Glamping site.

Can Flora realise her dreams to keep the farm safe for the future and can Nico ever stop running from his past?

As they try to save Strawberry Hill Farm, secrets are revealed and just maybe they’ll discover why opposites attract…

MY THOUGHTS

Sunrise over Strawberry Hill Farm is the third book in the Railway Lane series. ❤️
This is my first read in the series though.


Flora Barton has lived with her grandparents practically all her life and now it’s just her and her grandmother after her grandfather’s death. She is very protective of the elderly woman and knows she can’t keep the farm going like she used to in her younger years.

The farm in recent years has fallen into disrepair with unplanted fields letting nature reclaim them and many repairs needing done. The farm isn’t making the money it once had and the women just can’t do some of the heavier chores. Flora is feeling really glum, and she wants to change this for her grandmother but isn’t sure how to. One day while she’s doing chores a red Ferrari pulls up and Flora knows it’s not anyone she knows.

Out of the car steps handsome Italian playboy Nico Rossi and he knows of Flora’s grandmother. Flora’s grandmother and Nico’s grandfather knew each other way back when and he has come to return something of hers. He has a plan to save the farm from being bought but Flora isn’t too sure she like him let alone wants to listen to any plan he has.

A grumpy to sunshine story, I loved seeing the interaction between Flora and Nico and how she blossoms under his attention. The grandmother I’d say is my favorite character, she’s no nonsense but yet friendly and open to new ideas. She’s also a bit of a matchmaker encouraging Nico and Flora to become a couple.

Will Nico’s plan help this farm get back on its feet again? When Nico sees Flora dating another man will that scare him away or make him step up and let Flora know his true feelings for her? Nico is planning on leaving when the summer is over, will this romance be gone with the wind before it even gets off the ground?

Warm and tender, lots of feelings in this one. It’s a keeper for sure and I’m off to read the rest of the books in the series.

Pub Date 03 Jan 2024
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Purchase Link – https://mybook.to/strawberryhillsocial

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Alison Sherlock is the author of the bestselling Willow Tree Hall books. Alison enjoyed reading and writing stories from an early age and gave up office life to follow her dream. Her series for Boldwood is set in a fictional Cotswold village.

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