Tag: time-slip

Categories
Uncategorized

Appalachian Song by Michelle Shocklee

352 pages Tyndale Fiction October 3, 2023 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

Forever within the memories of my heart.

Always remember, you are perfectly loved.

Bertie Jenkins has spent forty years serving as a midwife for her community in the Great Smoky Mountains of East Tennessee. Out of all the mothers she’s tended, none affects her more than the young teenager who shows up on her doorstep, injured, afraid, and expecting, one warm June day in 1943. As Bertie and her four sisters tenderly nurture Songbird back to health, the bond between the childless midwife and the motherless teen grows strong. But soon Songbird is forced to make a heartbreaking decision that will tear this little family apart.

Thirty years later, the day after his father’s funeral, Walker Wylie is stunned to learn he was adopted as an infant. The famous country singer enlists the help of adoption advocate Reese Chandler in the hopes of learning why he was abandoned by his birth parents. With the only clue he has in hand, Walker and Reese head deep into the Appalachian Mountains to track down Bertie Jenkins, the midwife who holds the secrets to Walker’s past.

MY THOUGHTS

A beautiful historical fiction time-slip novel, taking place in the 1940’s and 1970’s
1940’s: A young woman, little more than a child without the best upbringing wants to show her boyfriend how much she loves him before she moves away from North Carolina to Tennessee. At 14 she’s pregnant, her mother is dead, her father shoots her because of the pregnancy, and she runs away. The Appalachian Mountains are beautiful, wild and a good place to hide in the 1940’s but not for a 14-year-old pregnant teen shot by her father. Midwife Bertie hears her dog making a fuss in the woods and she finds the girl. Bringing the girl inside she and her five sisters live in the cabin her father built for his family of eleven but now all are gone but the five sisters living together that nurse this young girl back to health. As time goes on, she gives birth to a healthy beautiful baby boy, but she can’t stay as her father knows where she is and as she is unmarried and she’s underage he’d bring her and the baby home where she’s not wanted. This beautiful young, frightened girl develops a real affinity for her midwife as she becomes the mother she doesn’t have. The time comes for Songbird to leave, so named for her beautiful, melodious songs she treats the baby to.

1970’s: Thirty years later. A young man experiences the death of his father and learns he’s adopted after that, when his mother tells him. Feeling hurt, confused and bitter. Why didn’t they want him, wasn’t he good enough he wonders.
As he explores his adoption records with the help of an adoption advocate, they go back to where it all started tracking down Bertie Jenkins, his mother’s midwife, now long retired. So much has changed in the wild Appalachian Mountains but time has also stood still in many ways. The old cabin Bertie has lived in with her sisters still stands with no electricity as things meander along here at a slower pace. Bertie holds the keys to the questions this man who became a famous singer, Walker Wylie but will she trust this stranger enough to meander back in time to a slower pace and give him the missing pieces to his puzzling questions?

This story is so beautiful so heartbreaking yet so healing and time marches on. I just could not stop reading and shed a tear or three while reading. I really enjoy reading about the olden days of Appalachia.
Highly recommended!

MEET THE AUTHOR

Michelle Shocklee is the author of several historical novels, including COUNT THE NIGHTS BY STARS, winner of the 2023 Christianity Today Book Award in Fiction, and UNDER THE TULIP TREE, a Christy Award and Selah Award finalist. As a woman of mixed heritage–her father’s family is Hispanic and her mother’s roots go back to Germany–she has always celebrated diversity and feels it’s important to see the world through the eyes of one another. Learning from the past and changing the future is why she writes historical fiction.

With both her sons grown, Michelle and her husband make their home in Tennessee, not far from the historical sites she writes about.

Michelle loves hearing from readers! Connect with her at http://www.MichelleShocklee.com

Thank you so much for stopping in today. May your day be blessed with goodness.

Categories
Uncategorized

Blog Tour for  Aunt Violet’s Locket by Kristin Harper 

Book Description:

The long, tarnished chain and heart-shaped pendant is heavy in Paige’s hand. Carefully prying it open she can just make out the tiny engraving inside. What she reads will change everything she ever believed about her great-aunt Violet, and their family history…

When newly single and heartbroken Paige inherits an isolated cottage facing out to the wild sea on Dune Island from her great-aunt Violet, she is shocked. Paige never even met Violet, and she’s heard family stories about how a terrible incident involving the wealthy neighboring Hathaway family during World War Two led Violet to withdraw from everyone. But why would Violet leave everything to her?

Determined to clear out the cottage and sell it as quickly as possible, when Paige bumps into Seth Hathaway as he walks back from the beach, at first she’s guarded. But Seth’s easy smile makes her think that maybe the Hathaways can be trusted after all…

Then Paige finds an old envelope containing her aunt’s only piece of jewelry. The romantic message inscribed inside brings tears to her eyes, and Seth shows her how the initials match those carved with a heart into an ancient beech tree on her aunt’s property. Did Violet live her whole life yearning for the person who gave her the locket?

As Paige and Seth grow closer, she starts to wonder if she could find happiness right here on Dune Island. And if Paige discovers the identity of Violet’s lost love, can she finally clear her aunt’s name—or in this tight-knit island community, should some secrets be left in the past forever?

Fans of Mary Ellen Taylor, Carolyn Brown and Barbara O’Neal will adore this absolutely stunning and addictive read about the sacrifices people make to be with the ones they love, and how bringing family secrets into the light can change everything.

Buy Link:

Amazon: https://geni.us/B0CPS6WCNBsocial

You can sign up for all the best Bookouture deals you’ll love at: http://ow.ly/Fkiz30lnzdo

MY THOUGHTS

Having read other books in the Dune Island series I knew I was in for a treat reading this one.
The author writes such warm and relaxing books you know they are going to be great, and she is an auto read author for me.
I discovered her books quite by accident a few years ago when I saw a pretty cover she had on a book and there’s been no turning back since then.


Aunt Violet’s Locket is a time-slip novel. There is a very short amount of time spent in the past to set up the story, but most is spent in modern times.


Paige recently had a breakup but then she discovers she has inherited an isolated cottage on Dune Island with a front row view of the majestic ocean. She had never met her great Aunt Violet that she inherited it from.
The cottage sits right next to the wealthy Hathaway family mansion. Rumors involving the Hathaway’s that have gotten out of hand over the years had caused Violet to become a recluse in her home. As she goes to Dune Island she is guarded and doesn’t want to trust the Hathaway’s because of past family history. That all may change when she meets Seth Hathaway though. I liked Seth’s character; he seemed so friendly and helpful to Paige. Blossom his dog was a real charmer too.


Paige does have some drama going on in her family, a relative’s engagement party is stressing out all involved and the little cottage on Dune Island. Hoping to make a few quick repairs and sell it quickly. This is before she visits the island and cottage. Could she possibly be happy here full time? Uncovering Aunt Violet’s locket may be just the way to put heartbreaking family secrets to rest.

Get the tissues out for this one. It’s an emotional story and you say to yourself if only……….
Such a beautiful and heartwarming story, I won’t miss any by this author.

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

VISIT OTHER BLOGS ON THE TOUR

Author Bio:

Ever since she was a young girl, there were few things Kristin liked more than creative writing and spending time on Cape Cod, Massachusetts, with her family. Eventually (after a succession of jobs that bored her to tears), she found a way to combine those two passions by becoming a women’s fiction author whose stories occur in oceanside settings. While Kristin doesn’t live on the Cape year-round, she escapes to the beach whenever she can.
https://twitter.com/KHarperAuthor

https://www.kristinharperauthor.com

Sign up to be the first to hear about new releases from Kristin Harper here:  https://www.bookouture.com/kristin-harper

Have a wonderful day. Thanks for stopping in.

Categories
Uncategorized

Blog Tour for The Sapphire Daughter by Soraya Lane.

I’m always so happy to read this author’s books. She is one of my favorite historical fiction authors.

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Sapphire Daughter: A completely gripping and emotional page-turner (The Lost Daughters Book 4)

Lake Geneva, 1951: Delphine looked up at Florian, her fingers grazing his cheek as she pressed her mouth to his, the sapphire tiara sparkling beside them. “Yes,” she whispered against his lips. “I will marry you. If you can find a way, then I promise you. I will marry you.”

London, present day. Georgia holds the rare pink sapphire in her hands, watching it glitter in the morning light. It was left for her at Hope’s House, a home for unmarried mothers whose babies were adopted. But how is it connected to the secrets of her family’s complicated history?

Georgia tries to forget about the sapphire, her heart too bruised by past hurts. But when she discovers the gemstone was part of a priceless tiara owned by the Italian royal family, she is drawn in by the mystery surrounding it. Her only way of finding answers is to travel to Lake Geneva to meet with the man who inherited the stunning tiara from his grandfather.

When she arrives at the breathtaking lakeside city, handsome Luca tells her he’s been searching for the missing stone for years and is eager to piece together how it arrived at Hope’s House. As they spend sun-drenched days together, Georgia and Luca grow closer and uncover the passionate, forbidden love story of Delphine and Florian, whose tragic romance forced Delphine to make a heartbreaking decision with devastating consequences…

As Georgia comes to terms with the decades-old secret, will it shatter everything she thought she knew about herself? Or will Delphine’s courage inspire her to open up her own heart and build a new life with Luca?

A completely gripping and escapist read about family mysteries and true love that lasts a lifetime, that will leave you spellbound. The perfect read for fans of Lucinda Riley, Victoria Hislop and Santa Montefiore.

This novel can be enjoyed as a standalone.

Buy link: https://geni.us/B0CKW3Q7W8social

MY THOUGHTS

This is an incredible time slip historical novel.


Busy, modern woman Georgia has been summoned to receive a package that has come from Hope’s House, a home for unwed mothers. Upon opening it she finds a stunning pink sapphire. She knows she must discover how this connects to her family and the significance of this gem.


I enjoyed being swept away by the author to exotic locations as Georgina travels to Lake Geneva to discover how the pink sapphire came to be in her family’s possession.

Such an intriguing story, the book held me captivated as I read, to find out the gem was part of a priceless tiara owned by the Italian royal family. What connection could her family possibly have to it?
An escapist read I simply couldn’t put down, the backstory with its romantic forbidden love story.

It’s so emotional, one decision takes a second to make but the consequences will last a lifetime. I so wanted the outcome to be different. I am captivated every time I read a book by the author. I highly recommend this must-read book.

Pub Date 08 Mar 2024
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

VISIT OTHER BLOGS ON THE TOUR

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Soraya Lane graduated with a law degree before realising that law wasn’t the career for her and that her future was in writing. She is the author of historical and contemporary women’s fiction, including the #1 Kindle bestselling novels The Last Correspondent and The Secrets We Left Behind. 

Soraya lives on a small farm in her native New Zealand with her husband, their two young sons and a collection of four legged friends. When she’s not writing, she loves to be outside playing make-believe with her children or snuggled up inside reading.

Author social media

Facebook: www.facebook.com/SorayaLaneAuthor

Twitter:

Instagram @SorayaLaneAuthor

Website: www.sorayalane.com

Newsletter sign up:

https://www.bookouture.com/soraya-lane-email-sign-up

Have a wonderful weekend. Thanks for stopping in.

Categories
Uncategorized

Bookouture Blog Tour for The Cuban Daughter by Soraya Lane

An utterly gripping and heart-wrenching novel about family secrets, lost loves and new beginnings…

About The Book

A totally unforgettable and heartbreaking page-turner full of family secrets (The Lost Daughters Book 2)

Cuba, 1950: As Esmeralda moved past Christopher, her breath stilled as he caught her finger in his. It was only a split-second, their fingers intertwined in a hold so brief that no one could have possibly noticed, but it told her everything she needed to know. He didn’t just come to see Cuba. He travelled all this way to see me.

London, present day. When Claudia discovers that her grandmother was born at Hope’s House, a home for unmarried mothers, everything she thought she knew about her family is shattered in an instant. Looking down at a faded family crest, she is determined to discover how it can possibly relate to her grandmother. Soon Claudia learns that the crest belongs to the Diaz family, once one of the wealthiest dynasties in Cuba. Impulsively Claudia books a ticket to Havana, feeling sure in her heart that she will be able to uncover her family’s true story.

Arriving in the bustling and vibrant city she meets a young man named Mateo, a chef who loves nothing more than to cook his family’s recipes. As they get to know each other over dinner, Mateo says that his grandfather worked for the Diaz family and he too wants to uncover what happened.

But when they arrive at the Diaz family home, they find it completely abandoned as if preserved in time from the 1950s. It’s not long before they uncover a heartbreaking story about Claudia’s family and of a young woman who was forced to leave behind everything she’d ever known in search of true love.

As Claudia becomes closer to Mateo, will her family’s story of bravery and sacrifice inspire her to follow her own heart to Cuba? Or will the tragic love story force her home?

An utterly gripping and heart-wrenching novel about family secrets, lost loves and new beginnings. Perfect for fans of Santa Montefiore, Lucinda Riley and Victoria Hislop.

Listen now! UK: http://ow.ly/mm4w50Np7pB US: http://ow.ly/7Kt550Np7pA

Buy Link

My Thoughts

Oh, what a beautiful story! Taking place in two time frames this time-slip would not let me put it down. Taking place in the 1950’s and modern days in Havanah and England. The atmosphere is perfect it just draws you in. Esmeralda is a rich beautiful young woman living in Havanah in the 1950’s with her Papa and 3 sisters. She is the eldest sisters and the apple of her father’s eye. Social expectations hold her head and shoulders above normal society and it feels as though she lives in a gilded cage. She lives in opulence and her Papa freely lets her spend money on dresses and fripperies. What she doesn’t have is the freedom to love the man she is in love with. Christopher is the man she loves; he is a businessman from England. When she goes missing there is a scandal. What has happened to Esmeralda, and will she ever see her family again?
In London present day Claudia is dealing with the death of her grandmother and when her mother asks her to help trace her grandmother’s history the only clue, she has is the family crest. From London to Havanah, she travels, once there she meets Mateo a fabulous chef whose grandfather used to be a cook for Esmerelda’s family. Working together will they be able to put the pieces together of what happened to this elite family. So many twists and turns, so heartbreaking. Each page had a new discovery on it of history, mystery, intrigue and intensity.
This author really knows how to draw you in!

Pub Date 23 Mar 2023
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Follow the Tour Here

The Author

Soraya Lane graduated with a law degree before realising that law wasn’t the career for her and that her future was in writing. She is the author of historical and contemporary women’s fiction, including the #1 Kindle bestselling novels The Last Correspondent and The Secrets We Left Behind.

Soraya lives on a small farm in her native New Zealand with her husband, their two young sons and a collection of four legged friends. When she’s not writing, she loves to be outside playing make-believe with her children or snuggled up inside reading.

Amazon UK | Amazon US | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Website

Have a wonderful weekend. Thank you for stopping in today.

Categories
Uncategorized

The Curator’s Daughter by Melanie Dobson-Review

About The Book

A young girl, kidnapped on the eve of World War II, changes the lives of a German archaeologist forced into the Nazi Party and—decades later—a researcher trying to overcome her own trauma.

1940. Hanna Tillich cherishes her work as an archaeologist for the Third Reich, searching for the Holy Grail and other artifacts to bolster evidence of a master Aryan race. But when she is reassigned to work as a museum curator in Nuremberg, then forced to marry an SS officer and adopt a young girl, Hanna begins to see behind the Nazi facade. A prayer labyrinth becomes a storehouse for Hanna’s secrets, but as she comes to love Lilly as her own daughter, she fears that what she’s hiding—and what she begins to uncover—could put them both in mortal danger.

Eighty years later, Ember Ellis is a Holocaust researcher intent on confronting hatred toward the Jewish people and other minorities. She reconnects with a former teacher on Martha’s Vineyard after she learns that Mrs. Kiehl’s mother once worked with the Nazi Ahnenerbe. And yet, Mrs. Kiehl describes her mother as “a friend to the Jewish people.” Wondering how both could be true, Ember helps Mrs. Kiehl regain her fractured childhood memories of World War II while at the same time confronting the heartache of her own secret past—and the person who wants to silence Ember forever.

My Thoughts

I love Melanie Dobson’s books the excellent research makes for a riveting story.
The author goes back and forth between the time periods, and it ends up seamlessly blending perfectly.
The author drew me into both time periods as both were equally fascinating.
A time split novel that has us alternating between Hannah and Ember.
Each time period is well represented with believable characters and vivid descriptions. The historical detail is accurate for both past and present times.
I was very immersed in the story as it brings out many emotions.
Heartbreaking yet inspirational this is one that won’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Pub Date: 09 Mar 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Writing fiction is Melanie Dobson’s excuse to explore abandoned houses, travel to unique places, and spend hours reading old books and journals. The award-winning author of almost thirty books, Melanie enjoys stitching together both time-slip and historical stories including The Curator’s Daughter, Memories of Glass, and the Legacy of Love novels (legacyofloveseries.com). Five of her novels have received a Carol Award for historical fiction, Catching the Wind’s audiobook won the 2018 Audie for Inspirational Novel, and The Black Cloister was ForeWord’s Book of the Year for Religious Fiction. Her next time-slip novel, The Winter Rose, comes out in January 2022.

Melanie and her husband, Jon, have two daughters. After moving numerous times with Jon’s work, the Dobson family has finally settled near Portland, Oregon, and they love to travel and hike in both the mountains and the cliffs above the Pacific. When Melanie isn’t writing, she enjoys exploring ghost towns and dusty back roads, dancing, and reading stories with her girls.

More information about Melanie and her books is available at her website (melaniedobson.com) or at the following social media platforms:

Facebook.com/MelanieDobsonFiction

Instagram/MelBDobson

Twitter.com/MelBDobson

Have you read this book by Melanie Dobson? Do you have a favorite by her?

Have a wonderful day. Thank you for stopping by.