ACRBA Tour Unnoticed by Amanda Deed

5 - 9 May 2017

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is Introducing 

Unnoticed

(By Rhiza Press, 1 March, 2017)

By 

Amanda Deed

About the Book:

Plain Jane O’Reilly is good at being unnoticed. Detested by her stepmother and teased by her stepsisters, Jane has learned the art of avoiding attention. That is until Price Moreland, an American with big dreams, arrives in her small town.

Does she dare to hope someone might notice her?

However, Price Moreland may not be the prince that the whole town thinks him to be. Was his desire to be a missionary a God-given call, or just a good excuse to run from his past?

Complete with an evil stepmother, a missing shoe and a grand ball, Unnoticed takes the time-old Cinderella fairy tale and gives it an Australian twist.

About the Author:

Amanda Deed has penned several Australian Historical Romances, including The Game, winner of the CALEB Prize for Fiction in 2010. She resides in the South Eastern Suburbs of Melbourne with her family, where she works full-time in her local church office.

Outside of work and family, Amanda loves to write stories filled with intrigue and adventure using her favourite themes as a backdrop: Australia, heritage, romance and faith. Her books include Unnoticed, Ellenvale Gold, Black Forest Redemption and Henry's Run. For more information, go to www.amandadeed.com.au.

Blog Tour When Did Everybody Else Get So Old by Jennifer Grant

	When Did Everybody Else Get So Old? From writer and veteran columnist Jennifer Grant comes an unflinching and spirited look at the transitions of midlife. When Did Everybody Else Get So Old? plumbs the physical, spiritual, and emotional changes unique to the middle years: from the emptying nest to the sagging effects of aging. Grant acknowledges the complexities and loss inherent in midlife and tells stories of sustaining disappointment, taking hard blows to the ego, undergoing a crisis of faith, and grieving the deaths not only of illusions but of loved ones. Yet she illuminates the confidence and grace that this season of life can also bring. Magnetic, good-humored, and full of hope in the sustaining power of the Spirit, this is a must-read for anyone facing the flux and flow of middle age. $16.99 USD 5.5 x 8.5 in. paperback ISBN 978-1-5138-0131-5 eBook │ $12.99 │ 978-1-5138-0132-2 Release date: May 2, 2017  Available from Herald Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and your favorite bookseller.

	About the Author Jennifer Grant is a writer, editor, and speaker. A former health and family columnist for the Chicago Tribune, she is the author of four previous books, including the adoption memoir Love You More. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband, four children, and two rescue dogs. Find her online at jennifergrant.com or on Twitter @jennifercgrant.

Book Review: My Heart Belongs in Ruby City by Susanne Dietze

My Heart Belongs in Ruby City

by 

Susanne Dietze

• Publisher: Barbour Books (May 1, 2017)
• Amazon Link

Book Description:

Journey now to Ruby City, Idaho of 1866 where...
A Marriage Mishap Creates an Awkward Love Triangle in this Silver Mining Town

Looking forward to a quiet life and a full stomach, mail-order bride Rebecca Rice is pleased to marry her shopkeeper intended, Mr. Fordham, until the justice of the peace calls him Thaddeus, not Theodore—proceeded by the title Deputy.

Is it possible to marry the wrong man?

When the newlyweds realize they’ve married the wrong partners with similar names, an annulment seems in order—and fast, since Rebecca’s true intended is impatient to claim her as his own, not to mention Rebecca would never marry a lawman like her father. But when the legalities take longer than expected, Rebecca wonders if Tad wasn’t the right husband for her all along. . . .

My Review:
Firstly thanks to Netgalley for my review copy.

I loved this book. It was a different mail order bride story. Rebecca arrives in Ruby city after being held up on the stage. She is a little shaken as they have taken her few items she owned. She is there to marry Theodore Fordham the local shopkeeper. This is where it gets interesting. When she arrives she is greeted by Mr Fordham and they get married but doesn't realise the judge is saying Tad not Ted as she thinks its his nickname. It is only after they are married and Theodore comes in the door do they realise what has happened. They decided to have an annulment but have to wait or the judge to come to Ruby City. Tad and Theodore are cousins who dislike each other which makes things interesting. 

Rebecca wants to pull her weight while waiting and works out way to do this. She also never wanted to marry a lawman because her father had been one and been killed in the line of duty.  Tad is a lawman and determined to catch the gang that had robbed the stage along with many other stages and people. We the mystery of who is in the gang and will they catch them.

I really loved how Rebecca cared for people in the community and loved people others didn't love. This is another good read if you enjoy historical fiction with a twist of mystery.

Book Review by Cinderella's Boot by Darlene Franklin

Cinderella's Boot

by 

Darlene Franklin

• Publisher: Forget Me Not Romances, 
• a division of Winged Publications (April 19, 2017)

Book Description:

Cynthia Ellen Cooper—known affectionately as “Cinderella”—left her wedding boot in the dust when she ran away from her wedding to work on a sheep station in Australia. 

Four years later, she’s back home—and so is her ex-fiancé, now a DVM from Oklahoma State University. They reach a truce and work side by side in his father’s animal clinic. 

Cyn soon discovers she wants more—but she has to battle bad history and a demanding pet owner for Keith’s attention. 

How can Cinderella find a second chance at love? 

My Review:

Firstly thanks to the Author for my review copy.

I had a day in hospital and this was a great book to read to help pass the day. I enjoyed this book because it mentions Australia and has the fact done well unlike many books that try to write about my country but get facts or information wrong. The books starts with a Cynthia faced with the choice of working in Australia on a sheep station or getting married and working while her fiance finishes his degree. 

Fast forward four years. Cyn is now working in the same practice as her ex-fiance Keith. She still loves Keith but thinks its to late for them due to her leaving him and tries to handle the fact he has moved on. Meanwhile Keith is struggling with the situation and to why she left. Enter an attractive pet owner of a cat that seems to enjoy getting into scraps. We see both Cyn and Keith doing some thinking and working through issues and deciding what they want. I really enjoyed this novella it was easy to read and captured my attention. 

ACRBA Tour Looking Glass Lies by Varina Denman with review

1 - 5 May 2017

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is Introducing 

Looking Glass Lies 

(By the Waterfall Press, 2 May 2017)

By Varina Denman

About the Book:

A poignant and relatable novel, Looking Glass Lies captures the war women wage against themselves, and the struggle to see beauty reflected in a mirror not distorted by society’s unrelenting expectations.

For most of her adult life, Cecily Ross has compared herself to other women—and come up short. After a painful divorce from her emotionally abusive husband, Cecily returns to her hometown of Canyon, Texas, looking to heal.

But coming home isn’t what she expects. In a town as small as Canyon, her pain is difficult to escape—especially with her model-perfect ex–sister-in-law working at the town’s popular coffee-shop hangout. With help from her father, a support group, and an old friend who guides her to see her own strengths, Cecily may have a shot at overcoming her insecurities and learning to love again.

The true test comes when tragedy strikes, opening Cecily’s eyes to the harmfulness of her distorted views on beauty—and giving her the perfect opportunity to find peace at last.

About the Author:

Varina Denman enjoys writing fiction about women and the unique struggles they face. Her novels include the Mended Hearts trilogy: Jaded, Justified, and Jilted, as well as her latest release, Looking Glass Lies. She seems to have a knack for describing small town life, and her debut novel, Jaded, won the ACFW Genesis Contest, the BRMCWC Selah Award, and the INSPYs Bloggers’ Award for Excellence in Faith-Driven Literature.

Varina attended three universities over a span of five years, majoring in four subjects and earning zero degrees. However, she can now boast sixteen years as a home educator, volunteering in her local cooperative where she has taught numerous subjects including creative writing and literature. Varina lives in North Texas where she volunteers in local marriage and family ministry. She is represented by Jessica Kirkland of Kirkland Media Management.

More information:
https://varinadenman.com/

Interview Questions

In Looking Glass Lies as well as the Mended Hearts series, you touch on subjects that are not often talked-about. How do you choose your topics, and what is your motivation? In all my books, my goal is to help women deal with issues in their lives, and generally the issues we women need the most help with are the ones we keep hidden, the secret ones that nobody likes to talk about. Those are the subjects I want to crack open, so that my readers and I can poke them with a stick, see what’s really happening in our lives … and heal a little.

All your books deal with female leads who are struggling with unique issues, but they seem to portrayed from the heart. How much of the plots come from your own life experience? Each book is different, but generally my books begin with a nugget of my own life story, or maybe just a feeling or an impression, and then I completely blow it up into an elaborate, exaggerated story. So I guess you could say, each plot line comes from my own life … but just barely.

Could your writing best be described as women’s fiction or romance? Why? It’s taken me a while to learn about myself as an author. At first, I thought I was a romance writer, but now I’m confident my books fit neatly into women’s fiction. All those issues I pile into the plots just don’t lend themselves to the romance genre, but I always add a touch of romance just for fun.

So far, all of your books are set in Texas. Do you have plans to pursue other settings in the future? Not yet, but I’m not limiting  myself either. As for now, my next book will be set in Texas, but after that, I’m not sure where my stories will take me.

What is your background, and how did you end up writing novels? When I was young, I never dreamed I’d be a writer when I grew up. In school, writing assignments were drudgery, but then again, most of my papers were research not creative writing. My lifelong goal was to marry an awesome guy, settle down, and have a bunch of kiddos. Once I did all that, I surprised myself by developing an increased interest in books which led to an interest in writing. Now I’m having the time of my life.

*************************************************

My Review:
Firstly thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

I also feel I need to put a warning for this book. This book deals with is hard issues including self harm and may be a trigger for some people who struggle with this issue.

This book is different from the books I normally read. I did enjoy the story but did find it confronting in many ways. I could identify with how the characters suffer from low self esteem caused by general perceptions of how we should look or not look etc. I too suffered from a low self esteem due to bullying and also having expectations placed on me that were unrealistic. I felt for Cecily and the more I read the more I felt for her. I also feel for other characters in this book. Cecily thinks she isn't good enough which is where the self harming comes in (hence the warning) from talking with people who have done this I do understand how at the time it numbs the pain. I love how she joins a support group which offers help not a quick fix but help. What I like even better is we see men in this book also having issues. We don't think of men having these issues and while they may not manifest in the same way they do affect them.

This is a book that will help women understand they are not alone and body image issues and distortion issues are universal and that while we may think another woman is perfect they may very well be suffering in their own way.

A good read and a good book for a bookclub read to get the body image discussion started.

Book Review To Riches Again by Darlene Franklin

To Riches Again

by 

Darlene Franklin

• Publisher: Forget Me Not Romances, 
• a division of Winged Publications (March 19, 2017)
• Amazon link 

Book description:

A year ago, life was full of promise.
Elyssa Philbin partied with the rest of New York’s elite, not worrying about anything beyond her newest dress.
Ian and Bridget McDonnell, although part of a poverty-stricken family, lived secure in their parents’ love. Bill Ward looked forward to a prosperous crop, a new baby, and his loving wife.

Everything changed before the calendar turned to 1930. 

To Riches Again chronicles Elyssa and Bill’s return to wholeness after they have both lost everything, and gained much more—thanks in part to two orphan children.

My Review:

firstly thanks to the Author for my review copy.

I have to say I am really loving reading novella's at present and this is another really good read. I have read a few orphan train books with the ones that come to mind by Jane Peart. I find this whole subject fascinating as it's not something we hear much about unless I read a book with it in. Subjects like the Oregon trail etc are known about in Australia but the orphan trains are not known about.  The book features Elyssa who has fallen on hard times after the Wall street crash which takes her family away from her. She is bringing children across the country to Kansas and know families. She is also hoping to start a new life for herself there. 

Bill is a single but has been granted his request to adopt two children Ian and Bridget. I love the way Elyssa is with the children and fell in love with them. We also see how Bill falls in love with the children and Elyssa. I love the way this book flows and how we see how each of the main characters are wounded in different ways and what comes from that. 

A Wonderful read. 

Book Review Love's Glory by Darlene Franklin

Loves Glory

By

Darlene Franklin

• Publisher: Forget Me Not Romances, 
• a division of Winged Publications (June 2, 2015)
• Website

Book Description:

LIES AND DESERTION CHASE BETH FROM HER HOME TOWN.
It’s 1919. Everything is changing—cars are common and airplanes helped win the War to End All Wars. Even the German-Americans of New Brandenburg, Texas, renamed their town Old Glory to prove their patriotism.
None of that matters to Beth Smith. In 1917, her boyfriend Garan Schmidt enlisted in the Army—and left her pregnant. She left home and built a new life for herself and their daughter.
When Garan finds Beth and their daughter in May 1919, he is eager to make amends and start over. Beth is unsure if she is ready to tell the truth that will set them free.

My Review:

This book takes place after World War 1 has ended. We see Beth with her friend Agnes waiting for her Agnes's brother and Smitty to arrive home from the war. When they arrive Beth realises Smitty is Garan and he soon realises he is a father. Garan wants to do the right thing by marrying Beth as he has never stopped loving her. Both he and Beth feel guilty for giving in to temptation and accepting God's forgiveness. Beth didn't want to return home to Old Glory where everyone knows her as she is not sure how they will receive her. I won't say more as I don't want to tell the story.

I enjoyed the story and learning even more about this part of Texas also. 

Blog Tour The Essential Amish Cookbook: Everyday Recipes from Farm and Pantry by Lovina Eicher

The Essential Amish Cookbook

$22.99 USD

7 x 9 in. paperback

ISBN 978-1-5138-0029-5 

eBook │ $18.99 │ 978-1-5138-0030-1 

Release date: April 18, 2017

Available from Herald Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble and your favorite bookseller. 

Join Amish cook Lovina Eicher in her kitchen as she prepares recipes used every day in countless Amish homes in Old Order Amish communities across North America. Many of the more than 100 recipes are richly illustrated with step-by-step photographs to help you learn Amish cooking as if you were in Lovina’s own kitchen. From hearty main dishes to substantial sides—plus a generous sampling of scrumptious cakes, pies, cookies, and other delectable desserts—learn how to make the hearty, simple dishes that the Amish cook together and serve at home, church services, and weddings.

About the Author

Lovina Eicher is author of the syndicated column, Lovina’s Amish Kitchen, which appears in 40 newspapers around the United States and on a weekly blog maintain by her editors. She is the author of several cookbooks. Lovina and her husband have eight children and live in rural Michigan.

Author Tour

Lovina will be supporting her book release with a series of book signings. If you or any of your readers would like to meet her in person, here is a list of confirmed book signings. More dates and locations are in the works. Updates will be posted on the Lovina's Amish Kitchen Facebook page.

April 18 – J Farver’s Books (Time TBA)
451 S. VanBuren
Shipshewana, IN 46565

April 29 – Launch party! (Time: TBA)
Peace Church
833 East 168th Street
South Holland, IL 60473
(Here you can also meet Lovina's loyal friend Ruth and Ruth's fellow church friends who did the recipe testing)

May 6 – Dorothy’s Hallmark (Time TBA)
The Party Shop
3418 Lake City Hwy
Warsaw, IN 46580

May 19 – Better World Books – 6-8 p.m.
215 S Main St,
Goshen, IN 46526

May 20 – Barnes and Noble - 12 - 3 p.m.
University Park Mall
6501 North Grape Road
Mishawaka, IN 46545

My Review:

Firstly thanks to the publisher for my review copy.

I enjoy reading Amish books and the interesting dishes, such as  Whoopie Pies. Being an Australian I often wonder what the dish is. I jumped at a chance to review this book just to see some Amish recipes. While I haven't tried any recipes yet I have found many that sound interesting and because of photos now know what some look like. Lovina explains how to make the recipe which will help in making them and also many recipes she gives the story of the recipe. (When she first made the recipe etc.) Also what I love are the photos. We don't just see photos of the lovely food we see photos of the Amish way of life and also of nature. Some of the photos of flowers are breathtaking. Also the Amish buggies and horses. As Lovina is Older Amish their are no photos of her or her family but the book doesn't need that. It is a recipe book with the added benefit of wonderful photos. 

If you ever wondered what some of the Amish recipes in books you read are or want to try some of their recipes this is a book I am sure you will like. Check out her facebook page for a demo of some of her recipes. I tried to add one here but I couldn't work out how to add it.

Book Review: Fort Point (Maine Justice) (Volume 2) by Susan Page Davis

Fort Point (Main Justice Book 2) by Susan Page Davis

• Publisher: Tea Tin Press (March 28, 2017)
• 
  
• Amazon

Book Description

An ill-fated class reunion at Fort Point. . . Maine’s most famous author is murdered the night after the reunion. A classmate turns up dead a few days later, apparently drowned at Fort Point. What does a cold case burglary have to do with the deaths? And did a third classmate really commit suicide? The Priority Unit solves its most challenging case, relying on wits, hard work, and faith. Meanwhile, Jennifer Wainthrop plans her wedding but manages to hand the detectives some important clues. Detective Harvey Larson is offered a job he doesn’t want, until he learns the police chief has had a tragic accident. Captain Mike Browning is on vacation in Maine's far north, and proves a difficult man to track down. Harvey and Jennifer continue their faith journey and romance while untangling the evidence. Despite many obstacles, the Priority Unit is once again serving up Maine Justice.

My Review:

Firstly thanks to the author for my review copy.

This is the second book in the Maine Justice series and a warning may contain spoilers if you haven't read book one. This books starts with the murder of a famous author Martin Blake after a school reunion. A second attendee turns up dead a few days later and they wonder if they are related. Again Harvey has to investigate the murder and try to work out who is involved. Early in the book after Martin's body is found they have to see his wife, well this is where it go interesting for me. His wife's name is Thelma Blake. My father had a sister who passed away at around 15 called Thelma and they were going to name a daughter they lost Thelma so reading her name was interesting. It didn't make me sad it just gave me a little start at first. This Thelma is such a large character that it would be nice to think she was a part of them. 

Now back to the review. Harvey is also up for a promotion he is not sure he wants as he doesn't like change. We also see more of his partner Eddie in this book and I have to say I really do like Eddie. In there spare time Jennifer and Harvey are planning a wedding and some of the decisions are interesting. I also found later close to the wedding I was laughing at some of the antics and things that were happening. The mystery itself had me wondering who was involved and who the killer was. I had guessed a few of the clues but still wasn't sure till the end. I am looking forward to the final book in the series. 

ACRBA Blog Tour Activate by Adele Jones

3 - 7 April 2017

Australian Christian Readers Blog Alliance

is Introducing 

Activate

(By the Rhiza Press, 1 November 2016)

By Adele Jones

About the Book:

Josh Hammond’s not who he says he is. To stay alive, he must guard his identity, existing isolated from his former life and those he loves. The one enemy he can’t outrun is his failing health, and time is short. Desperate for a solution, Josh leaves the protection of his safe house unapproved. Instead of a cure, he’s left powerless against a cunning adversary. Determined to reclaim his life, he grasps an opportunity for escape, but things go drastically wrong. Can he find a way to expose the lies of a criminal mastermind, or will he be silenced? Forever.

About the Author:

Adele Jones lives in Queensland, Australia. Her writing is inspired by a passion for family, faith, friends, music and science – and her broad ranging imagination.

A strong believer in embracing life's journey, Adele delights in sharing that adventure with others, be that through the pages of a story or engaging in a social or professional context. Through her broad personal and professional interests, she has welcomed diverse engagement opportunities, including science based student experience sessions, conference presentations, literary readings and musical exploits.

With a long standing interest in historical fiction, Adele based her Master's dissertation on this topic and is currently anticipating release of her first novel in this genre, A Devil's Ransom (www.roseandcrownbooks.com). She has also had a variety of poems, short stories, inspirational meditations, devotions and magazine articles published. Her first YA novel Integrate was awarded the 2013 Caleb Prize for unpublished manuscript, and is due to for release in September 2014. Replicate is the second book in this series and was released in October 2015.   

More information:
Adele Jones: www.adelejonesauthor.com