Dusk's Darkest Shores by Carolyn Miller Blog Tour

This is a good novel exploring the plight of men returning to England from fighting in the Napoleonic campaigns. Miller has done a good job of creating an unlikely romance in the midst of suffering. Her writing style is a pleasure to read and her characters crafted well to fit the time.

There are several themes explored in the novel. One is the plight of the returning soldiers. Many had no means of living and were not treated well. Some, like Adam, returned home with a debilitating disease. Miller explores the frustration felt by Adam and his battle with feeling useless. But we also see just how far one can go with a disability when there is encouraging help.

Another theme in the novel centers on women and their place in society at the time. A young woman is attacked and mistreated yet the Magistrate tends to not believe her. Our heroine, Mary, does believe her and tries to encourage her. Mary is a bit of a pistol, nearing thirty and not married. She helps her doctor father and really doesn't fit into society, lacking beaus. And then there is Emily, a young woman who fits well into social circles. She was engaged to Adam before he left for war but now cannot face the thought of marrying a less than able man. An additional theme in the novel is the exploration of God and miracles. Will He still heal today? Why doesn't He protect those who love Him from devastating harm? How do we trust Him in the midst of suffering?

I enjoyed this novel. It is an entertaining story of tragedy, emotional healing, and trust in God. I was also delighted to learn about herbs used to heal at the time.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Carolyn Miller is an inspirational romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Whales, Australia with her husband and four children. She has a BA in English Literature. Her novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australian Christian Writers. You can find out more at www.carolynmillerauthor.com.

Kregel Publications, 320 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

A Reason to Forget by C L Giles

I enjoyed this action packed novel for middle grade readers and I'm an septuagenarian. Jazz is a good heroine. She and her grandpa played games. Then he drifted into the dark hole of Alzheimer's and she finds her life is in danger. The training she received from her grandpa might very well be the difference between life and death for her and her friends.

Giles has included several interesting themes in this novel. One is Jazz's love for her grandfather. How should he be helped in the best way possible? Another theme is middle grade relationships. Jazz is taken in by a story of hidden diamonds made up by a teasing fellow. She has a best friend in quirky Blossom, a good sidekick to adventures. And when the two are sent off to summer camp, they befriend Davy, a genius. The loyalty of Jazz's friends is tested when a sinister man attacks.

The plot is fun. The first half of the book is a little slow as it is more of a set up for the exciting second half. Readers will find out about Jazz, her parents and her dear grandpa as the stage is set. The second half of the book is nonstop action that will grab young readers. I especially liked Davy's innovation and tech expertise. Potential readers should know there is some violence and a dead body or two included.

This is an entertaining novel for middle grade readers with excitement and lessons on relationships. It is the first in a series and I will definitely be looking for the sequel.

You can find out more about this book and the ones to follow here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

C L Giles is a retired middle school teacher. Her first full length novel, A Reason to Forget: Training Games, begins the Firestorm series. It was nominated for the Dixie Lee Connor Award for Exceptional Children's Writing. She loves reading and writing about characters who are everyday heroes. She lives in Clarksville, Tennessee. You can find out more at https://clgiles.com/.

Top Branch Publishing, 262 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Book Sirens. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

He Saw That It Was Good by Sho Baraka

Baraka self describes his book as mostly “musings about people, events, movements, and ideas that I believe could help us cultivate good work and creativity.” (297/335) The core of the book, he writes, is “how the stories we live shape the world around us.” (42/355) I found the book to be insightful and thought provoking, even if a bit rambling in its content.

I'll share some observations and conclusions, noting that I am a white Christian having had experiences in the evangelical, Charismatic, and nondenominational tribes of Christianity. Baraka challenges readers to understand the importance of our tribe in forming our stories and how those stories shape up. He encourages us to have our stories begin with the image of God, forming the basis. He challenges our theology and shares his experiences in Reformed doctrine, appreciating the theological growth but noting the disconnectedness from his heritage. He notes that the church should include consideration of people from all economic and social areas. Christianity is not a religion for only the privileged. “Christianity cannot work for the palace and not the peasant.” (186/355) The church needs the powerful and diverse expressions of faith, from a variety of people and tribes.

Baraka is a controversial artist. He believes writers and artists are to be honest about their expression of the world. This includes language some might feel offensive. Some of his music has been banned from Christian retail outlets because of the language used. He uses some of that language in this book too, noting it is not for shock value but as an honest expression of life.

This book is a rambling collection of Baraka's thoughts on a variety of subjects. I thought it would be more about being a creating Christian. He does give seven principles that he says will move people to a blessed creative life near the end of the book. These include such concepts as understanding God has given us gifts for the benefit of others and that we are to be content. His writing is more about our lives being a creative expression of who we are than about the traditional concept of being creative, such as in art or music.

I found this book to be a jarring wake up call to those of us living comfortably within our fold of evangelical exceptionalism. He writes here, and has recorded songs, reflecting his honest feelings about racism and misogyny. This book will be an uncomfortable read for Christians who want to sanitize their understanding of Christian life.

You can read an excerpt here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Sho Baraka is actually Amisho Baraka Lewis. He attended Tuskegee University and the University of North Texas where he studied Television/Film, Anthropology, and Public Administration. He is avid at making music, writing, acting, giving lectures, traveling the world as an artist, activist and culture curator. He is a co-founder of Fourth District and The And Campaign. He was also an Adjunct Professor at Wake Forest University and original member of the internationally known hip-hop consortium, 116 Clique and record label, Reach Records. He lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife and their three children. You can find out more at https://www.barakaology.com/home.

WaterBrook, 224 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Peaches and Schemes by Anna Gerard

This is the first novel I've read in the cozy Georgia B&B mystery series. While knowing what happened in the previous novels might have helped understand character actions in this one, I felt this story read well on its own. I do like an amateur sleuth and Nina (pronounced nine-ah) is a good one. When someone she knows is strangled, a friend of Nina's is arrested for the crime. Nina must uncover the real murderer by unraveling tangled relationships.

The characters were drawn well. Some were quirky, like Nina's sort of side kick, Harry. He's developing an interesting business. Having appeared in past movies, though not a star, he offers to act as a male companion to women needing one – in public settings only. Need a boyfriend at a family reunion? He's your man. But it does get him in some trouble as he and Nina get closer to revealing the villain.

I like to learn something when I read a novel and was introduced to trypophobia in this one. It describes a person's reaction to seeing a cluster of holes or dots. While unusual, the phobia did play a role in keeping the wrong person from being held for the murder.

This is a good cozy mystery for readers who like an amateur sleuth investigating relationships, both past and present, to solve the mystery. Gerard's writing style is easy to follow making this novel a good cozy mystery.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Anna Gerard is the pseudonym of Diane A.S. Stuckart, writing cozy mysteries set in the south. She also writes as Ali Brandon and Alexa Smart and is a New York Times bestselling and award-winning author. She is a Texas native with a degree in journalism from the University of Oklahoma. She now lives in southern Florida. You can find out more at https://www.dianestuckart.com/. Photo by James Eisele.

Crooked Land Books, 304 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

The Nature of a Lady by Roseanna M White

I enjoyed this historical novel introducing me to a collection of islands off the southwest coast of England I did not even know existed. White uses a bit of pirate lore to set up a story taking place in 1906. The Isles of Scilly were a popular places for pirates and smugglers. White supposes a fictional search for some loot the pirate Mucknell, an actual historical pirate, may have left on one of the Scillies.

I found Lady Elizabeth very engaging. She's a woman before her time, loving nature and capturing it in drawings. She not the typical society woman, ready to marry a titled gentleman. I admired her escape to the Scillies and cheered her on her desire to live a life she would enjoy. I liked the other characters too, except the ones thwarting Lady Elizabeth's happiness. All were well developed and were good in supporting the plot movement.

I like it when historical novels address issues of the day and White included several in this novel. One was the relationships between women of different classes. Lady Elizabeth and her maid were friends, or were they? Class distinction reared its ugly head in their relationship. Another was the place of unmarried women in the family. Lady Elizabeth's brother was determined to arrange a marriage for her, much to her dismay. We hope true love will win out. There are good Christian themes included, such as God knowing each of us by name. We also see an older woman having insight and knowledge only God could give.

This is a good novel for readers who would enjoy one about a woman who feels out of place in society and finds her way in romance and in faith. You'll get a little pirate mystery and suspense and you will be introduced to the beautiful Isles of Scilly.

You can read an excerpt here. You can see author photos of the Scillies here.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Roseanna M White is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author of numerous novels, ranging from biblical fiction to romances set in America to an Edwardian British series. She lives with her family in West Virginian. You can find out more at www.roseannamwhite.com.

Bethany House, 384 pages.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Road to Freedom by Leigh Lincoln Blog Tour

About the Book

Book:  Road to Freedom

Author: Leigh Lincoln

Genre: Christian Literary Transformational Fiction

Release date: October 16, 2020

A marriage which shouldn’t be. The path to forgiveness begins in unlikely places. And love can bloom among the thorns.
Immigrant Francisco has escaped the cruelty of Cuba, but has been a man without a true home. Now terminal cancer has driven him into the arms of Stacy.
Traveling half-way around the world together, they each have a journey to take. Francisco confronts his past. While Stacy tries to open her heart after a devastating first marriage. Both pushing each other in ways they are unwilling to accept.
Can he make amends and say he’s sorry for his wrongs? Can she learn to let go and be free to love again? 

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This novel exploring the journey from guilt to freedom is unlike anything I've read before. It starts out with an odd scene, an attempted kiss on Stacy from Francisco, a man fifteen years her senior. Tongue licking lips, trying to force her mouth open, then touching her chin and cheek. “It felt like slime was about to drip off my face. … Ick and double ick.” (Loc 27/2727)

With that almost repulsive opening, Lincoln takes us on a journey of an unlikely marriage and revisiting places to confront and heal from past events. We become aware of Francisco's story as he and Stacy travel. He opens up his life and reveals his secrets and the hurt he has caused.

I had some trouble liking the characters. Francisco is rough and angry. He's not a Christian and does some swearing. He's not a nice fellow. Granted, he has a ton of hurt and guilt weighing him down, but he is just not likable. And Stacy seems to make a really rash decision. Her subsequent devotion to Francisco seemed unrealistic.

I found the Spanish Francisco spoke to be disrupting. I don't know Spanish so I just skipped over those parts. It was odd, however, that when Francisco talked to Carlos and Sofia, the entire conversation obviously in Spanish, Lincoln translates it into English for us. The inconsistency in the portrayal of language was disconcerting.

The story contained in this novel has great potential as an account of finding freedom through revisiting past decisions and the people involved. There is a bit of a gospel message included near the end.

My rating: 3/5 stars.

 

About the Author

Leigh has spent the better part of the last thirty years involved in homeless and poverty advocacy in one way or another. Her first novel – Road Home – was born out of this work. She wanted to make people think about their lives and how they live. But most importantly, about how they treat others and how they want to be treated. Her second novel – Road to Freedom – looks at how our lives don’t always follow the path we choose. But yet somehow we must pick up the broken pieces and move on. How we grow and where our strength comes from is what’s most important. These two novels form the basis for her series – Broken Roads. Each shows how life is raw, painful and often leads us on journeys we never expected or imagined. While each book doesn’t seem to relate, the final book in the series will connect the dots of how these characters have touched the lives of each other in ways they never knew. Keep watching for updates on when new books will come out!

Leigh loves to travel, paint and hike. You never know where she’ll end up next, for she’s on her own journey of discovery.

More from Leigh

I wrote this book as my pandemic project – with all this time on my hands I needed something to do. No traveling, no meeting new people, no leaving my house, no, no, no. Fine, I thought to myself, I’ll sit at my computer and remember people I’ve met on my journeys, places I’ve been, things I’ve seen, foods I’ve savored. And then cram them all into a book. For those of you who want to be adventurous, I’ve learned how to make paella. It works best in a heavy skillet on a gas stove, but a non-stick pan or an electric stove will work as well. Ingredients: 1 1/2 cup stock, 1/8 cup olive oil, 1/4 large onion finely chopped, 1 clove fresh garlic minced, 1/3 cup tomato sauce, handful of fresh peas, 3/4 cup pearl or valencia rice, 1 large bay leaf, 1 cup meat (chicken, Spanish chorizo or seafood – or go crazy and do a mix of meats), salt, pepper and saffron to taste. Instructions: Saute onions, garlic, bay leaf in olive oil until soft. Add rice, continue to saute for 3-5 minutes until rice is a golden brown. Add about a 1/4 cup of stock, tomato sauce, peas, and spices. If you are using chicken add it at this point. Cook on low or medium low, shaking the pan from time to time, making sure the rice ends up level. Slowly pour about 1/4 cup of stock evenly around the pan every 5-10 minutes. Do not allow it to come to a boil, do not stir and do not cover. When the rice is almost tender, add Spanish chorizo or seafood if that’s your meat of choice. I often serve paella with fresh bread, a bowl of olive oil to dip the bread in and a few slices of lemon if people want some tang added to their paella.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 15

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 16

Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, May 17

Texas Book-aholic, May 18

Inklings and notions, May 19

For Him and My Family, May 20

deb's Book Review, May 21

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 22

Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting, May 23

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 24

HappyWhenReading, May 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 25

Jodie Wolfe - Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, May 26 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, May 27

Through the Fire Blogs, May 28 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 28

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Deadly Ever After by Eva Gates

Another enjoyable cozy mystery in the Lighthouse Library Mystery series. While some of the details in this novel come from events in earlier novels, it read pretty well on its own.

The quirky characters are what make the plot enjoyable. Gates does a good job balancing the character movement with an ongoing investigation into murder. Lucy and Connor getting ready to plan a wedding are contrasted with a body found behind a favorite local restaurant.

I like the frequent snappy dialogues and pithy comebacks. I like Lucy being relentless in solving the mystery in her amateur but effective way. My favorite characters, though, were Charles, the library cat, and Fluffy, the yappy but protective little dog. Their actions were fun.

The setting of Nags Head is wonderful. The library is in a lighthouse and Lucy lives in an upper floor. Quirky library patrons and board members make for more fun. And then there is the spooky marsh area and mysterious lights at night.

This is a fun cozy mystery with interesting characters, a good setting and a bit of suspense. There is nothing sophisticated nor especially enlightening in this novel. It's just a fun mystery.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Eva Gates is the pen name of the Canadian writer, Vicki Delaney. She writes under both names for a total of more than forty novels. She is a past president of the Crime Writers of Canada and co-founder and organizer of the Women Killing It Crime Writing Festival. You can find out more at https://www.lighthouselibrarymysteries.com/ and http://vickidelany.com/. Photo by Iden Ford Photography.

Crooked Lane Books, 304 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

I Witnessed Miracles Blog Tour

About the Book

Book:  I Witnessed Miracles

Author: Maureen Chevalier-Seawell, M.D.

Genre: Christian non-fiction

Release date: April 30, 2020

Do Miracles really happen?
Does God still heal the sick?Dr. Maureen Chevalier-Seawell says, Yes!In the hope and faith inspiring book,
I Witnessed MiraclesDr. Chevalier-Seawell recounts the dozens of miracles she witnessed in her thirty-three years of medical practice and in her personal life.Thomas had a stroke which did not resolve in two years. But then…
When he was hospitalized for a different problem, he was re-evaluated by stroke-rehab. Their evaluation was: no hope. His prayer group prayed for him every night for three weeks. Thomas regained everything the stroke had taken away.Jessie lost her vision for six months. But then…
She came to the office for surgical clearance for her ophthalmologist. After anointing with oil and receiving a brief prayer, she awakened the next morning with her sight restored to normal.Elizabeth had lupus for ten years. Her joint pain, Raynauds and fatigue were increasing. But then…
On the 700 Club on TV she heard, “There is somebody out there…and she has Lupus. God is healing her right now.”
And he did. Every chapter tells the individual uplifting story of each person’s devastating diagnosis when medicine failed them and then the miraculous recovery as God healed their body and revived their spirit. I Witnessed Miracles is a profound recollection of inspirational stories that will give you positive reinforcement, drawing you closer to God and refreshing your faith. A read you won’t forget.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

These are good personal stories of miracles, witnessed or verified my a medical doctor. Some of the events were totally unexpected recoveries. Other were visitations by heavenly beings. All of them point to God intervening in lives.

I appreciate Chevalier-Seawell addressing the issue that not all are healed. She is very honest about having a vision and getting the meaning wrong. Because of that, this is a good book for people who are looking for examples of miracles and those wanting to understand more how we can misunderstand what God has planned.

My rating: 4/5 stars. 

 

About the Author

Maureen Chevalier-Seawell, MD graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BS in Chemistry then completed medical school and a residency in Internal Medicine. She is board certified in that specialty. She has practiced medicine for 36 years and has taught medical students for more than a decade.

Read an Excerpt

”Faith was a single mother in her late twenties. Very pretty. Upbeat personality. She was well liked by most people. Faith was also a devout Christian. She shared her faith constantly like seeds in the wind. She worked in an office in the building where I leased space.

It was late in 2005 that Faith developed a physical problem in her mouth. Her dentist removed the right upper wisdom tooth, but the wound did not heal. She had been seeing the dentist for weeks. He would debride the wound and cover it. Then she would go back for more debriding. The painful, dime-sized wound refused to heal. After six weeks of conservative care, her dentist told her the hole would not close on its own. She would need surgery, so he made the referral.

This was the day she told me about the problem. She was visiting in our office just at closing. She pulled out a pocket flashlight and showed me her gum. What I saw was a lesion about the size of a dime and deep. I could see white uncovered bone, but the wound was clean. There was no dead or infected tissue. I didn’t know why with the care she was getting the wound had not healed.

In a purely social way, I told her that I hoped all would go well with her and proceeded to exit the building. It was already getting dark. The winter sun went down early. That day had been a particularly long one. I was tired. My coat was on my body, my purse on my shoulder, and my briefcase in my hand. I was done. I pushed open the heavy glass door and walked toward my car. Next stop, home. No sooner did I get outside the building than I heard the Spirit of the Lord speak to my heart: “Are you my servant or aren’t you?”

I was so tired. I didn’t want to go back into the building. I wanted to go home. I had a short discussion with myself, turned around, and went back to find Faith. Fortunately, she was right where I had left her. She had found someone else to talk to. I asked her if she would be offended if I said a brief prayer for her and applied the oil. “No, that would be wonderful,” she said.

I returned to my office, retrieved a drop of oil that had been blessed, and placed it on her face near the wound inside her mouth. I put my hand on her shoulder and prayed a very short but sincere prayer in the name of Jesus. I still had my coat on, so I shouldered my bag, picked up my briefcase, and left.

I was interrupted in my morning schedule by my office manager. She told me Faith had been healed. My whole office was excited. Faith was jumping up and down. The hole in her gum was gone. She was still carrying her flashlight, so I could see where it had been. There was nothing in her mouth but clean, well-healed skin. It couldn’t have healed like that overnight. Faith’s dentist didn’t believe it either, so she took time that day to show him. He, too, was amazed.

There is no medical explanation. I give the glory to the Lord Jesus, our Savior.”

Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples!

Shout to God with the voice of triumph!

Psalm 47:1

Blog Stops

Book reviews From an Avid Reader, May 12

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, May 13

For Him and My Family, May 14

Pick a good book, May 14

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 15

Because I said so -- and other adventures in Parenting, May 16

deb's Book Review, May 17

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, May 18

Debbie's Dusty Deliberations, May 19

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 20

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, May 21

Inklings and notions, May 22

Mary Hake, May 22

cats in the cradle blog, May 23

Texas Book-aholic, May 24

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, May 25

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through Celebrate Lit. My comments are an independent and honest review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)