Home on Huckleberry Hill Promo Blast

April 30, 2020April 29, 2020 / Janelle @ The Meanderings of a Bookworm / Leave a comment

Hello everyone,

Today I’m bringing you a promo blast for Home on Huckleberry Hill by Jennifer Beckstrand.

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About the Book

Huckleberry Hill, Wisconsin’s irrepressible eighty-something matchmakers Anna and Felty Helmuth are at it again. And this time they’re willing to rough it to get the job done . . .

Mary Anne Neuenschwander knows she should be content with what Gotte has given her. She has a comfortable house, a fruitful farm, and a good, steady husband. But after nearly six years of marriage, she still longs for a baby. Yet her husband, Jethro, seems to care more about fishing than about his wife. Unable to bear Jethro’s indifference, Mary Anne moves into a tent in the woods where he won’t have to be bothered. But when her mammi and dawdi find out what she’s done, they’ll stop at nothing—including a little camping trip of their own—to help save their granddaughter’s marriage . . .

Jethro’s greatest blessing is his beloved wife, Mary Anne. Nothing else in his life has turned out anywhere near the way he expected. Rather than burden Mary Anne with his disappointment, he shields her by spending less and less time at home and more time on the river. But when he finds that she’s moved out, he’s shocked. What will people think? What is Mary Anne thinking? And what clever plans are her grandparents hatching?

Click here to purhase your copy of Home on Huckleberry Hill.

My Thoughts

I enjoyed Home on Huckleberry Hill, it was a different kind of love story in that it shows an already married couple who seem to be indifferent to each other and wondering whether the sparks of love will ever return. And to add to the complications they are Amish, which have some strict rules about a wife’s role in the marriage.

I liked watching Mary Anne and how she takes a stand against her husband’s indifference, as well as expectations, of her. While the measures she takes are drastic, it is also clear that ut us a step she needed to get back to the woman she used to be, as well as showing Jethor how much pain his indifference has caused her … to the point that she questins whether she loves him anymore.

I found it interesting that the bishop that Jethro brings out to talk to Mary Anne seems to understand why she is doing what she is doing. However, Jethro is annoying when he refuses to admit his own fault in everything that is going on. It was interesting that the reason the community was in an uproar is because people did not want other wives to become disconted with their lives and get ideas.

I also enjoyed seeing Mary Anne’s grandparents showing their support as well as gelping Mary Anne and Jethor work through their issues. I also liked watching Jethro grow as a character, especially when he realizes that he is just as at fault for his struggling marriage, as Mary Anne is and does everything he can to win her heart again.

This novel shows the importance of good communication, and not taking your spouse for granted, as well as being allowed to work through grief properly after a traumatic event. Home on Huckleberry Hill is a light read, but it also covers a few heavy topics throughout. I am definitely looking forward to checking out more of the books in this series! 4/5 Stars.

About the Author

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Jennifer Beckstrand is the two-time RITA-nominated, #1 Amazon bestselling Amish romance author of The Matchmakers of Huckleberry Hill series, The Honeybee Sisters series, and The Petersheim Brothers series for Kensington Books. Huckleberry Summer and Home on Huckleberry Hill were both nominated for the coveted RITA® Award from Romance Writers of America. Jennifer has always been drawn to the strong faith and the enduring family ties of the Plain people and loves writing about the antics of Anna and Felty Helmuth, the Honeybee sisters’ aendi Bitsy, and Alfie and Benji Petersheim. Jennifer has written twenty-two Amish romances, a historical Western, and the nonfiction book, Big Ideas. Jennifer is represented by Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour Agency. She and her husband have been married for thirty-five years, and she has six children and eight adorable grandchildren, whom she spoils rotten.

Links to Jennifer Beckstrand’s Social Media

Website: http://www.jenniferbeckstrand.com/

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

Twitter: @JenniferBeckst1

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jennifergbeckst/

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Jennifer-Beckstrand/e/B0073GHCOG/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1488910908&sr=8-2-ent

Instagram: j.beckstrand

Bookbub: @JenniferBeckstrand https://www.bookbub.com/authors/jennifer-beckstrand

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Bitter Honey

April 28, 2020April 27, 2020 / Janelle @ The Meanderings of a Bookworm / 3 Comments

About the Book

Book: Bitter Honey

Author: Caryl McAdoo

Genre: Historical Christian Romance

Release Date: March 23, 2020

With God, all things are possible.
But can lost love be found again or two wounded hearts knitted together?
Young love, sweeter than honey, is separated by a natural disaster and turns bitter. After five years, a miracle reunites Samantha Adams and Silas Mercier, but it seems it’s too late. Will love prevail?

Click here for your copy!

My Thoughts

I had no idea what to expect from Bitter Honey, but it was a good introduction to Caryl McAdoo’s writing (she is a new author to me).

The story was good, however, I feel like I enjoyed Claude and Odette’s story (two kind-of-side characters) a lot more than Samantha and Silas’ story. Don’t get me wrong, I did like their love story,but I felt like both of them were too subborn for their own good. I also felt like Samantha came across as a bit younger than her 18 years and I just did not find many redeemable qualities about her. And Silas was also the same, there was nothing really redeemable about him, except his loyalty. That being said, I was still rooting for them throughout the novel.

Another aspect of the novel I did not like, and this just a personal preference, is that I did not like how some of the characters had visions or words from God given to them just willy-nilly…again, a personal preference, but I did find it a little weird and jarring to the story at times.

Overall, this was an okay book and I would be interested in reading some of Caryl McAdoo’s other works in the future. 3/5 Stars.

‘

About the Author

Praying her story gives God glory, award-winning author Caryl McAdoo continues prolificity with her new Cross Timbers Romance Family Saga series. Readers around the world enjoy her best-selling novels and shower them with 5-Star ratings galore. With forty-eight titles—and counting—her love for writing is obvious; the lady loves singing the new songs the Lord gives her as well! (Check out YouTube). Caryl gave Ron four children and the couple shares eighteen grandsugars. The McAdoos live in the woods south of Clarksville, the seat of Red River County, in far Northeast Texas, waiting expectantly for God to open the next door.

More from Caryl

Are you ready to revisit the Adams and Corbin families (from UNIQUELY COMMONE and REMI)? Five years have passed, so it’s 1853, and life has gone on.

Samantha, only fourteen back then, wrote faithfully to Silas back in New Orleans as she traveled west on the Oregon/California Trail. She expected a tall stack of letters waiting on her at the General Store in Napa, but alas there were none.

BITTER HONEY is a story of puppy love time tries to dissipate, but Samantha never forgot Silas—or forgave him either! Though she had no way of knowing what tragic events had kept him from mailing the return missives, he never quit thinking of the beautiful girl who’d written of her love for him.

However, each day that passed only made it harder for him to write. Until he decided only a face-to-face talk would suffice, he worked with the man who’d always loved his mother, Claude, to rebuild his family’s vineyard, catching gators on the side.

This story has a second love story, that of Claude and the prostitute he rescues Odette, so there’s plenty of action to keep readers flipping pages. A story of first love and late, second-chance love with a taste of the Cajun life in Louisiana, BITTER HONEY is about restoration and following God’s will.

I hope you enjoy BITTER HONEY and all the other Lockets and Lace stories!
BLESSINGS!

Blog Stops

Inklings and notions, April 23

deb’s Book Review, April 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 25

For Him and My Family, April 26

Simple Harvest Reads, April 27 (Author Interview)

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, April 28

Texas Book-aholic, April 29

Betti Mace, April 30

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, May 1

For the Love of Literature, May 2 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 3

Artistic Nobody, May 4 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Connect in Fiction, May 5

Lukewarm Tea, May 6 (Author Interview)

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Caryl is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/f8f4/bitter-honey-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Amish Country Murder

April 26, 2020April 23, 2020 / Janelle @ The Meanderings of a Bookworm / 2 Comments

About the Book

Book: Amish Country Murder

Author: Mary Alford

Genre: Amish Suspense

Release Date: March 1, 2020

An Amish woman targeted by a serial killer

Is the only living witness…

As the sole woman to escape the Dead of Night Killer, Catherine Fisher’s the key to catching him—if he doesn’t kill her first. Now it’s up to FBI agent Sutter Brenneman to protect her. But with her memory missing and all clues indicating the serial killer took her for very personal reasons, it’ll take everything Sutter has to keep her safe.

Click here for your copy!

My Thoughts

I honestly did not think I would end up liking this as much as I did because suspense is usually not my thing, but I was intrigued by the title. When I started reading Amish Country Murder, I was immediately sucked into the events of the novel and I had to see what happened next.

Character-wise there is not much to say about them because it was definitely a novel where the focus is more on the plot and not so much on character development, like other novels tend to be. However, I did like how Sutter is forced to confront his anger towards God, and even himself, for something that happened in his past.

Plot-wise, the plot was great, although I will admit thateven though I liked how the culprit was caught I was still a little bit let down by the reveal – but it did not tamper my enjoyment of this novel!

I highly recommend this book for fans of NCIS or Criminal Minds because it reads like and episeode of one of those shows (especially Criminal Minds), but just a little bit tamer. I am defintiely looking forward to checking out more of Mary Alfrod’s books in the future! 4/5 Stars.

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling Author, Mary Alford, loves giving her readers the unexpected. Her titles have appeared on the USA Today Bestselling List, Publisher’s Weekly bestselling list, and have finaled in the Daphne Du Maurier award of excellence in mystery, The Beverly, The Maggie, and The Selah Awards.

As a writer, Mary is an avid reader. She loves to cook, can’t face the day without coffee, and her three granddaughters are the apple of her eye. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two cats and one dog.

Mary is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook and Twitter or any social platforms listed at www.maryalford.net.

More from Mary

Thank you for coming with me on this journey to the mountains of Montana, where the Amish Community of West Kootenai is nestled in the wide-open spaces of Big Sky Country, and a simple Amish way of life can be anything but. Especially when a serial killer is lurking nearby, waiting to take his next victim, and the clock is ticking.

Amish Country Murder is my second book set in the Amish Community of West Kootenai, Montana. My first book, Amish Country Kidnapping is available now at most book retailers.

As a reader, one of my favorite genres is Amish Suspense. There’s just something about a story that pits the simple and innocent Amish lifestyle with the dark and sometimes deadly world of a suspense. Good versus evil, so to speak.

When Catherine Fisher escapes the clutches of a serial killer, she can’t remember as single thing about her past before the monster took her.

FBI agent Sutter Brenneman has been working the Dead of Night Serial Killer case for a while. Catherine is his first living victim. Protecting Catherine and finding the killer before he strikes again is critical. Hiding out in Amish Country, Sutter is surrounded my memories of his own Amish past, rekindling old longings for the life lost to him. Is it possible to have it back? In the middle of a killer stalking their every move, Catherine and Sutter share many tender moments as their feelings for each other grow into love.

One of the things I love most about the Amish is their amazingly simple recipes that remind me of my childhood and the meals my mother used to prepare.

During one meal shared with an Amish couple, Catherine and Sutter enjoy sweet potato croquettes with meat loaf. Sweet potato croquettes are a simple side dish that is delicious and easy to prepare. I thought I’d share this recipe with you here.

AMISH SWEET POTATO CROQUETTES

1 pt. of mashed sweet potatoes
1 tblsp. butter
1 tsp. salt
1 tblsp. sugar
1 egg white
breadcrumbs
marshmallows (optional)

Mash sweet potatoes very fine. Add salt, sugar and melted butter to mashed sweet potatoes. Shape sweet potatoes into croquette rolls or patties. Cool them in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. Remove from refrigerator and roll in breadcrumbs. Dip them in the slightly beaten egg white, and then into the crumbs again. Bake in a shallow, greased baking dish for 20 minutes, at a temperature of 400 degrees F. For an even sweeter version of this dish, you can place a marshmallow in the center of each (make sure it is covered completely by the potato mixture).

I so hope you enjoy this recipe and Amish Country Murder. And stay tuned for my next Amish Suspense set in West Kootenai, coming in November of this year.

Blog Stops

Batya’s Bits, April 14

Genesis 5020, April 14

The Avid Reader, April 15

Maureen’s Musings, April 15

Betti Mace, April 16

janicesbookreviews, April 16

She Lives To Read, April 17

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 17

Texas Book-aholic, April 18

deb’s Book Review, April 18

Inklings and notions, April 19

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 19

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 20

For Him and My Family, April 21

Older & Smarter?, April 21

My Devotional Thoughts, April 22

For the Love of Literature, April 22

Artistic Nobody, April 23 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Pause for Tales, April 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 24

Hallie Reads, April 24

Because I said so and other as adventures in parenting, April 25

Emily Yager, April 25

SPLASHES of Joy, April 26

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, April 26

Blossoms and Blessings, April 27

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize package of a Lavender Spa 10-piece Gift Basket with Tote, and a print copy of Amish Country Murder!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/f8df/amish-country-murder-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Oh, Gracious

April 25, 2020April 23, 2020 / Janelle @ The Meanderings of a Bookworm / 1 Comment

About the Book

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Book: Oh, Gracious!

Author: Chautona Havig

Genre: Christian fiction, contemporary Romance, woman’s fiction

Release Date: March 31, 2020

Life is too short to settle for just anyone.
Grace gave her whole heart to Jesus, but now he wants a part of it.

All she ever wanted was to be a homemaker.

Sure, she has a degree in physics. Yes, she could have a lucrative job in Rockland, but Grace Buscher enjoys her life as a single homemaker. As they say, it’s her choice.

As a successful business owner, a handsome guy, and heir to a small fortune, it’s no wonder Nolan Burke is one of Rockland’s most eligible bachelors. The problem is, he hasn’t met anyone who isn’t looking for a “trophy husband.”

Don’t family-centered women exist anymore?

Grace isn’t exactly eye candy. Nolan is a bit blind. So when an “accidental meeting” forges an unlikely friendship, it becomes obvious to everyone that it’s likely to become more.

But is Grace ready to give up the life she loves for the man she loves?

Find out in this completely updated, revised, and improved version of Chautona Havig’s first novel, Noble Pursuits.

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts

Let me start by saying that this is the light-hearted read I have been wanting to read for the last couple of weeks! I loved it and I flew through it. I enjoyed getting to know this lovely cast of characters, or rather I should say reacquainted with them because I had read Noble Pursuits. However, I could not remember much from when I read it several years ago, except the two main characters…and that one scene (apologies if this is a spoiler) when Nolan sends Grace a plant and accidentally writes down Proverbs 5:19 in the card, and the chaos that ensues after that.

And having just igven away one of my favorite scenes in Oh, Gracious, here is the rest of my review.

As I mentioned before, this was the pick-me-up book I have been looking for, it was funny, sweet, had a great cast of characters and contained some great nuggets of truth throughout the novel.

First, the characters. Nolan Burke is a great character, he has depth, is not shallow. I appreciate that he knew love and marriage is not based on marrying someone who is externally beautiful, but that it is a person’s character that truly matters.

And then there is Grace, who I also loved, especially since she is beautiful both inside and out, even if she isn’t what the would would deem classically beautiful. However, I did find her a little too old-fashioned and stubborn at times. While I understand she is single and it is wise to check in with her brother, she is also 32 years old and capable of making her own decisions – but at the same time I also liked this aspect of the novel.

And then there is her brother, Craig, who needs to get a life! I swear for most of the book I wanted to throttle him … he was way too overprotective of Grace and it was aggravating at times. I also did not like how there were times when he questioned Grace’s judgment, again, she’s 32 and perfectly capable of making good decisions. But I wil admit that his overprotectiveness did add some comic relief to the novel too.

And before I continue, I need to note Chuck Majors, who I have met in some of the other books in the Rockland Chronicles. Even though he is a piece of work, I would love to see him have a sort of redemption story arc (maybe it already exists?).

The plot was cute and had some great laugh-out-loud moments. It is a perfect read for the uncertain times we are going through right now! I am looking forward to re-reading this in the future, as well as read (and re-read) Chautona Havig’s other books. Oh, Gracious is definitely going on my favorite reads of 2020 list! 4.5/5 Stars.

About the Author

Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

More from Chautona

Wow, My Beloved First Book Was a Hot Mess

On my blog, I sometimes answer readers’ questions, and one of the earliest ones was, “Since you zip out your books so fast, do you ever later wish you had done something differently with them?”

My answer today is the same as back then—usually. No. Yes, I sometimes regret not being able to tell a supporting character’s story because the book has given away that person’s past and/or future. Still, most of the time, I tell the story as I want it.

But in that post about “regrets,” I said that as I learn, I definitely wish to improve sentences here, and others there. I did this already with Argosy Junction, the second book that I published. The first two or three books were experiments where I made many serious mistakes. Took bad advice. Didn’t know the right things to research. All the mistake-ness.

Total transparency here. I chose Argosy Junction to revise first because I made fewer mistakes on it. Still lots, but not as many as my first book, Noble Pursuits.

Bad editing advice, horrible cover design (twice), and just basic writing craft stuff that I didn’t know when I started this whole journey all culminated in a book I both loved (the story) and hated (the final result). Many reviewers said the same thing, too. That poor book has the worst reviews of all of my books combined.

And for good reason.

But it’s a good story—one I love, as I said—and it has some strong fans. Some readers were able to look past the problems and see the heart of what I tried to do with it. And that was a beautiful thing. Those readers, actually, are the ones I’ve rewritten this book for.

Yes, I rewrote Noble Pursuits. While every sentence isn’t completely rewritten, enough are that I considered it a new book, not just a revised one.

A few readers have panicked to see the title changed, the story rewritten. They’ve asked if I took out this or even that. I took out and added nothing that 99.9% of readers would ever notice. And it’s a better book for it.

I am updating the original Noble Pursuits file with the new text. I’m doing this in hopes that those who already own that book can go into their digital content on Amazon and get the updated version. I don’t know if it will work, but I pray it does.

Meanwhile, for those who’ve asked why they can’t buy the first book on my Suggested Reading Order list, well… now you can!

Oh, Gracious! has been a long time coming, but she’s here with a new title, rewritten content, and even a lovely new cover by the brilliantly talented Perry Elizabeth. It took what seems like forever to settle on a title, but we finally did. Why we chose Oh, Gracious! however, is a story for another day.

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, April 24

Wishful Endings, April 24

Truth and Grace Homeschool, April 25

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, April 25

Inklings and notions, April 26

deb’s Book Review, April 26

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 27

Texas Book-aholic, April 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 28

Kat’s Corner Books, April 28

Aryn The Libraryan 📚, April 29

Cultivating us, April 29

Through the Fire Blogs, April 30

For Him and My Family, April 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 1

The Collaborative Press, May 1

Connect in Fiction, May 2

Spoken from the Heart, May 2

Read Review Rejoice, May 2

She Lives To Read, May 3

Books I’ve Read, May 3

Emily Yager, May 4

Captive Dreams Window, May 4

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, May 5

Back Porch Reads, May 5

Lots of Helpers, May 6

As He Leads is Joy, May 6

Artistic Nobody, May 7 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Pause for Tales, May 7

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chautona is giving away the grand prize package of one paperback copy of each of the 3 fully revised novels: Oh, Gracious, Argosy Junction, and Thirty Days Hath…!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/f8f7/oh-gracious-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Tour and Giveaway: House at the End of the Moor

April 19, 2020April 17, 2020 / Janelle @ The Meanderings of a Bookworm / 1 Comment

About the Book

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Book: House at the End of the Moor

Author: Michelle Griep

Genre: Christian Historical

Release Date: April 2020

An Opulent London Opera Star Escapes to the Rugged Landscape of the English Moors

Opera star Maggie Lee escapes her opulent lifestyle when threatened by a powerful politician who aims to ruin her life. She runs off to the wilds of the moors to live in anonymity. All that changes the day she discovers a half-dead man near her house. Escaped convict Oliver Ward is on the run to prove his innocence, until he gets hurt and is taken in by Maggie. He discovers some jewels in her possession—the very same jewels that got him convicted. Together they hatch a plan to return the jewels, clearing Oliver’s name and hopefully maintaining Maggie’s anonymity.

Click here for your copy!

My Thoughts

I’ve read some of Michelle Griep’s Christmas novellas, and I have been meaning to check out one of her full-length novels for a while. And when I saw the title of her latests release – The House at the End of the Moor – I was immediately intrigued! I also need to admit that I only briefly glanced at the synopsis so I went into this relatively blind.

I did reall like this book, and I believe I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I had been in a different mood – I have a tendency to be a mood reader – and wanting to read something more light-hearted…this book is a little bit heavy. However, I did love the themes of mercy and justice and vengeance. I enjoyed getting to know all the characters throughout the novel.

First, this ended up being different from what I was expecting, namely that based on the title I expected most of the book to take place at the house at the end of the moor, however only about thirty percent of this book takes place at this location.

Second, I found the writing style to be interesting, Michelle Griep chooses to keep switching between 3rd and 1st person narration. The 1st person is used when we are getting Maggie Lee’s perspective and the the 3rd preson for the other two characters whose point-of-view we get – Oliver Ward and Sebastian Barrow. There were a few times I foound this a little bit jarring, but over the ourse of the novel I grew to like it.

The plot was intersting, although, as I have mentioned before, it was very different from what I was initially expecting! There is also a full cast of characters who I enjoyed getting to know over the course of the novel, especially the three main characters.

Maggie Lee was interesting and I was intrigued to find out why she is on the run from her “old” life and how her life interesects with Oliver, even before they officially meet. I also liked how while trying to seek out justice for the wrong done to her, she still knows when to show mercy and compassion to others.

And then there is Oliver Ward, who seeks to help those in need, but yet is very critical on those who seem to put the less fortunate down. I liked how he had to lern how pre-conceived notions can be wrong and learn how to show grace, even to those who had wronged him.

Then there is Sebasatian Barrow – or Officer Barrow, as he is known to the other characters – who is so bent on justice and believers it his duty to God to doggedy pursue and punish Oliver (and other “criminals”), in order to make restitution for something he did in his past. It was interesting to see how he is an embodiment of legalism and not fully realizing the freedom we have in Christ and how we are saved by God’s grace and mercy, not works.

Some other characters I enjoyed getting to know, or found interesting, were Oliver’s father, Jarney and the devious Mr. Groat.

Overall, I did like The House at the End of the Moor but I would have enjoyed it even more if I was not craving a more light-hearted read when I read it. I am looking forward to reading more from Michelle Griep in the future. 3.5/5 Stars.

About the Author

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the Christy Award-winning author of historical romances: A Tale of Two Hearts, The Captured Bride, The Innkeeper’s Daughter, 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, The Captive Heart, Brentwood’s Ward, A Heart Deceived, and Gallimore, but also leaped the historical fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. If you’d like to keep up with her escapades, find her at http://www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

More from Michelle

What comes to mind when you hear the word moor? For some, images of Jane Eyre spring to life. For others, The Hound of the Baskervilles starts barking. But for most, it’s a big fat goose egg. The fact is that most Americans don’t have a clue what a moor is, but never fear, my friend…after you read the next few paragraphs, you’ll never again go blank-minded when you hear the word moor.

Last summer I skipped across the pond and tromped around Dartmoor with my daughter and husband. What an awesome experience. I learned first-hand just how windy this vast stretch of land can be, for that’s really what a moor is at heart: a vast stretch of land. Webster’s defines it as an expanse of open rolling infertile land. Sounds rather desolate, eh? Yeah. Kind of. But it’s oh so much more.

In spring and summer, green does abound. Gorse bushes. Scrubby grasses. Lambs and sheep and goats. All these animals roam free so there are trails worn into the dirt that you can hike along. But I hear you…where could you possibly go if there’s nothing besides some farm animals roaming around the place?

You could hike to a tor, which is a “high, craggy hill.” Some of them can be a little treacherous to climb, but sweet mercy, what a view! The earth stretches out like a green and brown quilt. As I hiked that day last spring, whispers in the wind inspired me to wonder a lot of what-ifs, and those what-ifs came together in a story of intrigue and betrayal.

What would you do if you found a half-dead man bleeding in the middle of nowhere? Find out what heroine Maggie Lee does in The House at the End of the Moor.

Blog Stops

Batya’s Bits, April 18

The Avid Reader, April 18

Life of Literature, April 18

The Power of Words, April 18

For Him and My Family, April 19

Texas Book-aholic, April 19

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, April 19

Among the Reads, April 20

My Devotional Thoughts, April 20

As He Leads is Joy, April 20

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 20

Just the Write Escape, April 21

Reflections From My Bookshelves, April 21

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, April 21

Where Faith and Books Meet, April 22

deb’s Book Review, April 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 22

Inklings and notions, April 22

Remembrancy, April 23

Hookmeinabook, April 23

Christian Bookaholic, April 23

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 24

Britt Reads Fiction, April 24

Emily Yager, April 24

Betti Mace, April 25

Stories By Gina, April 25

Adventures of a Traveling Wife, April 25

Blossoms and Blessings, April 25

Splashes of Joy, April 26

Simple Harvest Reads, April 26 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Vicky Sluiter, April 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 26

Blessed & Bookish, April 27

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, April 27

Pause for Tales, April 27

Through the Fire Blogs, April 28

Hallie Reads, April 28

Faery Tales Are Real, April 28

To Everything There Is A Season, April 28

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 29

Bigreadersite, April 29

Older & Smarter?, April 29

Tell Tale Book Reviews, April 29

Genesis 5020, April 30

Read Review Rejoice, April 30

By The Book, April 30

For the Love of Literature, April 30

All-of-a-kind Mom, May 1

Bookishly Beverly, May 1

Daysong Reflections, May 1

Artistic Nobody, May 1 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Giveaway

housemoor4

To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a free copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/f8e2/the-house-at-the-end-of-the-moor-celebration-tour-giveaway

Change of Heart by Molly Jebber Promo Blast

April 17, 2020April 15, 2020 / Janelle @ The Meanderings of a Bookworm / Leave a comment

Hello everyone,

Today I’m bringing you a promo blast for Change of Heart by Molly Jebber!

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About the Book

A modern new century brings a young Amish woman an unexpected new life—and a chance to discover love’s true way home…

Ohio, 1899. Soft-spoken midwife Becca Yost lived by her Amish faith’s strict rules—until her fiancé jilted her before their entire community. She’s never been away from home, but the bustling Englischer town of Massillon, Ohio, is a welcome unexpected refuge. Especially when she goes towork for Dr. Matt Carrington, who shares her passion for healing those in need. His outgoing spiritand gentle strength show Becca a surprising new world of choices—and irresistible love. But there is one formidable obstacle: Matt’s wealthy mother is determined her son will marry a society woman.

With her newfound resolve challenged, Becca decides that she and Matt must not be destined foreach other after all. She accepts that she will have to forge a life alone—until a wrenching crisis and life-changing revelations teach her that true faith lies in all things, especially impossible second chances. . .

Click here to grab a copy of Change of Heart.

My Thoughts

I honestly did not know a whole lot about this book going into it, except that it was Amish fiction – which, if you have been a reade rof my blog for a while you know that I am a sucker for Amish fiction. However, I think that it should be noted that this is not your typical Amish fiction book because very early on in the story Becca decides to leave the Amish community in order to live with her sister in Massilon, Ohio.

I liked A Change of Heart but it was definitely different from what I was expecting. While I enjoyed following Becca on her journey. However, I also found the story a bit melodramatic…especially Matt’s parents. And maybe I was just not in the mood for disapproving and stuck-up parents because the previous book I had jsut read also had these kins of characters and it aggravates me…but at the same time I know that there are people like this who exist. Mrs. Carrington (Matt’s mother) is especially awful and there were times I got so incensed on Becca’s behalf, but I also wish Becca had not been as passive during her interactions with Mrs. Carrington.

Matt was a great character and I loved how he stood up to his parents and tried to fight for his relationship with Becca.

Overall, this was an okay read, although I think if the current events of the day were different and I had not just finished a book also dealing with disapproving parents I probably would have enjoyed it a lot more! It is definitely an engrossing read and I found my self rooting for the main characters the whole time. I am definitely interested in checking out more of Molly Jebber’s works in the future. 3/5 Stars.

About the Author

Molly Jebber is an award-winning author of Amish Historical Romance. Molly’s books have been featured in Publisher’s Weekly, USA Today’s HEA, featured in video on Naples News and Romantic Times. She’s a touring speaker for Women’s Christian Connection, and she offers presentations on writing, marketing, agent or no agent, publishing, and the Amish lifestyles and traditions. She’s been a guest lecturer for conferences, author events, and at Ohio State University for an event in 2020.

CHANGE OF HEART, GRACE’S FORGIVENESS, & TWO SUITORS FOR ANNA – these books are her Keepsake Pocket Quilt Series. LIZA’S SECOND CHANCE, ELLIE’S REDEMPTION, & HANNAH’S COURAGE are her Amish Charm Bakery Series books. Check her website www.mollyjebber.com for more of her books and where she’ll be next!

She loves God, her family, and friends. She says yes to swimming, the beach, golf, and time with her family and friends, and no to coconut, onions, and skydiving!

Links to Molly Jebber’s Social Media

facebook.com/mollymorrisjebber

twitter.com/mollymjebber

pinterest.com/mollymjebber

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/molly-jebber

Blog Tour and Giveaway: If For Any Reason

April 13, 2020 / Janelle @ The Meanderings of a Bookworm / Leave a comment

About the Book

Book: If For Any Reason

Author: Courtney Walsh

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 3, 2020

Emily Ackerman has traveled the world, her constant compass and companion a book of letters her mother left for her when she died. With no father in the picture, her mom’s advice has been her only true north. But when professional failure leads Emily back to Nantucket to renovate and sell the family cottage she inherited, she wonders if her mom left advice to cover this . . . especially when her grandmother arrives to “supervise.” And especially when her heart becomes entangled with Hollis McGuire, the boy next door–turned–baseball star who’s back on the island after a career-ending injury.

As sparks fly between her and Hollis, Emily is drawn to island life, even as she uncovers shocking secrets about the tragic accident that led to her mother’s death. With her world turned upside down, Emily must choose between allowing the voices from her past to guide her future or forging her own path forward.

Click here for your copy!

My Thoughts

Courtney Walsh is an author that has been on my radar for a while but for whatever reason I have never had an opportunity to pick up one of her books, however I found If For Any Reason intriguing and I was very much in the mood for a summer read.

However, even though there is a romance that takes place, there are also some heavy topics that are discussed throughout the novel such as the death of a parent and abandonment.

The first 100 pages reeled me in and I was fully invested in the story, however about halfway through the novel, the story seemed to lose steam and some of the things that end up happening, especially to the main characters just seemed a little melodramatic. But I did enjoy the story for the most part and following Emily and Hollis on their journey. I also really enjoyed the split timeline of showing Emily’s mom’s past, as well as the letters that she left for Emily. Another complaint I have is that I wish there had been an epilogue because the ending seemed kind of abrupt…and while the ending makes sense, I still would have loved gettinga look at these character several months, or even a year after the end of the plot to see how they are doing.

While there were things about If For Any Reason that I did not like, it was still a good read and I highly recommend for anyone looking for a good beach read that also deals with a few hard topics. I’m looking forward to checking out some of Courtney Walsh’s other novels. 3/5 Stars.

About the Author

Courtney Walsh is the author of ten inspirational novels. Her debut, A Sweethaven Summer, was a New York Times and USA Today e-book bestseller. Courtney lives with her husband and three children in Illinois, where she is also an artist, theater director, and playwright.

More from Courtney

3 Bits of Wisdom Every Mother Hopes Her Daughter Cherishes

By Courtney Walsh

There are so many types of mother-daughter relationships, and I’ve discovered that in most of my novels, these relationships are explored in one way or another. My most recent book, If For Any Reason, delves a little deeper into this universal relationship, as the main character’s only connection to her late mother is a book of letters she left behind for daughter when she died.

It was interesting to think through the advice and wisdom I would want to be sure to share with my own daughter, if for any reason I wasn’t here to share it in person. There’s so much I would want to say, so many lessons I would want to share, but if I had to boil it down to three bits of wisdom, I think it would be these:

Ask for help when you need it.

I’m not sure why it’s so difficult to admit we need help sometimes, but in the past year and a half, my family has faced some pretty significant medical challenges, and I learned that it’s necessary to let other people help you. One of the quickest ways to burn out and get overwhelmed is to try to do everything on your own. Now, I’m not talking about laziness. I’m not talking about figuring out ways to get other people to do things for you that you don’t want to do, but genuine help in this journey of life—spiritually, mentally, physically—all the ways that you need to be strong and healthy. You were never meant to figure everything out on your own. And it’s less lonely when you let people in.

Mistakes are good . . . as long as you learn from them.

Okay, it’s inevitable. You’re going to mess up. You’re going to make a million mistakes and sometimes you’re going to really, really regret them. It’s okay. It’s okay to make the wrong choice now and then . . . but only if you learn from it. Because even though there’s a lot of grace for your mistakes, there are still consequences, and if you’re not willing to learn what you did wrong, you’re just going to keep making a mess of things. Don’t do that. Don’t be stubborn and unmoving. There are opportunities to learn something new every single day, and there are people all around you who can help teach you—but only if you humble yourself, realize you don’t know everything, and are willing to learn. Remaining teachable is one of the greatest things you can do. Learn this lesson early, and you’ll go far.

Be yourself.

This is one of the most important and most challenging lessons any of us could learn. It’s a platitude, isn’t it? Advice you’d find on the outside of a coffee mug or embroidered on a throw pillow. But it’s more than that, this whole idea of being who you are, who God created you to be. Here’s the tricky part—how do you know who that is? The only way I can tell is to spend time with yourself. And to not be afraid to sit in the quiet with your thoughts. Learn what God says about you so that if those ideas are challenged or someone else tries to put a label on you that you don’t want, you’re armed with the truth. This will serve you well as you work to discover who you are.

The truth is, as a mother, I’m constantly learning. As a person, I’m constantly learning. And while these are just three bits of wisdom I hope my daughter carries with her, there are so many other lessons I hope she learns, lessons I hope I can teach her so she doesn’t need to learn the hard way.

What about you? What’s one bit of wisdom you want to be sure to pass along to the next generation?

Blog Stops

Among the Reads, April 7

Remembrancy, April 7

Through the Fire Blogs, April 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 8

Robin’s Nest, April 8

Texas Book-aholic, April 8

Wishful Endings, April 9

deb’s Book Review, April 9

Read Review Rejoice, April 9

Batya’s Bits, April 10

Just the Write Escape, April 10

Reflections From My Bookshelves, April 11

Just Your Average reviews, April 11

Inklings and notions, April 12

Life Love Writing, April 12

Worthy2Read, April 12

Lighthouse Academy, April 13

Hallie Reads, April 13

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, April 13

A Baker’s Perspective, April 14

Splashes of Joy, April 14

Older & Smarter?, April 15

Cultivating Us, April 15

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 15

Simple Harvest Reads, April 16 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)

Inside the Wong Mind, April 16

Blessed & Bookish, April 17

Back Porch Reads, April 17

Writing from the Heart Land, April 17

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 18

Vicky Sluiter, April 18

For Him and My Family, April 19

Mia Reads, April 19

My Devotional Thoughts, April 19

Artistic Nobody, April 20 (Guest Post from Donna Cline)

Bookishly Beverly, April 20

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Courtney is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Barnes & Nobles gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/f92f/if-for-any-reason-celebration-tour-giveaway

Book Review: Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee

April 10, 2020April 10, 2020 / Janelle @ The Meanderings of a Bookworm / Leave a comment

Hello everyone,

Today’s review is on Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee.

Let me start by stating that so far I’m enjoying everything that has been published under Rick Riordan’s publishing imprint, Rick Riordan Present.

Dragon Pearl is a space opera mixed with Korean mythology and folklore, which is really cool. It follows main character, 13-year-old Min, who has fox magic – which means that she can shapeshift – however she is forbidden by her family from using her magic. She dreams someday of joining the Space Forces, like her older brother Jun, and explore the Thousands Worlds. But one day her family receives the news that her brother is a deserter. However, Min finds this hard to believe, and decides to go find him, and to do so she must search for the legendary and powerful Dragon Pearl.

This was an enjoyable read and I definitely learned more about Korean mythology than I knew before, which was nothing. I liked how the mythology elements mixed well with the space opera element – I felt like I was reading something that could potentially be a Star Wars movie/story.

Min was a great character, although there were times some of the things she said seemed too old for her, but then again she is also a shapeshifter, so it makes sense. There is also a diverse cast of characters that many readers will love getting to know. I’m looking forward to finding out what happens next in the series. 4/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

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Book Review: Letters from Skye by Jessica Brockmole

April 6, 2020March 29, 2020 / Janelle @ The Meanderings of a Bookworm / Leave a comment

Hello everyone,

Today’s review is on Letters From Skye by Jessica Brockmole.

What can I say about Letters From Skye? It is a beautiful novel that had me enraptured from the very beginning. I never thought I would enjoy war-time fiction, but I did! I loved that this novel was told in letters and that it is told in a dual timeline.

The first timeline follows Elspeth Dunn, who is a young poet on the Isle of Skye who has never left her island just before the start of World War I. She then receives a letter from a fan of her poetry and begins a correspondence with David and the two become friends, and eventually fall in love. However, something happens and she is betrayed. The next timeline follows Elspeth’s daughter Margaret during World War II. She is in love with her best friend, much to her mother’s disapproval. However, her mother mysteriously disappears, she starts to unearth the secrets of her mother’s past and where she went.

Again, I loved the duel timelines and how they eventually converged in the end. The only thing I didn’t like was Elspeth’s relationship with David because it turns into an extramarital affair. I also feel like the character of her husband was just added into the story to make it part of the eventual betrayal. However, it was spell-binding to watch both women cope with love and war and the need to survive. I loved it and it has definitely made my favorites list. 4/5 Stars.

Happy Reading,

Janelle L. C.

Book Review and Giveaway: Hope in the Mountain River

April 2, 2020April 2, 2020 / Janelle @ The Meanderings of a Bookworm / 3 Comments

Hope1

About the Book

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Book: Hope in the Mountain River

Author: Misty M. Beller

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: March 31, 2020

This epic journey is not at all what she expected.

Joel Vargas can’t believe he’s lost his older brother in the wilds of the Rocky Mountains after surviving their harrowing voyage across the Atlantic. And he can’t shake the feeling that Adam—his only living relative—is in dire trouble. No matter what the cost, he and his band of friends won’t stop until Adam is found. He doesn’t have time to contend with the two Indian women who seem to be shadowing his every move.

After the devastating loss of her daughter and husband to a sickness that swept through their Nez Perce camp, Elan is desperate to find an escape from her grief. As she and her friend journey through the mountains toward the great river, a band of white men is the last thing she expects to find, especially as winter blows in full force.

When the dangers increase, accomplishing Joel’s mission becomes the only hope for all their survival. If the elements don’t consume them, Elan has a feeling life will never be the same for any of them.

From a USA Today bestselling author comes another epic journey through breathless landscapes and intense adventure.

Click here to get your copy.

My Thoughts

I’ll be honest, I was a little hesistant to start Hope in the Mountain River because I was worried it would suffer from the second book slump that sequels tend to fall into. However, I was pleasantly surprised and found myself gripped by this beautiful, fast-paced story – for the most part. I think it also helped that even though this is a sequel to Freedom in the Mountain Wind, it isn’t a direct sequel in that we are following two different main characters, with the characters from the previous book in supporting roles.

I loved getting to know Joel more and his dogged determination to find his brother Adam, however there are also times when this determination gets him and his fellow travelers into trouble. There were times, especially in the latter half of the book his character didn’t seem to be fully developed. However, he is good and I love how he is empathetic towards others most of the time.

Then there is Elan, who I loved getting to know and watching her grow as she continues to work through the grief of losing her daughter and husband in an accident sometime before the opening of the story. I also loved her friendship with Meksem, and watching her friendship with the group of traveleres in Joels’s group, as well as Beaver Tail, who comes from an enemy tribe. I also loved watching her learn more about God and faith in Jesus Christ throughout the novel, and how the characters that she encounters during the novel.

Even though I enjoyed the novel, my only complaint is that the majority of the main storyline takes place in the first half of the book and then everything that happens in the second half of the book seems to be added simply for the sake of adding some extra tension to the story that seemed a little unnecessary. However, I still plan on reading more of Misty M. Beller’s books in the future and I hope that there is another installment in this series because I need to know what happens to these characters, even if they are supporting characters in the next book. 3.5/5 Stars.

About the Author

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Misty M. Beller is a USA Today bestselling author of romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love.

She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and children now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy.

God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

More from Misty

I’ve always been a horse lover, and was blessed to grow up on a farm. My brother and I each had ponies of our own and rode hours each day. When we were old enough to graduate to full-size horses, we met neighbors who also had horses and loved to ride together. The two mares they rode had a mottled black and white spotted look, which I knew to be part of the Appaloosa breed. Through hears of riding together, I developed a deep appreciation for those two Appaloosa horses, as well as respect for the entire breed! Those two mares proved they could outrun and outlast any of the other horses in our riding group.

I’ve long wanted to include Appaloosas in one of my stories, especially since the breed was said to have begun in the Nez Perce tribe who lived just west of the Rocky Mountains. I’m so excited for you to meet Elan, the heroine in Hope in the Mountain River!

Elan and her friend are traveling through the Rockies on their Appaloosa horses, animals who can ride faster and longer than all the other horses in their group—even through the treacherous terrain of the Rocky Mountains!

I pray you love this story as much as I loved writing it. Enjoy a glimpse of the famous Appaloosa horse!