Tuesday, December 1, 2020

The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston

Book Summary

The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston has Bethany Gingerich running The Coffee Corner at the Bird-in-Hand Marketplace in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. She serves unique blends of coffee along with delectable donuts. Bethany looks forward to Micah Zook and his grandfather, Enos arriving each Saturday. She enjoys talking with them and finds Micah attractive. Bethany would love to date Micah, but she does not believe that he would wish to go out with someone like her. Micah and Enos fail to arrive one Saturday and Bethany soon learns that Enos passed in his sleep. Micah is devastated at the loss of his grandfather and best friend. He needs a friend now more than ever to help him during his time of need and it appears that Bethany is the right person for the job. Can their friendship turn into love?

My Thoughts

The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston is the third book in the Amish Marketplace series. Each book in the series can be read on its own, but I recommend reading this charming series in order. I thought The Coffee Corner was well-written with developed, realistic characters. Bethany Gingerich runs The Coffee Corner at Bird-in-Hand Marketplace where her cousins also have stalls. Bethany is an attendant at the wedding of her cousin, Salina to Will Zimmerman. This is the second cousin to marry and Bethany wonders if God has someone special in mind for her. She is smitten with Micah Zook. Bethany looks forward to his visits to her stall each Saturday with his grandfather, Enos. They never get more than a few minutes to chat about superficial topics. Micah is attracted to Bethany, but he suffered a terrible loss that makes him reluctant to risk to his heart. When Micah’s grandfather dies, Micah is devastated. Enos was his mentor, work mate, and best friend. He needs help in dealing with his grief, and it appears that Bethany is the one to assist him. The Coffee Corner is a touching story. It is one that will tug on your heartstrings. I liked the side stories of Bethany dealing with confidence issues and Micah’s problems with his father. We also get to catch up with Leanna, Salina, and Christiana. I am eager to read Leanna’s story in The Jam and Jelly Nook. The Coffee Corner is a moving Amish tale about family, forgiveness, fitting in, second chances, and love.

The Coffee Corner is available from Amazon* along with The Bake Shop and The Farm Stand. The final Amish Marketplace Novel is The Jam and Jelly Nook which releases May 4, 2021. On Thursday, I will be featuring Courting Can Be Killer by Amanda Flower. It is It is the second An Amish Matchmaker Mystery. I am off to continue sorting through our numerous boxes. My mother is missing a box of clothing and I am in need of my e-readers (I have one, but the movers grabbed the box of of them before I could get it into my car). They are out there somewhere. We are also heading off to pick out new appliances and floors. I will then probably collapse for a nap (moving is exhausting). I hope that you have an uplifting day. Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Monday, November 30, 2020

Snuffed Out by Barbara Cornthwaite: Review & Giveaway!

Snuffed Out Kick-Off Package

About the Book

Picnics can be murder… scenes.

What was supposed to be a romantic picnic at “their spot” turns criminal when Katrina and Todd stumble—almost literally—over a body.

What’s the college chef doing under a bush up in the mountains? Other than being dead, that is.

Who killed him? Why?

All clues point to people who Katrina is certain didn’t do it. Especially the one who ends up dead himself.

Uh, oh.

Thanks to a slow-burning romantic relationship that can’t seem to get past chapter one, and a determination to save her friend from false arrest, Katrina joins Todd again as they riddle out bizarre clues, weed through unlikely suspects, and learn to communicate on a more personal level.

What do you get when you combine literary humor, sweet romance, and a practical helping of faith? A cozy mystery that’ll keep you guessing. Barbara Cornthwaite’s second Wilkester Mystery has everything you want for a cozy read.

Snag Snuffed Out today.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Barbara Cornthwaite lives in the middle of Ireland with her husband and children. She taught college English before “retiring” to do something she loves far more; her days are now filled with homeschooling her six children, trying to keep the house tidy (a losing battle), and trying to stay warm in the damp Irish climate (also a losing battle). She is surrounded by medieval castles, picturesque flocks of sheep, and ancient stone monuments. These things are unappreciated by her children, who are more impressed by traffic jams, skyscrapers, and hot weather.

Teaser for Snuffed Out

Todd closed the folder with the Franklin case paperwork in it and laid it on top of the stack of folders waiting to be filed. He almost reached for the Delaney case notes again but resisted the impulse. There was no new information in there, and he’d gone over everything a dozen times in the last few days. He had promised Katrina he wouldn’t give up, but without any new leads to pursue, there wasn’t much he could do.

He shook his head, impatient with himself. He’d been doing so well at putting her out of his mind—hadn’t thought of her all day until this moment. Now he’d probably be struggling for the rest of the day.

John Ortega poked his head into Todd’s office.

“Hey, we just got a call from the librarian at Wilkester College about the theft of a manuscript. The chief said either one of us could go, but I thought you might like to take it.”

“Why?”

“Oh, come on,” said John. “You think I’m blind and deaf?”

“It’s no use. Nothing’s going to happen between Dr. Peters and me.”

John leaned up against the door frame and grinned at him. “’Dr. Peters,’ huh? She was ‘Katrina’ for weeks.”

“Well, that was before. Now that I know a relationship isn’t possible, I need to keep my distance.”

“She turned you down?”

“I didn’t ask, but trust me, I know what I’m talking about.”

“Hmm,” John said. “You don’t usually give up on things so easily. Well, do you mind handling this anyway? I’ve got that other robbery case to deal with, and I’m supposed to be interviewing that guy from Tacoma in a couple hours.” Todd hesitated and John added, “She’s an adjunct professor, right? She’s probably not even on campus now, and she certainly won’t be in the library.”

“Oh, okay.” Todd sighed. He pushed back his chair and stood up.

“’Attaboy. Thanks for taking the call.” John turned to go and then looked back. “It will get easier, you know.”

“I know.” As long as I don’t see her again.

My Thoughts

Snuffed Out by Barbara Cornthwaite has Dr. Katrina Peters stumbling upon a very dead man with her boyfriend, Detective Todd Mason in Mt. Rainier National Forest after a cozy picnic. The victim turns out to be Travis Melford who works at Wilkester College. Dr. Susan Langton, the creator and organizer of the Regency Conference currently taking place on campus, ends up the prime suspect. Katrina has a keen eye for detail as well as good deduction skills which help Todd with this perplexing investigation. Snuffed Out is the second novel in the Wilkester Mysteries. I do recommend reading Brought to Book before embarking on Snuffed Out. I thought Snuffed Out was easy to read with realistic characters and mild pacing. I liked that the book takes place in the Pacific Northwest. Katrina and Todd visit Mt. Rainier National Forest. I would have enjoyed more details about the park and the view from their special rock (I bet it was special). I like that the series takes place on a college campus. We get to see what life is like for an adjunct professor. I enjoyed learning more about Katrina’s work and hearing about the unique Regency Conference. The mystery was nicely done. I thought it was clever. There are a couple of good suspects along with misdirection. I appreciated that all the details of the mystery are wrapped up at the end. It depends upon how many mysteries you have read on how soon you solve this whodunit. In addition to the mystery, the author has a single woman becoming a foster mother. She gets her first charge, and it is a rough ride. We get to see the difficulties and pleasures in becoming a foster parent. The relationship between Katrina and Todd is developing. They are learning more about each other and need to decide what the next step should be for them. Christianity is present throughout the story in a low key way. Katrina is a Christian, but she does not force her views on anyone. She is a woman who is at peace because she knows God is in control of her life. Snuffed Out is a crafty Christian cozy mystery with a poetry professor, a dashing detective, romantic Regency lectures, a pretty poison, and clever clues.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Barbara is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback of the book. Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway. Click here to enter.

Snuffed Out is available from Amazon* and is included in Kindle Unlimited. The first book in the Wilkester Mysteries is Brought to Book. You can find the author's other novels here. Thank you for joining me today. I am glad to be back. I have spent my time away packing up my home and moving to a new one. I was fortunate to have received a generous offer for the house and I took it. The place needed more work than I was capable of doing (or could afford). This was a good opportunity for my mother and I to get a fresh start. We not only moved to a new place, we moved to a new city. We needed someplace new that did not have so many memories attached. I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We had completed our move the day before, so I was exhausted. I made a small dinner for my mother and I. It was a comical adventure because we only found limited kitchen supplies. I am still trying to find the boxes with our kitchen wares (our items have not moved inside yet because we are getting new floors installed and the inside painted). I will be back tomorrow with The Coffee Corner by Amy Clipston. It is the third novel in the Amish Marketplace series. I hope that you have a lovely day. Do not forget to enter the giveaway and leave a comment for extra entries. Good Luck! Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 28

Texas Book-aholic, November 29

Nancy E Wood, November 29

The Avid Reader, November 30

Genesis 5020, November 30

For the Love of Literature, November 30

Sodbusterliving, December 1

Artistic Nobody, December 1 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, December 2

deb’s Book Review, December 2

Remembrancy, December 3

Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 3

Splashes of Joy, December 3

Inklings and notions, December 4

21st Century Keeper at Home, December 4

For Him and My Family, December 5

Blogging With Carol, December 5

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 6

Emily Yager, December 6

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 7

Lis Loves Reading, December 7

Labor Not in Vain, December 7

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 8

Mary Hake, December 8

She Lives to Read, December 9

Sara Jane Jacobs, December 9

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 10

Godly Book Reviews, December 10

SusanLovesBooks, December 10

Daysong Reflections, December 11

Bizwings Blog, December 11

*This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Friday, November 20, 2020

Eggnog, Extortion, and Evergreens by Tonya Kappes

Eggnog, Extortion, and Evergreens

Book Summary

Eggnog, Extortion, and Evergreens by Tonya Kappes has Normal, Kentucky enjoying the Winter Festival with artisan booths. Mae West is thrilled that Happy Trails Campground is fully booked which is where she is headed when she has an accident on the icy roads. Mae ends up unconscious in the hospital where she overhears an unusual conversation. When the man next to Mae in the emergency room dies, Mae has a feeling that his death is anything but natural. Detective Hank Sharp soon confirms that the man’s death is suspicious, but he does not want Mae investigating. Neither does Mary Elizabeth who just wants Mae to rest and get better (and threatens everyone in town). Mae, though, has no intention of being sidelined. She is going to uncover the truth and explore a few old memories as well. It should be an entertaining holiday season in Normal, Kentucky.

My Thoughts

Eggnog, Extortion, and Evergreens by Tonya Kappes is the 14^th A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those for those new to the series. It is Christmastime in Normal, Kentucky where Mae came up with the Winter Festival to help draw in tourists to the town. Mae’s car slips on the icy roads and she ends up unconscious in the hospital distressing her family and friends. Mae overhears a conversation while she is comatose that has her investigating a suspicious death. Some old memories also resurface from when her family died in a house fire and Mae wants to explore those as well. Mary Elizabeth was a mother hen in this story being protective of Mae. It led to some humorous situations. The mystery had a couple of suspects, good clues, and a red herring or two. Tex and Glenda make an appearance in this story. Mae needs Tex’s help and they can use someplace warm to live. It sounds like a win-win for both parties. Tonya Kappes provided a humorous and diverting cozy mystery that captured the holiday season in Normal, Kentucky. Tonya Kappes has an engaging writing style that draws the writer right into her tales. The characters are developed, and you can count on plenty of humor as well as southern hospitality. I am looking forward Ropes, Riddles, and Robberies. Eggnog, Extortion, and Evergreens is an charming cozy mystery with a black ice incident, a meddling mother, a bothered boyfriend, holiday happenings, festival fun, a distrustful demise, and some Mae West mayhem.

Eggnog, Extortion, and Evergreens is available from Amazon*. You can find the other novels in A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series here. The 15th A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery is Ropes, Riddles, and Robberies which publishes December 17 and the 16th novel is Paddlers, Poison, and Promises which releases January 21. All the books in the series are available through Kindle Unlimited. You can find Tonya Kappes' other novels here. Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope I have helped you find a new book, series, or author. I am taking a little time off to handle some things at home. I will be back soon with new books to share with you. I hope that you have a contented day. Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Thursday, November 19, 2020

Savings Mount Rushmore by Andrea Jo Rodgers: Review & Giveaway!

About the Book

Book: Saving Mount Rushmore

Author: Andrea Jo Rodgers

Genre: Christian Nonfiction

When John Jenkins’ parents ship him off to stay with his aunt, he’s certain it will be the worst summer ever—until he learns he’s been accepted into a top-secret school. St. Michael’s Academy is home to gifted students with extraordinary talents. Although John has no idea why he’s there, he’s assigned to Team Liberty, who assist authorities with solving low-level crimes. Their first mission: stop a trio of mischief-making teens from vandalizing Mount Rushmore. John battles feelings of inferiority as he and Team Liberty compete against Devlin Black and his cronies to track down clues and solve puzzles at Mount Rushmore. Along the way, John makes several key contributions, and his self-confidence grows. When he discovers he was admitted to the school due to a clerical error, he’s mortified. Now, he’s strictly an “observer” until the mission’s end. But when his teammates run into trouble, John must summon up the courage to save Mount Rushmore, and he learns an invaluable lesson: every person has special God-given gifts—including him.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Andrea Jo Rodgers is the author of award-winning Christian middle grade fiction as well as inspirational adult nonfiction novels. She holds a clinical doctorate in physical therapy and specializes in women’s health, orthopedics, and lymphedema. She has served her community as a volunteer emergency medical technician for over thirty years, responding to more than 8,200 first aid and fire calls. She lives on the east coast with her husband, two children, and their two rescue dogs, a Shih Tzu and a Dachshund.

More from Andrea

Can John embrace his God-given gifts in time to save Mount Rushmore?

Have you ever admired the extraordinary talent of another person? Perhaps you enjoyed listening to someone belt out a spellbinding rendition of your favorite song at church or a concert. Or, maybe you have dreamed that you’d gain the same athletic prowess of a professional sports player.

The amazing gifts of others can take many forms. These gifts may be linked with intelligence, such as an aptitude for math and engineering. They may reflect the beauty of the arts through singing, dancing, or painting. Certain individuals may dazzle the people around them with incredible athletic talents, from gold-medal Olympians to professional baseball, football, and basketball players.

Most people consider extraordinary talents to be God-given gifts. They allow people to stand out and shine among others. However, do each of us need a breathtaking talent to be considered special?

In Saving Mount Rushmore, John Jenkins, an awkward thirteen-year-old teenager, is unexpectedly chosen to attend Saint Michael the Archangel Academy. The top-secret school’s mission is to protect our nation by assisting authorities in solving crimes. Since the academy is for students with extraordinary abilities, John is puzzled as to why he’s been accepted. After all, he’s an average teen without any notable gifts.

While working with Team Liberty to save Mount Rushmore from Devlin Black and Team Mischief, John struggles to discover his special gifts. He’s mortified when he discovers that he’s been accepted to the academy due to a clerical error. He becomes strictly an “observer” until the mission’s end. But when his teammates run into trouble, John must summon up the courage to try to save Mount Rushmore. He learns that every person has special God-given gifts—including him.

I came up with the idea for Saving Mount Rushmore while in the airport, just before our plane departed for the famous landmark. I wrote feverishly the entire flight, and the first chapters were born. Saving Mount Rushmore is a middle grade novel which combines information about Mount Rushmore, adventure, and Christian values. My goal was to write an exciting, fun, educational book for middle grade readers that incorporates Christian values into the fabric of the story. John and his friends have an opportunity to save another national monument in the sequel, Saving the Statue of Liberty. I hope you celebrate our country’s heritage by joining John and Team Liberty in their adventures.

My Thoughts

Saving Mount Rushmore by Andrea Jo Rodgers has John Jenkins heading to South Dakota for the summer to stay with his Great Aunt Martha at Winding River Ranch. John was disappointed to not spend his vacation at home with his friends until he learns that he has been recruited by St. Michael the Archangel Academy. It is a top-secret school for kids with special gifts that they use to help authorities fight crime. John is assigned to Team Liberty and their first mission is to stop three troublemakers from creating mischief at Mount Rushmore. They must rush to find the clues ahead of the evildoers, solve them, and prevent them from doing harm. John is having a wonderful time until he learns that he is not meant to be at the academy and must leave when the mission is complete. In the meantime, John works diligently with his team to save a national monument. Saving Mount Rushmore is the debut of the Saint Michael the Archangel Academy series. This is a cute story. I know it is meant for a younger audience, but I enjoyed learning about Mount Rushmore and joining Team Liberty as they set out to save Mount Rushmore. There was some great historical information about Mount Rushmore included (I learned some interesting facts). The mystery is not one that can be solved. We get to go along for the journey with the teens as they solve ciphers. There were some interesting ciphers along with good explanations on how each one worked. The story moves along swiftly as Team Liberty attempts to outwit the evil threesome. I was disappointed with how parts of the mission turned out. But it does have me curious as to what happens next time in Saving the Statue of Liberty. Saving Mount Rushmore is a great book for middle school children, but it will also appeal to other age groups. Saving Mount Rushmore is a fun spy novel with good characters, perplexing puzzles, action, life lessons, and one mischievous monkey.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Andrea is giving away the grand prize package of a signed copy of Saving Mount Rushmore: Saint Michael the Archangel Academy, Mission 1 as well as a $25 Amazon gift card. Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter. Good Luck! Saving Mount Rushmore is available from Amazon*. It is available through Kindle Unlimited. Saving the Statue of Liberty is the second book in Saint Michael the Archangel Academy series. Thank you for joining me today. Tomorrow I am featuring Eggnog, Extortion, and Evergreens by Tonya Kappes. It is the 14th A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery. I hope that you have a fantastic day. Do not forget to enter the giveaway. Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 18

For the Love of Literature, November 18

The Avid Reader, November 19

Texas Book-aholic, November 20

21st Century Keeper at Home, November 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 21

For Him and My Family, November 22

Mary Hake, November 22

Older & Smarter?, November 23

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, November 23

Inklings and notions, November 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 25

Sara Jane Jacobs, November 25

Vicky Sluiter, November 26

deb’s Book Review, November 27

Simple Harvest Reads, November 27 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 28

Artistic Nobody, November 29 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Captive Dreams Window, November 29

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 1

Blossoms and Blessings, December 1

*This post contains affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Wednesday, November 18, 2020

To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano: Review & Giveaway!

About the Book

Book: To Steal A Heart

Author: Jen Turano

Genre: Comedic Historical Romance

Release Date: November, 2020

After spending her childhood as a street thief, Gabriella Goodhue thought she’d put her past behind her until a fellow resident at her boardinghouse is unjustly accused of theft. Using her old skills to prove her friend’s innocence, Gabriella unexpectedly encounters Nicholas Quinn, the man she once considered her best friend–until he abandoned her.

After being taken under the wing of a professor who introduced him into society and named him as heir, Nicholas is living far removed from his childhood life of crime. As a favor to a friend, Nicholas agrees to help clear the name of an innocent woman, never imagining he’d be reunited with the girl he thought lost to him forever.

As Gabriella and Nicholas are thrown together into one intrigue after another, their childhood affection grows into more, but their newfound feelings are tested when truths about their past are revealed and danger follows their every step.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado.

More from Jen

“To Steal a Heart” is the first book in a new series. How did you come up with the idea for this series?

Oddly enough, this series was inspired by a lot of different things. I keep this idea box, and whenever I stumble on something interesting, I throw the idea into the box. When I was getting ready to assemble a proposal for a new series, I took out the box and began rifling through it. Unfortunately, nothing struck my fancy. What did strike my fancy though, was the movie “My Fair Lady.” I’d recently watched it for the millionth time, and I thought…hmmm…what could I do with that? Well, I didn’t want to do a recreation of “My Fair Lady” and that’s when it hit me – what if I used a gentleman instead of a lady and improved his circumstances in life with the help of a professor? That wasn’t really enough, though, for me to formulate an entire series, but then I went to New York City for a research trip. While there, I roamed around Bleecker Street for hours. It was the perfect place to set a series, and then I saw this older building that my tour guide thought might have once been a boardinghouse. That was what really started me thinking, and before I knew it, I’d created an inquiry agency run by women that came about when a resident of a boardinghouse was unjustly accused of theft. When the police would not investigate further, believing they had the true culprit behind bars, the ladies who lived in the boardinghouse felt compelled to step up and clear their fellow boardinghouse resident of the charges brought against her. The series took off from there, the first book centering around one of the lady inquiry agents, Miss Gabriella Goodhue, who used to live on the mean streets of the Lower East Side and, at one point in her life, was best friends with Nicholas Quinn, the man who has now found his circumstances vastly improved from the time he knew Gabriella. Throwing the two of them back together made for an interesting storyline, especially since Gabriella believes Nicholas abandoned her all those years ago, which makes it next to impossible for her to trust him.

Are there other interesting characters in this series?

Of course. All of the lady inquiry agents come with their own secrets. Miss Daphne Beekman is a reclusive author who lives in the attic of the boardinghouse. She has the propensity to faint at the drop of a hat, which makes for a few amusing scenes in the first book. She’ll get her own story in “To Write a Wrong,” coming out later in 2021. Then there’s Eunice Holbrooke. She’s the owner of the boardinghouse, and she only wears full mourning garb, covering her face with numerous veils and refusing to speak to anyone about her past. Clearly, there’s a mystery just waiting to be solved there, one that will be solved in book three, which I’m just now beginning to work on. The other residents of the boardinghouse provide a lot of color to the story, from the two sisters who work as paid companions by day to gossip collectors and carriage drivers by night, to the resident artist, Miss Judith, who has recently decided to dip her toe into the portrait market even though she’s really not proficient with painting people. There’s also a one-eyed, patch-wearing dog by the name of Winston, a parrot that likes to nick sparkly items named Pretty Girl, and a neurotic poodle that falls for Winston that goes by the name of Precious.

Did the pandemic affect the writing process at all for “To Steal a Heart?”

Luckily, I had already turned in the book before the pandemic hit. With that said, though, I then had to do some of the edits during the first few months of the pandemic. That was interesting. I have very specific conditions I need in order to write and edit and having Al (the husband person) working from home isn’t one of those conditions. It took me far longer than it normally does to complete the editing process, which threw off my schedule for the next book in the series, “To Write a Wrong.” Drastic measures were needed. That’s why I’m now the proud owner of a she-shed. Al thought I was joking when I first broached the subject of a she-shed, but after I had my millionth meltdown, he decided that might be a really good idea. Turns out sheds are in high demand at the moment, so getting a shed in a timely fashion wasn’t possible. It took 6 weeks for us to get a shed delivered and then we had to frame the inside and put up a ceiling and walls. I was not actually very involved with that process because I’m a danger to everyone surrounding me when nail guns are being used. 🙂 I did paint the outside of the shed, then painted the inside. Of course the air conditioning unit I had to order was delayed, so I painted in 100 degree heat. Lost about five pounds doing that, so…unexpected bonus there. I just recently finished decorating the inside, and I’m typing this interview from my new space. I’m thinking I’m going to call it “Jen’s Novel Nook” but that might change, so don’t quote me on that.

Anything else you’d like to add?

Just that I hope everyone is surviving these crazy days. I know there are many people out there who are suffering from many different problems this pandemic has caused. Know that you’re not alone, and that brighter days will show up again. Until that time, try to remember to smile and, perhaps, read a few books.

Wishing all of you the very best!

Jen

My Thoughts

To Steal a Heart by Jen Turano is the first entertaining installment The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency series. We go back in time to November of 1886 in New York City where Gabriella Goodhue is working to prove the innocence of friend and housemate, Miss Jennette Moore. She thought her days of skullduggery and thieving were behind her, but Gabriella’s skills are needed. Gabriella soon finds that there is another party working the case and it is none other than her old thieving partner, Nicholas Quinn. Gabriella is none to happy to see the person who abandoned her nor is she willing to team up with him. Fate seems to have other plans as the pair are thrown together in one situation after another. Friendship is rekindled and new feelings begin to bloom. I laughed so often while reading To steal a Heart. There are a variety of quirky characters with Daphne, a female mystery writer who finds herself in unusual situations and tends to swoon frequently, standing out. I did find the beginning of the story confusing until the explanations began and characters were identified. Once I understood what was happening, I just kept reading. I did not want to put down my book. I thought the author captured the time-period with the language, attitudes, conveyances, fashions, etc. I also enjoyed the descriptions of the opulent homes, balls, parties, and New York City. The pacing varied in the story, but there was so much going on that I tended not to notice. The mystery was fun. There was one bit of information early on that gave me a clue as the guilty parties’ identity and I was eager to see if I was correct. It was a riot following Nicholas and the ladies of The Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency as they worked the case. I chuckled, giggled, and outright laughed my way through this engaging historical novel. The ending was delightful. To Steal a Heart has faith, humor, intrigue, love, and mystery. I am eager for Daphne’s story in To Write a Wrong. To Steal a Heart is a lively historical novel with a one-eyed pirate loving pooch, a gawky writer, curious costumes, matchmaking mamas, missing gemstones, gossip galore, and messy skullduggery.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Jen is giving away the grand prize package of copy of To Steal a Heart, plus all three books in the American Heiresses series and a 30 second mystery kit (Link: https://amzn.to/3nqrIpC). Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter.

To Steal a Heart is available from Amazon* along with other major retailers. The next book in The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency series is To Write a Wrong featuring Daphne Beeckman and it publishes August 3, 2021. You can find Jen Turano's other entertaining historical novels here. Thank you for joining me today. Tomorrow I am participating in the Celebrate Lit Tour for Saving Mount Rushmore by Andrea Jo Rodgers. I hope that you have a joyful day. Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!