Saturday, August 31, 2019

Surf Smugglers by Melody Carlson: Review and Giveaway!


About the Book



Book: Surf Smugglers

Author: Melody Carlson

Genre: Historical Fiction

Release Date: August 15, 2019

In the summer of 1917, US troops join the allied forces in the Great War. Back in Sunset Cove, Oregon, other battles wage. Anna McDowell continues to fight old fashioned stereotypes as she runs a newspaper committed to truth. Despite opposition, she’s determined to expose ongoing rum-running and prohibition lawlessness.

Adding to Anna’s frustrations, her good friend Dr. Daniel seems to run hot and cold. He loves Oregon, and maybe Anna too, but he’s pulled by his East Coast family responsibilities. Even the lure of a new modern Sunset Cove hospital doesn’t seem enough to keep him in Sunset Cove.

Meanwhile, Anna’s strong-willed daughter Katy continues to develop her dress shop by inviting family friend Sarah Rose to help out. But the woman’s presence tests the small town’s tolerance. And Anna’s concern that her daughter is growing up too fast is confirmed when Katy’s romantic life takes an unexpected turn, which Anna fears is influenced by the pressure of a devastating war that is not only changing the entire world but Sunset Cove as well.

Click here to grab your copy.
Cape Perpetua, Oregon

About the Author


Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women, and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, True Colors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including RT’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita, and the Gold medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog.
Prohibition 1920-1933

More from Melody


My favorite way to learn history is through historical fiction—both by reading and by writing it. And I’ve discovered that World War 1 (previously known as the Great War, since WW2 had yet to happen) is quite fascinating. As well as incredibly sad. But I’m amazed at how science and technology evolved so quickly in this era. Whether it was advancement in automotive, communication, medicine . . . the culture was rapidly changing. And the war pushed it along at an even faster pace.

Another factor that makes this era interesting is prohibition. Oregon, my home state and where I set my series, was one of the earliest states to adopt prohibition of alcohol—in 1914. As a result, Oregon became ripe territory for bootlegging and rum-running along the coastline. And because my series involves a small town coastal newspaper that’s run (gasp!) by a woman, it gets even more interesting—and exciting!
themusicalpotterhead: “ Why women ought to vote. ”
Speaking of women, the suffrage movement was approved in Oregon in 1912—also well ahead of the rest of the nation (and the main reason that prohibition passed). My theory on why this happened is that the brave women who’d made the arduous journey West (via perilous wagon train or long hard voyages on clipper ships) were strong and opinionated and tough. And many of them were sick and tired of drunken slacker husbands. Also, thanks to Oregon’s amazing land donation act of 1850, many of these women were equal landowners to their husbands—and land equaled power.

Of course, what these suffragette-prohibition supporters didn’t realize is that banning alcohol would make matters worse because bootlegging and rum-running suddenly became a very lucrative business. The crime rate soared and the booze continued to flow freely. But all this makes for good newspaper stories, keeping our female editor in chief rather busy. In the first two books of the series, Anna McDowell has her hands full with trying to run her ailing father’s newspaper, restoring family relationships, and staying ahead of the growing crime element in Sunset Cove.
Tailleur 1917                                                                                                                                                                                 Plus
By book three, Surf Smugglers, Anna has her feet under her and doing a good job of standing up to the criminal element in their region. But by now the Great War is really heating up and the United States must get involved. Of course, this means that many young men, as well as Anna’s very good friend Dr. Daniel Hollister, are being shipped overseas to serve. Meanwhile, there is plenty of trouble at home. And the rum-runners, who despise the newspaper’s support of prohibition, target Anna’s good friend Sarah Rose because she’s a woman of color who’s sought refuge from the big city . . . and naturally things get dicey.
Conscription is the compulsory enlistment of citizens for military service. On April 17th, 1942 conscription was passed in Canada. Over 80% of English Canadians voted for and over 70% of French Canadians voted against. It was a political and military crisis that caused a division among Canada and its people.
I’m currently finishing up the fourth and final book of the Legacy if Sunset Cove series, and I’m sad to think my ‘history lesson’ in this interesting era is drawing to an end. Not only have I learned a lot, I’ve really come to love the McDowell family . . . and I’m getting worried that not all the men from Sunset Cove will survive the brutal war. Of course, this is fiction . . . but the war was very real and the losses were great. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the war to end all wars like they’d hoped, but I appreciate the sentiment . . . and continue to pray for world peace.
Mariées vintage - 1917

My Thoughts


Surf Smugglers by Melody Carlson is the third novel The Legacy of Sunset Cove series.  This series needs to be read in order as each book builds upon the previous one.  It is May of 1917 in Sunset Cove, Oregon where Anna McDowell is the editor-in-chief of Sunset Times.  Her father, Mac is doing recovering nicely from his stroke and Anna’s daughter, Katy is busy with Kathleen’s Dress Shop.  Katy is still dating Jim Stafford, a newspaper reporter and second in command at the Sunset Times.  Katy has invited Sarah Rose Lewis, her childhood caretaker, to come to Sunset Cove when she learns of the difficulty the woman is experiencing in Portland.  Katy has a big heart, but she failed to take into consideration that Sarah Rose will be the only woman of color in their town.  Anna does not want Sarah Rose hurt by small minded people.  Dr. Daniel Hollister is upset over losing a patient and learns that his father is ill.  Anna believes the town needs its own hospital and wonders if she can rally the support needed for the project. I thought Surf Smugglers was well-written and it proceeded at a thoughtful pace.  I have enjoyed this series with its heartwarming characters from multiple generations which provides different perspectives.  I like the dialogue between the characters as well as the interactions.  The author captured the time period with references to events taking place at that time as well as the clothing, conveyances and attitudes.  The Conscription Act has been passed, war is waging in Europe, Woodrow Wilson is president, the change in clothing styles, women’s right to vote, and prohibition are all included in Surf Smugglers.  Local men will be heading off to war and one woman makes an impulsive decision.  I am eager to read the final book in The Legacy of Sunset Cove series to find out what happens next in Sunset Cove.  They have endured so much in their little town, but now their men are off at war and those at home must hope they will return safely.  Hope and forgiveness are two of the themes present in the story.  Surf Smugglers is a lovely historical novel with illegal hooch, express enlistment, hasty nuptials, fluctuating fashions, and worried women.  
To celebrate her tour, Melody is giving away the grand prize of three of her books: Harbor Secrets, Riptide Rumors, and Surf Smugglers.  Be sure to comment on the blog stops (schedule below) for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the here to enter.  Harbor Secrets, Riptide Rumors and Surf Smugglers are available at Amazon (Amazon UK). Christmas at Winter Hill by Melody Carlson comes out on September 3.  I will be reviewing Fatal Promise by Angela Marsons tomorrow.   It is the ninth D.I. Kim Stone Novel. On Sunday's, I feature a book that I was unable to when it was released. May you have an enchanting day.  Take care and Happy Reading!


Kris
The Avid Reader

They were the original typewriters, not just the machines.

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, August 31
Connect in Fiction, August 31
Among the Reads, September 1
She Lives To Read, September 1
For Him and My Family, September 2
Just the Write Escape, September 3
Patiently Waiting, September 3
Blogging With Carol , September 3
CarpeDiem, September 4
Betti Mace, September 4
Wishful Endings, September 5
Remembrancy, September 5
Maureen’s Musings, September 6
Bigreadersite , September 7
Hallie Reads, September 8
Moments, September 9
Simple Harvest Reads, September 9
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 10
Pause for Tales, September 10
To Everything A Season, September 10
Retrospective Spines, September 11
Texas Book-aholic, September 11
Older & Smarter?, September 12
janicesbookreviews, September 13
A Reader’s Brain, September 13
Inklings and notions , September 13
Joseph Farquharson | Victorian Landscape painter | Tutt'Art@ | Pittura * Scultura * Poesia * Musica |

Friday, August 30, 2019

Mulberry Mischief by Sharon Farrow: Review and a Giveaway!


Mulberry Mischief

A Berry Basket Mystery

by Sharon Farrow


About the Book

Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Kensington (August 27, 2019)
Mass Market Paperback: 352 pages
ISBN-10: 1496722612
ISBN-13: 978-1496722614
Kindle ASIN: B07L2FVR11
Autumn has arrived on the shores of Lake Michigan, but Marlee Jacob, proprietor of The Berry Basket, is feeling a chill for other reasons …

With the Harvest Health Fair in full swing, Marlee makes sure to stock up on elderberry products for cold and flu season. But this year there's also a run on mulberry when an eccentric customer wants to use the dried berries to ward off evil forces. True, it's almost Halloween, but something else seems to be spooking Leticia the Lake Lady, Oriole Point's oddest resident. She believes someone plans to kill her—and the ghost. Only mulberries can protect them. Marlee doesn't take her fears seriously until a man named Felix Bonaventure arrives in the village, asking questions about a mysterious woman.

The next day, Marlee finds Bonaventure dead on Leticia's property—shot through the heart with an arrow made of mulberry wood. And Leticia has disappeared. Marlee soon learns the Lake Lady has a deadly past that is connected to the famous Sable family who are in town for the health fair. A bunch of clues start to come together—and figuring out what's going on puts Marlee in a real jam …

Includes Berry Recipes!
Mulberry

About Sharon Farrow

Sharon Farrow is the latest pen name of award-winning author Sharon Pisacreta. A freelance writer since her twenties, she has been published in mystery, fantasy, and romance. Sharon currently writes A Berry Basket Mystery series for Kensington. The series debuted in 2016 and is set along the beautiful Lake Michigan shoreline where she now lives. She is also one half of the writing team D.E. Ireland, who co-author the Agatha nominated Eliza Doolittle and Henry Higgins mysteries.
Black Mulberry Tree, Blackberry, Red Bilberry, Moorberry|Calwer Fruit Prints 1854

Author Links


WEB PAGE:         http://sharonfarrowauthor.com/

FACEBOOK:       @SharonFarrowAuthor

TWITTER:          @SharonFarrowBB

BOOKBUB:         @SharonFarrow

your picture

My Thoughts

Mulberry Mischief by Sharon Farrow is the fourth novel in A Berry Basket Mystery series.  It can be read as a standalone since Marlee’s background is provided along with references to the last three cases.  Marlee Jacob delivers mulberries to the home of Leticia the Lake Lady and finds a man dead with a mulberry arrow through the heart.  Leticia has disappeared and becomes the police’s prime suspect.  Marlee knows that Leticia thought someone was out to harm her.  She wants to make sure Leticia is safe plus find the killer.  Mulberry Mischief has a delightful cast of characters from kindhearted Marlee to fashionista Andrew to Old Man Bowman who is fascinated with Big Foot.  Leticia is an off-beat character with her unusual ideas and flaming orange hair.  Oriole Point is having a Haunted Halloween Harvest Health Fair (try saying that three times fast).  Piper Lyall-Pierce, the coordinator, wants to convince people to eat less candy after her husband ate a whole bag of Twizzlers last Halloween (I find licorice is like potato chips, you cannot eat just one plus they are fat free).  I did find Mulberry Mischief to be a slow starter, but the pace soon picks up.   The mystery was interesting with misdirection, multiple suspects and clever clues.  I like that we get a complete wrap up at the end. You have to love a criminal who spills his guts.  I was tickled by the names of Aunt Vicki’s Doberman Pinschers.  They are Buffy, Willow and Xander.  I think it is wonderful that she manages an animal rescue that captures feral cats and spays them.  I liked the inclusion of mulberry folklore and the health benefits of mulberries.  The ending was humorous.  Mulberry Mischief is an upbeat cozy mystery with Halloween hijinks, a frisky feline, mulberry mania, a costumed killer, and a booming bell.
TWIZZLERS BITES Cherry - 24 oz. - Click for More Information
This is my licorice of choice! Do you think Piper would disapprove?
Mulberry Mischief is available at Amazon, Amazon UKB&NKoboGoogle Play, and IndieBound.  The other novels in A Berry Basket Mystery series (Amazon UK) are Dying for Strawberries, Blackberry Burial, and Killed on Blueberry Hill.  To enter to win one of six print copies of Mulberry Mischief (U.S. Only), click here or enter via the Rafflecopter form below.  Good Luck!  Thank you for dropping by today.  Surf Smugglers by Melody Carlson is the featured book tomorrow (Amazon UK).  It is the third novel in The Legacy of Sunset Cove series and there will be a giveaway. I hope you have a joyous day.  Take care and Happy Reading!


Kris
The Avid Reader
🌸🌿

Tour Participants


August 26 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

August 26 – I Read what You Write – SPOTLIGHT

August 27 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

August 27 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

August 28 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

August 28 – Cassidy's Bookshelves – GUEST POST

August 28 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

August 29 – Curling Up by The Fire – REVIEW


August 30 – The Avid Reader – READER

August 30 – eBook Addicts – SPOTLIGHT, RECIPE

August 31 – Socrates Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 31 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT

September 1 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 1 – LibriAmoriMiei – REVIEW

September 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

September 2 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 3 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW

September 4 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW

September 4 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

September 5 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE

September 5 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 6 – The Book's the Thing – REVIEW

September 6 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – SPOTLIGHT

September 7 – Teresa Watson’s Blog – REVIEW

September 7 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT

September 8 – Melina's Book Blog – REVIEW

September 8 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW
Galleries in Carmel and Palm Desert California - Jones & Terwilliger Galleries -An He.              'Afternoon Read'

Thursday, August 29, 2019

The Dark Side by Danielle Steel

The Dark Side
Good Day!  The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden releases September 3 along with The Night's Tail by Sofie Kelly and Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano (her stories are always humorous).  Fiddling with Fate by Kathleen Ernst will be out on September 8.  It is the tenth A Chloe Ellefson Mystery.  
Mother
The Dark Side by Danielle Steel starts us out in San Francisco, California.  Zoe Morgan was three when her sister, Rose was born.  Three years later, little Rose is diagnosed with leukemia and the family’s lives are forever changed.  Beth, Zoe’s mother, devotes herself to Rose’s care while her father, Brad holds down the fort at home.  Unfortunately, Rose passes away after four years of battling the disease sending her parents into mourning and eventually, the couple divorces.  Zoe pushes herself academically and finds her way to New York City where she works at a non-profit that helps abused children on the Upper West Side.  When Zoe is twenty-eight years old, she meets and falls in love with child advocacy attorney, Austin Roberts who recently joined the board of the non-profit.  Zoe and Austin have a little girl, Jaime Rose Roberts.  Zoe is determined to be a dedicated, loving mother to Jaime.  The memories of losing Rose are at the forefront of her mind and she does not want anything to happen to her daughter.  Zoe has a unique parenting style and some unusual ideas.  Unfortunately, Jaime seems to be accident prone and easily becomes ill.  Zoe is always there for Jaime and never ventures far from her side.  Pick up The Dark Side to find discover what happens next.
 The Dark Side: The Powerful New Novel from the World’s Favourite Storyteller by [Steel, Danielle]
The Dark Side is darker than Danielle Steel’s other novels, but it still contains her unique and engaging writing style.  The Dark Side is a fascinating story that quickly pulled me in and had me staying up late to finish it.  The book is well-written with a good flow and steady pacing. I like that the story is written in the third person.  Zoe Morgan is a developed character, though, not likeable.  Her childhood shapes her whole life.  Zoe becomes an overachiever determined to excel at everything she does and that includes motherhood.  I like how the story gradually evolves as you move through the book.  The Dark Side deals with a topic that is rarely addressed and is very hard to prove (I do not want to say too much and spoil it for you).  It is an emotional story that will touch the heart of parents. The Dark Side is a psychological suspense that will linger in your mind long after you finish it. 
Contemporary Geometric Nursery – Inspired by This
The Dark Side is available at Amazon, Amazon UK, and other major booksellers.  Danielle Steel's next novel is Child's Play which will be available on October 8.  Thank you for reading my review today.  Tomorrow I am showcasing Mulberry Mischief by Sharon Farrow as part of the Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour.  I hope you have an amiable day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader
Reading list for 3 year old

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

Assailants, Asphalt and Alibis by Tonya Kappes

Assailants, Asphalt & Alibis (A Camper & Criminals Cozy #8)
Good Day!  I hope everyone is having a good week.  An Amish Christmas Kitchen by Kate Lloyd, Jan Drexler and Leslie Gould comes out on September 3 along with Word to the Wise by Jenn McKinlayFatal Cajun Festival by Ellen Byron releases on September 10 with Buried in the Stacks by Allison Brook.  There are many delightful new books coming out in September.  I, once again, overbooked myself.  I wish there was a way to read by osmosis (hand on kindle while I sleep).  
Camp Trailer Park! So cute!
Assailants, Asphalt and Alibis by Tonya Kappes takes us back to Normal, Kentucky.  Mae West is hosting her monthly get-together at Happy Trails Campground which gives the townspeople and campground residents an opportunity to mingle.  Around the campfire, Mason Cavanaugh, a treasure hunter, begins telling the story of John Swift and his lost treasure.  It is the weekend for the annual Legend of John Swift Excursion and Mayor MacKenzie has obtained grants to pave the trails to the Swift mine.  After hearing about the treasure hunt, Abby, Mary Elizabeth, Agnes Queenie and Mae decide to take part.  The following morning, they hook up Mae’s camper and head to The Furnace passing protestors of the paving along the way.  The next day, the ladies are following the clues in John Swift’s journal when Mason tumbles off a rock ledge into the lake clutching Mary Elizabeth’s missing peals in his dead hand.  Unable to call for help nor depart, Agnes deputizes herself and dives into the investigation.  Did the John Swift curse strike again or did one of the treasure hunters eliminate the competition?  Mae and the ladies need to work quickly before another victim drops at their feet.
Assailants, Asphalt and Alibis is eighth A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery.  It can easily be read on its own, but I have enjoyed following Mae’s journey from the beginning.  It allows readers to watch her grow, find friends, and help develop the campground.  Tonya Kappes has an engaging writing style that draws the reader into the book and holds their attention.  Her writing reminds me of chatting with an old friend.  A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series has quirky characters with small town charm.  We also get to learn more about the Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky. Mae West, Abby Fawn, Queenie French, Agnes Swift and Mary Elizabeth Moberly head out in Mae’s camper for a weekend of treasure hunting.  They have three different maps along with John Swift’s original journals to help them with the hunt.  Mary Elizabeth provided several laugh-out-loud moments especially when she discovers the camping location has no electricity, no running water and no cell service.  The proper Mary Elizabeth may get dirty this weekend and Mae is curious to see her without her pearls.  The mystery fits with the theme and length of the book.  There is clever misdirection and good clues.  While I wish it had been more of a challenge to solve this whodunit, it was fun to follow the ladies as they dig into the case.    When one of the characters keeps cursing upon learning that Mason is dead, Agnes makes him quit by threatening to tell his grandma.   Only in a small town would this threat work.   One of my favorite scenes is when Mae is wearing her sparkly shoes, she clicks the heels together and says, “There’s no place like home.”  I got a kick out of this Wizard of Oz reference.  The ending will leave you with a smile on your face.  There are RV Hacks and recipes from the book at the end.  Assailants, Asphalt and Alibis is a lighthearted, humorous tale with a treacherous treasure hunt, pavement protestors, dangerous desperados, pilfered pearls and one cozy camper.  
Vintage Camper Makeover - Travel Trailer Decorating Ideas
Assailants, Asphalt and Alibis can be purchased on Amazon (Amazon UK)  For a complete list of the stories in A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery series click here (Amazon UK)  All eight books are available through Kindle Unlimited.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will share my review of The Dark Side by Danielle Steel  (Amazon UK) tomorrow.  I hope you have a happy day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader
GIVEAWAY . Be careful what stories you tell around the campfire they just might come true!!! . As soon as I read the synopsis for Campfire by @shawnsarles I knew I had to do a cool creepy picture to go with it!!! The book is about all those scary stories you tell late at night but the next day the stories start coming true !!! . Im kind of a baby when it comes to horror books but this one sounds really good!!! Its not releasing until July but I have a giveaway for an ARC down below so make sure
I couldn't resist this picture!

Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Silent Night, Deadly Night by Vicki Delany: Review and Giveaway

Silent Night, Deadly Night

A Year-Round Christmas Mystery

by Vicki Delany


About the Book

Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Berkley (August 27, 2019)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-10: 0440000300
ISBN-13: 978-0440000303
Digital ASIN: B07L7TWTZX
Residents of Rudolph keep the spirit of Christmas alive year-round—but their joy is threatened when a group of grinches visits the town, in the charming fourth installment of the Year-Round Christmas series.

It's the week before Thanksgiving, and Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus's Treasures, is preparing for a weekend reunion of her mother's college friends. But when the group of women comes into Merry's shop, Merry is met with frosty attitudes and cold hearts.

The women argue amongst themselves constantly, and the bickering only intensifies after one of the friends is poisoned. With her father's role as Santa in danger due to his proximity to the crime, Merry will need to use all of her investigative gifts to wrap this mystery up and save Santa and her favorite holiday.
A real-life Christmas Village - Petite Haus

About the Author


 

Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most prolific and varied crime writers and a national bestseller in the U.S. She has written more than thirty books:  clever cozies to Gothic thrillers to gritty police procedurals, to historical fiction and novellas for adult literacy. She is currently writing four cozy mystery series: the Tea By The Sea mysteries, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series, the Year Round Christmas mysteries and, as Eva Gates, the Lighthouse Library series.

Big Money Cities On The Cheap:

Author Links


Websitewww.vickidelany.com



Instagram: vickidelany

Solvang Christmas Shop Window | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

My Thoughts


Silent Night, Deadly Night is the fourth A Year-Round Christmas Mystery.  Merry Wilkinson has her hands full when one of her mother’s old college friends dies while in town for a reunion and a newcomer to town is determined to take the Santa Clause position away from her father, Noel.  It is a week before Thanksgiving, which is Merry’s favorite holiday, and the shop is hopping with customers.  It is always a delight to visit the charming Christmas town of Rudolph, New York.  While Silent Night, Deadly Night is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.  I thought the book was well-written with good pacing.  The book is fraught with tension from the minute Aline’s college friends walk into Mrs. Claus’s Treasures.  The five women are constantly sniping at each other and getting in little digs.  It is only the first day of their visit and Aline, Merry’s mother, regrets organizing the gathering.  When one of the women dies, the remaining ladies are suspects and are not allowed to leave town (there goes Thanksgiving). Merry wants to figure out which woman committed the crime so they can all leave town (they are staying at the Wilkinson home).  There are clues sprinkled throughout the book to help readers solve the case before the satisfying reveal.  I found Ruth to be an interesting character with her love of mystery novels and her fascination with the case (all mystery lovers can relate). There is a subplot with a newcomer to town trying to take the Santa Claus position away from Merry’s father, Noel.  I like how Noel handled himself and how the situation was resolved.  I enjoyed learning more about the Wilkinson family and the romance factor was light (thank you).  I thoroughly enjoy the descriptions of Rudolph and Mrs. Claus’s Treasures.  Silent Night, Deadly Night was a satisfying cozy mystery that will put you in the Christmas spirit, and I look forward to reading the next A Year-Round Christmas Mystery.  Silent Night, Deadly Night has catty college chums, deadly delicacies, a sly Santa stealer, dangerous secrets, old-fashioned ornaments and one elf investigator. 
Elegant and Simple Thanksgiving Table Setting Ideas that you can do yourself #thanksgiving #fall
Silent Night, Deadly Night is available at AmazonB&NKoboGoogle Play, and IndieBound (Amazon UK).  You can find a list of the other novels in A Year-Round Christmas Mystery series here (Amazon UK).  To win a signed copy of Silent Night, Deadly Night you can enter via the Rafflecopter form below or click here (U.S. and Canada Only). Good Luck!  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return tomorrow when I am featuring Assailants, Asphalt and Alibis by Tonya Kappes.  It is the eighth A Camper & Criminals Cozy Mystery.  I hope that you and your family have a jolly day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

Tour Participants


August 26 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT

August 26 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

August 26 – The Book's the Thing - REVIEW, GUEST POST

August 27 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW

August 27 – The Power of Words – REVIEW

August 28 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW

August 28 – Elizabeth McKenna - Author – SPOTLIGHT

August 28 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW

August 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

August 29 – A Wytch's Book Review Blog - REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW

August 30 – Teresa Trent Author Blog – CHARACTER GUEST POST

August 30 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW  

August 30 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

August 31 – StoreyBook Reviews - GUEST POST

August 31 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT

September 1 – T's Stuff – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 1 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST

September 2 – eBook addicts – SPOTLIGHT

September 2 – Carla Loves To Read – REVIEW

September 3 – Mysteries with Character – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

September 3 – Brooke Blogs – REVIEW

September 3 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

September 4 – Island Confidential – SPOTLIGHT

September 4 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW

September 5 – CelticLady Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

September 6 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

September 6 - Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT

September 7 – The Book Decoder – REVIEW  


September 8 – Melina's Book Blog – CHARACTER GUEST POST

September 8 – A Chick Who Reads – REVIEW
Christmas Stories. MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

Monday, August 26, 2019

Adventures in Poverty: Review and Giveaway!

About the Book



Book: Adventures in Poverty

Author: Nancy Bolton

Genre: Memoir

Release Date: July 30, 2019

Faced with eviction, living on union strike pay, our time for making a decision was running out. Where could we go to live with our five small sons? We had few options. The scariest possibility was also the one that fit best with our tiny income. But could we really make such a difficult move? To transport our family, and our mobile home onto a five-acre parcel of rural, undeveloped land? No electricity, no running water, with winter fast approaching. It sounded a little crazy…….
Click here to grab your copy.
Edible Landscaping: Kitchen Garden | jardin potager | bauerngarten | köksträdgård

About the Author


Nancy Shew Bolton is a wife, mother, grandmother, jewelry maker, crochet crafter, and of course: a writer! She lives in upstate New York in a lovely scenic region known as The Fingerlakes. Widowed last year, she is comforted by her five sons, two grandchildren and a marvelous array of family and other loved ones. She loves the creative process, and puts her whole focus into the stories she writes. May you be entertained and uplifted by them!
off grid rent free housing, off grid housing, buy off grid house, off grid tiny homes, life off the grid in a tiny house, tiny mobile home, zero energy tiny home, Wohnwagon, Ark Shelter off grid, Koda off grid, EcoCapsule home, Moon Dragon tiny home, POD-Idladla house, Walden Studio house, sustainable off grid house,

More from Nancy


Sometimes life hands out an unexpected challenge, and the direction you mapped out for your family comes up against a big roadblock. And there you are, trying to navigate back to a path that makes sense. One that would be as close to the previous path as you can get. But our only options led us in directions far away from what we were used to.
This Infinite Paradox

My Thoughts


Adventures in Poverty by Nancy Bolton is a true account of what happened in 1986 when the Bolton Family moved their mobile home and family to a five acre lot they owned in upstate New York where they would live without electricity and running water.  An additional problem is that winter was fast approaching. This family of seven were living on strike wages of $70 a week at the time.  The five boys ranged in age from twelve to four months.  I started reading Adventures in Poverty and was immediately drawn into the story thanks to Nancy’s engaging writing style. Readers are taken on the journey with the family as Nancy recounts what happened via anecdotes.  We see how the family managed to adapt to their new life and learned many lessons along the way.  It was a challenging new lifestyle that had is ups and downs.  The adventure began when they arrived at the lot to find their mobile home had been plopped down too close the road and it was on an angle.  The family had to eat dinner while holding onto their plates, so they did not slide off the table.  Nancy had to cook their first dinner over a campfire since the propane could not be hooked up and she cleverly took the rack from the stove to put on the fire for the pots and pans.  They had to haul water and then heat it up.  They were fortunate to get the help of many kind people along the way.  I found Adventures in Poverty to be an inspiring story and a must read for any individual going through a tough time.  I was amazed at how Nancy managed to maintain her positive attitude even during the toughest of times.  Some of the stories will have you chuckling and others will bring tears to your eyes.  God helped them get through it and brought their family closer together.  I appreciated that they raised their boys to embrace the differences between people and cultures.  The parents also wanted the kids to focus on others so they would not be greedy or materialistic.  My favorite quote from Adventures in Poverty is “..hardships come and go but with God’s help we didn’t need to fear them.  We’d learn something useful from them.  It’s all part of the journey.”  Adventures in Poverty is an uplifting story that will linger with you long after you finish it.  
Love gardening with chickens? Climbing vines look great on the chicken run. Chicken safe vines provide, shade for the flock, food and more.

Giveaway


To celebrate her tour, Nancy is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and eBook copy of her book.  Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter. Good Luck!  Thank you for joining me today.  Adventures in Poverty is available through Amazon and is a part of the Kindle Unlimited program.  Tomorrow I am featuring Silent Night, Deadly Night by Vicki Delany.  It is the fourth A Year Round Christmas Mystery.  I hope that you have an enriching day.  Take care of yourself and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

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