Friday, April 30, 2021

The Gift of Hope by Kristen McKanagh

The Gift of Hope

Book Summary

The Gift of Hope by Kristen McKanagh has Hope Beiler asking Aaron Kanagy for assistance. He is the last person Hope’s wants to ask after accidentally hearing something unkind he said previous year. It also does not help that there is unexplained animosity between their fathers. Hope wants to get her sister, Hannah a special wedding gift, but she lacks funds. Aaron wants to spend more time on his woodworking, but his family needs his help in their gift shop. Hope proposes a trade: she will work in the gift shop while Aaron works on the bed for her sister. After getting agreement from Aaron’s mother and Hope’s grandmother, Hope begins working at the gift shop. She soon finds that she enjoys working at the shop where her artistic skills come in handy plus she is good with customers. Aaron finds himself looking forward to spending time with Hope who smiles brighten his day. He can imagine a future for the two of them. Unfortunately, Hope’s father discovers she is working for the Kanagy’s and will not allow her any further contact. The only way there can be a future for Hope and Aaron is overcome the dissention between their fathers. With God’s help along with Mammi Beiler, it just might happen.

My Thoughts

The Gift of Hope by Kristen McKanagh is cute Amish novel. I enjoyed this first book in the Unexpected Gifts series. I thought it was well-written with steady pacing and developed characters. I liked the characters in this story that included Hope Beiler and Aaron Kanagy. I especially loved Hope’s grandmother, Mammi. She was a delight. Another fun character is Aaron’s mother, Ruth. I enjoyed the setting of Charity Creek. It sounds like a charming town. The romance between Aaron and Hope was sweet. Their two families are at odds with each other, but the only two people who know why are not spilling the beans. Aaron does not understand why Hope is not friendly to him in the beginning. He has no clue that Hope overheard him something uncomplimentary the previous year. I like how Hope’s bridge played into their romance and the story. It is special how Aaron and Hope complemented each other. Hope and Aaron both had unexpected gifts that worked well together. The Gift of Hope had joy, faith, hope, and love. While The Gift of Hope is a predictable story, it did not hinder my reading pleasure. I am eager for the next book in the Unexpected Gifts series. The Gift of Hope is a sweet Amish tale with wondrous woodcrafts, a bonny bridge, a matchmaking mama, a furious father, a gregarious grandma, and two feuding families.

The Gift of Hope is available from Amazon*. You can find Kristen McKanagh's other novels here. Thank you for reading my review today. It is hard to believe it is the last day of April. Tomorrow I am featuring Confessions from the Quilting Circle by Maisey Yates. I hope that you have an inspiring 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, April 29, 2021

Wartime with the Cornish Girls by Betty Walker

Wartime with the Cornish Girls

Book Summary

Wartime with the Cornish Girls by Betty Walker takes readers back to April of 1941 in London where Violet Hopkins makes a big decision. After the death of her sister in the Blitz, Violet is responsible for her two nieces. She decides the three of them should relocate to Cornwall where her Aunt Margaret and Uncle Stanley have a farm. Violet’s mother must stay behind to keep running the café. Violet meets Hazel Baxter one day who works at Eastern House as a housekeeper thanks to George Cotterill. Her husband is off fighting and her teenage son, Charlie is itching to enlist. Eva Ryder finds herself in the hospital after the club she was partying in with friends was bombed. Her Uncle Teddy is at his wits end with Eva’s antics and sends her to her father, Colonel Ryder at Porthcurno. Porthcurno is the location of a secret military base that houses a communications hub. Violet, Hazel, and Eva work together to help improve the morale of the soldiers plus have a little fun themselves. The war, though, is still not over and the enemy is not about to let them forget it.

My Thoughts

Wartime with the Cornish Girls by Betty Walker is the beginning of The Cornish Girls series. This is a charming story about three women who become friends and how they help each other get through the World War II. I thought this historical novel was well-written with developed characters. Hazel Baxter, Violet Hopkins, and Eva Ryder each have their own story. These three women come from different backgrounds, but they soon find they have a lot in common. Violet Hopkins is escaping the East End with her two nieces after the death of her sister. She does not want them to be scared that a bomb could drop and kill them at any minute. Eva Ryder is a party girl who ran away from her Uncle Teddy in London. After a bomb lands on the nightclub where she was dancing, Eva ends up in the hospital. She gets sent to her father, Colonel Ryder in Cornwall. Hazel Baxter works at Eastern House at the top secret Porthcurno military base. Her husband is off fighting the war and her teenage son, Charlie is eager to enlist. The three women all end up on Porthcurno where they come together to plan a dance which will raise morale and funds for the local church. We follow the ladies’ lives, the war, and what is happening at this secret listening station. It was interesting learning about this base in Cornwall. I found it fascinating and ended up looking it up online (there is a museum there now). The author provided good descriptions of Cornwall and captured the time-period. I enjoyed the British slang. Wartime with the Cornish Girls is a touching story (would make a great PBS series). I am looking forward to reading Christmas with the Cornish Girls when it comes out. Wartime with the Cornish Girls is an engaging historical tale about friendship, bravery, and overcoming adversity.

Wartime with the Cornish Girls is available from Amazon*. Christmas with the Cornish Girls is the 2nd book in The Cornish Girls series and it will publish on November 25. Thank you for stopping by today. The Gift of Hope by Kristen McKanagh is planned for tomorrow. It is the first book in the Unexpected Gifts series. I hope that you have a cordial 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.

Wednesday, April 28, 2021

Treasure Most Deadly by Terry Ambrose

Treasure Most Deadly

Book Summary

Treasure Most Deadly by Terry Ambrose has Rick Atwood trying to keep his precocious daughter, Alex busy instead of bothering their one of their guests who is extremely interested in the treasure of San Manuel. Alex manages to sneak out with their guest and catches a man stealing treasure. Unfortunately, the man manages to get away, but he is later found dead with Clive Crabbe bending over his body. Chief Adam Cunningham calls in Rick to consult on the case. There is strong evidence pointing towards Clive as the guilty party, but Rick does not believe he did the deed. Rick and Adam must follow the clues if they are to find the killer. Alex is determined to help even if it gets her grounded again. Can they catch the killer before he sets sail from Seaside Cove?

My Thoughts

Treasure Most Deadly by Terry Ambrose is the 5^th A Seaside Cove Bed and Breakfast Mystery. I have enjoyed following this series from the beginning with A Treasure to Die For. If you are new to the series, you can read Treasure Most Deadly as a standalone (but why would you want to do that). I thought this cute cozy mystery was well-written with friendly, developed characters. Rick Atwood owns the Seaside Cove Bed and Breakfast in the charming coastal town of Seaside Cove. He has a precocious eleven-year-old daughter, Alex who is inquisitive and conniving. Marquetta Weiss is a lovely woman who is Rick’s fiancé. She is warm and wise. Marquetta’s mother, Madeline is a hoot. She is an older version of Alex. Alex and Grandma Madeline are scheming to get Rick and Marquetta wed as soon as possible. Their pushiness, though, is not what Marquetta needs. I like newcomer Ms. Kama and I am glad that she will be sticking around. The mystery is well-plotted. A mystery man is killed after Alex and a guest spy him stealing treasure. The treasure has the town inundated with tourists, treasure hunters, and reporters. That makes it harder for Rick and Chief Adam Cunningham to search for the killer. There are a couple of good suspects, a red herring, and subtle clues. I like how it all came together with a satisfying conclusion. I liked that the chapters are told from Rick and Alex’s point-of-view. Alex’s chapters are particularly entertaining. I laugh often while reading about her antics and her diary entries. The only negatives are that I did find the pacing a little slow at times and there was repetition of case details. I enjoyed the descriptions of the town, the treasure, and the bed-and-breakfast. The author’s word depictions bring the story alive for me. Treasure Most Deadly is a sweet cozy mystery with purloined pirate treasure, roving reporters, a sabotaged sailboat, nuptial nuisances, and one keen tween.

Treasure Most Deadly is available from Amazon*. If you belong to Kindle Unlimited, you can borrow it (as well as the other novels in the series). You can find the other four novels in A Seaside Cove Bed & Breakfast Mystery series here. You can check out Terry Ambrose's other novels here. Thank you for visiting today. Tomorrow I am sharing my thoughts on Wartime with the Cornish Girls by Betty Walker. I hope that you have a jolly good 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.

Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Murder in the Cookbook Nook by Ellery Adams

Murder in the Cookbook Nook

Book Summary

Murder in the Cookbook Nook by Ellery Adams has Posh Palate with Mia Mallett filming their latest season at Storyton Hall. Jane Steward expected some drama with a film crew and six chefs in residence, but she was not prepared for it to start before the filming began. A fire near the cooking tent has Jane and her staff scrambling to remove all signs of the destruction. Jane is pleased that Mia Mallett is warm and friendly along with five of the chefs. Unfortunately, one of them is an offensive obtuse oaf. In the middle of the night after the filming of the first contest, Jane receives an urgent call from one of her baker’s. She rushes to Storyton Hall where she finds the odious chef dead in Mrs. Hubbard’s cozy cookbook nook. Sheriff Evans quickly arrives with his staff to process the scene. Jane and her Fins start digging into the background of their guests to see who had motive to kill the deceased. Because of the victims’ behavior, their suspect list is quite lengthy. When more strange incidents occur, Jane begins narrowing in on the guilty party. Can they capture the killer before he can harm someone dear to them all?

My Thoughts

I could not wait to read Murder in the Cookbook Nook by Ellery Adams. I look forward to reading the newest installment in this series each year. While this is the seventh A Book Retreat Mystery, it can be read as a standalone. I have enjoyed reading this series from the beginning, and I recommend reading it in order (you’ll love it). I love visiting Storyton Hall which is a delight for bibliophiles. The author provides vivid descriptions of Storyton Hall and the surrounding area. These word depictions really bring the story alive for me. I especially was delighted with Mrs. Hubbard’s cookbook nook. It sounds amazing with the special cookbooks and the precious antiques. I want a cozy nook like that where I can read and relax. There is a cast of charming, developed, and diverse characters led by Jane Steward. She has an excellent staff who are part of her family. Jane’s two sons are smart and adorable. Jane’s relationship with Edwin is progressing nicely. They are a cute and compatible couple. It was wonderful to see Olivia Limoges and her poodle, Captain Haviland from A Books by the Bay Mystery series. I hope we see more of her in the future (especially since she has made friends with the Cover Girls). The mystery was well-crafted. There are several suspects who disliked the offensive victim. The clues are subtle (the devil is in the details). This is an engaging whodunit that will keep readers guessing until the tension filled reveal. I like how it all came together with a satisfying conclusion. The epilogue was delightful and fun. I am eager for my next visit to Storyton Hall (I wish we did not have to wait a year for it). Murder in the Cookbook Nook is a bibliophiles dream with a cozy cookbook nook, an odious oaf, delectable delights, a proper poodle, creative chefs, a fierce fire, and a bounty of books.

Murder in the Cookbook Nook is available from Amazon*. You can find the other novels in A Book Retreat Mystery series here. You should check out Ellery Adams' other delightful cozy mysteries. Thank you for reading my review today. I will be back tomorrow with Treasure Most Deadly by Terry Ambrose. It is the 5th A Seaside Cove Bed and Breakfast Mystery. I hope you day is filled with joy. We need more happiness in our lives. 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, April 26, 2021

Wining and Dying by Daryl Wood Gerber

Wining and Dying

Book Summary

Wining and Dying by Daryl Wood Gerber has Crystal Cove buzzing as it prepares for the Fifth Annual Art and Wine Festival. Jenna Hart is a finalist in the art competition, and she is busy completing her creation. At the opening ceremony, Jenna receives praise for her painting while a fellow finalist creates discord. Late that evening, Jenna receives a frantic call from Yardley asking her to quickly come to the Crystal Cove Inn. She arrives to find the problematic artist from earlier in the evening dead in a cabana. Unfortunately, the evidence points to a friend’s husband and a fellow artist as the guilty party. Jenna knows he would not harm anyone and works to prove it. Chief Cinnamon Pritchett does not appreciate Jenna’s involvement or her speculation. That is not about to deter Jenna who will not let a friend be the fall guy.

My Thoughts

Wining and Dying by Daryl Wood Gerber is the 10^th A Cookbook Nook Mystery. It is always a pleasure to visit Crystal Cove where Katie is sure to be whipping up a delectable treat for Jenna and her friends. Jenna Hart and Rhett Jackson are working with their wedding planner on their upcoming nuptials. The final touches are also being done on their new home. The characters are the backbone of this charming series. They are warm and friendly. I like how they have evolved since the beginning of the series. The author lets this engaging cast of characters continue to grow, but she has not rushed it (like the romance between Rhett and Jenna). I just love Jenna’s cat, Tigger (I have a weakness for ginger cats). There are plenty of cozy moments for readers to enjoy interspersed with the mystery. When a fellow artist is killed and a friend is framed, Jenna works to uncover the truth. There are several suspects along with good clues and a red herring. I liked piecing together the clues and solving this whodunit. I also enjoyed the suspenseful reveal. One of these days, Chief Cinnamon Pritchett will arrest Jenna out of pique. There were some great cookbook references including a couple for cookies (those are the ones I jotted down). I look forward to Jenna and Rhett’s wedding (hopefully in the next book). There are recipes at the end of the book including one for Katie’s wine cookies. Wining and Dying can be read as a standalone if you are new to the series, though, I think it is best read in order. Wining and Dying is a delightful tale with wonderful wines, pretty paintings, tasty treats, a departed painter, wedding woes, a curious cat, and a framed friend.

Wining and Dying releases Tuesday, April 27 and can be pre-ordered from Amazon*. You can find the other novels in A Cookbook Nook Mystery series here. Daryl Wood Gerber has A Glimmer of a Clue publishing June 29. It is the 2nd A Fairy Garden Mystery. Thank you for visiting today and reading my review. Tomorrow I am featuring Murder in the Cookbook Nook by Ellery Adams. It is the 7th A Book Retreat Mystery. I hope that you have a happy 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.

Sunday, April 25, 2021

Lemon Drop Dead by Amanda Flower

Lemon Drop Dead

Book Summary

Lemon Drop Dead by Amanda Flower has Bailey King backed into a corner by Juliet Brook and Margot Rawlings. They have decided it is best to have a baby shower for Emily Keim and that Bailey should host it. They have even booked the venue for her. It is up to Bailey to tell Emily that good news. Charlotte is delighted to organize the shower and even has the theme picked out. The baby shower is well-attended by the Amish and Englisch communities. Emily is surprised when an Amish woman from a different district approaches her and mentions her secret—the child she was forced to give up as a teenager. The woman disappears before Bailey can find out more information. That evening, Bailey is working in Swissmen Sweets when someone pounds on the door. Esther Esh, Emily’s estranged sister, drags her over to the family pretzel shop where the mystery Amish woman is dead on the floor. Deputy Aiden Brody is quick to arrive, and he finds a threatening letter from Esther in the victim’s pocket. Emily knows that her sister did not murder the woman and asks Bailey to help her. Bailey dons her sleuthing cap once again, grabs some chocolates for substance, and sets out to find the Amish woman’s killer.

My Thoughts

Lemon Drop Dead by Amanda Flower is the 6^th An Amish Candy Shop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series, but you will be missing out on a delightful series of books. I found Lemon Drop Dead to be well-written with steady pacing and charming characters. I enjoy visiting Harvest, Ohio where there are Amish and Englisch residents. There is a great cast of characters that includes Bailey King, Clara King, Charlotte King, Aiden Brody, Juliet Brook, Margot Rawlings, Emily Keim, and let us not forget, Jethro. Jethro is a show stealer along with Bailey’s cat, Nutmeg and rabbit, Puff. Bailey is friendly, talented, and helpful. She is actually a little too obliging as she finds herself babysitting Jethro more and more often as Juliet performs her duties as a pastor’s wife. There is a sweet scene with Jethro, Puff, and Nutmeg that I just loved. I like that we get to know more about Emily is this story as well as what happened to her little girl. The whodunit was enjoyable. I had to laugh at the 9-1-1 operator’s response when Bailey called in the dead body. I enjoyed following Bailey as she interviewed people and collected clues. This mystery was more complex that others in the series which I loved. It is nicely wrapped up at the end of the book. I enjoyed the addition of Hannah (such a sweetie) and look forward to seeing more of her in future tales. Jethro, as always, added plenty of humor to the story. He is one cute and amusing pig. I was dismayed at Aiden’s news. It certainly puts a crink in Aiden and Bailey’s relationship. I was glad that Millie and Lois from An Amish Matchmaker Mystery series made an appearance in Lemon Drop Dead. They are a part of Harvest too. Fans of the series will be happy to know that Charlotte is ready to make a decision about her future (you will have to read the book to find out the answer). I am eager for the next tale in An Amish Candy Shop Mystery series. Lemon Drop Dead is an engaging cozy mystery with swine sitting, a child conundrum, a mystifying Amish woman, creamy chocolate, a baby shower bash, a sour sister, and relationship tribulations.

Lemon Drop Dead publishes Tuesday, April 27 and it can be pre-ordered from Amazon*. You can find the other An Amish Candy Shop Mysteries here. The 3rd An Amish Matchmaker Mystery is out on November 30 and it is Marriage can be Mischief. The first book in the series is Matchmaking Can Be Murder and it is currently $.99 (for a limited time). Amanda Flower has the 5th A Magical Bookshop Mystery coming out January 11, 2022. It is titled Crimes and Covers. You can find Amanda Flower's other novels here. Thank you for dropping by today. I will be featuring Wining and Dying by Daryl Wood Gerber. It is the 10th A Cookbook Nook Mystery. I hope all of you have a funtastic 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.

Saturday, April 24, 2021

Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham: Book Review & Giveaway!

About the Book

Book: Hope Between the Pages

Author: Pepper Basham

Genre: Christian Historical

Release date: April, 2021

Uncover the Story Behind a One-Hundred-Year-Old Love Letter

Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.

Clara Blackwell helps her mother manage a struggling one-hundred-year old family bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina, but the discovery of a forgotten letter opens a mystery of a long-lost romance and undiscovered inheritance which could save its future. Forced to step outside of her predictable world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man’s identity in her great-great-grandmother’s letter. From the nearby grand estate of the Vanderbilts, to a hamlet in Derbyshire, England, Clara seeks to uncover truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Pepper Basham is an award-winning author who writes romance peppered with grace and humor with southern Appalachian flair. Both her historical and contemporary novels have garnered recognition in the Grace Awards, Inspys, and ACFW Carol Awards. Her historical romance, The Thorn Healer, was a finalist in the 2018 RT Awards. Her historical romance novels, My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge and The Red Ribbon, and her contemporary novels, the Mitchell’s Crossroads and Pleasant Gap series, showcase her Appalachian heritage, as well as her love for humor and family. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist to about fifty more, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus.

More from Pepper

Books are a uniquely portable magic – Stephen King

Appalachia is known for having a high illiteracy rate. A place of beautiful scenery and rugged landscapes, the people of the mountains developed stories through oral storytelling much more than “book learning”. As a young girl growing up in this world, I loved hearing my granny share tales from up to five generations ago, filling in the narrative gaps between a birth date and a death date on a tombstone – giving flesh and breath to the stone-etched names.

It’s no surprise then, with a heart cultivated from rich oral stories, I fell in love with reading. Books became that “portable magic” that took me places my little Appalachian community couldn’t provide. I fell in love with the Boxcar Children and Nancy Drew. Wept through the end of Bridge to Terabithia and Old Yeller. Traveled to the plains with Sarah Plain and Tall and fell in love with horses with The Black Stallion. But when I was in seventh grade, I read my very first “British” novel, The Secret Garden. In that one introduction, my world expanded into mysterious English manor houses and British classics. Before long, I’d consumed Jane Eyre, Austen’s classics, some Dickens, Dracula, Frankenstein…and the list goes on! And then…I found Tolkien and Lewis – and the ‘real’ world swelled into OTHER worlds.

I’m grateful for true stories of book-loving pioneers traveling into the world of Appalachia to provide books and literacy training to “my people”, because I know some of those books made their way to my tiny elementary school library…and not only brought me the chance to discover stories, but to write them too!

Isn’t it amazing how books can do that?

In Hope Between the Pages, I wanted to bring the same awe and discovery I felt as a child (and continue to feel as an adult reader) to the story of two people whose words had seemed small. Stories stretched their worlds, but the stories also gave them wonderful imaginations and positive perspectives. It’s still amazing to me that ink-and-paper words can make such a lasting impact on hearts and minds. They can lead us to dream, teach us new things, encourage our hearts, help us to think outside the box, swell our imaginations, broaden our horizons, and encourage our hope.

Books are not a replacement for real adventures and relationships, but they certainly provide a beautiful “door” into other lives and worlds that we may never have a chance to experience in real life. Sadie, my historical heroine, and Clara, my contemporary heroine, both have kept close to home but traveled greatly through books…and BOTH are given the opportunity to reach beyond the bindings to discover real-life adventures. I’d like to think that their love for stories helped them have the courage to step away from the page and into their own tales even more prepared than they would have been without stories.

What are some of your favorite books you read as a child? Did any of them influence you to become a more avid reader?

My Thoughts

Hope Between the Pages by Pepper D. Basham has Clara Blackwell inheriting the families one hundred-year-old bookshop. Unfortunately, to finalize the paperwork, Clara needs to find a copy of the deed. It takes Clara on a journey into the past to learn more about Sadie Blackwell who began the bookshop. Clara’s journey takes her from the Biltmore Estate to England in the hopes of finding the elusive deed. I thoroughly enjoyed reading this split timeline novel. It is well-written with developed characters. It is easy to follow the two storylines with strong female characters. The two storylines are woven seamlessly together into one engaging tale. You can tell the author loves books. There are wonderful descriptions of books, libraries, and bookshops along with great book related quotes. Some wonderful books are referenced. I like that the author had Sadie able to help match people with books. I loved the notes between The Library Fairy and The Book Goblin. They were humorous, sweet, and romantic. Faith and Bible references are knit into the story in a way that enhanced it. My favorite quote from Hope Between the Pages is, “Any story that begins with a library is bound to be one excellent tale.” This is my first time reading this author and it is definitely not my last. Hope Between the Pages is a great escape read. True bibliophiles will enjoy this enchanting story. I am eager to read the next book in the Doors to the Past series when it comes out in June. I hope it is as enticing as this bewitching novel. Hope Between the Pages is a romantic tale that will beguile booklovers.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Pepper is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book. Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click here to enter. Good Luck! Hope Between the Pages is available from Amazon*. You can get a free preview of Hope Between the Pages here. The first book in Doors to the Past series is The Lady in Residence by Allison Pittman. The next Doors to the Past novel is Bridge of Gold by Kimberley Woodhouse which releases June 1. Do not forget to leave a comment for extra entries in the giveaway. The images I used today are of the Biltmore Estate, the Biltmore library, and Bookbinder's in Biltmore Village. I hope you have an uplifting day. I will be back tomorrow with Lemon Drop Dead by Amanda Flower. It is the 7th An Amish Candy Shop Mystery. Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!