Thursday, December 3, 2020

Book Tour & Review: A Castaway in Cornwall by Julie Klassen

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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Synopsis

Laura Callaway daily walks the windswept Cornwall coast, known for many shipwrecks but few survivors. She feels like a castaway, set adrift on the tides of fate by the deaths of her parents and left wanting answers. Now living with her parson uncle and his parsimonious wife in North Cornwall, Laura is viewed as an outsider even as she yearns to belong somewhere again.

When ships sink, wreckers scour the shore for valuables, while Laura searches for clues to the lives lost. She has written letters to loved ones and returned keepsakes to rightful owners. She collects seashells and mementos, and when a man is washed ashore, she collects him too.

As Laura and a neighbor care for the castaway, the mystery surrounding him grows. He has abrasions and a deep cut that looks suspiciously like a knife wound, and he speaks in careful, educated English, yet his accent seems odd. Other clues wash ashore, and Laura soon realizes he is not who he seems to be. Their attraction grows, and while she longs to return the man to his rightful home, evidence against him mounts. With danger pursuing them from every side, will Laura ever find the answers and love she seeks?


My Review

I absolutely loved the moody atmosphere of this book with its Cornish setting and air of mystery. Laura is a character that's easy to sympathize with- she's not in the most ideal circumstances, but she makes the best of it with grace and strength. Her compassion for her elderly neighbor and the genuine friendship they share shows a lot about her personality. As a collector myself, I thought her beach combing was an interesting quirk, and one that led to the rescue of Alexander. One of my favorite storylines is where the heroine nurses the hero back to health, and I particularly enjoyed the friendship and slow romance between Laura and Alexander. The way the details of his life unfolded slowly throughout the book kept me enthralled and the sense of danger added urgency to the plot. This is a book of discovery in more ways than one! Highly recommend!

Disclosure statement: A complimentary copy of this book was provided from a tour group, publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley, OR was borrowed from the library, including OverDrive, OR borrowed from Kindle Unlimited, OR purchased. A review was not required and all views and opinions expressed are unbiased and my own.

 

ADVANCE PRAISE: 

“Klassen (The Bridge to Belle Island) delights with a winsome love story…an entertaining and satisfying romance.”— Publisher’s Weekly

"Danger abounds on the wild Cornwall coast and so does romance. With a perfect blend of intrigue and tender moments, A Castaway in Cornwall is my favorite Klassen title to date."— Michelle Griep, Christy Award-winning author of Once Upon a Dickens Christmas

“I always read Julie Klassen books, and so it's no surprise to me that I really enjoyed this one. Julie is a masterful storyteller and one I hope continues to gain readers from all backgrounds to enjoy the messages she imparts in each story.”— Meghan Lloyd, Lady with a Quill

“Anyone who enjoys a historical romance set in Cornwall will love this story.”—Randi Annie Framnes, Randi Loves 2 Read

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. Her books have sold over a million copies, and she is a three-time recipient of the Christy Award for Historical Romance. The Secret of Pembrooke Park was honored with the Minnesota Book Award for Genre Fiction. Julie has also won the Midwest Book Award and Christian Retailing's BEST Award and has been a finalist in the RITA and Carol Awards. A graduate of the University of Illinois, Julie worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. She and her husband have two sons and live in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota.

 

 

WEBSITE | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST | INSTAGRAM

 | BOOKBUB | WIKIPEDIA | GOODREADS

  

Join the virtual blog tour of A CASTAWAY IN CORNWALL, bestselling author Julie Klassen’s highly acclaimed new historical romance novel, November 30 – December 6, 2020, 2020. Thirteen popular blogs specializing in historical romance, inspirational fiction, and Austenesque fiction will join in the celebration of its release with reviews of this new Regency-era novel set in Cornwall, England.

BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE: 

Nov 30           Austenprose—A Jane Austen Blog

Dec 01           Bookfoolery

Dec 01           The Green Mockingbird

Dec 02           Cracking the Cover

Dec 02           Relz Reviewz

Dec 02           Lu's Reviews

Dec 03           Bookworm Lisa

Dec 03           Among the Reads

Dec 03           Heidi Reads

Dec 04           Austenesque Reviews

Dec 04           Wishful Endings

Dec 05           The Christian Fiction Girl

Dec 06           Christian Chick's Thoughts



Book Tour, Excerpt & Giveaway: Montana Wedding by Cari Lynn Webb #MWPrism

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Montana Wedding
(The Blackwell Sisters #5)
By Cari Lynn Webb
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
December 1, 2020 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Can a fake date

Become the real deal?


Triplet Georgie Harrison will do anything to keep her family—including her newfound Blackwell relatives—from worrying about her. Which is exactly why she’s enlisted way-too-charming rodeo cowboy Zach Evans to be her fake boyfriend for her sister’s Montana ranch wedding. The problem is that Georgie’s not just tempted to fall for her own ruse…she’s also falling hard for the roguish cowboy she can never have.

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

The Blackwell Sisters
Book 1: Montana Welcome by Melinda Curtis
Book 2: Montana Wishes by Amy Vastine
Book 3: Montana Dreams by Anna J. Stewart
Book 4: Montana Match by Carol Ross
Book 5: Montana Wedding by Cari Lynn Webb

(Affiliate links included.)

Excerpt

“Georgie, you want to come with us?” Grace asked.

Georgie shook her head. “I think I’ll stay and explore, if you don’t mind.”

Zach minded. Very much. He’d be alone with Georgie. Again. And every time he was alone with her, he spilled more truths. Revealed parts of his life he’d never wanted to share. Every time he was alone with Georgie, the lines blurred, and he forgot he was only supposed to be pretending to like her.

“Stay and enjoy, you two.” Dorothy tucked her scarf inside her jacket.

“I’ll let you know if I find any treasures,” Georgie said.

“If you do, it’s yours for the effort,” Dorothy said.

The women stepped outside, and the barn doors closed.

Georgie spun in a slow circle. “Where should we start?”

With me taking your hand. Pulling you into my arms... Zach coughed. “I’m going to check the ATV for tools, a tape measure.” And something to disconnect his unwise attraction to Georgie.

 


About the Author


Cari Lynn Webb lives in South Carolina with her husband, daughters and assorted four-legged family members. She's been blessed to see the power of true love in her grandparent's 70 year marriage and her parent's marriage of over 50 years. She knows love isn't always sweet and perfect, it can be challenging, complicated and risky. But she believes happily-ever-afters are worth fighting for. She loves to connect with readers. Visit her at her website.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive a $50 Amazon gift card and a Christmas goodie bag to include holiday books, an ornament and candy (US only)

Ends December 11, 2020

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Tuesday, December 1, 2020

Fantasy & Sci-fi for Christmas: Armor of Aletheia by Ralene Burke #FantasyforChristmas20

On tour with Prism Book Tours

Armor of Aletheia
(Sacred Armor Trilogy #1)
By Ralene Burke
YA Fantasy, Christian
Paperback & ebook, 268 Pages
August 29th 2018 by Elk Lake Publishing Inc.

The death of her king changes Karina’s life forever. Fleeing the royal house, she must leave her life behind to seek out the Armor of the Creator—to save the very people who now hunt her.

Faramos, the evil warlock waiting to unleash hell, knows the Creator has already chosen his warrior, so he sends his bounty hunter to retrieve her. After Tristan abducts her, he witnesses Karina’s gentle nature and strong independence, and he finds he can’t complete his assignment.

Together, they set out to retrieve the armor and defeat the hordes of creatures sent to destroy them. But is Tristan’s heart secure as he faces certain death for defending the queen? And will Karina have the courage to become all the Creator intends her to be? Failure will condemn the world to eternal darkness.

(Affiliate link included.)

Excerpt

The bridge was gone.

Karina sat down on a rock at the edge of the Continental River. She was tired. And sore. And now this. “What do we do?”

Tristan squatted by the riverbank, staring at the other side. He tilted his face toward the mid-afternoon sun. “River’s shallow enough here to cross without a bridge.”

“But the water’s freezing!”

He shrugged. “We can take off our shoes and stockings. You can also remove whatever clothes you’d like to keep dry.”

She scowled, not bothering to respond—especially when he smirked. “When we’re on the other side, our footwear will be dry, and the stockings will warm our feet quickly.”

He couldn’t be serious, could he?

“It will not be that bad, child.” Dom nuzzled her shoulder with his nose.

Tristan knelt to remove his shoes. Karina pursed her lips, biting back derisive comments. She was thankful for the warm sun. Back in Calliope, the snow would begin to melt as green grass poked through the winter-hardened earth. The Ice Plains never melted, though. The cold northern oceans kept the top iced over year-round.

She sighed as she unlaced her dusty boots. They tied their shoes together and slung them around their necks. Tristan grabbed Dom’s reins and then nodded to Karina. “Ready?”

“No.”

He stepped into the river. The rushing water only came up to his knees, which wasn’t too bad for him since he had rolled up his pant legs.

Karina looked down at her formfi­tting leather pants. No way to roll them up. She sucked in a breath of determination. Oh, well, they needed a good washing anyway. At the riverbank, she stuck a toe in the water, then yanked it back out. “It’s too cold!”

Tristan smirked. “You’ll live.”

She took a de­fiant step into the water. The cold seeped into her skin— like tiny needles stabbing her over and over. “If I make it out of this alive,” she muttered, “I’m sending the Aletheian army after you for making me do this.”

“What was that?” Tristan glanced over his shoulder.

“Nothing.” She slid one foot in front of the other. “Nothing at all. This is great. Really. I—”

Something slimy slid around her ankle—and wrenched her into the water.

Excerpted from Armor of Aletheia by Ralene Burke. Copyright © Ralene Burke. Published by Elk Lake Publishing Inc.

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to an Amazon affiliate link.)
 
About the Author


Whether she’s wielding a fantasy author’s pen, a social media wand, or a freelance editor’s sword, Ralene Burke always has her head in some dreamer’s world. And her goal is to help everyone #SHINEBeyond their circumstances! Her fantasy novels are available on Amazon.

When her head’s not in the publishing world, she is wife to a veteran and homeschooling mama to their three kids. Her Pinterest board would have you believe she is a master chef, excellent seamstress, and all-around crafty diva. If she only had the time . . . You can also find her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or at her website.


Tour Schedule
(Posts go live on the day they're scheduled.)

November 29th: Launch
November 30th: R.J. Anderson – Swift
December 1st: Ralene Burke – Armor of Aletheia
December 2nd: Michelle Diener – Breakaway
December 3rd: Sandra Fernandez Rhoads – Mortal Sight
December 4th: J.M. Hackman – Burn
December 5th: Sharon Hinck – Forsaken Island
December 6th: Ronie Kendig – Dawn of Vengeance
December 7th: Carla Laureano – Oath of the Brotherhood
December 8th: Belle Malory – Deviant Descendants
December 9th: Sara Schaller – The Genesis of Seven
December 10th: Jennifer Silverwood – Stay
December 11th: Anne Wheeler – Treason’s Crown
December 12th: Melissa Wright – Between Ink and Shadows
December 13th: Morgan Wylie –  Silent Orchids
December 14th: Kristen Young – Apprentice
December 15th: Grand Finale

Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive a $75 (USD) Amazon eGift Card

Open internationally
Ends December 19, 2020

ENTER HERE
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