Monday, April 12, 2021

Book Tour & Giveaway: Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham

Hope Between the Pages JustRead Takeover Tour

Welcome to the Takeover Tour for Hope Between the Pages by Pepper Basham, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hope Between the PagesTitle: Hope Between the Pages
Series: Doors to the Past
Author: Pepper Basham
Publisher: Barbour Books
Release Date: April 1, 2021
Genre: Christian, Split Time romance

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

Walk through Doors to the Past via a new series of historical stories of romance and adventure. 

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 the truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & NobleBook Depository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Pepper Basham

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.

CONNECT WITH PEPPER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Hope Between the Pages and a $15 Amazon gift card!

Hope Between the Pages JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 12, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 19, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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Friday, April 9, 2021

Review: Timeless Victorian Collection: A Gentlewoman Scholar by Sarah M. Eden, Michele Paige Holmes, Nancy Campbell Allen



My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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Synopsis

Three women scholars. Three lives changed. And a dash of romance.

Blessing in Disguise by Sarah M. Eden
Fred Fitzsimmons will soon graduate Trinity College. With only a few weeks, he must continue safeguarding the enormous secret he’s been keeping throughout his time in Dublin: that he is actually Winnifred, a woman in disguise. The medical degree she is a breath away from claiming would allow her to save her beloved village. But having her secret revealed would land her in jail. So when Liam Rafferty, a fellow student with a reputation for unravelling even the most complicated of mysteries, grows suspicious of “Fred,” more lives than merely hers hang in the balance.

An Unexpected Education by Michele Paige Holmes
Nineteen-year-old Esther Sessions has survived the slums of Liverpool, and her abusive home, by holding onto a promise she made to her dying mother long ago--to keep reading. When a factory explosion frees her from her oppressive life and provides an opportunity to attend Bedford Women's College in London, Esther determines to succeed at school, knowing her education will ensure a future in which she might provide for herself and never be dependent upon any man. From the first moments of her arrival, Professor John Lind begins challenging her beliefs about everything from classical literature to algebra to--men. His kindness is something she has never encountered in a man before, and the generosity of his heart might just reach through the barriers surrounding Esther's.

Good Heir Hunting by Nancy Campbell Allen
Ellie Perkins has achieved her dream of establishing her own Kindergarten school to serve the needs of Liverpool's orphans. As a woman who has graduated from college and pursued a career, she has faced opposition and contention from all sides. Her first year is a success, however, and as she begins the second, she is caught by surprise when her newest hire marries and moves away, leaving a class of orphans without a teacher. Solicitor Graham Lucas, meanwhile, appears on her school doorstep, having narrowed a search for his employer's heir to one of the students in the now teacher-less class. Ellie sees a temporary fix to her problem that will benefit both her and the handsome solicitor. Graham will substitute the kindergarten class, while Ellie searches for a replacement. Unbeknownst to them all, however, is the lurking presence of a jealous relative who covets the young heir's position, and who will stop at nothing to take his place. Also at risk is Ellie's heart and hard-won career. Can she truly take a chance on a handsome substitute teacher bent on winning her love?


My Review

I thoroughly enjoyed each of these stories! A "bluestocking" is one of my favorite types of characters, and the ones in this collection were delightfully quirky and strong. It fills me with gratitude to think of the women (and men) who were ground breakers and advocates for higher education for women and the sacrifices they made and the path they paved for future generations. I hope to never take them for granted! While study and education is a main theme, there is also a delightful dose of sweet romance with true gentlemen who are encouraging and supportive of their endeavors. My vote for best kiss goes to the last story, Good Heir Hunting by Nancy Campbell Allen- who utilized the romantic potential of a room full of books! ;)

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.




Review: Flight of the Earls by Michael K. Reynolds


My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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Synopsis

It’s 1846 in Ireland. When her family’s small farm is struck by famine, Clare Hanley and her younger brother, Seamus, set out across the ocean to the Promised Land of America.

Five years prior, Clare’s older sister Margaret and her Uncle Tomas emigrated in similar fashion and were not to be heard from again. But Clare must face her fears as she lands in the coming-of-age city of New York. There she discovers love, adventure, tragedy, and a terrible secret which threatens to destroy her family and all she believes.

Flight of the Earls is the first book in a historical novel trilogy based on Irish immigration in the 1840s.


My Review

I'm having a hard time wrapping my mind around the journey I was just on as I finished this book. Such rich and nuanced storytelling with the amazingly unbelievable yet true details from a century ago. I was drawn into the plight of the Hanley family with the proud father and children struggling at the onset of the Potato Famine. Clare's adventure with her brother and neighbor is beset with misfortune and yet there are those along the way who assist them and show the goodness of humanity. Their time in New York reminded me a bit of the movie Far and Away, and it was easy to envision the infamous Five Points area rampant with corruption and destitution. Clare's dedication to her family stays strong even through the ups and downs, the revelations that leave her reeling, and the winding path that brings her in contact with a wide variety of characters that each leave their mark on the reader. The book is both epic and sweeping, without losing the feeling of intimacy and connection with the main characters of Clare and Seamus. I began the book with curiosity but grew enthralled and felt immediately transported each time I picked it up. It's light on romance until the last quarter of the book but I thought it fit in well, although I wouldn't have minded more scenes with the relationship development. It wraps up nicely with the conclusion while still leaving a thread open for the continuing series. Highly recommend to fans of historical fiction! 

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.



 
Check out the next books in the Heirs of Ireland trilogy. . .





Review: Wrong Train to Paris by Jennifer Moore



My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

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Synopsis

At nineteen years of age, Julia Weston fancies herself a capable woman, far too old to require a traveling companion. But at the insistence of her overprotective father, Julia finds herself aboard the Orient Express in the care of an approved escort. In an ill-advised demonstration of independence, Julia leaves the train on a quick errand and then re-boards and sleeps away her exhaustion. Upon awakening, however, she realizes her plan went terribly awry: she boarded the wrong train and is now stranded alone in the French countryside of Provence.

Now she must rely on the help of Luc Paquet, a young French farmer who offers her accommodations with his aunt while Julia awaits the next train to Paris in five days’ time. As she settles into the rhythms of the household alongside Luc and his aunt, Julia learns more than she ever dreamed she would about France, farm life, and her handsome rescuer. There is more to Luc than meets the eye, and their chemistry is undeniable. But Julia and Luc are from different worlds, and all too soon, the train will bear Julia back to a life that suddenly feels incomplete.


My Review

I loved the character development in this one! Julia feels experienced and grown up, but when she finds herself in unfamiliar circumstances, she learns some hard lessons. I admired that she could quickly turn things around and make the best of it. Luc is focused on his land and propagating olive trees, but Julia shakes up his life rather unceremoniously with one thing after another. He is unbelievably patient, although his feelings of frustration slip through occasionally. I loved his aunt and how she bonded with Julia and made her feel welcome and needed. I felt immersed in the setting of the French countryside and it made the reading experience so lovely. The romance kind of sneaks up on Luc and Julia, and it was fun to see them a little shy but definitely interested. I was curious to see how their two worlds would merge when they are so different, and I thought the author accomplished it perfectly.

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.



Don't miss the other books in the Romance on the Orient Express series . . . 




Thursday, April 8, 2021

Book Tour, Review & Giveaway: Until Vienna by Heather B. Moore



My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

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Synopsis

Georgina Ballard has been disappointed in love more than a few times, a fact that she is uncomfortably aware of amid her sister’s wedding preparations. When her elderly aunt Rowena bids Gigi to accompany her on an art tour across Europe, Gigi hesitates but eventually resigns herself to the train journey alongside a group of aged art connoisseurs, if only to mollify her aunt.

Once aboard the Orient Express, Gigi is pleased to discover that not everyone on the tour is in their twilight years: Clyde Haskins, an energetic young art professor from the University of London, will serve as the group’s tour guide. Clyde is equally intrigued that a young lady has joined the tour, and Aunt Rowena and her friends immediately set out to play matchmaker. Clyde and Gigi both find humor in Aunt Rowena’s antics despite knowing that each is determined to keep their heart carefully guarded. Yet, the enchantment of their European exploration weaves an undeniable spell between them. When their journey ends, can their holiday love story endure the obstacles of real life?


My Review

This is a sweet and gentle story with bits of adventure along the way. Gigi is out of her element on the "seniors" tour with her aunt and aunt's friends, but Clyde and Gigi quickly become friends and vow to remain just friends in spite of her aunt's hopes for something more. The details of the tour stops were interesting and it reminded me of the spirit of discovery when I took my first trip to Europe a few years ago. Secrets and issues from Clyde and Gigi's previous relationships bring some drama and angst, but the foundation of friendship they develop continues right along the path to love. I especially liked how Gigi and Aunt Rowena connected in new ways and became closer as a result of their travel and care for each other. An enjoyable addition to the Romance on the Orient Express series!

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.

 Click here to read a preview of the first three chapters! 


Don't miss the other books in the Romance on the Orient Express series . . . 



GIVEAWAY

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Book Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway: In Your Eyes by Jayne Townsley

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

In Your Eyes
(Seasons of Love #2)
By Jayne Townsley
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 127 Pages
January 5, 2021

Crystal Davis got her wish for the Crew’s long-awaited post-graduation trip. Sun and fun before focusing on her new career as a pediatric RN at St. Francis’ Children’s Hospital in Tulsa, Oklahoma, was just what she needed. Bonus? She met Troy Bennett, and she realized she wanted less frivolity in her life and a little more serious.

Troy Bennett is a man fighting the demons who tell him he is worthless every day of his life. Demons his mother conjured. He quiets them with alcohol and casual relationships, never allowing any woman to get close enough to him so he will never have to disappoint one. Then on the spur of the moment trip to Panama City Beach with his Ranger buddies, he sees the future he’s always been afraid to pursue exit a Jeep Wrangler at a local donut shop.

Just as Troy and Crystal are finding their footing, she gets the call she never thought she would earn: Crystal Davis is going to Hollywood to be a contestant on America’s Next Chart Topper. What started as a way to honor her murdered friend has now become her dream. Chasing her dream means leaving Troy behind for a bit, and she wonders if her absence will cause what they’ve built so far to come crashing down.

Chasing her dream also means she’s put herself in a place where she’s vulnerable to the side of Hollywood that no one wants to acknowledge. A place where people only care about her and Troy’s story for the audience while behind the scenes, evil, selfish people work to tear them apart.

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Guest Post from author Jayne Townsley

Hitting Publish

It all started on a rainy night…no, scratch that. It didn’t. Almost five years ago, the country was too divisive, and I was overwhelmed by all the ‘stuff’ on social media. I took a social media break and deleted all my accounts. The problem was, I enjoyed entering sweepstakes, and you have more chances to win if you have social media accounts. What to do, what to do?

I hit upon the marvelous idea of creating social media accounts devoid of anything personal. They would strictly be for entering sweepstakes. That decision led to finding all the indie book authors on Facebook and their groups. I had recently gotten a Kindle, and as an avid reader, I was devouring these indie short stories. Sometimes 2 or 3 a day.

Kindle suggested an author named P. Jameson, who had a paranormal series set in Joplin, Missouri. I used to live there, so I was very interested. The Ozark Shifter series led me down the paranormal shifter rabbit hole, and I discovered TS Joyce. I cannot adequately put into words, verbal or written, how much her books meant to me at that time and still do. It comes out like gibberish. I read everything by her I could find and then got involved with her book groups. I began attending book signing events and joined other Facebook groups that focused on self-published indie authors.

In a group focusing on premade covers, an artist posted a graphic of a woman walking on a beach with shoes in her hands. This cover reminded me of Blake Shelton’s song Sangria, which reminded me of my honeymoon in Panama City Beach, which reminded me,…you see how this goes? And Run to You, Book 1 in the series, was born.

I put it on the shelf for four years due to some chaos, and then COVID came along. While it’s been challenging in many ways, for my family, it has birthed new opportunities. In August, I watched the documentary The Last Dance, which told Michael Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls. I consider myself a native Chicagoan even though I am, in all reality, a former suburbanite. I was there for the 90s. I went in for the nostalgia and to remember good times and shut out the negative and came out of it with a purpose to ‘Be Like Mike.’

No, not a GOAT NBA player. But to find my passion and put everything I had into it. To ignore the naysayers and use all negativity as fuel for me to chase my dreams. I picked up Run to You again in August, and here we are. I’ve published two books in the series, and book 3 is right around the corner.

And the ride isn’t over. Good things are coming.

 

Other Books in the Series

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About the Author


Jayne Townsley lives with her multi-generational family in Northeast Oklahoma's aptly named Green Country. A transplanted Okie from the Chicago suburbs, she has grown to love this state and its people with a passion, happily calling it home for the past 15 years.

Jayne shares her home with a rescued Shollie named Maui and two cats called Gamora and Nebula. 

Jayne enjoys old-fashioned road trips and is in the process of planning one to tour Oklahoma's Route 66. 

She is also something of a Disney World addict.


Tour Schedule


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive their choice of $15 in products from the Solid Rock Soap Company and a signed paperback copy of In Your Eyes (US only)

Ends April 14, 2021

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