Review: DIY for Renters: Don't Call the Landlord by Charles Byers

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

DIY for Renters is a complete repair and maintenance guide for everyone who rents—not owns—their home. It’s designed to help apartment and house renters perform common repairs and upgrades that are economical and safe, and don’t conflict with tenant/landlord agreements. Also included are tips on taking down and removing upgrades when it’s time to move out of the rental unit so you can get your security deposit back in full. Packed with step-by-step instructions, illustrations, and color photos, this book teaches basic repair skills that potential future homeowners can use for the rest of their lives.

Charles Byers, an experienced vocational school educator, shows how to address all the normal maintenance issues that every home encounters, from squeaky doors and floors, wet basements, and replacing light switches to installing ceiling fans, plumbing, heating, and electrical repairs. Byers guides the reader to complete each project as inexpensively and perfectly as possible, using readily available materials from the local home center.

My Review

This is a useful resource for home repair! It covers many basics, including drywall, painting, doors, electrical, plumbing, and large appliances. It was easy to understand, with plenty of photographs demonstrating just what to do. I appreciated that each project was rated with a skill level of basic, semiskilled, or skilled, so the reader can self-assess whether the project would be comfortable for them to complete without assistance. Lots of helpful tips and information provide the reader with the knowledge to handle home repairs with confidence. A great tool for renters!

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: The Beginner's Guide to Hand Building by Sunshine Cobb

My rating: 2 stars / It was okay

Synopsis

Join the home pottery revolution!

Whether you have access to a communal studio or not, hand building projects can travel just about anywhere. Take your clay outside or work at the kitchen table, with instruction from best-selling ceramics author Sunshine Cobb. In this book, you’ll find all the necessary fundamentals, including a thorough discussion of clay as well as helpful tips for keeping your body and mind in top shape. Then pick the path that’s right for you in the chapters that follow.

Develop new skills and unlock your own creativity as you explore:

- Sculptural projects like miniature animals and plants.
- Functional items like scoops, a citrus reamer, and a coffee pour-over vessel.
- Mixed media projects including a candlestick holder, mobile, and a soap dish. 

 

All along the way, skill-building is front and center, with conversational instructions and tips to help you make pieces you’re proud to show off. Gallery work from some of today’s top artists are sure to inspire potters of all levels. What will you make first?

For beginners and those returning to ceramics, the Essential Ceramics Skills series from Quarry Books offer the fundamentals along with fresh, contemporary, and simple projects that build skills progressively.

My Review

This book was interesting, but not what I was expecting. The artist's approach in the Body and Mind section at the beginning was a bit negative, and didn't bring a great vibe for the rest of the book. The technical information was helpful and accurate to what I had learned in my college ceramics classes many years ago. I appreciated the refresher and this part will be the most helpful to beginners. I found the artist's style rough and ready, and her examples and tutorials didn't inspire me with my own ideas. I liked that there are some pages with creations from other artists, and the variety helped showcase a wider range of styles.

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: Mail-Order Mishaps by Susan Page Davis, Linda Ford, Vickie McDonough, Erica Vetsch

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Dreams of Finding Mr. Right Go Wrong in the Old West
 
The Bride’s Dilemma by Susan Page Davis
Eve Martin arrives in Cheyenne to learn that man she came to marry is in jail, accused of a violent murder. Should she get on the next eastbound train, or has God brought her here to help save Caleb Blair’s life?
 
Romancing the Rancher by Linda Ford
Amelia expects a safe home for herself and her niece as mail-order bride to Zach Taggerty. Only Zach has never heard of her, and the last thing he needs is more complications in his life.
 
The Marriage Sham by Vickie McDonough
Mail-order bride Zola Bryant is devastated. Her newlywed husband is dead. But even worse, they were never truly married because the man who wed them was an outlaw not a preacher. What will she do now that her life and reputation are in tatters?
 
The Galway Girl by Erica Vetsch
A mail-order mix-up sends Irish lass Maeve O’Reilly to the Swedish community of Lindsborg, Kansas. Will Kaspar Sandberg consider it a happy accident or a disaster to be rectified as soon as possible?

My Review

The Bride’s Dilemma by Susan Page Davis - 4 stars

I love how determined Eve is to exonerate Caleb, and the way she reaches out to the townspeople to help their friend. A good story but a bit lacking in romance.

Romancing the Rancher by Linda Ford - 4 stars

It was hard to figure out who wrote the letters for Zach, since they were so specific to his family. He quickly sees how Amelia fits right in, bringing hope to his struggling family.

The Marriage Sham by Vickie McDonough - 4 stars

I felt bad for Zola and the way she was betrayed by the man who was supposed to be her husband. The marshal who informed her of his death helped her readjust, and get to know another local man who needed a sweet wife.

The Galway Girl by Erica Vetsch - 5 stars

My favorite story of the collection, opposites Maeve and Will have great chemistry, even though he had a different bride he had been writing. Mishaps and miscommunication cause conflict and worry, but as each character decides who they really want, it all turns out for the best.

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: A Heart Worth Stealing by Joanna Barker

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

Little Sowerby, England, 1802

Miss Genevieve Wilde—a magistrate’s daughter and independent heiress—is determined to meet life’s challenges all on her own, just as her late father had taught her. So when her father’s pocket watch is stolen, she will do anything to get it back, especially when the local authorities prove incompetent.

Upon reading an advertisement in the paper, she takes a chance and contacts a thief-taker to find the watch. It’s a choice Ginny regrets when former Bow Street officer Jack Travers arrives on her doorstep. He is frustratingly flirtatious, irritatingly handsome, and entirely unpredictable, and Ginny wonders if she’ll be able to resist such a man.

But after Ginny discovers that the missing watch is just a small part of a larger, more frightening plot against her, she needs Jack’s help more than ever. To protect her home and her reputation, the two enter into a risky charade—pretending Jack is her cousin so he can begin his investigation, starting with the household staff. As they work together to unravel the mystery, Ginny finds herself falling fast for her charismatic thief-taker, leaving her heart in just as much danger as her life.

My Review

A mystery, plenty of witty banter, and swoony romance made this an unputdownable read! The characters are vibrant, and I loved their interactions and the humor woven in. Jack's undercover role as Ginny's idiot cousin was hilarious, and their bickering over investigative choices put them at odds until they figured out how to work together. The suspense increased as they realize the danger is greater than they believed, and I was glued to the pages as I tried to figure out along with Jack and Ginny the who and why. I adore character-driven romance, and this book was a perfect balance between that and an engaging plot. They added to each other rather than distracting, delivering a perfectly satisfying reading experience!

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 Regency romances by Joanna Barker . . .

Review: Home Sweet Holiday by Michele Paige Holmes

My rating: 4 stars / I really liked it

Synopsis

Nearly four years have passed since Anna Lawrence fled her hometown the same day her best friends broke her heart and she was left at the altar. She’s hardly looked back since, while forging a new and solitary life in Seattle. When duty calls her home, she reluctantly returns to take care of the family store while her parents are away.

Eli Steiner is visiting his late great-grandfather’s estate in Holiday, Alabama, for the first and last time—to see the place he’s inherited and meet the other benefactor of his great-grandfather’s will before turning everything over to her. When the woman he meets is both the same, and very different, from the one in his grandfather’s letters, Eli’s intrigue leads him to stay longer, to uncover the mystery of Anna Lawrence and possibly heal her heart.

My Review

This book continues the dramatic story from the first book but focuses on different characters, so definitely read them in order to get a full understanding of the circumstances. I can see how Anna would have such a hard time forgiving her former best friend and fiancee after their betrayal. She has quite a bit of emotional angst to work through as she returns home since she basically escaped and didn't deal with it before. I appreciated Eli's new presence in her life as she begins again with her history surrounding her. They both have a healing process to go through, and their friendship provides a foundation of support, the perfect start to something deeper! The theme of forgiveness is strong in this story and I was so glad Anna, Bree, and Carson were able to finally find their way back to each other.

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 Holiday Harbor series . . .

Review: Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs by Lisa Tawn Bergren, illustrated by Aleksander Zolotic

My rating: 5 stars / It was amazing

Synopsis

From the creator of the best-selling God Gave Us You comes a warm exploration of the ways parents show affection--and how it mirrors God's affection for his followers.

Parents are always looking out for the perfect bedtime book to create a sense of well-being before a night of rest. Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs explores a child's curiosity about how love is shown between parent and child, with the reassurance that Mama and Papa will always love their little one. And like Lisa Tawn Bergren's young protagonist asks his mother, this question is pressing on the minds of many children:

"Mama, how does God kiss us?"

Mama smiled. "He kisses us a hundred times a day; although if you don't pay attention, you might miss it."

"At night he kisses us with a shooting star. In the morning, he kisses us with sunlight, crawling across the fields and into our windows. On a hot summer afternoon, he kisses us with a gentle breeze. But most of all, he kisses us through our family. That's how God made us. That's why I give you Mama kisses."

My Review

I love the important message of how the affection in our families demonstrates our love for each other, and also reflects God's love for each of us. The high quality illustrations of various animal families are adorable, and children learn that we can see God's love for us in so many ways. This is a book that is fun to read again and again, and would make a wonderful gift!

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.

Blog Tour, Author Interview & Giveaway: Hunted at Christmas by Dana R. Lynn

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Hunted at Christmas by Dana R. Lynn, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Hunted at Christmas
Series: Amish Country Justice
Author: Dana R. Lynn
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Wanted by a bounty hunter. 

 Chased by a killer. 

When single mother Addison Johnson is attacked by a hit man, she learns there’s a price on her head. And Isaiah Bender—the bounty hunter hired to track her down for crimes she didn’t commit—is her only hope for survival. Protecting Addison and her young son from armed assailants means seeking refuge in Amish country. But when their holiday hideout is discovered, can he clear an innocent woman’s name and keep her alive?  

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

Interview with Author Dana R. Lynn

Can you tell us a little about yourself? 

 

Sure! I grew up near Chicago, but moved to rural Pennsylvania after I met my husband at my bet friend’s wedding. He was the best man and I was the maid of honor. We’ve been married for almost 26 years and have 3 children, one daughter and two sons. Our daughter just got married, so I am still reeling from this change. However, we feel so blessed to have our son-in-law joining our family. I love writing stories that contain romance and also allow me to share my love of Jesus. I consider my writing a ministry. It’s been such a blessing in my life.


What do you do besides writing? 

 

I am a full time teacher of the deaf and hard of hearing. I love my job and find it very rewarding. I am also active in my church.


What was your favorite part of researching for this book? 

 

I loved researching bounty hunters. I found out that nearly everything I thought about that job choice was wrong, or at least only a partial truth. I also found it interesting that bounty hunters aren’t legal in all states.


Do you have images you can share that come close to how you picture your characters? Do you like to find visual inspiration for your characters before or during your writing process? 

 

In my mind, my heroine, Addison, resembles a young Emmy Rossum. Think of the movie version of The Phantom of the Opera (2004). I pictured a young Simon Baker as Isaiah. When I begin to think of characters, I search Pinterest to find images of people who best fit my mental image of the character. This helps me when I need to explain how the character looks to the marketing department. I will put an image on my character board so that as I write I can look to it. You’d be amazed how easy it is to forget a character’s eye color once you have several books of characters on your board. This way, instead of remembering, I can look at the image.


What are some songs that you listened to or inspired you while writing your book? 

 

Music is so powerful to me. Some of my favorites for writing included “You Raise Me Up” by Josh Groban, “Remember Your Chains” by Steven Curtis Chapman, “One Small Child” by David Meece and “Breath of Heaven” by Amy Grant. Actually, Christmas music in general was a great muse!


What message would you like readers to ultimately take away from the book? 

 

Out of all the books I’ve published to date, Hunted at Christmas is my favorite. And it’s all because of my hero. Isaiah Bender is somewhat of a prodigal son. He doesn’t realize it, but he is on his journey home. I really felt the theme of reconciliation and forgiveness while writing this book.


What can we look forward to coming from you in the future? 

 

In May, the last Bender sibling will finally get his story! I have had so many readers ask me when Gideon will get his story, so I’m pleased to say Amish Witness to Murder will be out in 2024. Later in 2024, forensic artist Francesca Brown and FBI Special Agent Tanner Hall will work together and find love in Protecting the Amish Child. While I have a few other things in the works, these are the projects with finalized dates. I can’t wait to share these stories with readers!

 

More in This Series

 

more Amish Country Justice series titles

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About the Author

Dana R. Lynn is an award winning author of romantic suspense and Amish romance who believes in the power of God to touch people through stories. Although she grew up in Illinois, she met her husband at a wedding in Pennsylvania and told her parents she had met her future husband. Nineteen months later, they were married. Today, they live in rural Pennsylvania and are entering the world of empty nesters. She is a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by day and writes stories of romance and danger at night. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray with the Steve Laube Agency. Dana is an avid reader, loves cats and thinks chocolate should be a food group.

Connect with Dana by visiting danarlynn.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will win a $10 Amazon gift card, a pen and a mug!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 27, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 4, 2023. 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 for pen & mug. Egift card only in case of CAN winner. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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