I Can't Wait for... Return of the Thief by Megan Whalen Turner (Can't-Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday) #CWW #WOW


Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted here, at Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine. If you're continuing with WOW, feel free to link those up as well! Find out more here.

I read The Thief ages ago, before I even started blogging. I then proceeded to read all the books and was a bit disappointed when there weren't more. Then seven years later, in 2017, Thick as Thieves is published. This is the final book in the series and I'm definitely looking forward to it! It's my pick this week...

Return of the Thief
(Queen's Thief #6)
By Megan Whalen Turner
YA Fantasy
Hardcover, Audiobook & ebook, 352 Pages
October 6, 2020 by Greenwillow Books 

Summary

The thrilling, twenty-years-in-the-making conclusion to the New York Times–bestselling Queen’s Thief series by Megan Whalen Turner.

This beloved and award-winning series began with the acclaimed novel The Thief. It and four more stand-alone volumes bring to life a world of epics, myths, and legends, and feature one of the most charismatic and incorrigible characters of fiction, Eugenides the thief. Now more powerful and cunning than ever before, Eugenides must navigate a perilous future in this sweeping conclusion. Perfect for fans of Leigh Bardugo, Marie Lu, Patrick Rothfuss, and Sarah J. Maas.

Neither accepted nor beloved, Eugenides is the uneasy linchpin of a truce on the Lesser Peninsula, where he has risen to be high king of Attolia, Eddis, and Sounis. As the treacherous Baron Erondites schemes anew and a prophecy appears to foretell the death of the king, the ruthless Mede empire prepares to strike.

The New York Times–bestselling Queen’s Thief novels are rich with political machinations, divine intervention, dangerous journeys, battles lost and won, power, passion, and deception. Features a cast list of the characters in the Queen’s Thief novels, as well as two maps—a map of the world of the Queen’s Thief, and a map exclusive to this edition. 

(Affiliate links included.)


Will you be reading this one?

Check out an interview with the author... The Crow Rider by Kalyn Josephson (Interview & #Giveaway) @The_FFBC


Welcome to my tour stop! Check out an interview with the author and enter the giveaway below...

The Crow Rider
YA Fantasy
Hardcover, Audiobook & ebook, 352 Pages
July 7, 2020 by Sourcebooks Fire

Summary

Princess Thia, her allies, and her crow, Res, are planning a rebellion to defeat Queen Razel and Illucia once and for all. Thia must convince the neighboring kingdoms to come to her aid, and Res’s show of strength is the only thing that can help her. 

But so many obstacles stand in her way. Res excels at his training, until he loses control of his magic, harming Thia in the process. She is also pursued by Prince Ericen, heir to the Illucian throne and the one person she can’t trust but can’t seem to stay away from. 

As the rebel group prepares for war, Res’s magic grows more unstable. Thia has to decide if she can rely on herself and their bond enough to lead the rebellion and become the crow rider she was meant to be. 

(Affiliate links included.)

Interview

For those new to the Storm Crow duology, what should they know?

Book one is very character focused, with a slower pace meant to reflect the MC’s struggle with depression. Book two continues that struggle, but transfers the focus to a worldwide political struggle and war, so it’s much more fast-paced and action-packed!

Did you face different challenges in writing book two, THE CROW RIDER, than you faced writing the first book?

Oh definitely. I’d set a lot of rules, timelines, and worldbuilding down in book 1 that I had to abide by in book 2, which not only limited a lot of what I could do, but required a lot of fact checking to make sure I was staying consistent with myself. I also went back and forth on a lot of endings for different characters, ensuring they were both satisfying and fitting for those character’s arcs.

What do you think the pros and cons of writing a dulogy versus a trilogy or longer series are?

With longer series, you get to go a lot bigger and deeper on the worldbuilding, which is my favorite part of writing. But the downside is you have to keep your character arcs and plot points fresh and engaging, and that’s harder to do the more real estate you have to fill. Plus, publishing a trilogy can take 3-4 years. That’s a long time to spend in one world.

Which character do you most relate to and why?

That’s tough! There’s pieces of me in all my characters. I relate to Thia’s desire for everyone to just be friends, Kiva’s caustic sarcasm, and Caylus’s love of baking, tea, and quiet places to read books.

When you reach for a book to read, what genre do you grab and what are some of your favorites in that genre?

Fantasy for sure. THE TETHERED MAGE by Melissa Caruso and NINTH HOUSE by Leigh Bardugo are two of my recent favorites.

What’s one of your hobbies or something we might not know about you?

I love baking bread! I find kneading and shaping dough super relaxing, not to mention getting to eat all the bread.

Pre-Order Campaign

If people who pre-order The Crow Rider submit their receipts, they can choose a bonus scene from either Kiva or Ericen's POV, and be entered to win a TSC bookmark + character cards. Open US and CAN only. 


Also, if they order The Storm Crow (hardcover OR paperback) or The Crow Rider from Kaylyn’s local indie store, Keplers Books, before July 7th they can get a signed, personalized copy. Readers need to say in the order comments if they wanted it personalized through.


Other Books in the Series

The Storm Crow
(The Storm Crow, #1)
By Kalyn Josephson
YA Fantasy
Hardcover, Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 400 Pages
July 9, 2019 by Sourcebooks Fire

Summary

"Clashing kingdoms, thrilling action, and an imperfect heroine make this book a must-read."―ADRIENNE YOUNG, New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep and The Girl the Sea Gave Back

Eragon meets And I Darken in this thrilling new fantasy debut that follows a fallen princess as she ignites a rebellion to bring back the magical elemental crows that were taken from her people.

Thia was born to be a crow rider.

In her kingdom of Rhodaire, magical elemental crows are what keeps the city running. For her entire life Thia has known she will hatch a crow, train, and become a rider―a warrior.

But when the Illucian empire invades in a calculated attack, they kill all the crows and destroy the eggs in a horrible fire that also robs Thia of her mother and mentor.

When her sister, Caliza, becomes the new queen of Rhodaire, she is forced to agree to a marriage between Thia and the Illucian heir in an effort to save her people. Prince Ericen is rude and cruel and Thia can't imagine traveling into the heart of an enemy city after so much has been taken from her.

But before she leaves, she finds a crow egg in the rubble of the rookery. Deep in the heart of Ilucia she must hatch the last crow, hold her own against the crown prince, and ignite a rebellion to take back what is hers.

"Dragon fans should get ready for their next favorite creature. I loved this."―JESSICA CLUESS, author of A Shadow Bright and Burning

Indigo's best YA books of 2019
B&N's best YA books of July 2019
Goodread's most popular 2019 debuts

(Affiliate links included.)

About the Author


Kalyn Josephson currently works as a Technical Writer in the tech industry, which leaves room for too many bad puns about technically being a writer. Though she grew up in San Luis Obispo, California, she graduated from Santa Clara University with a degree in Biology and a degree in English (Creative Writing). Currently, she lives in the Bay Area with four awesome friends (because it’s the Bay Area and she’d like to be able to retire one day) and two black cats (who are more like a tiny dragon and an ever tinier owl). THE STORM CROW is her debut novel.


Tour Schedule
Tour-Wide Giveaway

Win (1) a (signed) copy of THE STORM CROW and a (signed) copy of THE CROW RIDER by Kaylyn Josephson (INT)
Ends July 7, 2020


What did you like about the interview? Did you read the first book in this series and will you be reading this one?

Read an excerpt from Never an Amish Bride by Ophelia London (Excerpt & #Giveaway) @justreadtours


Welcome to my tour stop hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
Read an excerpt and enter the tour giveaway below...

Never an Amish Bride
(Honey Brook, #1)
By Ophelia London
Amish Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, ? Pages
June 20, 2020 by Entangled: Amara

Summary

Welcome to charming Honey Brook, Pennsylvania, where bestselling author Ophelia London will bring you on a moving and unforgettable journey through faith, forgiveness, and ultimately love. 

Everything changed for Esther Miller with the death of her beloved fiancé, Jacob. Even years later, she still struggles with her faith and purpose in the small, tight-knit Amish village of Honey Brook—especially now that her younger sister is getting married. All she wants is to trust in the Lord to help her find peace...but peace is the last thing she gets when Lucas, Jacob’s wayward older brother, returns to town. 

Lucas Brenneman has been harboring a secret for years—the real reason he never returned from Rumspringa and the truth behind his brother Jacob’s death. Honey Brook still calls to him, but he knows his occupation as a physician’s assistant must take precedence. With sweet and beautiful Esther he finds a comfort he’s never known, and he feels like anything is possible...even forgiveness. But she was Jacob’s bride-to-be first. And if she knew the truth, would she ever truly open her heart to him? 

USA Today bestselling author Ophelia London brings a sweet, heartfelt, and surprisingly funny take to the popular Amish romance cannon. 

(Affiliate links included.)

Excerpt

“You’re beautiful.” 

Lucas’s words made her look at him. Tenderness filled his light brown eyes. He tipped his head to the side as if examining her from a new angle. Esther felt a silly, romantic flutter in her tummy as his gaze seemed to slide over her. 

“And you’re stubborn and kind,” he continued. 

“Lucas,” she said, knowing her throat, cheeks, and ears were probably bright red. “You’ve made me feel good about myself again, about other people, and maybe about the whole world in general. I’m happier now, more at peace, and I like myself better these days.” 

Hearing his words spoken with such boldness should’ve made Esther shy and embarrassed, but somehow, she felt more connected to the earth, anchored to her beliefs in a celestial power, attached to the man sitting across from her. 

“And now,” Lucas continued, “I don’t feel nervous about doing this.” Like it was nothing, he scooped up her hand, intertwining their fingers When he gave a gentle squeeze, tiny pinpricks traveled up and down Esther’s neck, his nearness making it harder to breathe quietly. 

“Lucas,” she said around the lump in her throat, “you’re so…well, you’re so very…” 

Wonderful, she tried to say. And giving and patient and such a good listener. And handsome. And when you look at me like you are right now, I want to…

“You like me, too,” he said, smiling when she couldn’t finish the sentence. “That’s all I need to know now.” 

“Jah. I like you.” The understated words made her laugh. 

He sighed, then lifted his other hand. Without needing instructions, Esther reached out and took it, butterflies and bluebirds and angels flying circles around her heart. 

“We’re supposed to be having a picnic,” he said, pulling back a corner of his mouth into a crooked grin. 

“Chicken, cheese, and pickle sandwiches,” Esther replied, wanting to freeze this moment forever. “And freshly baked sticky buns.” 

“Yum.” When Lucas ran his tongue over his lips, Esther felt like a fire had lit inside her core. 

“We should, um, eat now,” she said. “Don’t you think?” 

Lucas slowly shook his head, that grin growing. “Not until I do this.” He lifted one set of their hands, drawing the back of her hand to his mouth, giving it a short, soft kiss. 

A dazzling chill ran up her spine, circling and whirling on the way down, making her feel almost faint. “Lucas,” she whispered. 

“Luke,” he corrected. 

She smiled, blinking her eyelashes. “Luke.” 

“It’s what the closest people in my life call me.” 

The only thing she could do was squeeze his hand, hoping that would prompt him to kiss it again—the delicious sensation still pushing through her body. 

“Shall we start with dessert?” 

“What?” 

He raised an eyebrow. “The sticky buns. We should eat them first if they’re still warm.” A moment later, both her hands were free, and Luke was dragging the picnic basket over to her. 

Esther knew she couldn’t just sit there like a little girl daydreaming about her handsome prince, but somehow, she couldn’t get herself to move.

About the Author


USA Today bestselling author Ophelia London was born and raised among the redwood trees in beautiful northern California. Once she was fully educated, she decided to settle in Florida, but her car broke down in Texas, and she’s lived in Dallas ever since. She enjoys cupcakes, treadmills, reruns of Dawson’s Creek and obsessing over her Italian Greyhound, Peanut. Ophelia is the author of NEVER AN AMISH BRIDE, her very first Amish romance! As wells as the Sugar City series, the Perfect Kisses series, the Abby Road series, and other adult, NA and YA sweet romances. 


Tour Schedule

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

Tour-Wide Giveaway


(1) winner will receive a $20 Amazon Gift Card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight June 30, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on July 7, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Void where prohibited by law or logistics. 

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.


What did you think of the excerpt? Do you enjoy Amish romance?

Read an excerpt from She's Faking It by Kristin Rockaway #HarlequinBooks


Welcome to my tour stop with Harlequin's Imprints for summer women's fiction
and romance! You can read an excerpt from this new contemporary romance below...

She's Faking It
By Kristin Rockaway
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback, Audiobook & ebook, 384 Pages
June 30, 2020 by Graydon House Books

Summary

You can’t put a filter on reality.

Bree Bozeman isn’t exactly pursuing the life of her dreams. Then again, she isn’t too sure what those dreams are. After dropping out of college, she’s living a pretty chill life in the surf community of Pacific Beach, San Diego…if “chill” means delivering food as a GrubGetter, and if it means “uneventful”.

But when Bree starts a new Instagram account — @breebythesea — one of her posts gets a signal boost from none other than wildly popular self-help guru Demi DiPalma, owner of a lifestyle brand empire. Suddenly, Bree just might be a rising star in the world of Instagram influencing. Is this the direction her life has been lacking? It’s not a career choice she’d ever seriously considered, but maybe it’s a sign from the universe. After all, Demi’s the real deal… right?

Everything is lining up for Bree: life goals, career, and even a blossoming romance with the chiseled guy next door, surf star Trey Cantu. But things are about to go sideways fast, and even the perfect filter’s not gonna fix it. Instagram might be free, but when your life looks flawless on camera, what’s the cost?

(Affiliate links included.)

Excerpt


From Chapter Two

“Don’t these books make your purse really heavy? There’s gotta be some app where you can store all this information.”

“Studies show you’re more likely to remember things you’ve written by hand, with physical pen and paper.” She reached across my lap and opened the glove compartment, removing a notebook with an antiqued photograph of a vintage luxury car printed on the cover. “For example, this is my auto maintenance log. Maybe if you’d kept one of these, like I told you to, we wouldn’t be in this predicament right now.”

I loved Natasha, I really did. She was responsible and generous, and without her I’d likely be far worse off than I already was, which was a horrifying thought to consider. But at times like this, I wanted to grab her by the shoulders and shake the shit out of her.

“A maintenance log wouldn’t have helped me.”

“Yes, it would have. Organization is about more than decluttering your home. It’s about decluttering your mind. Making lists, keeping records—these are all ways to help you get your life in order. If you’d had a maintenance log, this problem wouldn’t have caught you off guard in the middle of your delivery shift. You’d have seen it coming, and—”

“I saw it coming.”

“What?”

“This didn’t catch me off guard. The check engine light came on two weeks ago.” Or maybe it was three.

“Then why didn’t you take it to the mechanic?” She blinked, genuinely confused. Everything was so cut-and dried with her. When a car needed to be serviced, of course you called the mechanic.

That is, if you could afford to pay the repair bill.

Fortunately, she put two and two together without making me say it out loud. “Oh,” she murmured, then bit her lip. I could almost hear the squeak and clank of wheels turning in her head as she tried to piece together the solution to this problem. No doubt it included me setting up a journal or logbook of some sort, though we both knew that would be pointless. The last time she’d tried to set me up with a weekly budget planner, I gave up on day two, when I realized I could GrubGetter around the clock for the rest of my life and still never make enough money to get current on the payments for my student loans. You know, for that degree I’d never finished.

But Natasha was a determined problem solver. It said so in her business bio: “Natasha DeAngelis, Certified Professional Organizer®, is a determined problem solver with a passion for sorting, purging, arranging, and containerizing.” My life was a perpetual mess, and though she couldn’t seem to be able to clean it up, that didn’t stop her from trying. Over and over and over again.

“I’ll pay for the repairs,” she said.

“No.” I shook my head, fending off the very big part of me that wanted to say yes. “I can’t take any money from you.”

“It’s fine,” she said. “Business is booming. I’ve got so much work right now that I’ve actually had to turn clients away. And ever since Al introduced that new accelerated orthodontic treatment, his office has been raking it in. We can afford to help you.”

“I know.” Obviously, my sister and her family weren’t hurting for cash. Aside from her wildly successful organizing business, her husband, Al, ran his own orthodontics practice. They owned a four-bedroom house, leased luxury cars, and took triannual vacations to warm, sunny places like Maui and Tulum. They had a smart fridge in their kitchen that was undoubtedly worth more than my nonfunctioning car.

But my sister wasn’t a safety net, and I needed to stop treating her like one. She’d already done so much for me. More than any big sister should ever have to do.

“I just can’t,” I said.

“Well, do you really have any other choice?” There was an edge to Natasha’s voice now. “If you don’t have a car, how are you going to work?”

“I’ll figure something out.” The words didn’t sound very convincing, even to my own ears. For the past four years, all I’d done was deliver food. I had no other marketable skills, no references, no degree.

I was a massive failure.

Tears pooled in my eyes. Natasha sighed again.

“Look,” she said, “maybe it’s time to admit you need to come up with a solid plan for your life. You’ve been in a downward spiral ever since Rob left.”

She had a point. I’d never been particularly stable, but things got a whole lot worse seven months earlier, when my live-in ex-boyfriend, Rob, had abruptly announced he was ending our three-year relationship, quitting his job, and embarking on an immersive ayahuasca retreat in the depths of the Peruvian Amazon.

“I’ve lost my way,” he’d said, his eyes bloodshot from too many hits on his vape pen. “The Divine Mother Shakti at the Temple of Eternal Light can help me find myself again.”

“What?” I’d been incredulous. “Where is this coming from?”

He’d unearthed a book from beneath a pile of dirty clothes on our bed and handed it to me—Psychedelic Healers: An Exploratory Journey of the Soul, by Shakti Rebecca Rubinstein.

“What is this?”

“It’s the book that changed my life,” he’d said. “I’m ready for deep growth. New energy.”

Then he’d moved his belongings to a storage unit off the side of the I-8, and left me to pay the full cost of our monthly rent and utilities on my paltry GrubGetter income.

I told myself this situation was only temporary, that Rob would return as soon as he realized that hallucinating in the rainforest wasn’t going to lead him to some higher consciousness. But I hadn’t heard from him since he took off on that direct flight from LAX to Lima. At this point, it was probably safe to assume he was never coming back.

Which was probably for the best. It’s not exactly like Rob was Prince Charming or anything. But being with him was better than being alone. At least I’d had someone to split the bills with.

“Honestly,” she continued, “I can’t stand to see you so miserable anymore. Happiness is a choice, Bree. Choose happy.”

Of all Natasha’s pithy sayings, “Choose happy” was the one I hated most. It was printed on the back of her business cards in faux brush lettering, silently accusing each potential client of being complicit in their own misery. If they paid her to clean out their closets, though, they could apparently experience unparalleled joy.

“That’s bullshit, and you know it.”

She scowled. “It is not.”

“It is, actually. Shitty things happen all the time and we have no choice in the matter. I didn’t choose to be too broke to fix my car. I work really hard, but this job doesn’t pay well. And I didn’t choose for Rob to abandon me to go find himself in the Amazon, either. He made that choice for us.”

I almost mentioned the shittiest thing that had ever happened to Natasha or to me, a thing neither of us had chosen. But I stopped myself before the words rolled off my lips. This evening was bad enough without rehashing the details of our mother’s death.

“Sometimes things happen to us that are beyond our control,” Natasha said, her voice infuriatingly calm. “But we can control how we react to it. Focus on what you can control. And it does no good to dwell on the past, either. Don’t look back, Bree—”

“Because that’s not where you’re going. Yes, I know. You’ve said that before.” About a thousand times.

She took a deep breath, most likely to prepare for a lengthy lecture on why it’s important to stay positive and productive in the face of adversity, but then a large tow truck lumbered onto the cul-de-sac and she got out of the car to flag him down.

Grateful for the interruption, I ditched the casserole on her dashboard and walked over to where the driver had double-parked alongside my car.

“What’s the problem?” he asked, hopping down from the cab.

“It won’t start,” I said, to which Natasha quickly followed up with, “The check engine light came on several weeks ago, but the car has not been serviced yet.”

He grunted and popped the hood, one thick filthy hand stroking his braided beard as he surveyed the engine. Another grunt, then he asked for the keys and tried to start it, only to hear the same sad click and whine as before.

“It’s not the battery.” He leaned his head out of the open door. “When was the last time you changed your timing belt?”

“Uh… I don’t know.”

Natasha shook her head and mouthed, Maintenance log! in my direction but I pretended not to see.

The driver got out and slammed the hood shut. “Well, this thing is hosed.”

“Hosed?” My heart thrummed in my chest. “What does that mean? It can’t be fixed?”

He shrugged, clearly indifferent to my crisis-in-progress. “Can’t say for sure. Your mechanic can take a closer look and let you know. Where do you want me to tow it?”

I pulled out my phone to look up the address of the mechanic near my apartment down in Pacific Beach. But Natasha answered before I could google it up.

“Just take it to Encinitas Auto Repair,” she said. “It’s on Second and F.”

“You got it,” he said, then retreated to his truck to fiddle with some chains.

Natasha avoided my gaze. Instead, she focused on calling a guy named Jerry, who presumably worked at this repair shop, and told him to expect “a really old Civic that’s in rough shape,” making sure to specify, “It’s not mine, it’s my sister’s.”

I knew she was going to pay for the repairs. It made me feel icky, taking yet another handout from my big sister. But ultimately, she was right. What other choice did I have?

The two of us stayed quiet while the driver finished hooking up my car. After he’d towed it away down the cul-desac and out of sight, Natasha turned to me. “Do you want to come over? Izzy’s got piano lessons in fifteen minutes, you can hear how good she is now.”

Even though I did miss my niece, there was nothing I wanted to do more than go home, tear off these smelly clothes, and cry in solitude. “I’ll take a rain check. Thanks again for coming to get me.”

“Of course.” She started poking at her phone screen. A moment later, she said, “Your Lyft will be here in four minutes. His name is Neil. He drives a black Sentra.” A quick kiss on my cheek and she was hustling back to her SUV.

As I watched Natasha drive away, I wished—not for the first time—that I could be more like her: competent, organized, confident enough in my choices to believe I could choose to be happy. Sometimes I felt like she had twenty years on me, instead of only six. So maybe instead of complaining, I should’ve started taking her advice.

Excerpted from She’s Faking It by Kristin Rockaway, Copyright © 2020 by Allison Amini. Published by Graydon House Books.

About the Author


Kristin Rockaway is a native New Yorker with an insatiable case of wanderlust. After working in the IT industry for far too many years, she traded the city for the surf and chased her dreams out to Southern California, where she spends her days happily writing stories instead of software. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son, and planning her next big vacation.


What did you think of the excerpt?

Weekly Update #373, it's summer time...


Welcome to my Weekly Update where I share what's been going on and what's coming up!

I'm linking up to The Sunday Post, hosted by Kimba @ The Caffeinated Book Reviewer.

We now are in the beginning of summer. For us, that means hot temps. I'm looking forward to the monsoons which will bring rain and hopefully help with the fires in my state.

I've been preparing for our family trip. I'll be gone two weeks, so I've already started being MIA on here and that will continue for the next three weeks. I do still have a lot of posts scheduled and books to share about. I hope you're all staying safe and healthy!

This Week


Last Week

In case you missed any of these over the past week...

The Melody of the Mulberries by Tonya Jewel Blessing (Tour Grand Finale & #Giveaway) #MMPrism @prismbooktours

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you'll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch - Author Interview

What inspired you to write The Melody of the Mulberries?

My mom is the inspiration for both novels in the Big Creek Series. She grew up in rural West Virginia. Her use of Appalachian folk lure made me giggle as a small girl. She also did not mince words when talking about the joys and struggles of living in poverty in the hills. She was an overcomer.


Charlie and Charley were coming to Big Creek. Charlie was a man. He had a spirit, soul, and body. He had grown up in the hills and been sent away because of the harm he had done to others. Coral had invited Charlie back to the holler. He wasn’t physically present, but, according to Emie, Coral might as well have sat him down at the table to enjoy Sunday family dinner.


"The Melody Of the Mulberries embraces the quirks, oddities and eccentricities of a people and a way of life rarely seen now. . . . I cherish the genuine voices found here more than any other aspect of the story, which is excellent by the way. I found it interesting that the reader gets a good dose of the inner dialogue of several characters. I would like to read more stories written this way. This story is a tale of everyday life of a few residents in the region as they toil, celebrate, struggle and love."


His heart seemed to quit beating when he heard Lottie approaching. She had entered the back door of the schoolhouse. He could hear her brisk steps on the worn wooden floor. The mama bear began a slow approach and started to growl. He yelled a warning to Lottie, but within seconds the front door opened to the porch where he was standing. She had her bow and arrow in hand and was preparing to shoot.

“Where do I aim?”

“Upper chest, but wait,” Ernest cautioned. “She’s movin’ slow. I think she’s bluffing.”

True to his words, the bear turned tail and headed back to her cubs. Eruptive gas escaped from her backside which signaled her cubs that it was time to move on.



In order to redirect their attention, he thought about telling the story of Goldilocks and the three bears but remembered in one of the earlier versions of the fairy tale that Goldilocks was an old woman who ended up impaled on a steeple. He shuddered at the thought.

“Students start pushin’ the tables and chairs to the sides. I’m gonna teach you a rollick called the dancing bear.”


What kind of creature is this? Charlotte thought.

Next, the bird flew from its perch, landed on her shoulder, and started singing.
Every mornin’, every evenin’, ain’t we got fun? Not much money, oh, but honey, ain’t we got fun?
 

"There is a bit of humor, faith and wonderful characters to keep the reader engaged while relaxing in your favorite reading spot. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and look forward to reading more of the authors work."


"The Characters were interesting and well-defined. The scenes were easy to visualize. . . . It is an intriguing conversational text, similar to the text of Huckleberry Finn. It is a great book for relaxed reading."

Remembrancy - Excerpt

He knew that Rudy was trying his best not to laugh. Ernest also knew that some sows appreciated a good love song. When he was a boy, raising hogs with his father and brother, he had learned that a gentle touch and soft voice accomplished more than a hickory stick and harsh words.

Hallie Reads - Excerpt

“Charlie, we’re having a not-so-nice meeting today, and I’m thinkin’ we need to talk about pleasantries,” she began. “Do you know why I’m liking mulberries so much? I like the pies and jams and the berries picked fresh, but someday I am wanting to touch silk, and, in other parts of the world, them silkworms do enjoy eating the mulberry leaves.”

“You is done crazy,” Charlie declared.

“Sometimes I am,” she answered. “But among the women in the holler there’s a longin’ for finer things. Not to get rich and leave their husbands and littles but just to know about and touch and see.”

Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post...

The Melody of the Mulberries
(Big Creek Series, #2)
By Tonya Jewel Blessing
Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 248 Pages
September 1, 2019 by Capture Books

This sequel to The Whispering of the Willows is set in the late 1920s' Appalachia, where granny witches and spiritualism often show the path for wanderers to take, especially in matters of the heart.

This Big Creek sequel follows the lives and loves of two siblings. Coral determines to visit the family's nemesis, Charlie, now in prison for the rape of her sister, Emerald, and the murder of her inlaw. When Mercy re-enters brother Ernest's life, he has already found a new attraction in his elder brother's widow.

Coral sat in contemplation under a mulberry tree. It was spring, and the fragrant female blossoms promised the mid-summer arrival of first white, then pink, then crimson, and finally deep purple berries. The white berries were hard and tart and enjoyed by the quail, wild turkeys, mocking birds, and blue jays. The blackish purple berries were soft and sweet - perfect for pies and jams.

When the berries turned white, Coral would thank the good Lord for providing food for the birds. When the berries ripened she would thank the good Lord for the sweetness savored in her mouth and curse the birds for wanting more than their share.

Where Emerald Ashby's story leaves us in the last pages of The Whispering of the Willows, sixteen-year-old Coral Ashby's story begins. Like the changing mulberries, Appalachian siblings Coral and Ernest Ashby, navigate life through the late 1920s. Coral is determined to visit the family nemesis, Charlie, who now stews in prison.

When Ernest's previous love interest, Mercy, returns to the holler of Big Creek, she discovers that his heart is now singing a melody for Charlotte, the older Ashby brother's widow. But Mercy has brought along her own spiritual tools and a special friend who guides her way.

Accompanied by friends and foes, matters of the heart complicate life for Coral and Ernest. Relationships must be journeyed carefully.

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Other Books in the Series

The Whispering of the Willows
(Big Creek Series, #1)
By Tonya Jewel Blessing
Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 396 Pages
February 2, 2016 by Capture Books

Young Emie isn't desperate for a man, but she is surrounded by a variety of them in the Appalachian holler of Big Creek. How does a young girl find her way, and grow strong, when life begins to spin out of control?

A 1920s' saga of Emerald Ashby coming of age.

Set against the superstitions and old time religion in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia, author Tonya Jewel Blessing tells a difficult, yet redemptive story of a blossoming young woman who is accompanied by her friends and her foes on a journey towards hope and healing. Love weaves through gut-wrenching circumstances and dismal poverty where Emerald Ashby grows strong despite grievous wrongs committed against her. In this desperate historical setting, mysterious disappearances lead to traps set for the innocent.

Now, when key individuals begin carving out a rescue plan, Emerald Ashby sets a few of her own traps. It's a page turner. In this ailing town. What will be their measure of success?

Cleverly suspenseful and sweetly spoken, the storyteller's unassuming voice transforms an Appalachian trail of tears into holy terror against an evil that stalks the innocent. In The Whispering of the Willows, an Appalachian marriage practice might be compared to the modern sex trade which exploits young females.

Not since Catherine Marshall's strong heroine named Christy, has an Appalachian drama come to life like The Whispering of the Willows.

Includes: Bibliography and Book Club Questions. A novel for women examining the Old Time Religion. Coming of age in the Southern Appalachians. If you love a story where the underdog surfaces and thrives, you'll love this story.

Praise for the Book

Best book I have read in a while. Didn't want it to end. Great and different story line. - Christine

This is a fantastic book that had me examining my own personal spiritual journey. Kudos to the author for writing such a heartfelt, inspiring work. - Verified Amazon Reader

I absolutely loved the characters and the story. Their faith in God helped them through the trials they faced. The story is engrossing and very believable. Hope this book is a winner for the author. - Verified Purchaser

"The story is emotionally gripping and pulls the reader along to see what will happen next. The best stories grab our emotions and don’t let go." - Judge's Commentary from 24th Annual Writer’s Digest Book Awards

The Whispering of the Willows is an inspiring story full of twists and turns, freedom and redemption, the expected and unexpected. This book brings to light the struggles of young woman past and present. God’s goodness and provision flow from each page. - Linda Bottoms, Rocky Mountain Ministry Network Women’s Ministries Director

(Affiliate links included.)

About the Author


Tonya Jewel Blessing 
National/International Speaker, Published Author, Co-Founder/Director Strong Cross Ministries

Tonya grew up in rural Ohio. She currently lives in South Africa with her husband of 35 years. Tonya decided to trust Jesus for the destination of her young soul at the age of four. As a young adult, she worked for a well known television evangelist, and traveled with a Christian drama group throughout the Midwest. 

Tonya attended Arapahoe Community College and Akron University, and has enjoyed a trusted position in formal and informal ministry settings and training opportunities. Tonya also worked as a children’s pastor, youth pastor, and women’s pastor. She served on staff at Praise Church in Littleton, Colorado for a number of years, and also worked as the Director of Women’s Ministries for Journey Church in Strasburg, Colorado. She has served on a number of ministry boards that support concerns for women. 

Tonya and her husband operated Strong Cross Ranch Colorado for over eleven years, a place of respite for missionaries and ministers. They had the honor of hosting over 2,000 guests during that time frame. The Blessings relocated their ministry to South Africa in June of 2012. The ministry continues to serve and partner with local pastors and missionaries through a variety of creative and responsible means. The Blessings oversee building projects, feeding programs, educational services, interventions, and church planting. 

Tonya is a well-known national and international speaker, often serving women in areas of the world which cannot be publicized. She writes articles and devotionals for missions’ magazines and women’s groups and is also a published author. She is the author of two historical fiction books The Whispering of the Willows and The Melody of the Mulberries. Both novels are set in Big Creek, West Virginia, during the late 1920’s. Tonya has also co-authored a devotional called Soothing Rain – Living Water to Refresh Your Soul. All three of Tonya’s books have received literary awards. 

Tonya enjoys speaking and sharing her life with women at retreats and events. She thinks that women are amazing, and appreciates that the female gender is multifaceted yet fragile creations of God. In her personal life and as a speaker, Tonya believes that God’s Word is powerful, and needs to be read and written on her heart and on the hearts of women everywhere. For additional information, please review her author and ministry webpage: www.TonyaJewelBlessing.com

She was ordained in 2011 and is currently pursuing further pastoral and biblical studies. For additional information regarding Strong Cross Ministries South Africa, please visit the ministry web page – www.strongcrossministries.org.


Tour Giveaway


One winner will receive a $30 Amazon Gift Card
Open internationally (to those who can use one of Amazon's branches)
Ends July 1, 2020

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Not a Fine Gentleman by Donna Hatch (Tour Grand Finale & #Giveaway) #NFGPrism

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you'll find snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:

Launch - Note from the Author

. . . This romantic story of loss and betrayal, forgiveness and redemption, will leave you laughing, crying, and swooning. Sprinkled liberally with suspense, mystery, and heart-melting kisses, this is not your ordinary historical tale. Fans of Victorian and Regency Eras as well as those seeking clean and wholesome romance with plenty of chemistry will love this story!

—Donna


Margaret had no one to blame for her current misery but herself. She’d been so blinded by the opportunity for an advantageous match, and so proud she’d garnered the attention of a handsome, charming marquis, that she’d failed to notice his legion character flaws until too late. Now, sixteen years into her marriage, she had few options but to keep a brave face and pretend her heart hadn’t been broken a hundred times over.


"A plucky heroine with more strength than she’s given credit for & a swoony hero with more class than he’s given credit for. Intrigue. Suspense. Romance. A well-constructed plot. Charming writing style. What more could you ask for? Even though it’s been a while since the previous Rogue Hearts book released, Hatch hasn’t lost her touch with this series or characters in the least. Her writing voice achieves a delightful balance of tender affection, dry wit, and intense feelings that proves ‘clean fiction’ doesn’t have to be boring or staid at all! Regency intrigue fans, don’t miss this series!"
 
Hallie Reads - Excerpt

Under his voice, Jackson said, “Best not to let them know who you are. Follow my lead.”

Before Margaret could reply, the justice of the peace called to Jackson.

“Sir, a moment?”

Jackson stood and replied to the JP, “Of course. But as you can see, my wife has sustained some injuries and I’d like to get her to the nearest inn where she may rest.”

Remembrancy - Review

"With a heroine whose dons a façade of strength to hide her vulnerability, a hero who admires said strength but tries not to become enamored by her, and plenty of chemistry between them, [Not a] Fine Gentleman is a diverting romp."

Heidi Reads... - Excerpt

His question thinned whatever spell he’d wrapped around her. “Don’t you dare. As I said, I’m fully capable of warding off unwanted advances.”

“How are you at warding off wanted advances?” As his lips moved the words, they fed her craving for his kiss.

She turned her head away. “I wouldn’t know.”

He chuckled again, the lout. Oh, this would be a very long journey!


He had no pretenses. He wore his honor like a badge, or sometimes like a shield. His confidence rivaled that of any member of the haut ton, emanating from him naturally. Most men drew their confidence from their self-importance. Connor’s confidence came from a deeper source—the knowledge of his value as a human being and his ability to contribute to society. He did the right things for the right reasons. A man of integrity. Men like that were rare.

Did it really matter to Connor that they came from different worlds or did he resist because he assumed it mattered to her? Or was there another reason?

Bookworm Lisa - Review

"This story contains romance, social intrigue, mystery, and suspense. This is the fifth book in a series but can be read as a stand-alone. There are references to the other stories, but I followed along well. I really enjoyed this book."

E-Romance News - Excerpt

Glaring at him, Lady Margaret pushed again at her hair hanging around her in such a mess that her lady’s maid would probably weep. In an imperious tone, she demanded, “You didn’t sleep in this room with me, did you?”

“Of course I did,” Connor drawled. “I couldn’t risk you slipping away in the middle of the night, now could I?”


"I felt like I was in the game of Clue at times, although we know where and with what weapon the murder took place. I loved the cat-and-mouse mystery and watching the puzzle pieces slip into place, and I thought this element was well done.

This is a story for lovers of intrigue and romance to settle in with, with its thrilling plot and enchanting characters."

Splashes of Joy - Excerpt

Connor Jackson sat across the desk from Richard Birnie and gaped at the magistrate who commanded the Bow Street Constables. “You want me to hunt down Grant Amesbury’s sister? He’ll kill me.”

Truth be told, Connor wouldn’t cross any of the Amesbury men. Angering all four would be an act of suicide.

Not to mention, Grant had saved Connor’s life in battle and had treated him like an equal, a friend, all the years they’d known each other. Could he really arrest the sister of a friend?


"I must say I do enjoy a good Regency/Victorian era type story and this one did not dissappoint! I was thoroughly engaged from the first page. . . . If you like this genre then I definitely recommend this book. I suggest starting from the beginning too if you want to know the story between this whole family."

Becky on Books - Excerpt

“She didn’t kill him.” Amesbury’s vehemence set his features into one belonging to a formidable foe, should they ever find themselves on opposing sides—which they might if Connor found evidence that Lady Hennessy was guilty.

After fixing her face in his memory, Connor handed back the miniature.

Amesbury gestured. “Keep it if it will help you find her.”

Tucking the miniature safely into a pocket, Connor vowed, “I’ll find her and deliver her safely to you.”

Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post...

Not a Fine Gentleman
(Rogue Hearts, #5)
By Donna Hatch
Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 448 Pages
June 18, 2020 by Mirror Lake Press LLC

Lady Margaret secretly yearns for love, but fate has exchanged wedded bliss for a lie. When she is caught hovering over her cheating husband’s dead body, she is instantly doomed to hang for his murder. Without hope for justice, Margaret flees into the night alone.
 
A cynical Bow Street Constable, Connor Jackson, vows to bring the fugitive Lady Margaret to face the law—but, he doesn’t expect sparks to fly between them. Could the strong yet tender lady truly be a killer? 
 
As more suspects—and even more condemning evidence—surface, the less certain Connor is of his duty. He must choose between his growing feelings for Lady Margaret and the demands of justice. Will the truth tear them apart or set them free to find love?

(Affiliate link included.)

Other Books in the Series

(Linked to an Amazon affiliate link.)

About the Author


Multi-award-winning author of more than twenty best-selling Regency Historical Romances, Donna Hatch is a hopeful romantic and an adventurer at heart. Each book she writes is filled with wit and heart and plenty of swoon-worthy romance. Donna sings, plays the harp, and loves to ballroom dance. Her family, including six children and two cats, recently left their native Arizona for the Pacific coast of the US. No matter where they live, she and her husband of over twenty years are proof that there truly is a happily ever after.


Tour Giveaway


- One winner will receive ebooks of the first four books in the Rogue Hearts series, The Stranger She Married, The Guise of a Gentleman, A Perfect Secret and The Suspect's Daughter
- Four winners will each receive an ebook of the first book in the Rogue Hearts series, The Stranger She Married
- Open internationally
- Ends July 1, 2020

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