Book Recommendation - The Letter Tree

 

When things around me are super heavy and the books I'm finding are too, I often want something that will leave me feeling warm and fuzzy afterwards, and Rachel Fordham's books are always a win in that department. Her stories still have depth and conflict, but the heavy angst is absent, making her stories feel a bit more light. And they're always enjoyable. The Letter Tree was no different in that regard and was one I thoroughly enjoyed. Here's a bit about the book:

Buffalo, NY, 1924

Laura Bradshaw adores stories with happily ever afters. But since her mother died seven years ago, the Bradshaw Shoe Company heiress has been as good as locked away in a tower. Her overbearing father cares little for her dreams, throwing himself instead into his tireless takedown of his competitor, the Campbell Shoe Company. However, Laura has been gifted with a reprieve: a mysterious friend with whom she’s been exchanging letters.

As heir to the Campbell Shoe Company, Isaac Campbell is a sought-after bachelor who has never felt an inkling of desire for the women who constantly bat their eyes at him. His thoughts are consumed by an oak tree in the Buffalo Zoo—or rather, the mystery woman he exchanges letters with courtesy of the tree. She’s been one of Isaac’s only joys in a life consumed by his father’s tireless hatred of Bradshaw. A hatred that, Isaac is coming to realize, may affect him more personally than he ever imagined.

When Laura’s father orchestrates a match between her and an important business owner, she resolves to pursue her only chance at freedom. But Isaac believes their story isn’t bound for a tragic ending. He’s certain there’s more to the Bradshaw-Campbell feud than meets the eye. And he won’t stop digging until he uncovers the truth that might bridge the divide between him and the woman whose words have captured his heart.

The author has this to say about her inspiration behind the story:

The Letter Tree, like every book, comes about in its own unique way. I knew I wanted to write a feud book but wasn’t sure what that would look like. 

I spent time reading about famous feuds hoping to find something that would trigger ideas for a story. The research was fascinating! I had so much fun reading about Aaron Burr/Alexander Hamilton, Hatfield/Mccoys and Capone/Moran, but it wasn’t until I read about Adolf and Rudolf Dassler that I felt like I was onto something. 

I found the feud that eventually resulted in the Puma and Adidas shoe companies (go read about it, you’ll be intrigued). 

With that feud in the back of my mind I took that bit of inspiration and threw it into Buffalo, New York in 1924, added some You’ve Got Mail (unanimous correspondence), a sprinkle of my own personal memories from Buffalo, New York and a giant scoop of imagination and before I knew it, I had the bones of an intriguing story. 

As the story came together it grew further from its inspiration until it was truly a story all its own. I fell in love with this story as I wrote it. It challenged me as a writer, not only because it was a new era to write in, but also because of the challenge of using letters to tell part of the story. 

The result is a story that will keep you turning pages and finishing with a happy sigh.

This book is set to release on October 31, 2023, wherever books are sold. For more information, check out the following links:

Rachel Fordham's website: https://rachelfordham.com/

Rachel Fordham's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RachelFordhamFans

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5423839982

Book Recommendation - The Lost Boys of Barlowe Theater

 

Two of my favorite genres are suspense and dual timeline. Jaime Jo Wright is the sole author who combines those 2 genres and gives a solid suspense plot-line that spans the generations to provide a spook-tacular dual timeline story full of mystery and suspense! This one was probably the most suspenseful to date, and the mystery element had me really turning pages! Here's a bit about the book:

Barlowe Theater stole the life of Greta Mercy's brother during its construction. Now in 1915, the completed theater appears every bit as deadly. When Greta's younger brother goes missing after breaking into the building, Greta engages the assistance of a local police officer to help her uncover the already ghostly secrets of the theater. But when help comes from an unlikely source, Greta decides that to save her family she must put the threat of the phantoms to rest.

Decades later, Kit Boyd's best friend vanishes during a ghost walk at the Barlowe Theater, and old stories of mysterious disappearances and ghoulish happenings are revived. When television ghost-hunting host and skeptic Evan Fisher engages Kit in the quest to identify the truth behind the theater's history, Kit reluctantly agrees to work with him in hopes of also finding out what happened to her friend. As the theater's curse begins to unravel Kit's own life, she sets out not only to save the historical building and her friend, but to end the pattern of evil that has marked their hometown for a century.

In this atmospheric dual-time tale, two women--separated by a century yet bound by the ghosts of the past--pursue light in the face of darkness.

Based on an actual theater in Wisconsin (related to the Ringling Brothers, as in the circus people), and the lore surrounding it, this tale is well fleshed-out and the theater is visible in one's mind's eye. The author also drew from her experience as an adoptee and placed the emotions and mentality surrounding that experience into one of her characters. It made the character come to life a bit more and really helps you "get to know" the author better as well. I enjoyed these extra tidbits in the author's note section at the end of the book. 

This book releases October 10, 2023, wherever books are sold. Be sure to check it out! For more information, check out the following links:

Jaime Jo Wright's website: https://www.jaimewrightbooks.com/

Jaime Jo Wright's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JaimeJoWright

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5844278510 

Book Recommendation - Voice of the Ancient

 

Connilyn Cossette is one of the best writers in the arena of Biblical historical fiction. With her words, she brings the old testament world to life and pulls the reader to see it through new eyes. Her upcoming novel, Voice of the Ancient, takes place during the time of Samuel, when Israel clamored for a king. I really enjoyed her take on what Israel was like during that time and absolutely adored the characters of Avidan and Keziah. Here's a bit about the book:

As the eldest son of a Levite and a Philistine, Avidan is torn between his duty to his family legacy and the desire for something more. When Ammonites attack the city of Yavash-Gilead, he takes the opportunity to fight with his cousins for the newly crowned King Saul. But when one of the cousins goes missing during the battle, Avidan stays behind to search for him in hopes that he's still alive.

Keziah is the daughter of one of the most powerful clan chiefs in the territory of Manasseh. On the brink of a forced marriage to a loathsome man decades older than her, she has no choice but to run. Dressed as a boy, she takes her horse and heads for the south, hoping to find sanctuary with her mother's family.

Battling to survive the dangers surrounding them, Avidan and Keziah make a pact to travel together. As Keziah's true origins are revealed and Avidan's search for his cousin becomes increasingly futile, they must not only rely on each other to stay alive but learn to trust the true and eternal King of Israel to guide their every step.

With impeccable research and award-winning writing, bestselling author Connilyn Cossette brings to life the first years of King Saul's reign.

As part of the author's facebook group, I was privy to some additional Q&A options. Here's what else I learned!

What drew you to this time period to set a series? 

Since I just fell in love with Eliora and Lukio/Natan’s family in the Covenant House I didn’t want to let them go! And I thought it would be fun to slow down a little in the early King’s period and discover what things must have been like during this transitional period in Israel’s history. 

Who was your favorite character to write and why? 

Hands down, Sarru. (Sorry Avi and Keziah!) I’ve never written a horse into a story before and it was fun to write about a horse with such personality. I kept thinking of Maximus the horse in Rapunzel because he’s my favorite character in that movie too. 

Which character do you most relate to?

I would probably say Avi. I grew up in a Christian home and knew the Lord from an early age but I spent some time in my late teens mucking around trying to do my own thing and following my own desires instead of seeking God’s voice in my decisions. Thankfully, the prayers of my faithful mama and my heavenly Father’s steadfast love helped bring me back from the far country and over time, like Avi, I’ve embraced the calling I have to speak truth through story and help remind the people of God of their true and sacred identity and point those who are lost to the hope found only in surrender to the One True King. 

How do you choose the names of your characters? Does their Hebrew meaning play a part? 

I have a few different resources that I use to find names (websites, Messianic bibles, etc.) and try to select ones that won’t be too difficult for western ears. But yes, a lot of times I will select names based on their meanings. For the ancient Hebrews the meaning of the names were so important and were even changed, like Abraham or Jacob, because of a shift in character or purpose, so I keep that in mind. But sometimes, especially with names of foreigners in my stories I just make them up!

What was the most interesting piece of research you uncovered while researching this book? 

I discovered that many Israelites believed that Yahweh and Asherah were married. There is now archeological evidence of such worship, including idols of both together. Unfortunately, mixing of pagan worship with pure worship of Yahweh has been around for millenia. 

Did anything surprise you as you were writing this story or did anything happen during writing to change the trajectory of this story? 

Well, since I was enduring chemotherapy for much of the time, things got a little convoluted and bogged down in the brain fog I was suffering. It was incredibly frustrating. When I was finished, it was almost like two separate books and all sorts of important connections with plot and character were missed or just a hopeless tangle. It took major, major edits to pick through all the mess and to figure out how to fix those issues so I ended up rewriting at least a third of the book, mostly toward the end. But the Lord sustained me, cleared my mind of chemo-brain, and now I love this story so much! 

What are you hoping readers will glean from this story? 

As usual my goal is always to point readers back to the Word in hopes they will dig in and study it for themselves, especially the Old Testament with an eye toward ways it illuminates the character of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. I also hope that they will come away with a desire to listen more closely for the still small voice of the ancient one in every step they take. 

Any fun bits of trivia you'd like to share with my readers about this story/your research/process of writing this one, etc or any behind-the scenes fun? 

My favorite part of researching this book was when I took my kids horseback riding at a local ranch. But of course the horse I was riding had zero interest in going anywhere that day and pretty much trotted a couple times and then just was done. At least my kids got their horses to cooperate! It was a really fun day anyhow and I got absorbed in some great sensory detail for the story! 

Was there any part of this story that ministered to you specifically? 

I think it was just a good reminder of why I do what I do and the unique calling the Lord has on my life to share truth through stories that glorify His name. And it was such a blessing to lean on His strength when I had none during the difficult process of writing this book while undergoing aggressive cancer treatments and to be reminded of his constant, steadfast love. 

For fans of your other books, what references can we expect to past series? 

There are multiple appearances of characters from the Covenant House series since this is a spin-off of Between the Wild Branches. It’s always so fun to revisit old friends! 

What is coming next and when can we expect it? 

Book Two of the King’s Men will release August 20, 2024! I’m not ready to say much about it yet, except I LOVE the hero/heroine pairing in this book. It’s an enemies to lovers with lots of sparks and twisty-turns along the way! What I will say it that it takes place two years after the events of Voice of the Ancient, so we will catch up with the four cousins (well, three of them at least…) after some time has passed and Saul has been king for a couple of years. Stay tuned for more in the coming months!

This book releases August 15, 2023, wherever books are sold. You don't want to miss this one! Anyone who pre-orders will also get a copy of a prequel novella that sets the stage for this series. I found it very helpful. More information on that in the links below.

For more information, check out the following links:

Link to get the prequel novella: https://www.connilyncossette.com/pre-order-gift

Connilyn Cossette's website: https://www.connilyncossette.com/

Voice of the Ancient pinterest page: https://www.pinterest.com/connicossette/voice-of-the-ancient/

Connilyn Cossette's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ConnilynCossette

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5247141466

Book Recommendation - All's Fair in Love and Christmas

 

Sarah Monzon is an author I've recently come to appreciate. Though she writes in multiple genres, I find her rom-com's absolutely delightful. Her upcoming Christmas rom-com is no exception to this. With a socially awkward heroine and well put-together, confident hero, this has a bit of an opposites attract vibe to it, but is also very sweet..... and hysterical. Filled with fun pop culture references, lots of holiday traditions and wonderful characters, this is one I can definitely recommend to add to your holiday reading. Here's a bit about the book:

Every December two things are guaranteed for graphic designer Mackenzie Graham--Christmas celebrations and the annual promotion at her workplace. Those two things are by no means mutually exclusive. In fact, the better an employee is at harnessing the Christmas spirit, the more likely they'll win the new job. With her social anxiety, Mackenzie never thought she'd be a contender in her company's holiday competition, so how exactly has she found herself dueling her workplace crush with wrapping paper tubes and using tinsel as her weapon of choice for a much-needed raise?

Jeremy Fletcher's life is meticulously planned out, including how to win this year's promotion at work. Not only will the new position fulfill some of his career goals, but the raise will help him as a single guardian to his twin niece and nephew. Jeremy has barely noticed Mackenzie Graham around the office, but now that she's his rival, he can't stop thinking about her. Her quirkiness intrigues him, and he's afraid that if he can't get his head on straight, the job isn't the only thing he'll end up losing to Mackenzie.

'Tis the season for romance, faith, and humor--all wrapped up in this enchanting holiday rom-com from award-winning author Sarah Monzon.

This book had a few fun surprises for me as well - the main male character has custody of his niece and nephew, Nathan and Natalie. The niece and nephew who are the oldest of my 7 are also Nathan and Natalie (and the 3rd oldest married a Jeremy (as did my sister Kari (who shares a name with Mackenzie's best friend, though with a slight spelling derivation), who is the leading male character in the book). So, I had quite a bit of personal connection to this one. Also, fans of Hallmark Christmas movies - there is a scene in this book that is reminiscent of the funniest scene in the movie "Three Wise Men and a Baby", which is probably my all-time favorite Hallmark Christmas movie.

This book releases September 5, 2023, wherever books are sold. Be sure to pre-order to add to your holiday reading! For additional information, check out the following links:

Sarah Monzon's website: http://www.sarahmonzonwrites.com/

Sarah Monzon's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/sarahmonzonwrites

My full 5 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5736438841

Book Recommendation - The Wings of Poppy Pendleton

 

Melanie Dobson is a master storyteller who excels in telling dual timeline stories that flow seamlessly and delve deep into the characters in both timelines. She uses her words in such a way that they paint vivid pictures so that you can get fully lost in the story until the stunning conclusion. Her upcoming release is no different. Here's what the story is about:

In this compelling new time-slip mystery, a little girl goes missing from her family’s castle in the Thousand Islands of New York. Eighty-five years later, a journalist teams up with a woman living on Koster Isle to find out what happened to Poppy.

1907. On the eve of her fifth birthday, Poppy Pendleton is tucked safely in her bed, listening to her parents entertain New York’s gilded society in their Thousand Islands castle; the next morning, she is gone, and her father is found dead in his smoking room.

1992. Though Chloe Ridell lives in the shadows of Poppy’s ruined castle, she has little interest in the mystery that still captivates tourists and locals alike. She is focused on preserving the island she inherited from her grandparents and reviving their vintage candy shop. Until the day a girl named Emma shows up on Chloe’s doorstep, with few possessions, save a tattered scrapbook that connects her to the Pendleton family. When a reporter arrives at Chloe’s store, asking questions about her grandfather, Chloe decides to help him dig into a past she’d thought best left buried. The haunting truth about Poppy, they soon discover, could save Emma’s life. Chloe and Logan must work together to investigate exactly what happened long ago on Koster Isle.

This book releases September 19, 2023. Check it out wherever books are sold. For additional information, check out the following links:

Melanie Dobson's website: https://melaniedobson.com/

Melanie Dobson's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/MelanieDobsonFiction

My full 4-star review:  https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5729158178

Book Recommendation - A Beautiful Disguise

 

Roseanna M. White has made her way to the forefront of my "to read" list when it comes to historicals. Because she creates vivid imagery with her words and opens the door to actually "see" into the past, created wonderful characters that you can't help but want to get to really "know" and includes mystery and intrigue true to the times, her stories are ones that keep me turning pages to see what will happen. Though her stories always include romance, the romance elements are always well done enough for this non-romance lover to even enjoy. A Beautiful Disguise is among my favorites in the romance department and the hero of this novel is among my favorites as well. Here's a bit about the story:

1909

Left with an estate on the brink of bankruptcy after their father’s death, Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother open a private investigation firm marketed to the elite . . . to spy on the elite. Dubbed The Imposters, Ltd., their anonymous group soon becomes the go-to for the crème of society when they want answers delivered surreptitiously. But the many secrets Marigold learns about her peers pale in comparison to her shock when she and her brother are hired to investigate her best friend’s father as a potential traitor.

Sir Merritt Livingstone has spent a decade serving the monarch in the most elite guard, but when pneumonia lands him behind a desk in the War Office Intelligence Division just as they’re creating a new secret intelligence branch, he’s intent on showing his worth. He suspects a man of leaking information to Germany as tensions mount between the two countries but needs someone to help him prove it, so he turns to The Imposters, Ltd. No one knows who they are, but their results are beyond compare.

Lady Marigold is determined to discover the truth for her friend’s sake, and she’s more determined still to keep her heart from getting involved with this enigmatic new client . . . who can’t possibly be as noble as he seems.

As part of the author's launch team, I was able to do a Q&A session with the author herself. Here's how that went:

1. What was the inspiration for this story/series?

 The original idea for the Imposters series actually came to me in a dream! Only one I can say that about. ;-) I woke up knowing there was a story about investigators who moved among the elite and called themselves The Imposters, Ltd. I had an image of some derring-do and hijinks and knew a brother and sister were involved. Took me a couple years to flesh it out from there, but I took the sibling-aristocrats part for book 1 and saved another aspect of that original dream for book 2, introduced some circus aspects that were SO much fun, and then got excited too when I realized MI5 (England’s first intelligence branch that combined military and police) was founded then as well, giving me the perfect way to have a hero involved in it.

 2. Who was your favorite character to write and why? Which character do you best relate to?

 Honestly, my favorite character is Leonidas, a retired circus lion. Not that I relate most to him, but how can I resist a lion character? Otherwise, in this story I really loved developing the siblings relationship between Yates and my heroine, Marigold. So I’m going to cheat and name the two of them. I don’t think I’m really like any of the characters per se, but I enjoyed writing them all!

 3. What was the most interesting thing you learned in your research for this story?

 There was so much new-to-me stuff in this one! But I think the most fascinating tidbit was learning that there was a genuine spy-mania going on in England in the first decade of the 1900s, and it was all because of a novelist! William Le Queux’s books, all about German spies invading England, were so popular that the general populace was constantly reporting “suspicious” activity…which is turn was part of what forced England to up its intelligence game, to counteract all these false reports. How cool is that?

4. What are you hoping readers will glean from this story?

 One of the themes through the book is Lady Marigold choosing and crafting a public persona that she at once enjoys and resents. She needs that mask to protect her family…but she also just wants to be seen and understood. My prayers is that through her, we can all see that we do that—everyone. Everyone picks the “them” society will see…but everyone wants to be truly known too. How can we make an effort to know people better—and how can we open ourselves up to be truly known?

5. The Imposters reminded me a bit of the American Pinkerton agency in that they were well known for getting results. Did England actually have such an organization?

 The Imposters are 100% fictional (so far as we know, mwa ha ha ha), but the country certainly has a history of private investigators like the Bow Street Runner in the 19^th century, and the popularity of the fictional Sherlock Holmes proves that investigators remained a fascination well into the 20^th century.

 6. Is there any "behind the scenes" fun or trivia you'd be willing to share with my readers?

Well in addition to spy mania and the formation of MI5 that I’ve already mentioned, I also had a blast incorporating high fashion. Haute couture was just entering the scene around this time, with Coco Chanel opening her first boutique in Paris in 1909. This is when we first really began to see extravagant styles on runways that then had “accessible” counterparts for most women to wear. Lady Marigold sets herself apart, however, by wearing the extremes…only hers don’t come from Paris. They come from her own attic, with the help of a retired circus costumer.

 7. Did anything surprise you in the story as you were writing? Or did anything you learned change the trajectory of the story?

 Two big things happened during the editing process, actually. First, my villain changed. I can’t tell you how, exactly, but originally it was all laid out in very straight lines and there was no surprise. That bugged me even as I turned it in, and when my editors asked for some work to the ending, I said, “Okay, let’s just totally rewrite this part.” And I did. The other rather hilarious one is more the trajectory of the whole series. One of the main secondary characters, Lavinia, was originally only intended to be in this book…but my editors “can’t wait for her story in book 3.” Uh…well…okay then. Sure. Lavinia in book 3! LOL. (I’d originally intended to introduce a whole new female lead, but their assumption about Lavinia led me to a new idea I absolutely adore.)

 8. What is coming next and when can we expect it?

Next up is book 2 in The Imposters, A Nobel Scheme, which focuses on the two Imposters who are clearly at odds in book 1—Gemma and Graham. We learn their history as they work together (under duress) to rescue a kidnapped boy. It will release in March 2024. And then, between that and book 3 in the series, I have a Christmas story coming as well! The Lady of Sugar Plum Manor is a Nutcracker-meets-Downton-Abbey sort of story and will be coming in time for the 2024 holiday season.

So excited for both of these upcoming releases!

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. 

This book is set to release August 22, 2023. Check it out wherever you buy your books! For more information, check out the following links:

Roseanna M White's website: https://www.roseannamwhite.com/

Roseanna M. White's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RoseannaMWhite

My full 5 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5247140983

Book Recommendation - Positively Penelope

 

Pepper Basham is steadily gaining traction as a go to rom-com author for me.  Of the books of hers I've read, the Skymar books are my favorites. Set in epistolary style, the books follow the Edgewood family and their correspondences with each other. I've really enjoyed the family dynamics portrayed in these books and the sarcasm and humor found within. Though I've never coined the term "book boyfriend" personally before, that may be changing as I find myself crushing a bit on Luke Edgewood, the grumpy sarcastic big brother. (He reminds me a great deal of my husband, so there's that). Every time Luke responds to a text or email though, I found myself in a fit of giggles. I don't honestly know that I've ever laughed out loud so much in one book as I did this one. This book will definitely be a contender for "top read of 2023" for me. This is book 2 in the Skymar series, but can be read on its own. Fans of the first book, Authentically, Izzy will be familiar with the Edgewood family personalities, the fictional land of Skymar and the overall writing style. Here's a bit about the book:

Told mostly through letters, texts, and email, this contemporary romance will charm its way into hearts as Penelope rescues a theater and discovers her true self in the process.

Penelope Edgewood is practically positive in every way, so when, fresh out of college, she is awarded a paid internship to help save a century-old theater on the island of Skymar, she jumps at the chance. After all, a crumbling theater needs the special touch of someone who reveres all things vintage and adores the stage.

Unfortunately, not everything is as it seems at Darling House Theatre. Finances are in shambles, the local theater group is disenchanted, and the two brothers, Matt and Alec Gray, can’t seem to see eye-to-eye about how to run their theatrical business. So, of course, it’s the perfect place for Penelope to shine her own personal brand of sunshine.

With a little help from GK, the person emailing her encouragement along the way, she puts all her heart into helping the Grays save Darling House. But between Matt’s ever-present skepticism, Alec’s tendency to treat Penelope a little too much like the “princess” she thinks she wants to be (until someone actually started treating her that way), a grandfather who is stuck in his grief, and a mysterious person stealing Penelope’s marketing ideas, she’s not sure her optimism is enough to make a happily-ever-after of her own story, let alone The Darling House’s.

Between an adorable little girl, a matchmaker, a sea monster or two, and a copious amount of musical references, can Penelope draw enough confidence from her faith, her family, and her adoration of all things Julie Andrews, to find the thief and save the theater . . . without getting her heart broken in the process?

Because I follow the author on social media, I've got some extra "scoop" to share with you. Ms. Basham lost her dad quite suddenly last year. Her dad was her biggest cheerleader and read all of her books (including this one - it was the last one he read), but when reading he would frequently text her about how "Rambo" should come and save the day. It was a running inside joke between them. There's a part in this story where she pays tribute to her dad when Luke suggests how Rambo could come and save the day. It made me a bit misty-eyed when I read that part, as well as making me chuckle. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this story. If you're not a fan of epistolary novels or stories that change voice periodically, you may want to set this aside though, as it does venture back between epistolary and story mode. I feel like the transitions were well marked and fluid, and it better told the story than fully in one mode or the other, but I've seen reviews from others who differ with that. 

This book releases August 1, 2023 wherever books are sold. Be sure to grab your copy! I, for one, am REALLY looking forward to Loyally, Luke, coming next year! Squee! For more information, check out the following links:

Pepper Basham's website: https://pepperdbasham.com/

Pepper Basham's Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/pepperbasham/

My full 5-star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5247142638