Book Recommendation - On the Wings of Devotion

Roseanna M. White has hit another one out of the park! Her historical romances are among my "go to" books (and I'm not even a fan of romance!). Of all of the books I've read of hers (which is just under half of them - I plan to remedy that soon), I have to say that this one is my favorite so far. Arabelle Denler is such a solid and relateable character, and Phillip Camden is a hero that you really want to cheer for and help lift him out of his troubles. This one had me laughing and crying. At one point when Arabelle is feeling particularly lonely and abandoned, I really had a hard time keeping my tears at bay as I fully recognized those emotions. Ms. White did such a good job of keeping those feelings true to life!

Here's the back cover blurb for all who are interested:

Against Every Warning, She’s Drawn Ever Closer to the Man Known as “Black Heart”

All of England thinks Major Phillip Camden a monster–a man who deliberately caused the deaths of his squadron. But he would have preferred to die that day with his men rather than be recruited to the Admiralty’s codebreaking division. The threats he receives daily are no great surprise and, in his opinion, well deserved.

As nurse Arabelle Denler observes the so-dubbed “Black Heart,” she sees something far different: a hurting man desperate for mercy. And when their families and paths twist together unexpectedly, she realizes she has a role to play in his healing–and some of her own to do as well.

With Camden’s court-martial looming, an old acquaintance shows up, intent on using him in a plot that sends the codebreakers of Room 40 into a frenzy. With their fragile hopes for the future in the cross hairs, Arabelle and Camden must hold on to hope–and to each other–if they want to survive.

This book releases on January 7, 2020, but is available now for pre-order wherever you buy books! For more information, please see the author's website: https://www.roseannamwhite.com/

My full 5 star review can be found here: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2855378355

Book Recommendation - Echoes Among the Stones

One of my most anticipated releases this year was this gem, which releases today! Jaime Jo Wright pens phenomental dual timeline novels with mystery and intrigue, romance, and a seamless flow between time periods. The mysteries always connect and tie up by the end of the book This one was no different! In addition to a great story, this book also delved into the waters of grief - how easy it is to drown in it and some good solid advice for getting out of it!

Here are a couple of quotes from the book relating to that, that I absolutely adored!





Here's the back-cover blurb that tells more about the book:
After Aggie Dunkirk's career is unceremoniously ended by her own mistakes, she finds herself traveling to Wisconsin, where her grandmother, Mumsie, lives alone in her vintage, though very outdated, home. Aggie didn't plan for how eccentric Mumsie has become, obsessing over an old, unsolved crime scene--even going so far as to re-create it in a dollhouse.

Mystery seems to follow Aggie when she finds work as a secretary helping to restore the flooded historical part of the town's cemetery. Forced to work with a puzzling yet attractive archaeologist, she exhumes the past's secrets and unwittingly uncovers a crime that some will go to any length to keep hidden--even if that means silencing Aggie.

In 1946, Imogene Grayson works in a beauty salon but has her sights set on Hollywood. But coming home to discover her younger sister's body in the attic changes everything. Unfamiliar with the burgeoning world of forensic science and, as a woman, not particularly welcomed into the investigation, Imogene is nonetheless determined to stay involved. As her sister's case grows cold, Imogene vows to find justice . . . no matter the cost.

While this one did not have the intense "creep factor" as some of the others by this author, the story line was still chilling. And I was guessing till the very end how things would play out!

As part of the launch team for this book, I had access to the author for some Q&A. Here's how that went:

1. Did you have a character in this book that most resonates with you, or is your favorite? Who and why?  

Mumsie was my favorite character. Probably because so much of her spit and vinegar and personality was driven by my own gramma who I miss horribly. She was my hero and we lived together, read together, drank coffee together, and spat sass at each other on a regular basis.

2. I adored Collin. What prompted you to make him British? 

He just sounded British in my head? Is that an acceptable answer? LOL For real though, sometimes characters just determine these things themselves. 

3. I saw in the notes in the back of this book that the story idea was prompted by an article about the forensic use of recreating by miniatures .I may not be wording that correctly. Can you share a bit more about that? 

Yes! Actually, it was inspired by a podcast that my publicist sent to me saying "you've gotta incorporate this into a book someday". So I did! It was all about the history of forensics and a female-inspired leader who created dollhouse miniature crime scenes to test the wits and observation skills of the students.

4. Did anything in the story take you by surprise as you were writing this one? 

Yes. If I say what, it's a spoiler. So I'll just say the ending of happily-ever-afters didn't quite pan out the way I'd expected.

5. I loved the real, raw grief that the characters were going through and the responses that led towards faith. How difficult was it to write those gritty emotional scenes?  

Unfortunately, I grew up attending many funerals of loved ones. I'm not sure that sets me apart at all, but I think as a person journeys through their own grief it makes these scenes real. It wasn't too difficult to write them. I'm not a crier, so I didn't feel like emotional mush, but I did feel a little sand in my eyes.

6. Are there any fun "behind the scenes" tidbits you'd be willing to share?

 Sure! Two things. One, I wrote the first draft in about 8 weeks. Roughly. Second, there's a blatant typo neither me, my editors, nor our beta readers caught in the novel in a quote from Mumsie. If you can find it, shoot me an email and I'll send you an autographed bookplate.

7. What's next? When can we expect it and can you share a bit about it? 

Next comes "The Haunting of Bonaventure Circus" due out in September of 2020. It's about a haunted train depot, an expired circus, and a serial killer who wants to come back from the dead. 

Be sure to be on the lookout for that blatant typo! Looking forward to The Haunting of Bonaventure Circus next fall. Sounds so intriguing!

If you'd like to know more about the author, you can find her here: Web site: www.jaimejowright.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/jaimejowright
Twitter: www.twitter.com/jaimejowright
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/jaimejowright
Instagram: www.Instagram.com/jaimejowright
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/author/show/13916081.Jaime_Jo_Wright
Amazon: https://smile.amazon.com/Jaime-Jo-Wright/e/B01421H0JQ/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

You can find my full 5-star review of Echoes Among the Stones here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/RTPNXW1Y0E05V?ref=pf_ov_at_pdctrvw_srp