Friday, January 8, 2021

Dandelions book 4 of Waxwood series by Tam May



Dandelions
Tam May, book 4 Waxwood series

Genres: Historical fiction, women’s fiction, family saga/drama
Release date: December 20, 2020
$3.99 Ebook
$10.99 Print, 266 pp

Buy on Amazon
Barnes and Noble

About the Book:
She had more in common with her nemesis than she wanted to believe…

For Vivian Alderdice, the 20th century begins with a new start. Now a working girl and progressive reformer like her friend, Nettie Grace, she has forsaken the Gilded Age opulence of Nob Hill for the humbler surroundings of Waxwood’s commercial district. Rather than whittle away her days with other wealthy young women in gossip, parties, and flirtations, she sells talcum powder and strawberry sodas to customers at Nettie’s Drugstore and helps the poor to read at the Waxwood Women’s Lending Library and Reading Room.

But sometimes the scars of the past leave bitterness behind …

Harland Stevens, the man who ruined her brother’s life two years before, appears like another specter in Vivian’s life and, in spite of herself, Vivian is compelled to help him escape from a hell of his own.

Find more here.

My Review:
The Waxwood saga gets a new twist when Vivian Alderdice learns another lesson in compassion. I’m drawn into this series of the West Coast elite during the turn of the twentieth century – the Gilded Age in San Francisco. Author Tam May has done an artful job staying in character and context, scene and setting of this often overlooked and elusive era of modern history.

The Alderdice family is not what it seems – but then, everyone has secrets. The saga begins in book 1 with Vivian Alderdice’s grandmother, whose secret entices Vivian on a journey of discovery, first to unravel a mysterious friendship, then in subsequent books, a journey of self-discovery. Vivian chose to step away from the illusions of the wealthy elite to find a useful place in society. She moves in with a new friend and leaps headlong into aiding the working class society of Waxwood, the real life community just outside the resort community outside of San Francisco where the well-to-do spend summers.

In this fourth book, when Vivian’s past makes an unwelcome appearance in the guise of a former friend taking care of a relative now in a near catatonic state, the friend elicits Vivian’s help. Roger thinks she can reach inside his cousin Harland Stevens’s broken mind and find the man who once controlled the fate of young men which included her brother, resulting in disaster. Vivian has despised Stevens for ruining their lives.

Vivian receives a mysterious message about forgiveness from a beggar woman, and must decide whether to act on it. The lessons she’s learning about compassion have a greater impact than she expects. I look forward to reading more about her journey in future books.

Although readers will benefit from reading the books in order, each book is complete if you give yourself time to allow the story to unfold at its own pace. The Gilded Age, after all, was a gentile time. Take a step back and allow yourself to be immersed in an era of change. Told from a tight angle of omniscient perspective, readers follow the story mostly from Vivian’s point of view with occasional insights from the supporting characters.


About the Author
Tam May started writing when she was fourteen, and writing became her voice. She loves history and wants readers to love it too, so she writes historical fiction that lives and breathes a world of the past. She fell in love with San Francisco and its rich history when she learned about the city's resilience and rebirth after the 1906 earthquake and fire during a walking tour. She grew up in the United States and earned a B.A. and M.A. in English. She worked as an English college instructor, interesting a class of wary freshmen in Henry James' fiction. She also worked as an EFL teacher, using literature to teach English to business professionals before she became a full-time writer.

Her book Lessons From My Mother's Life debuted at #1 on Amazon in the Historical Fiction Short Stories category. She's also published a Gilded age family saga titled The Waxwood Series. Set in Northern California at the close of the 19th century, the series tells the story of the Alderdices, a wealthy San Francisco family crumbling amid revolutionary changes and shifting values in America's Gilded Age. Tam's current project delves into historical mystery fiction. The Paper Chase Mysteries is set in Northern California at the turn of the 20th century and features amateur sleuth and epistolary expert Adele Gossling, a young, progressive, and independent young woman whose talent for solving crimes comes into direct conflict with her new community, where people are apt to prefer the Victorian women over the new century's New Woman.

Tam lives in Texas but calls San Francisco and the Bay Area "home". When she's not writing, she's reading classic literature, watching classic films, cross-stitching, or cooking yummy vegetarian dishes.

For more information about Tam May and her work, check out her website at www.tammayauthor.com. You can also sign up for her newsletter, which offers glimpses into the nooks and crannies of history that aren't in the history books and subscriber-exclusive sneak peeks, giveaways, and polls. plus a free short story.

Friday, December 25, 2020

Dark Streets Shineth, a Christmas murder mystery

 


Dark Streets Shineth, a Say a Prayer whodunit
Clare Revell
PBGroup Holiday Extravaganza novella, December 1, 2020, 102 pp
 
Buy on Amazon 
Barnes and Noble
Ebook Currently on sale for 99 cents
 
About the Book
YOU'D BETTER WATCH OUT. YOU'D BETTER NOT CRY. SANTA CLAUS IS GOING TO DIE...DCI Boaz Matthias isn't a Christmas person. He never has been. Not since he discovered the truth when he was seven. Christmas is a lie and a con and nothing is ever going to change his mind. Being given a temporary six week assignment isn't helping his mood either—as it means Christmas with the family. Only good thing is the accidental meeting of someone he thinks he could grow very fond of.
DC Isabel York loves Christmas. So much so that she decorates her desk with lights, tinsel, and a novelty advent calendar. When her boss is called away, his replacement is the last person she's expecting to see—her fledgling boyfriend.

In the middle of a nasty case, Isabel is nevertheless determined to show Boaz the real meaning of Christmas. The only problem is that work and pleasure just don't mix—at least not according to him.
 
My Review
I loved these characters throughout the Say a Prayer series. They’re intentional short segments of murder investigations at a particular police station in England. They are well-researched and populated with all-too-real people. Isabel hasn’t been a DC all that long, but her intuition and ability to connects dots has had other officers in her department…shall we say jealous? While most of the problem people were shifted around to other departments or fired, a few officers are still afraid of her and try to make her life miserable. Things get a little worse when their favorite boss  has a family emergency and the temp is a grinch. Not just a grinch but the fellow who Isabel had started dating prior to his new assignment. The new temp, Boaz, walks in on an already-in-progress murder investigation. Someone is killing store Santas, and as it’s Isabel’s case, she’s in charge, much to the chagrin of the remaining problem parties in the department. Isabel’s got a lot to deal with this Christmas amid a boyfriend who hates her favorite time of year, numbskulls who whine at work even as Isabel continues to develop her self-confidence on the job, and a morgue filling up with bodies. Where can a person find a cup of Christmas cheer with all this mayhem?
 
Join the party as Isabel and Zander and their new friend, Boaz, take on the holi-craze. Told through Isabel and Boaz’s eyes, this holiday romantic thriller is just the perfect bite-size book for a take-me-away moment this Christmas.
 
About the Author
Clare is a British author. She lives in a small town in England with her husband, whom she married in 1992, and her three children. Writing from a early childhood and encouraged by her teachers, she graduated from rewriting fairy stories through fanfiction to using her own original characters and enjoys writing an eclectic mix of romance, crime fiction and children's stories. When she's not writing, she can be found reading, crocheting or doing the many piles of laundry the occupants of her house manage to make.

Her books are based in the UK, with a couple of exceptions, thus, although the spelling may be American, the books contain British language and terminology. The first draft of every novel is hand written.

She has been a Christian for more than half her life. She goes to Carey Baptist where she is one of four registrars.

She can be found at:
http://www.revell124.plus.com/clarerevell/
https://www.facebook.com/ClareRevellAuthor
https://twitter.com/ClareRevell
http://telscha.blogspot.co.uk/


Tuesday, December 22, 2020

Clare Revell and Christmas Time in London Town

 


Christmas Time in London Town
Clare Revell
PBGBooks Passport to Romance novella, December 1, 2020, 95 pp.
Buy on Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Ebook Currently on sale for 99 cents

About the Book
Needing a change of pace, elementary school teacher Kelly Seda accepts the school exchange position and flies from Ottawa to London. Exchanging jobs and houses for a year, he and six-year-old daughter Wendy have a less than a day to adjust before starting work.

Single mum Staci Kirk has carved out a life for herself and her young son Tommy. Fiercely independent and self-reliant, she's found a good place where she can settle in but she's all too aware that happily ever after applies only to other people—or to the fictional characters in the romance books she writes.

The arrival of Tommy's new teacher, also her next door neighbor, threatens to upset Staci's carefully balanced apple cart but she knows it's only a matter of time before Kelly packs his bags and flies back to Canada. No sense in starting anything she can't finish.

However, life is never as simple as it is in her novels, and when the worst happens, there is only one person she can rely on to help.

My Review

Revell’s newest addition to her impressive catalog of inspirational fiction is a lovely story of two single parents meeting in a most unusual manner. When a Canadian teacher is given a last-second opportunity as an exchange teacher in London, England, he’s quick to say yes, even though it uproots his fragile six-year-old daughter and distances them from his travel-reluctant mother at Christmas. Ending up next door to Staci who’s raising five-year-old Tommy is an answer to prayers Kelly hadn’t thought to make. Staci is a self-sufficient writer, able single parent, and content to quietly raise her child in peace. She’s not looking for complications of any kind—certainly not of the heart, as in potentially giving hers to a man who’s only in town for a few months.

The short but intense romance develops quickly. When you know, you know about love. But Kelly is on temporary assignment, and falling in love just can’t be an option. Can it… Even though they match in every way, how can either of them risk their hearts or children’s hopes? It romance and sight-seeing in London Town for Christmas. Told though both Kelly and Staci’s viewpoints, the reader is charmed by their respectful, emotional stories.

About the Author
Clare is a British author. She lives in a small town in England with her husband, whom she married in 1992, and her three children. Writing from a early childhood and encouraged by her teachers, she graduated from rewriting fairy stories through fanfiction to using her own original characters and enjoys writing an eclectic mix of romance, crime fiction and children's stories. When she's not writing, she can be found reading, crocheting or doing the many piles of laundry the occupants of her house manage to make.

Her books are based in the UK, with a couple of exceptions, thus, although the spelling may be American, the books contain British language and terminology. The first draft of every novel is hand written.

She has been a Christian for more than half her life. She goes to Carey Baptist where she is one of four registrars.

She can be found at:
http://www.revell124.plus.com/clarerevell/
https://www.facebook.com/ClareRevellAuthor
https://twitter.com/ClareRevell
http://telscha.blogspot.co.uk/


Friday, December 18, 2020

Hairlarious Dog Tails with Sharon Kleve

 


Hairlarious Dog Tails

SRK Productions, December 6, 2020,107 pp
Amazon $1.99 and Print $20.33

About the Book
Hairlarious Dog Tails is full of tantalizing trivia and tidbits, doggy-puns, and plenty of puppy facts, this dog-o-pedia is essential reading for dog lovers everywhere. You'll learn about all sorts of dogs, breeds, characters, and more!

It’s a beautiful tabletop book packed with amazing photographs and fun facts, dog owners and fans will get an in-depth look at these curious, lovable canines.

Paws up if you love everything about dogs, from their irrepressible cheeriness to their slobbery tongues.

My review
Similar to its companion “cat tails” book released in November of 2020, Hairlarious Dog Tails offers fun facts, gorgeous photos, and personal memories of the canine contingency of pets. From doggy IQs to that special ability to hunt a specific scent, to several pages of Doggy Puns sure to make you howl with giggles (I’m guilty of using dog-gone-it a lot; my favorite is “Happy Howlidays.”)

Included with the lovely photographs of every type of pooch possible are fun quotes from Marilyn Monroe and Groucho Marx to Mark Twain and Charles DeGaulle (“The better I get to know men…”).

If you want to know what it means when a dog wags its tail to the right, play a new family trivia game at your next gathering, or just become smarter, get this luscious book.

About the Author
Sharon Kleve was born and raised in Washington and currently lives on the Olympic Peninsula with her husband and two cats. When not writing, and working full-time, she can usually be found either curled up in her recliner with her cats and a good book or in the kitchen making baking sourdough bread or bagels.

Sharon is a multi-published author of contemporary romance published in eBook, paperback, on audio and translated into foreign languages. She has written New Adult and Romantic Suspense, but what brings her the most joy is writing Romantic Comedies.

She loves giving her characters the happily ever after they deserve--with a few laughs and maybe a few bumps and bruises along the way.


Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Hairlarious Cat Tails with Sharon Kleve

 

Hairlarious Cat Tails
SRK Productions, November 18, 2020,108 pp
Amazon $1.99 and Print $20.33

About the Book
Hairlarious Cat Tails makes a beautiful table top book filled with creative insights and beautiful images. It provides a much-desired glimpse into the minds of our most mysterious of loved ones--cats.

What makes cats climb into tiny spaces? Why do they sleep that much? And, most of all, how can we give them a good life? They may seem low-maintenance but thoughtfulness about where you put their water, how warm or cool they like to be, what name to choose and how to groom them properly will make a life-changing difference.

With understanding, affection and respect, your cat will be healthier and very content. I don’t know about you, but that makes me very happy…

My review

From the calming, healing effect of a cat’s purr to the hunting instinct to terrible puns (my favorite is “hiss”terical), Kleve’s very sweet picture book of cats will surely please all feline fans. 

Essentially a coffee table book in print, lovely photographs accompany fun facts, cat commentary, and pithy sayings such as “Time spent with cats is never wasted.” Allergies? You might be surprised to learn about an intriguing study from the National Institutes of Health.

This is a surefire fun book especially for family trivia night, or simply to spout a fact to impress your friends or colleague. Thoroughly enjoyable and great gift.

About the Author

Sharon Kleve was born and raised in Washington and currently lives on the Olympic Peninsula with her husband and two cats. When not writing, and working full-time, she can usually be found either curled up in her recliner with her cats and a good book or in the kitchen making baking sourdough bread or bagels.

Sharon is a multi-published author of contemporary romance published in eBook, paperback, on audio and translated into foreign languages. She has written New Adult and Romantic Suspense, but what brings her the most joy is writing Romantic Comedies.

She loves giving her characters the happily ever after they deserve--with a few laughs and maybe a few bumps and bruises along the way.


Friday, December 11, 2020

Virtually Yours at Christmas with Clare Revell

 



Virtually Yours at Christmas
Clare Revell

December 1, 2020, Holiday Christmas Extravaganza
Romantic novella from Pelican Book Group
99 cent special

buy on

About the Book
It All Began With A Typo...

While working from home, accountant Carlyle Stevenson is told to contact a client ASAP and berate her for not filing her accounts for several months. Since the request is urgent, Carlyle fires off the email and sits and waits for the client to answer the video conference. Too bad he sent the invite to the wrong person.

Being stuck at home is nothing new for Kristen Lawson. She usually works out of her garage or kitchen. She's in the middle of making a new batch of candles for her online business when she receives the email marked urgent. Even though it's not her accountancy firm, she clicks the link and begins the call.

What begins as an honest mistake blossoms into something more, but can a socially distanced relationship ever get real?

My review 
Finally! A very, very sweet short inspirational romance that is responsible during this nasty current 2020 pandemic. Finding your soulmate is tough enough…but during a stay-at-home order? Yikes!

Revell’s latest precious tale also features our favorite heroes and heroines from her charming British town where pretty much everybody knows somebody who knows somebody, we meet a bookkeeper working mostly from home who types in a wrong email. Who knew there were two Kristens? And when the “wrong” Kristen answers Carlyle, it’s a call that goes in all the “right” directions…except for his tendency to keep showing up. And knowing things. Is Carlyle the real thing? Or just some creepy stalker…

Told through both of their viewpoints, Virtually Yours at Christmas is a sweet addition to the Headly Cross series. Love never gets old, no matter how you find it.My review

About the Author
Clare is a British author. She lives in a small town in England with her husband, whom she married in 1992, and her three children. Writing from a early childhood and encouraged by her teachers, she graduated from rewriting fairy stories through fanfiction to using her own original characters and enjoys writing an eclectic mix of romance, crime fiction and children's stories. When she's not writing, she can be found reading, crocheting or doing the many piles of laundry the occupants of her house manage to make.

Her books are based in the UK, with a couple of exceptions, thus, although the spelling may be American, the books contain British language and terminology.
The first draft of every novel is hand written.

She has been a Christian for more than half her life. She goes to Carey Baptist where she is one of four registrars.

She can be found at:
http://www.revell124.plus.com/clarerevell/
https://www.facebook.com/ClareRevellAuthor
https://twitter.com/ClareRevell
http://telscha.blogspot.co.uk/


Tuesday, December 8, 2020

A New Hope for Christmas

 


A New Hope for Christmas

Erin Stevenson

PBGroup Christmas Holiday Extravaganza

Holiday romance, 89 pp Ebook

Dec 1, 2020

 $2.99

Buy on Amazon, BN, Publisher book store

About the Book

This Christmas, Two Lost and Broken Families Need Restoration.
Sam Jarrett was just starting to explore spiritual things when his world was shattered. Now, he's completely turned his back on God. Laura Preston is a devoted believer, leaning heavily on her faith to get her through each tortured day.

Sam battles God's prodding through Laura's gentle, caring spirit. When another tragedy strikes on Christmas Eve, Sam is sure that God has completely deserted him. Laura tries to show Sam that God loves him and has been there all the time, but how can Sam trust when he has no faith?

A New Hope for Christmas is a story of restored faith in a God who never leaves us, even when we can't see or feel Him near.

 

My Review

If you’re like me, an easy crier, you’ll love this short, inspirational holiday romance. By the end of chapter two, it’s a wonder whether life can go on for these two hurting souls. A loving dog, their kids, and a precious set of grandparents attempt to guide these fragile hearts back into the light of healing and faith. In the spirit of Christmas, sometimes the best advice is what the pastor teaches Laura and her daughter about how to get through one day at a time: find one thing to be thankful for, and one person to help. But how can they help the thoroughly heart-broken Sam and his young son? Told in alternating viewpoints, this gentle story is sure to touch every romance reader’s heart.

 

About the Author

Writing is like breathing to Erin. Stories are running through her mind during most of her waking hours, and by the time she sits down at the computer, the words flow and time ceases to exist. Erin was raised in Illinois and has lived in many places in the U.S., including on both coasts, but is a Midwest girl at heart. She spent many years as an educator from pre-school through college levels, and currently works in training and internal communications for a major global corporation. When she's not writing, Erin loves spending time with her children and grandchildren, and playing in the garden (which equates to mostly pulling weeds) at her central Iowa home. Her secret indulgence is plain M&Ms.