Indie Weekend is my effort to help Indie Authors with marketing. Marketing is probably the biggest task authors have, and if I can help even a little, I’m happy to do it. You can help too by sharing this far and wide with your social media followers. Indie authors will appreciate that SO MUCH. Below please see my review of A Tryst in Paris, a time travel romance by Anne Armistead.
BOOK DESCRIPTION (FROM THE AUTHOR)
When Mirabelle Montgomery visits the Luxembourg Carousel in Paris, a mysterious time shifter sweeps her into the Carousel’s time travel vortex and transports her to 1900 Paris. Her return will be allowed once she completes her mission to restore a man’s fate gone wrong. But whose?
Upon meeting dangerously sexy Jacques Thibaut, Mirabelle believes she has found her man. His life’s purpose as a stellar police detective has been derailed by accusations of his plotting with anarchists to overthrow the French government.
If she proves Jacques to be innocent, his life will be reset to its rightful providence. He will win back his job and those who once believed in him, including the woman he planned to marry. Mirabelle’s determination to complete her mission kindles passion between them. But their falling in love will jeopardize everything, for his true destiny does not include her. Besides, even if her heart desires, she cannot remain in 1900 Paris . . . can she?
Join Mirabelle Montgomery and her adventures as a time traveler in Paris of the past. A Tryst in Paris is Book One of The Carousel Time Traveler series.
BOOK REVIEW
This is a time travel romance that is set in 1900 Paris and takes us to the Exposition Universelle, also known as the 1900 Paris Exposition. The descriptions of the Exposition definitely made me feel transported there and the author has researched this well. The Second Olympics of modern times are also going on as part of the Exposition, which is something I learned from this book. One of the things I require from historical fiction is that I learn something, and this book did not disappoint. The main character, Mirabelle Montgomery, is compelling and her time travel adventure is captivating.
As always, every time travel novel needs a method of travel and a set of rules implemented by the author. The method is fantasy-based, involving a mysterious man and a carousel. The rules of time travel in this book are simple. Mirabelle is told upfront that she is being sent back to correct and restore a man’s fate. The butterfly effect, a popular time travel theme, is very important here. It states that the smallest flap of a butterfly’s wing can cause big changes in consequent events. In this novel, history has been changed, Mirabelle is sent back to correct this, and she is not allowed to leave until she has done so. That is the main rule.
In some ways, the time travel is too easy. When Mirabelle arrives, she is miraculously dressed for the period and can speak French, although she didn’t know how to speak it before. That makes her transition to 1900s France much too simple, in my opinion. A difficult period of adjustment would have further elevated the book. The ending of the book is also tied up a little too neatly.
There are hints of romance and bits of history woven throughout this novel in ways that fans of historical romance will enjoy. There are elements of the supernatural and a surprise that I appreciated. Overall, this is a satisfying mix of fantasy, history, romance, thriller, and time travel that readers will love.
My rating is 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5 on sites with no partial star option.
I downloaded this book via Kindle Unlimited, where subscribers can read it for free.
*If you read the book, please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books. Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.
*Please click on the “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter, Facebook, and WordPress followers. A little bit of help from all of us will help Indie authors go a long way!
It’s been a long week of work and some reading. Not as much as I’d like, of course. Doug and our three dachshunds are coming home today. He’s been in Bryson City working on the house, so it will be nice to be back together for a while until the next renovation trip.
Doug’s birthday was last week but he wasn’t here, so we’re celebrating it today. Happy 60th birthday, Doug!
LAST WEEK ON THE BLOG
Monday I did three one-line reviews of The Bakery at Clamshell Bay, The Dead Shall Weep, and So Long as It’s Wild.
I have plans to do full reviews of A Tryst in Paris, A Case of the Bleus, and A Traitor in Whitehall. I will participate in Top Ten Tuesday and Book Blogger Hop if time permits.
BOOK HAUL
The Berlin Letters is set during the Cold War. A Christmas Vanishing may be the last Christmas novella by the late Anne Perry, unless she had more written before her death. Sisters of Fortune is set on the Titanic. I’m looking forward to all of them.
Indie Weekend is my effort to help Indie Authors with marketing. Marketing is probably the biggest task authors have, and if I can help even a little, I’m happy to do it. You can help too by sharing this far and wide with your social media followers. Indie authors will appreciate that SO MUCH. Below please see my review of Exodus Team: New Roads by B.E. Bogdon.
BOOK DESCRIPTION
For Maj Newhouse, life revolves around her faith, her friends, Aimee and Kevin Cole, and her projects at the old barn–but that was before Jason Knight walked through the door. The handsome businessman from Chicago has a problem; he has staked his career on rehabilitating a haunted hotel. An encounter with Kevin has led him to the old barn, and Maj is shocked to learn that Knight expects to hire her and her friends as exorcists for his property! Will Maj’s distrust of the charming stranger and her own self-doubt cripple the newly formed Exodus Team before it starts?
BOOK TRAILER
BOOK REVIEW
What an interesting concept: A team of Christian paranormal investigators! This is a winning idea that the author can take in many different directions. The scripture used is sound. I especially love the way that Maj, Aimee, and Kevin use their strong biblical knowledge, prayer, and spiritual gifts to decide on their course of action. The main battle was epic and reminded me of the way Frank Peretti brings the spiritual world to the forefront in some of his work. I do have to say the wait for the battle was too long. The book moves more slowly in the first half, and I think a remedy to that is to have the trio take on more than one client because there needs to be action throughout the book. I hope the author decides to do that in future books, because I will be reading them.
This new adult adventure takes scripture in real and exciting directions and shows the power of The Holy Spirit. Christians interested in prayer and spiritual warfare will enjoy this book.
MORE ABOUT SPIRITUAL WARFARE:
Ephesians 10 – 18 (NKJV)
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the [a]wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of [b]the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BEBogdon is a Christian entertainer from the Midwest whose passion for writing began with a love for reading. Although a newly published author, Bogdon has been telling stories for years. Through involvement in theater, film, commercial, and voice-over work, she has had the opportunity to breathe life into the written word, and as an avid daydreamer, she is thrilled to see those dreams finally settle onto the printed page.
*If you read the book, please leave reviews on Amazon and Goodreads, as well as anywhere else you review books. Some people feel very daunted by writing a review. Don’t worry. You do not have to write a masterpiece. Just a couple of lines about how the book made you feel will make the author’s day and help the book succeed. The more reviews a book has, the more Amazon will promote it.
*Please click on the “share” buttons below and share these books with your Twitter, Facebook, and WordPress followers. A little bit of help from all of us will help Indie authors go a long way!
Book Blogger Hop is hosted by the Coffee Addicted Writer. There is a new bookish question every week.
Absolutely. Reading the Bible led me to Christ and gives me hope and inspiration. Reading certain authors gives me new ideas and fresh perspectives. Re-reading some books reunites me with old friends. Reading is a huge part of my life.
Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.
The list below includes my ten favorite books I’m reading this fall. They do not necessarily have to be fall-themed. The list is in no particular order, and the book descriptions are from Netgalley.
Inheritance is the first in The Lost Bride Trilogy by #1 New York Times bestselling author Nora Roberts—a tale of tragedies, loves found and lost, and a family haunted for generations.
1806: Astrid Poole sits in her bridal clothes, overwhelmed with happiness. But before her marriage can be consummated, she is murdered, and the circle of gold torn from her finger. Her last words are a promise to Collin never to leave him…
Graphic designer Sonya MacTavish is stunned to learn that her late father had a twin he never knew about—and that her newly discovered uncle, Collin Poole, has left her almost everything he owned, including a majestic Victorian house on the Maine coast, which the lawyer admits is a “little” haunted.
It’s the summer of 1959 and the Palace of Versailles is hosting an event that will make history. It is an exclusive dusk-to-dawn ball in which a select group of American and French debutantes will be presented to international society and royalty. Four young women, all with something to prove, receive what some see as the invitation of a lifetime.
An epic story of love, betrayal, and art that spans decades, through the horrors of World War II to 21st century America, inspired by an actual porcelain factory in Dachau.
Two lovers caught at the crossroads of history. A daughter’s search for the truth.
Germany, 1929. At a festive gathering of young bohemians in Weimar, two young artists, Max, a skilled Jewish architect, and Bettina, a celebrated avant-garde painter, are drawn to each other and begin a whirlwind romance. Their respective talents transport them to the dazzling lights of Berlin, but this bright beginning is quickly dimmed by the rising threat of Nazism. Max is arrested and sent to the concentration camp at Dachau where only his talent at making exquisite porcelain figures stands between him and seemingly certain death. Desperate to save her lover, Bettina risks everything to rescue him and escape Germany.
America, 1993. Clara, Bettina’s daughter, embarks on a journey to trace her roots and determine the identity of her father, a secret her mother has kept from her for reasons she’s never understood. Clara’s quest to piece together the puzzle of her origins transports us back in time to the darkness of Nazi Germany, where life is lived on a razor’s edge and deception and death lurk around every corner. Survival depends on strength, loyalty, and knowing true friend from hidden foe. And as Clara digs further, she begins to question why her mother was so determined to leave the truth of her harrowing past behind…
The Porcelain Maker is a powerful novel of enduring love and courage in the face of appalling brutality as a daughter seeks to unlock the mystery of her past.
When Lady Petra Forsyth’s fiancé and soulmate dies just weeks ahead of their wedding, she makes the shocking proclamation—in front of London’s loosest lips—that she will never remarry. A woman of independent means, Petra sees no reason to cede her wealth and freedom to any man now that the love of her life has passed, nor does she intend to become confined to her country home. Instead, she uses her title to gain access to elite spaces and enjoy the best of society without expectations.
n 2012, art historian Gwen Morris travels to England’s Lake District to appraise the paintings and antiques of an old family friend, hoping to prove herself to her prestigious grandfather. While at Longdale Manor, she meets David Bradford–the owner’s handsome grandson–who is desperate to save the crumbling estate by turning it into a luxury hotel. When Gwen stumbles upon a one-hundred-year-old journal and an intricately carved shepherd’s staff similar to one in a photo of her parents, she’s left searching for answers.
In 1912, after her father’s death, Charlotte Harper uncovers a painful family secret she can only confess to her journal. She and her family travel to the Lake District to stay on a sheep farm, hoping eventually to find a home with Charlotte’s grandfather at Longdale Manor, but old wounds and bitter regrets make it a difficult challenge. As Charlotte grows closer to shepherd Ian Storey and rebuilds her shattered faith, she must decide whether she will ever trust in love again.
From miniature donkeys to enormous draft horses, from regal Arabian stallions to sassy Shetland ponies, horses and other equines bring us delight and comfort whenever we encounter them. Even more so, perhaps, when humans and horses are brought together through a rescue. Whether someone has started a rescue ranch on purpose or circumstances align to match up the right horse with the right person, stories of second chances warm our hearts and restore our hope.
England in 1932 is in the grip of the Great Depression. Author of a much-loved but not very successful biography, Stella Douglas is a bit depressed herself. When she’s summoned to see her editor in London, she dreads being told her writing career is over before it’s even started.
But much to her surprise, she finds she is being commissioned to write a history of food in England and how the English like to eat. It’s to be quintessentially English and will remind English housewives of the old ways, and English men of the glory of their country. The publishers hope such a book will lift the spirits of the nation.
The only problem is—all English food is actually quite terrible (and anything good is from elsewhere).
So Stella sets about inviting recipes from all corners of England, in the hope of discovering a hidden culinary gem. But what she discovers is oatcakes and gravy and lots and lots of potatoes.
Longing for something more thrilling, she heads off to speak to the nation’s housewives. But when her car breaks down and the dashing and charismatic antiques dealer Freddie springs to her rescue, she is led in a very different direction…
Full of wit, life, and—against all odds—delicious food, Good Taste is a story of discovery and one woman’s desire to make her own way as a modern woman.
International resort developer Nigel Goodwin has traveled all the way from London, England to Misty Murphy’s little corner of North Carolina and bought out the Mountaintop Lodge for the week prior to Christmas. Their intention? To pitch an exclusive new resort concept to wealthy American investors.
But locals are at odds over the idea, and when a group comes to the lodge to express their worries to Mr. Goodwin and the potential investors, a blizzard hits Beech Mountain. Like the weather outside, things quickly get frosty, and Misty has to call local police to intervene. Handyman Rocky Crowder plows the lodge’s drive and, in an attempt to regain a jovial holiday atmosphere, smooths the snow pile into a makeshift sledding hill for the guests to enjoy.
Misty’s boys have finished their exams and are “home” from college for the winter break, planning to spend most of their time snowboarding at the ski resort. While taking a few runs down Rocky’s sledding hill, they discover a funny-looking, nose-shaped rock. Only it’s not a rock. It’s the frozen nose of Nigel Goodwin, who’s found dead and buried under the mound of snow.
Who put the developer on ice and why?
1861, Donegal, Ireland
Ten years ago Declan Conaghan’s father died in the Great Famine, and since then, Declan has kept his promise to keep his family out of the workhouse. But all that is threatened with the arrival of new landlord, John Adair. Adair is quick to cause trouble and fear among his tenants. When he turns them off his land, Declan has no option but to break his promise…
Declan is in despair until he receives a letter from America offering him the chance of a new life and salvation for his family. But it would mean signing up to the US Army and fighting for Lincoln. Despite knowing nothing of war, or US politics, Declan leaves behind all he knows.
Set against the wild landscapes of Ireland and the turbulent times of the American Civil War, this sweeping narrative takes us on an epic journey to understand the strength and endurance of the human spirit.
1940, England: Evelyne Redfern, known as “The Parisian Orphan” as a child, is working on the line at a munitions factory in wartime London. When Mr. Fletcher, one of her father’s old friends, spots Evelyne on a night out, Evelyne finds herself plunged into the world of Prime Minister Winston Churchill’s cabinet war rooms.
However, shortly after she settles into her new role as a secretary, one of the girls at work is murdered, and Evelyne must use all of her amateur sleuthing expertise to find the killer. But doing so puts her right in the path of David Poole, a cagey minister’s aide who seems determined to thwart her investigations. That is, until Evelyne finds out David’s real mission is to root out a mole selling government secrets to Britain’s enemies, and the pair begrudgingly team up.
With her quick wit, sharp eyes, and determination, will Evelyne be able to find out who’s been selling England’s secrets and catch a killer, all while battling her growing attraction to David?
How about you? What is on your reading list this fall?
I’m going to do something different since I’m trying to catch up after work, travel, and other commitments put me behind. Here are three one-line reviews. If you click on the cover, it will take you to the Amazon link. Enjoy.
This mashup of fantasy and alternate history brings so much magic and action to the story that the reader will not be able to breathe, much less stop reading.
This is a heartwarming story that is a good comfort read as Cleo, the 50ish owner of a bakery, starts really living her life after divorce.
Barbara Jenkins shares the real story behind the famous walk across America she took with her former husband, Peter, and the unvarnished truth is a lot more interesting than the media portrayal.
I received all three of these books from the publishers via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
Izzy has always been adamant about not wanting children. Her husband, Luke, had also agreed with this stance until one fateful day when he reveals that he wants to have a child.
Izzy is thrown into a difficult situation as she must decide whether to compromise on her beliefs and have a child or not. She begins to question her own desires, plans for the future and, most importantly, her relationship with Luke. A compelling story that explores personal growth, self-discovery, and the importance of communication in a relationship. It highlights the struggles of deciding whether to have children and how tha
Book Review
This is a very short novella about the possible breakdown of a marriage over one important issue: Having children. It is told from the wife’s point of view and goes through her struggles to deal with a question that she thought was long resolved. It is very short and simply told. People who struggle with the question of whether or not they want children will benefit from reading this story.
I feel that a lot more could have been said, and a dual perspective from both spouses may have worked better.
My rating is 3.5 stars, rounded up to 4 on sites with no half-star option.
I received a free copy of this book from Zooloo’s Book Tours. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
About the Author
P Robertson currently lives and works in Edinburgh. Her love of books began at an early age when she would visit the local library every weekend. Despite other interests, such as sports, becoming more of a focus as she grew older, her love for books always remained. One of her favourite things is to curl up on the sofa with a big blanket and a new book, completely unplugging from the outside world.
As a child-free woman, she struggled to identify with most of the female characters in the stories she read. So, she decided to write her own stories, ‘Crossroads’ being one of them, hoping to reach other childfree adults who might feel the same.
I love this topic this week. Top Ten Character Relationships. These do not have to be romantic relationships. They can be relationships between friends, family, pets, etc.
10. Laura and Pa Ingalls. The greatest father/daughter relationship on the prairie. Pa and Half-Pint.
9. Aslan and Lucy. In the Chronicles of Narnia, Aslan helps all the Pevensies. But He and Lucy are the closest, probably because she believes in Narnia the most.
8. Max, Markham, and Peterson. In The Chronicles of St. Mary’s, these three friends always find themselves in the most danger, and the most trouble, as they hop around the timeline protecting history.
7. Elizabeth Bennett and Mr. Darcy: The original enemies to lovers.
6. Dan B. Davis and Petronius the Arbiter (Pete). My favorite book ever, The Door into Summer, stars a man who has been wronged and his faithful cat, Pete. Pete is always looking for the door into summer.
5. Enola Holmes and Sherlock Holmes. This is a newer book series by Nancy Springer, but I’m already a fan of the brother/sister relationship between Enola and Sherlock.
4. Anne Shirley and Diana Barry: The “bosom friends” from childhood in Anne of Green Gables.
3. Harry, Ron, and Hermione. Three friends who helped save the wizarding world.
2. Harry and Dumbledore. Their relationship had almost a grandfather/grandson vibe that I loved.
1. Frodo and Sam: The greatest friendship in one of the greatest book series of all time.
That’s my top ten. What character relationships are your favorite?
As we welcome the Rowe family to our beautiful clifftop hotel, a shadow passes over my husband’s face. In that moment I see it: my husband is hiding a terrible secret. Has he put us all in danger?
Mark and I pride ourselves on giving visitors to our hotel, high on the rugged Maine cliffs with views of the ocean, a vacation they won’t forget. But the Rowes are strangely over-familiar when they arrive with their teenage daughter. The wife puts a hand on Mark’s forearm and her husband meets my eyes with a knowing look as I hold my little son tight. They gush that they loved their previous stay here… But I’m certain I’ve never seen them before.
Mark reassures me that the Rowes are just being friendly. We have so many visitors, maybe we forgot meeting them. When I am locked in the master bedroom for over an hour, he later soothes my panic and says it was just an accident. But I know one of the Rowes was out in the hallway listening to me cry for help. I hear one of them whispering a lullaby to my baby on his monitor. I cannot trust these people.
But as the relentless icy rain gives way to the biggest blizzard of the season and we become cut off, I realize my son and I are trapped. Mark knows more about the Rowes than he’s letting on. I’ll do anything to protect my gorgeous baby boy. But how far will I have to go, to keep him safe?
The Hotel is a totally twisty locked-room thriller that you won’t be able to put down. Fans of Shalini Boland, Freida McFadden and Jeneva Rose will be glued to the pages!
BOOK REVIEW
This is a captivating thriller with so many surprises that you’ll be completely absorbed until the very last page. To say that some of the characters are not who they seem would be an understatement, and the author keeps us guessing throughout the book. The spine-tingling suspense with a tiny touch of “creepy” almost borrows a bit from the horror genre, but this is a thriller to the core. The setting in a B&B in Maine in the middle of a blizzard adds perfectly to that “trapped in” feeling. There are multiple points of view, and they work to give the story added dimension. When those perspectives are woven together, shocking secrets are slowly revealed.
Thriller fans will love this unpredictable, tension-filled novel.
I received a free copy of this book from Bookouture via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Emily Shiner always dreamed of becoming an author. After spending years devouring stacks of thrillers, she decided to try her hand at writing them herself. Now she gets to live out her dream of writing novels and sharing her stories with people around the world. She lives in the Appalachian Mountains and loves hiking with her husband, daughter, and their two dogs.
Things are finally coming together for Enola Holmes in May of 1890. She is living at the Professional Women’s Club, attending school, and no longer avoiding her two elder brothers, Sherlock and Mycroft. When a man named Ruddy bursts into the office of Enola’s alter ego, Dr. Leslie Ragostin, and demands his missing friend be found, Enola is on the case, even after Rudyard Kipling (Ruddy) finds out that Dr. Ragostin and Enola are one and the same. He makes it abundantly clear he is not interested in hiring a girl and soon hires Sherlock Holmes to find his friend, Wolcott Balestier. But Enola is not giving up yet.
This is another fantastic Enola Holmes adventure. It might be my favorite so far with the addition of the wonderfully wordy Rudyard Kipling as a supporting character. Their banter together is delightful and fun, as Kipling’s very imaginative insults do nothing to dull Enola’s profound confidence. The mystery is intriguing, and as always, Enola’s hijinks steal the show. She will stop at nothing to find Mr. Balestier, and that includes putting herself in elaborate disguises and dangerous situations. Sherlock’s appearances throughout the book give Enola a solid partner, and his sometimes amused disapproval will make you smile.
This fun and imaginative series will bring joy to everyone and is highly recommended.
I received a free copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press via Netgalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.
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