Dressed for Death (A Drew Farthering Mystery) by Julianna Deering

Book Description:  Drew and Madeline Farthering celebrate their six-month anniversary by attending a fancy Regency era costume party. Drew is glad to see Talbot Cummins, an Oxford classmate, and his fiancée, Alice Henley, though many present seem worried about the couple. Everyone's concerns are realized when, at the concluding grand ball, Alice dies of an overdose of cocaine. Tal refuses to believe she took the stuff intentionally, and Drew is determined to find out if her death was an accident or murder.

Drew is shocked and disillusioned when the police arrest Tal's father and reveal that the man has been smuggling drugs into the country for the past twenty years. Reeling from the death of his fiancée and the revelation about his father, Tal begs Drew to find out what's going on. Drew, now questioning his own ability to see people as they really are, does so reluctantly, not ready for the secrets he's about to uncover--or the danger he'll bring down on everyone he holds dear.

My Thoughts: Yay!  Another Drew Fathering Mystery!  After reading each of the Drew Fathering mysteries I have found that although each book is a stand alone story it is a wise reader who reads these Drew Farthing mysteries in order.  

In this story Drew and Madeline are married and celebrating six months by attending a Regency era costume party.  Oh, What a party this turns out to be!

At the party Drew sees an Oxford college classmate, Talbot (Tal) Cummins and his fiancee, Alice Henley.  

As the party comes to the grand ball Alice keels over, she dies.  Evidence points out that Alice took cocaine.  This is where the mystery begins for Drew.  Tal's dad is arrested for drug trafficking.  Tal is in shock about the whole picture...his dead fiancee and a dad who is into drugs.  Tal begs Drew to investigate.

As Drew begins to investigate secret up on secret is revealed.  Funny how truth brings secrets to light.

All of the Drew Farthering mysteries are wonderful!  But this British cozy mystery is one of Juliana Deering's best!  What a read!

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House*

The other Drew Farthing mysteries:

• 
  
• Series: A Drew Farthering Mystery
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (March 1, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076421411X
• ISBN-13: 978-0764214110

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

Just in time for Easter!  Oh!So!Good!  {From Pinterest}

Cookies:
1 18 oz box white cake mix with pudding in the mix
2/3 cup flour
2 large eggs
1/3 cup canola oil
2 T sour cream (I used reduced fat)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  In a large mixing bowl, stir together cake mix and flour.  Add eggs, oil and sour cream and mix on medium speed until incorporated.  Batter will be fairly stiff.  Use a cookie scoop or roll into approximately one inch balls and bake on a baking sheet lined with a Silpat or parchment paper.  This will help keep the bottoms of the cookies from browning.  Use the heel of your hand or a glass dusted with sugar to gently flatten cookies to about a half inch thick.  You don't want the bottoms to be browned or you've overbaked these.  Bake approximately ten minutes until just set.  Let cool about one minute on the pan and then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.

Frosting:
1/2 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 T heavy cream
1 T vanilla extract
3-4 cups powdered sugar
1 T meringue powder
Food coloring or sprinkles as desired

Beat butter on medium speed for about two minutes until smooth.  Add cream and vanilla and beat about one more minute to incorporate.  Add sugar, one cup at a time mixing on low speed until incorporated until you reach the desired consistency.  Add meringue powder  (this will help your frosting crust so that you can stack the cookies without smearing your frosting all over the place, I use a sheet of wax or parchment paper in between layers).  You want the frosting to be fairly stiff so that it doesnt run off your cookies.  Frost cooled cookies and decorate as desired.  Store cookies in an airtight container.

{Kregel Blog Tour} The Jazz Files (Poppy Denby Investigates #1) by Fiona Veitch Smith

Book Description:  Introducing Poppy Denby, a young journalist in London during the Roaring Twenties, investigating crime in the highest social circles!

In 1920, twenty-two year old Poppy Denby moves from Northumberland to live with her paraplegic aunt in London. Aunt Dot, a suffragette who was injured in battles with the police in 1910, is a feisty and well-connected lady.

Poppy has always dreamed of being a journalist, and quickly lands a position as an editorial assistant at the Daily Globe. Then one of the paper's writers, Bert Isaacs, dies suddenly--and messily. Poppy and her attractive co-worker, photographer Daniel Rokeby begin to wonder if it wasn't a natural death, but murder.

After she writes a sensational exposé, The Globe's editor invites her to dig deeper. Poppy starts sifting through the dead man's files and unearths a major mystery which takes her to France--and into deadly danger.

My Thoughts:  Ohhh!  A new series and an new author!  Love at first read!  

The Roaring Twenties, mystery, and  young journalist.

The Jazz Files, Poppy Denby Investigates, is about a young lady in the 20's who moves to London to be with her paraplegic aunt.  Poppy's (don't you just love her name) parents think she is going to help Aunt Dot and live with her as a sort of companion.  Little do her parents know that Aunt Dot used that "companion thing" as a ruse because she wants Poppy to have a career and a go at life. 

And, oh, Aunt Dot was a suffragette. But Poppy feels she is deceiving her parents.  But not to worry...

Poppy answers an ad in the paper to be an editorial assistant and lands the job.

This is where the mystery comes...one of the paper's ends up dead and it ain't pretty dead.  Poppy and her ever so handsome co-worker decide that this wasn't a natural death and decides to write a sensational expose, which get the attention of the editor who then tells Poppy to dig deeper.  

As Poppy goes through the dead man's files, a  mystery evolves and takes her into France and deadly danger.  

What a mystery!  Loved this read!  

No spoilers!  This one book you'll want to read for yourself!  

*This book was provided for review by Kregel Publications*

• Series: Poppy Denby Investigates
• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Lion Fiction (November 27, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1782641750
• ISBN-13: 978-1782641759

An Amish Market by An Amish Market: Four Novellas by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Kelly Irvin, Vannetta Chapman

Book Description:  

All the color and variety of a quaint Amish shop in a charming collection of novellas by four of your favorite authors. Feel free to come in and browse!

Love Birds by Amy Clipston

While Ellie Lapp and her mother are still mourning the loss of her brother, Seth, Ellie starts working at one of the gift shops in town. Seth’s friend Lloyd is talented at carving wooden birds, but his father disapproves and expects him to take over the family farm someday. Ellie sees the beauty in Lloyd’s creations and insists Lloyd sell the birds in the gift shop where she works. As Ellie and Lloyd spend more time together, they begin to develop feelings for one another, but she accidentally betrays his trust. Will she lose any hope of a future with him?

A Bid for Love by Kathleen Fuller

Every week, Hannah Lynne brings her home-churned butter to the local market. And every week Ezra stops by to purchase some. Hannah Lynne knows not to read too much into it—Ezra is a confirmed bachelor and barely even glances her way, despite any hope to the contrary. But when Ezra bids an exorbitant amount to win the quilt she had her heart set on, Hannah Lynne can’t stop her heart from taking over her mind. Could Ezra finally be in the market for love?

Sweeter Than Honey by Kelly Irvin

Shattering a jar of pickled beets wasn’t the impression Isabella hoped to make on her first trip to the local Combination Store of Bee County, Texas. But as embarrassed as she was by the accident, she didn’t think it warranted the frosty reaction from the handsome manager of the store, Will Glick. As she soon learns, though, Will’s heart has been broken one too many times. And now, for some reason, Isabella finds herself determined to be the one to repair that broken heart and renew his faith in love.

Love in Store by Vannetta Chapman

Stella Schrock works at the Old Mill in Nappanee, Indiana, with new employee David Stoltzfus, a recent widower. When strange happenings begin occurring around town, it appears as if someone wants to close the mill. Stella and David have to work together to solve the mystery of what is happening at the Old Amish Mill, and in the process they might just find that God has more in store for their future than they would ever have dreamed possible

My Thoughts:  It's so nice to receive a book that has four novellas.  Sometimes, a reader just wants a short, light read instead of the whole novel.  And this book An Amish Market is all that.

Love Birds by Amy Clipston is the first story.  Ellie and Lloyd have trials but persevere through enduring love.  A sweet romantic story.

A Bid for Love by Kathleen Fuller is a fun story.  It seems that Ezra needs a "light" to go on to see his love for Hannah.  Hannah and Ezra are the sweetest, awkward souls that make a couple.

Sweeter Than Honey by Kelly Irvin is all about Bee County.  This Will's story. It is fun to read how Isabella helps Will adjust and overcome resentments from his past.

Love in Store by Vannetta Chapman is about an "older" couple, David and Stella, as they navigate around a mystery in their workplace.  Stella is not a likable character but Mrs. Chapman does an excellent job of showing the bitterness behind Stella's facade.

Four wonderful stories from four of my favorite authors. 

Any reader who enjoys Amish fiction and short stories will love this book!  

Makes a great gift, too!

*This book was provided for review by the Thomas Nelson Fiction Guild*

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (February 2, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0529118688
• ISBN-13: 978-0529118684

CONNECT WITH THE AUTHORS:

Amy Clipston – website, Twitter, Facebook

Kathleen Fuller – website, Twitter, Facebook

Kelly Irvin – website, Facebook

Vannetta Chapman –  website, blog, Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Goodreads.

COTT {Clash of the Titles} February Release Champion!!

February Release Champion!!

Let's hear it for this week's clash winner, A WORTHY HEART! Way to go, Susan! 

Here's what her readers are saying:

A Worthy Heart by Susan Anne Mason is on the already at the top of my TBR!!

Love love love Susan Mason books! Can't wait for the next one!

Susan Anne Mason's historical fiction has well developed stories and fascinating characters. I hate it when they end! 

On top of the beautiful stories in Susan Anne Mason's Courage to Dream series, they are also some of the most intriguing and gorgeous book covers. I'm very excited to read the second book in this series.

As her readers know, there's so much more to this book than an intriguing blurb and a beautiful picture on the front. Let's peek behind the cover and learn a little more about it.

Susan, what was your inspiration for this book? 

I guess the loose inspiration was the biblical story of the prodigal son. Adam personifies the prodigal son who betrays his father with a life of sin and returns home with nothing, willing to work at the lowest job in the stables. Yet unlike the prodigal son in the Bible, Adam is not met with joy from his father, but rather anger and distrust — which puts a whole new spin on the story. And, of course, adds great conflict! 

Talk about the theme. What can readers hope to learn from reading this novel? 

I believe the theme is worthiness. Adam struggles with feelings of unworthiness because of his past mistakes. During his prison stay, the prison chaplain rekindles Adam’s faith and allows him to believe he is a worthy child of God. Even so, Adam’s main goal upon his release from prison is to prove his worthiness to his mother and father in order to earn back their respect. Once he meets Maggie, however, he longs to be worthy of her heart, a goal that seems impossible given all the obstacles in their way. 

Interested? Here's the full description:

The answer to Maggie Montgomery's dream of seeing America has arrived at just the right time. Not only will she be reunited with her beloved brother Rylan, but she'll finally be able to escape Neill Fitzgerald and his increasingly unwanted attentions. She's intent on never returning to Ireland, hoping to build her future in the land of opportunity and perhaps find the love of her life. 

While visiting Irish Meadows, she meets an intriguing man she thinks is a stable hand. Only when her brother demands she stay away from Adam O'Leary does she learn he's Rylan's brother-in-law, recently released from prison. Nonetheless, Maggie can't seem to make her stubborn heart conform to her brother's request.

Adam O'Leary has never felt worthy of his place in the family. Now a free man, Adam's only desire is to earn back his family's trust. Falling in love with the newly arrived Maggie, however, was never in his plans. Despite everyone's efforts to keep them apart, the two develop a bond it seems nothing can break--but they soon discover the past isn't easy to overcome.

ABOUT SUSAN: 

Susan Anne Mason describes her writing style as “romance sprinkled with faith.” She loves incorporating inspirational messages of God’s unconditional love and forgiveness into her characters’ journeys. A Worthy Heart is her second historical novel in the Courage to Dream series. Irish Meadows won the Fiction from the Heartland contest sponsored by the Mid-American Romance Authors chapter of RWA. 

Susan lives outside Toronto, Ontario, with her husband, two children, and two cats. She loves red wine and chocolate, is not partial to snow even though she’s Canadian, and is ecstatic on the rare occasions she has the house to herself. In addition to writing, Susan likes to research her family history on-line, and occasionally indulges in scrapbooking. Learn more about Susan and her books at www.susanannemason.com.

People can contact me through my website:
http://www.susanannemason.com/

Or my author page on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/susan.anne.mason.333/

The English Son: The Amish Millionaire by Wanda E. Brunstetter (Author), Jean Brunstetter (Author)

Book Description:  Meet businessman Joel Byler who has gotten himself into a financial bind and his eccentric, wealthy Amish father who is done bailing out his spoiled son. When will Joel learn he most pay for his own mistakes—and at what cost to his business, his fiancée, and his Amish siblings?

My Thoughts:  I was so excited to receive this new six part serial novel in the mail from authors Wanda E. & Jean Brunstetter.  

I have been waiting for this mini novel to make it's appearance on the book shelves.  

Joel Byler has decided that he needs to see the world so he decides to leave his Amish roots and go to the city.  

Much like the prodigal son story in the Bible, Joel too squanders his money and is left with nothing. 

He misses his home and wonders if his father would give another cash loan?  

An interesting beginning to the Amish Millionaire serials.  

My only complaint is that the books are only 124 pages long and then it's another month before the next issue.  

Ahhh! the life of a reader.  {smile}

I love this story....an Amish millionaire?!?!?  

To be honest I have never thought about the Amish bering millionaires.  

I guess the Amish didn't need much money because they grow and can everything or build it by themselves.  But being people I realized they have needs outside of the things they can't make, like tennis shoes or carriages. So, I love the way Wanda and Jean have portrayed a different line of thought in Amish life!  

*This book was generously provided for review by the author*

• Series: The Amish Millionaire (Book 1)
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Shiloh Run Press (March 1, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1634092031
• ISBN-13: 978-1634092036

The Princess Twins and the Tea Party (I Can Read! / Princess Twins Series) by Mona Hodgson (Author) & Julie Olson (Illustrator)

Book Description:  A lesson in humility. In this Level-One I Can Read, Princess Emma runs around the castle making sure everything is perfect for the Spring Tea. She tries to tell the baker how to make the cake. She refolds the napkins. And she shoos Puppy out of the way. When her friends arrive, she learns that only God is perfect, and the real point of the day is to enjoy her friends.

This age and reading level appropriate story teaches girls what it means to be a princess for the true King.  

My Thoughts:  It's been awhile since I've read and reviewed a children's book. So, I decided since my sister is pregnant with twins and we're not sure what their gender is, that I would read them a book about The Princess Twins and the Tea Party.  

First of all, I love the I Can Read books.  Not only are these books easy for young readers to sound out and read but young readers can comprehend the story line well, too.

Secondly, the illustrations are bright and colorful and go along with the story.

Thirdly, the is just a plain fun story with a christian moral for young girls.  

This is a win-win book for any young reader!

Love this book for our twins but it's also a great book for girls who aren't twins.

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
• Grade Level: Preschool - 3
• Series: I Can Read! / Princess Twins Series
• Paperback: 32 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz; Gld edition (March 1, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310750385
• ISBN-13: 978-0310750383