{Fiction Guild Blog Tour} The Witnesses by Robert Whitlow

Book Description:  Young lawyer Parker House is on the rise—until his grandfather’s mysterious past puts both of their lives in danger.

Parker House’s secret inheritance is either his greatest blessing . . . or his deadliest curse. The fresh-faced North Carolina attorney shares his German grandfather’s uncanny ability to see future events in his mind’s eye—a gift that has haunted 82-year-old Frank House through decades of trying to erase a murderous wartime past.

While Parker navigates the intrigue and politics of small-town courtroom law, Frank is forced to face his darkest regrets. Then, a big career break for Parker collides with a new love he longs to nurture and the nightmares his grandfather can no longer escape. Sudden peril threatens to shatter not only Parker’s legal prospects but also his life and the lives of those dearest to him.

Two witnesses, two paths, an uncertain future.

My Thoughts:  Oh, My!  What a read!  

It's been little while since Robert Whitlow has had a new story.  So, when I saw this book, The Witnesses, I grabbed it!

This story is all about a fresh.faced.new.lawyer.

Parker House is gaining ground as a wonderful lawyer....And then it all seems to unravel around the edges.  

Is it because of Parker's secret inheritance or because of his grandfather's mysterious past.

In a small town courtroom Parker tries to direct politics and dark secrets.

Of course, with so much going on in his life, Parker finds a woman of his dreams.  But can those dreams become nightmares.

This is one fantastic novel with quite a few twists and turns, romance sliced in the niches and a caring heart for an aging grandparent inter woven into the fabric of the story.

This is a great summer read!  Simply because you may need to stay up past your bedtime to finish it!

*This book was provided by The Fiction Guild/BookLook*

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (July 19, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 140168890X
• ISBN-13: 978-1401688905

{Fiction Guild Book Tour} Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Gray: A Novel by Dorothy Love

Book Description:  A general’s wife and a slave girl forge a friendship that transcends race, culture, and the crucible of Civil War.

Mary Anna Custis Lee is a great-granddaughter of Martha Washington, wife of Confederate General Robert E. Lee, and heiress to Virginia’s storied Arlington house and General Washington’s personal belongings.

Born in bondage at Arlington, Selina Norris Gray learns to read and write in the schoolroom Mary and her mother keep for the slave children and eventually becomes Mary’s housekeeper and confidante. As Mary’s health declines, Selina becomes her personal maid, strengthening a bond that lasts until death parts them.

Forced to flee Arlington at the start of the Civil War, Mary entrusts the keys to her beloved home to no one but Selina. When Union troops begin looting the house, it is Selina who confronts their commander and saves many of its historic treasures.

In a story spanning crude slave quarters, sunny schoolrooms, stately wedding parlors, and cramped birthing rooms, novelist Dorothy Love amplifies the astonishing true-life account of an extraordinary alliance and casts fresh light on the tumultuous years leading up to and through the wrenching battle for a nation’s soul.

A classic American tale, Mrs. Lee and Mrs. Gray is the first novel to chronicle this beautiful fifty-year friendship forged at the crossroads of America’s journey from enslavement to emancipation.

My Thoughts:    The  title of this book just didn't "grab" me but I've read other novels by Dorothy Love and I know that her books are quite interesting...so delved right into this new novel.

And I'm glad I did.  A very intriguing story based on true.to.life facts. 

Selina Gray, a slave, and Mary Custis Lee, her owner and the wife of General Robert E. Lee from a unique friendship the Mary takes Selina under her tutelage to teach the young girl to read.  

As they both grow and mature Selina yearns for freedom from slavery and Mary after her marriage to Robert E. Lee longs for her husband to be home more.  Mary basically rears their seven children on her own.  

While this novel is not full of suspense or action it does read well as a slower read that portrays a fifty year friendship between two women of different heritages. Thoughts, ideas and courage of women of integrity.

There is quite a bit of history between the pages of this read...a great for that historian or avid history buff.

*This book was provided for review by The Fiction Guild/BookLook*

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (June 14, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718042441
• ISBN-13: 978-0718042448

{Fiction Guild Book Tour} The Courtship Basket (An Amish Heirloom Novel) by Amy Clipston

Book Description:  Years ago, a picnic basket brought two hearts together. For Rachel and Mike, history may be about to repeat itself.

Rachel Fisher is devastated when the young man she’s loved for years leaves her to date her best friend. Her heart is broken, and she has all but given up on love. Determined to keep her mind off the pain, she starts teaching at an Amish school for children with learning disabilities.

Since his father became ill, Mike Lantz has been overwhelmed with the responsibility of providing for his family and caring for his six-year-old brother, John. When John joins Rachel’s class and she learns that his mother is deceased and his father sick, she desperately wants to help the family, even with something as simple as a meal.

With her parents’ old picnic basket, Rachel begins sending food to the Lantz family. As the weeks go by, John’s grades start to improve, and the attraction grows between Rachel and Mike. They can’t deny that their friendship is growing toward something more, but both of them are hesitant to risk a more serious relationship.

The last thing Rachel wants is another heartbreak, and Mike is worried about providing for his loved ones. Will the two be able to reconcile their past hurts with new hope for the future?

My Thoughts:    Amy Clipston is one of my favorite authors!   

In this wonderful read about a picnic basket and heart in love one finds that history sometimes, invariably, repeat itself.

Rachel Fisher is completely devastated when the young man that she is dating leaves her/breaks up with her to go with her best friend.  Her heart aches from broken promises.

But when Mike Lantz's father becomes ill and he is responsible for caring for his family it seems overwhelming.  But then Rachel begins to send food to the family in her parents' old picnic basket. Because that's what the Amish do . . . they help each other in times of crisis.

Well, as Mike's dad begins to recover and less responsibility is required of him, he begins to see Rachel.

But Rachel doesn't want heartbreak again.  

This is a fantastic story.  Yes, it is about the Amish but it is so well written that it grabs the reader attention.

Loved, loved this story!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Series: An Amish Heirloom Novel
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (June 28, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310342015
• ISBN-13: 978-0310342014

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

It's summer and it's HOT!  But the fun is just beginning with these s'mores! 

 I love the peanut butter cup s'mores!  {I found these on BettyCrocker.com!}

INGREDIENTS

8

graham cracker squares

2

milk chocolate candy bars (1.55-oz each), each halved

4

large marshmallows

4

long-handled forks

• On each of 4 graham cracker squares, place candy bar half.
• Spear each marshmallow on long-handled fork; toast over campfire coals or over grill with low heat.
• Place 1 toasted marshmallow on top of each chocolate bar. Top each with cracker; press together and hold for a few seconds to melt chocolate.

EXPERT TIPS

Mint S´Mores - Substitute chocolate-covered mint cookies for the crackers.

Peanut Butter S´Mores - Substitute chocolate-covered peanut butter cups for the candy bars.

Rainy Days S´Mores - Substitute marshmallow creme for the toasted marshmallows. Spread marshmallow creme on cracker tops.

Scotchie S´Mores - Substitute chocolate graham crackers for the regular graham crackers. Drizzle butterscotch ice cream topping over the candy bar before adding marshmallow.

Striped S´Mores - Substitute chocolate-striped cookies for the graham crackers.

Keep S'Mores ingredients on hand for upcoming backyard cookouts. At a picnic, put out a variety of chocolate candies so everyone can experiment and discover their favorite combination.

When Death Draws Near (A Gwen Marcey Novel) by Carri

Book Description:  Gwen Marcey takes death in stride. Until she’s faced with her own mortality.

Forensic artist Gwen Marcey is between jobs when she accepts temporary work in Pikeville, Kentucky—a small town facing big-city crime. But before Gwen can finish her first drawing of the serial rapist who is on the loose, the latest witness vanishes. Just like all the others.

Gwen suspects a connection between the rapist and the “accidental” deaths that are happening around town, but the local sheriff has little interest in her theories. When her digitally-obsessed teenage daughter joins her, Gwen turns her attention to a second assignment: going undercover in a serpent-handling church. She could get a handsome reward for uncovering illegal activity—a reward she desperately needs, as it seems her breast cancer has returned. But snakes aren’t the only ones ready to kill. Can Gwen uncover the truth—and convince anyone to believe her—before she becomes a victim herself?

My Thoughts:  Gwen Marcey is quite a gal with quite a few obstacles in her path but she doesn't let that stop her from living or trying to catch a killer.

Not only is Gwen a forensic artist but she brings "dust" to life with her drawings, sculptures and intricate details.  Gwen also has a teen daughter who is now being sent to live with her, she is divorced and tries to balance her life with some sanity like talking to her ex-husband in her head.  

In this particular case the police need help finding a serial rapist.  Terrible, haunting crimes but it gets better with an underground religion and trying to understand why she is getting such a cold shoulder from the local police . . . after she was sent to this department to help solve the crimes.  Gwen gets the feeling that the police chief is involved....dangerous, surprising results!

Quite a read!  Definitely not  read for the faint of heart and definitely not read for those late summer nights!  

Love her or leave her Gwen is quite a gal!

But a surprising ending....

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Series: A Gwen Marcey Novel
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (August 2, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1401690475
• ISBN-13: 978-1401690472

God Made You Just Right by Jill Roman Lord (Author), Amy Wummer (Illustrator)

Book Description:  A bright and cheerful reminder that God made each of us special and unique

Here is a message that every parent will want to share with his or her child: You're brilliantly created and there's no one else like you! With easy-to-understand descriptions and simple, rhyming text, Jill Roman Lord shares the message that God created each of us in just the right way in a manner that even the youngest child will understand. Bright and engaging illustrations from Amy Wummer pair perfectly with the text and enhance the appeal of the book. 

My Thoughts:  We have two new babies in our family...twins!  And, yes, the "bookie" that I am, I'm looking for bright colorful, fun filled books for these two cuties.

So, I was excited to receive this wonderful book from Worthy Publishing, God Made You Just Right.  

The cover is so cute and colorful and this is how the whole book is illustrated.  And the author wrote such a cute story about a child being just right because God made him/her.

Stories that are sweet but increase a child's self image and faith are wonderful stories and that is why this is an excellent book for children!

I know that the suggested age for this book is ages 2-5 but because it's so colorful I'm reading it to the twins and they love it!  

This book would make a great gift too!

*This book was provided for review by Worthy Publishing*

• Board book: 20 pages
• Publisher: WorthyKids/Ideals; Brdbk edition (August 9, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0824919769

Pumpkin Patch Blessings Board book by Kim Washburn (Author), Jacqueline East (Illustrator)

Book Description: Pumpkin Patch Blessings celebrates fall and shows little ones there are blessings all around us, especially in the pumpkin patch! The sweet rhyming text by Kim Washburn and whimsical illustrations by Jacqueline East bring autumn alive for readers young and old as they take in the fun of the fall season and remember how much they have to be grateful for.

My Thoughts:  Before we know it the seasons will be changing and it will be fall.  

We also have two new little people in our family so when the season changes to fall they will love this new book!

The book is hardback (a board book) so it "messes" wipe off easily and dries quickly.  The suggested ages for this book are ages 4-8 but I'm giving it to one year olds...the parents will red it to them and the year olds will love the bright pictures and interaction with their parents.

But my favorite part of the book are the two sweet children, colorful pictures of fat, happy mice, large orange pumpkins, falling brown leaves, and the story of the Lord's blessings to us all during this colorful season of change.

And after day of fun . . .pumpkin pies!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Age Range: 4 - 8 years
• Grade Level: Preschool - 3
• Board book: 18 pages
• Publisher: Zonderkidz; Brdbk edition (August 2, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 031075819X
• ISBN-13: 978-0310758198