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Book Spotlight - Saving Shadow - Laura Beers

Monday, October 30, 2017

I can not wait to read Saving Shadow! A clean Regency Romance story? Filled with spies, danger, and adventure??? YES PLEASE!!! 

Saving Shadow released on September 1st and has recently been nominated for a Whitney Award! 

About the Book
Born with a perfect memory, Lady Elizabeth Beckett has become one of the world’s most notorious spies, despite being the daughter of a duke. She is shielded only by her code name: Shadow. When young ladies of High Society begin disappearing from London, Eliza has no doubt who is orchestrating these crimes; a heinous man she has been investigating for years. Vowing to save them before they are sold to the highest bidder, she must risk everything to stop him.
Lord Sinclair was perfectly content being the second son of a marquess, but when his brother is murdered, he is thrust into a position he has not been prepared for and does not desire. As an agent for the Crown, he is expected to retire now that he is the heir, but he’s been granted special permission for one more mission... to obtain justice for his murdered brother.
Used to keeping secrets, Lady Eliza and Lord Sinclair must learn to open up to each other when they are assigned as partners to bring down the same ruthless man and his brutal empire of abduction and slavery. As Eliza’s tainted past becomes too much for her to bear alone, can she learn to trust her new partner with her secrets, her life, and possibly her heart?



About the Author

Laura Beers spent most of her childhood with a nose stuck in a book, dreaming of becoming an author.  She attended Brigham Young University, eventually earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Construction Management.  

Many years later, and with loving encouragement from her family, Laura decided to start writing again.  Besides being a full-time homemaker to her three kids, she loves waterskiing, hiking, and drinking Dr. Pepper. Currently, Laura Beers resides in South Carolina.      

Facebook // Instagram // Twitter // Website


I received a complimentary copy of Saving Shadow. I will post my honest review as soon as I have a chance to read the book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Many thanks to Canva for providing an AMAZING program for me to design all these beautiful graphics. Book covers, publisher/tour logos, and author pictures not owned by me. All other graphics created by Bookworm Mama with public domain photos on Canva unless stated otherwise. 



First Line Fridays - Where We Belong

Thursday, October 26, 2017


Happy Friday!

The moment I saw the cover for this book, I KNEW I needed to read it! Set in 1890s...Sinai Desert...Victorian ladies...Um....Yes please! Haha! This is next up on my Reading List!


The Sinai Desert
1890
Rebecca Hawes lay awake in her tent, convinced that the howling wind was about to lift her entire camp into the air and hurl it to the far side of the desert.

Now THAT is how you open a book! Raise your hand if this just went on your TBR! 



Now it's your turn! Post your first line below and link up with your own First Line Friday post!



A Dangerous Legacy - Empire State Book 1 - Elizabeth Camden

My Rating
★★★★★ - You have bewitched me, body and soul. (More Info)

About the Book
Page-Turning Romance and Intrigue in Award-Winning Author's Next Historical Novel
Lucy Drake's mastery of Morse code has made her a valuable asset to the American news agencies as a telegrapher. But the sudden arrival of Sir Colin Beckwith at rival British news agency Reuters puts her hard-earned livelihood at risk. Newly arrived from London, Colin is talented, handsome, and insufferably charming. 

Despite their rivalry, Lucy realizes Colin's connections could be just what her family needs to turn the tide of their long legal battle over the fortune they were swindled out of forty years ago. When she negotiates an unlikely alliance with him, neither of them realizes how far the web of treachery they're wading into will take them. (From Amazon)


My Thoughts 
Sir Colin Beckwith
Sir Colin Beckwith
WOW! So.Much.History is crammed into this incredible story! The first thing that stood out to me...Is that Nick (Lucy Drake's brother) is a plumber...My dad is a plumber. I remember going with him to jobs all growing up. He taught me how to solder, and I did better than the average apprentice. Mostly I organized the fittings...And swept the job site. BUT, learning about how things were run in the early 1900s was FASCINATING! I LOVED it! I can't wait to read more about Nick. Lucy being a telegraph operator, the taxidermy, the hostilities between "old" and "new" money, and mental health beliefs...There is more, but I want you to go read the book for yourself haha! 
Lucy Drake
Lucy Drake

As Lucy and Colin discover what really matters in life, their eyes are opened to not only the unnecessary burdens of life they piled upon themselves, but the freedom they have once they let go and trust God to care for them. 

I love Colin's determination and loyalty to his family. He is a brooding, swoon worthy hero to be sure. Lucy, well...the best way to describe her, is that she is a force to be reckoned with. Determination, stubbornness, compassion, and a free spirit. She will crawl into your heart and become your best friend. 
This is an 1889 drawing of what the Western Union office on Broadway looked like....note the pneumatic tubes arching through the office!
Western Union Office

In addition to the fabulous leading cast and the history, this story is brimming intrigue, romance, scandal, heartache, and faith. 

Trust me, you won't want to miss out on Elizabeth Camden's newest release! And while you're at it, check out From This Moment, which is a finalist for the 2017 Christy Award for Historical Romance! 


I received a complimentary copy of A Dangerous Legacy. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.



About the Author
Elizabeth Camden is a research librarian at a small college in central Florida. Her novels have won the coveted RITA and Christy Awards. She has published several articles for academic publications and is the author of four nonfiction history books. Her ongoing fascination with history and love of literature have led her to write inspirational fiction. Elizabeth lives with her husband near Orlando, Florida.





More Books by Elizabeth Camden on Bookworm Mama
 
Nominated for 2017 Christy Award! Winners announced November 8th.

Many thanks to Canva for providing an AMAZING program for me to design all these beautiful graphics. Book covers, publisher/tour logos, and author pictures not owned by me. All other graphics created by Bookworm Mama with public domain photos on Canva unless stated otherwise. 



Cover Reveal - Waiting for His Return - Carrie Turansky



James Galloway, an artist-corespondent for Harper's Weekly, and the hero of Waiting for His Return.
Pinterest

About the Book

The year is 1864 and the Civil War rages on. British born James Galloway, a special artist for Harper’s Weekly, travels with the Union troops, sketching battle scenes to bring war news home to those in the North. It’s dangerous work, but he is committed to the Union cause. After being captured and spending several months in a confederate prison camp, he finally escapes and travels north, hoping to reach the Union lines. But he is attacked by a bushwhacker and left for dead at the side of the road near the Thornton’s home.


Rachel Thornton, the heroine of Waiting for His Return
Pinterest
Rachel Thornton, a kind-hearted doctor’s daughter, takes James in and nurses him while he recovers. As they get to know each other, her feelings for James grow, but she has already lost one man she loves in the war. How can she give James her heart, when she knows he may become another casualty?

You can find more inspiration photos on Carrie's Pinterest page HERE






WHEN and WHERE can I find this book?

Waiting for His Return releases on Tuesday, November 7th!

And now the moment you have been waiting for...





***Drum Roll Please***




Waiting for His Return



Her name is Rachel...AND she is a red head! YAY! I rarely see the name Rachel in stories. So this makes me so happy! 

So what are you waiting for? Go pre-order!


My thanks to Trisha of Joy of Reading for providing the information and the graphic! 

Also by Carrie Turansky on Bookworm Mama...

First Line Fridays - A Dangerous Legacy

Friday, October 20, 2017

Happy Friday!!!


New York City
1903
The amount of female attention her brother garnered never failed to amaze Lucy.

Amazon | Goodreads

Stay tuned for my review coming next week of this FABULOUS book.

By the end of the first page I was HOOKED!!!

Make sure you link up with Hoarding Books Blog by clicking the image below to join in the Friday fun with us! 

Author Interview + Giveaway - Joanna Davidson Politano

Monday, October 16, 2017

Mind


About the Book
When Aurelie Harcourt's father dies in debtor's prison, he leaves her just two things: his wealthy family, whom she has never met, and his famous pen name, Nathaniel Droll. Her new family greets her with apathy and even resentment. Only the quiet house guest, Silas Rotherham, welcomes her company.

When Aurelie decides to complete her father's unfinished serial novel, writing the family into the story as unflattering characters, she must keep her identity as Nathaniel Droll hidden while searching for the truth about her mother's disappearance--and perhaps even her father's death.

Author Joanna Davidson Politano's stunning debut set in Victorian England will delight readers with its highly original plot, lush setting, vibrant characters, and reluctant romance.



Welcome!


Welcome to Bookworm Mama, Joanna! I am so honored to have you here today!

Joanna: I’m so happy to be part of the Bookworm Mama blog!

Where did your love of books/storytelling/reading/writing/etc. come from?
Joanna: I can clearly remember sitting with my dad and brother in a big comfy chair as he made up fabulous stories about leprechauns, crabs, and interesting settings. I remember my mom reading me books with animation and enthusiasm. So I suppose I’d say that stories were always a part of me. I soaked up story lines from Scripture, from random conversations, anywhere I could find them. My imagination took off from there.

Leprechauns and crabs! Ahhh I love it! 

When did you KNOW that you wanted to be an author?
Joanna: Birth? Ok, maybe not that early. I think I was always informed I’d be an author, so it was in the back of my head forever, even though I had other careers along the way. I still have a little wallet-sized photo somewhere of my kindergarten teacher, who addressed it to Joanna “the authoress.” I never saw myself as a novelist, though, until I heard the story of my great grandparents and became enamored. I sat down one day and just wrote out a scene in my head because I couldn’t not write it, and the entire story just kept pouring out on page after page until it was done. After that book I decided I liked writing fiction!

Story! Some of us just can't escape it. It is a part of our soul.

Emily Of New Moon - "If it's in you to climb you must -- there are those who must lift their eyes to the hills -- they can't breathe properly in the valleys.”What literary character is most like you? Why?
Joanna: Probably a combination of Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. Alice had a tendency to depart from reality and have wild adventures. Peter pan delighted in childhood and everything it entailed. The character most like me in all of literature, though, is probably L.M. Montgomery’s creation Emily of New Moon. I recognize in her the same obsession with words and stories, the imagination that is able to coexist with reality and common sense, making her a dreamer AND a doer.

Peter Pan is one of my favorites! I have yet to meet Emily. But she sounds fabulous!


Can you share a behind the scenes fact about Lady Jayne Disappears?

Joanna: I had zero intention of publishing this book. It was meant to be my “practice” novel that would allow me to explore all the pieces of a book I liked and pick and choose what I would use in the “real” books I wrote. I allowed my imagination and heart free reign and used it as an open conversation with God and a fun distraction as I started out as a stay-at-home mom.

Excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor...You WHAT?!?!?!?! Well, I am so glad God didn't let you follow through with that haha!





William Logsdail - St. Paul’s and Ludgate Hill (c. 1884).What type of research was involved for Lady Jayne Disappears?

Joanna: Most of my research on the Victorian era came from simply reading loads of books that were written in that time frame. The characters, their reactions, where they lived and worked all came to life in the stories written by people who lived among them. I did read a few nonfiction books by modern writers describing the time period, but I found the novels written during the Victorian era itself more immersive in the culture. I read a great deal of serial fiction, since that’s a theme in my novel, and thoroughly enjoyed that aspect of research. I also soaked up lots of modern nonfiction about the printing and consumption of serial novels, from printing presses to audience reactions.

Oh that is an excellent perspective! I think this is fascinating!

Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?
Joanna: Daphne Du Maurier was a master of shadowy, engrossing stories that keep your imagination working overtime long after you finish a book. I loved that approach to mystery, and always attempt to incorporate at least a small hint of that in mine. I enjoy the vibrant, gritty characters Dickens created, turns of phrase from Martha Grimes and the depth of the Bronte sisters. I also deeply love the lyrical writing that sweeps me away by authors like Kristy Cambron, Joanne Bischof, and Lori Benton.

Ahhh! Some of my favorites! Contemporary and classic! 💜 Lady and the Lionheart is an ALL time favorite!!!

What hidden talents do you have?
Joanna: Well I’m not sure if this is a talent or a weakness, but I bake without measuring anything and play the piano without music. I don’t know how to do either one any other way! I dearly love to bake anything sweet, and I’ve come to know if things are right by its consistency, taste, or appearance. Usually you have to be really specific with baking, but I fail at that method so I just wing it. Same with the piano—I will stumble along by reading music, but if I can just hear a song in my head, it’ll flow out onto the keys much more naturally. I suppose that has informed the way I write, too.

OK! Now THIS is definitely a talent! Both things...I am beyond impressed. I am too OCD to wing it with baking haha. And I am awful at reading music notes, but chords I can do just fine.


What are you reading right now? What made you pick it up? 
Joanna: I’m currently reading The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck by Bethany Turner. What made me pick it up? Well first, I met the author because we’re releasing our debuts from the same publisher on the same day and became friends. Secondly, we discovered our books have a lot in common, like author heroines and first person writing. But mostly, this book just grabbed me. From the first witty line this book pulled me along a hugely entertaining journey. I have laughed out loud so many times and underlined more places than I can count. This book has been a delight!

YAY! Bethany just visited me on the blog last week!  I can't wait to start this one!!!

One day, I will die. And fingers crossed I go to heaven, because this... This would be it.
Pinterest
Do you have any unusual writing habits?
Joanna: I’m very much a write-as-you-go kind of girl, so I often find myself stuck. To unstick myself, I wander down to my personal library, which my husband claims is far too large, and begin reading snippets of different books. If I’m stuck on an opening line, I’ll go down the row and read all the opening lines of all the books in sight. If I’m stuck on a certain description or transition, I’ll grab a book that did something similar very well and study how it was done. So my library sees a lot of use. Not only do I read my books, but I study and return to them many times. I also underline and take notes in the margins of all my novels. I love to dissect writing and movies all the time.

OK...This is the second time you mentioned writing in books...I can NOT bring myself to mark up my books...dag ear, notes? No can do! I do have a dozen page markers and highlights (for Kindle) in almost every book I read though haha! And no library can be too large.

What writing advice do you have for pre-published authors?
Joanna: Honestly, the best advice I can offer you from my own experience is to stop trying. First, figure out how to connect with God in your daily life, then you’ll have him joining you when you write. Your book will take you on a journey with God in which he’s leading you somewhere and growing you as a person… and that amazing journey will spill onto the page without you even realizing it. Second, trying hard to write what you’re “supposed” to write won’t get you very far. Write for fun—a few practice scenes or a whole practice book. Think of every element you love in the most delicious book and include all of that. Write as if no one will ever read it but God. Forget about what’s trending, what’s expected, what makes good literature and just have a blast writing. Then you will find readers who have a blast reading it.

I LOVE THIS! Be who YOU are called to be and write what YOU are called to write. A million times YES!

Before we go can you tell us about your current WIP?
Joanna: Next up is another Victorian era novel from Revell (releasing summer of 2018) called A Rumored Fortune. It features a well-to-do heroine whose father has hidden his vast fortune somewhere on his vineyard estate—and then died suddenly without telling anyone where he put it. She and her mother are suddenly the poorest wealthy family in all of England. The heroine works together with their blunt and rugged vineyard manager to locate her father’s money while debts pile up, unpaid workers strike, and family members show up to “grieve” with the family in the house that contains the missing fortune. The love story in this book is loosely based on my own with my husband, to whom I refused a second date. Readers will also get a little inside view of cultivating vineyards and the spiritual implications of this work.

Thank you so much for joining us today Joanna! I ADORE Lady Jayne Disappears and I can not wait to get my hands on A Rumored Fortune!

Joanna: Thank you so much for having me on your blog! It was a pleasure to be here.


About the Author

Joanna Davidson Politano freelances for a small nonfiction publisher but spends much of her time spinning tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives. Her debut novel, Lady Jayne Disappears, released October 3 from Revell. She lives with her husband and their two babies in a house in the woods and shares stories that move her at www.jdpstories.com.


Facebook // Pinterest // Twitter // Website



Giveaway

Joanna has graciously provided a print copy of Lady Jayne Disappears. Please see Policies and Disclosures for full rules. US addresses only please. Giveaway will run 10/16-10/23 12:00am Pacific Time. Please enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Void where prohibited. a Rafflecopter giveaway
Many thanks to Canva for providing an AMAZING program for me to design all these beautiful graphics. Book covers, publisher/tour logos, and author pictures not owned by me. All other graphics created by Bookworm Mama with public domain photos on Canva unless stated otherwise. 


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