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An Hour Unspent & Giveaway - Shadows Over England Book 3 - Roseanna M. White

Friday, November 2, 2018• , , ,

About the Book

Once London’s top thief, Barclay Pearce has turned his back on his life of crime and now uses his skills for a nation at war. But not until he rescues a clockmaker’s daughter from a mugging does he begin to wonder what his future might hold.
Evelina Manning has constantly fought for independence but she certainly never meant for it to inspire her fiancé to end the engagement and enlist in the army. When the intriguing man who saved her returns to the Manning residence to study clockwork repair with her father, she can’t help being interested. But she soon learns that nothing with Barclay Pearce is as simple as it seems.
As 1915 England plunges ever deeper into war, the work of an ingenious clockmaker may give England an unbeatable military edge—and Germany realizes it as well. Evelina’s father soon finds his whole family in danger—and it may just take a reformed thief to steal the time they need to escape it.

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Rating

 - "Fiction is truth...in a pretty wrapping." (More Info)

My Thoughts

Every book in this series has completely blown me away. And through it all, I have been LONGING for more about Barclay. I was so ecstatic when I found out Roseanna White would be featuring him in the final book of the series. Now, don't get me wrong, Evelina is the perfect match for him, and I enjoyed her story too...But BARCLAY...SWOON...

He truly deserves the title of "Swoon Worthy". From the care for his family to his undercover work, to learning about his childhood...Your heart will ache, cheer, and be encouraged. The author has created a whole world of people that carve out their own place in your heart. There is no going back once you dive into this realm.

True to her style, Roseanna seamlessly weaves faith, love, and bit of mystery into this story. Set in the midst of The Great War, this is the perfect story for anyone who loves Downton Abbey or WWI history. Or maybe, you are looking for something new-to-you. You won't go wrong with this series. Start with A Name Unknown and fall in love with Rosie and Peter first!

I received a complimentary copy of An Hour Unspent. I was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Shadows Over England on Bookworm Mama


The Adventure Continues in the Codebreakers Series

Coming June 2019

About the Author

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.



Guest Post from Roseanna

Last year, as I finished up the writing of An Hour Unspent, my great-grandmother passed away at the age of 103. As I sat at her funeral service and listened to the heartfelt memorial raised up to her by her kids and grandkids, I realized anew that this woman had been a matriarch in the truest sense of the word. She’d taught my family for generations how to love the Lord and each other, how to serve the Lord and each other, and how to trust the Lord and each other. Grandma Seward was, in so many ways, the one who instilled in me my idea of what family really is. That idea—that it’s those knit together by love more than blood, and that faith is the strongest foundation—is what I built my unusual family of thieves upon in the Shadows Over England series. And strange as it is to liken my twenty-something reformed-thief hero to my 103-year-old-grandmother, Barclay Pearce is very much to his family what Maxine Seward was to mine. The founder. The caregiver. The leader. I knew as I began the series that I would write about Barclay in book three, and as I got to know him better throughout the series, I grew so excited to share his story! This is a man who led his family first into and then out of a life a crime, always for the right reasons—so he could provide for the children under his care. All he ever wanted to do was give them what he himself had lost. To show them love. To prove to them that they were worth any sacrifice. It was truly a blessing for me to get to write the story in which Barclay found someone to come alongside him, to appreciate and learn to understand him. To finally share what started him down this path. I loved the idea that only a reformed thief could steal the time another family needed to overcome their own trials. There are many historical items in the book that were such fun to explore—watchmaking of the era, the suffrage movement in England, technological advancements of the war—but at the heart, this isn’t a story about any of those. It’s a story about how far people should go for love. I hope you enjoy Barclay’s story as much as I did!

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, October 30
The Power of Words, October 30
Back Porch Reads, October 30
Kat’s Corner Books, October 30
Faithfully Bookish, October 31
Genesis 5020, October 31
Fiction Aficionado, November 1
Among the Reads, November 1
The Lit Addict, November 1
Just the Write Escape, November 1
Multifarious, November 2
Godly Book Reviews, November 2
Madeline Clark, November 2
Christian Bookaholic, November 3
Bookworm Mama, November 3
Bigreadersite, November 3
Blogging With Carol , November 4
D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 4
Life with the Tribe, November 4
The Becca Files, November 4
Kathleen Denly, November 5
Cordially Barbara, November 5
Simple Harvest Reads, November 5 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)
All-of-a-kind Mom, November 6
Faery Tales Are Real, November 6
Carpe Diem, November 6
Margaret Kazmierczak, November 7
Blossoms and Blessings , November 7
Maureen’s Musings , November 8
Book by Book, November 8
Just Commonly, November 8
cherylbbookblog, November 9
Have A Wonderful Day , November 9
With a Joyful Noise, November 9
KarenSueHadley , November 10
Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 10
Baker kella, November 10
Bibliophile Reviews, November 10
Inklings and Notions , November 11
Two Points of Interest, November 11
Henry Happens, November 12
Texas Book-aholic, November 12

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Roseanna is giving away a grand prize of a signed book, a London mug, and a 48-pack Twinings tea sampler!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. 


Author Interview + Giveaway - Kate Breslin

Monday, July 31, 2017• , , , , , ,




About the Book


A British nurse in WWI German-occupied Brussels, Evelyn Marche spends her days at the hospital and her nights working at a café . . . or so it seems. Eve's most carefully guarded secret is that she also spends her nights carrying out dangerous missions as a spy for a Belgian resistance group. 

When a plane crashes as she's en route to a rendezvous, Eve is the first to reach the downed plane and is shocked to recognize the badly injured pilot as British RFC Captain Simon Forrester. She risks her life to conceal him from the Germans, but as the secrets between them grow and the danger mounts, can they still hope to make it out of Belgium alive?

You can read my review HERE.





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

Read more »

High as the Heavens - Kate Breslin

Wednesday, June 21, 2017• , , , , , , , , ,

My Rating

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

About the Book


In 1917, Evelyn Marche is just one of many women who has been widowed by the war. A British nurse trapped in German-occupied Brussels, she spends her days working at a hospital and her nights as a waitress in her aunt and uncle's café. Eve also has a carefully guarded secret keeping her in constant danger: She's a spy working for a Belgian resistance group in league with the British Secret Service.



When a British plane crashes in Brussels Park, Eve is the first to reach the downed plane and is shocked to discover she recognizes the badly injured pilot. British RFC Captain Simon Forrester is now a prisoner of war, and Eve knows he could be shot as a spy at any time. She risks her own life to hide him from the Germans, but as the danger mounts and the secrets between them grow, their chance of survival looks grim. And even if they do make it out alive, the truth of what lies between them may be more than any love can overcome.

My Thoughts

Kate Breslin's new book is FINALLY here! I have been waiting for this day since the moment I finished Not by Sight. And I am so excited to share my review with you. Filled with raw emotion that will grip your heart, this is not a light read, but it is an AMAZING story!


"How in the midst of all this sorrow"...Can hope possibly be found?* 

 Kate's books continue to elicit emotions in me that I have rarely felt on such an excruciating level. Set in Belgium during WWI we live through the memories of our heroine. We walk with her through the heartache, the pain, the suffering, but also the joy. Evelyn Marche has seen her fair share of evil and sorrows, but as a nurse she is able to bring peace and comfort to those who are also suffering. Through her work, she is making a difference in more people's lives than she knows. I don't want to say TOO much about Eve's story, because I want you to read it! Be warned though...I was not even half way through and I thought I was going to puke, cry, and throw the book across the room.** THAT is how powerful Kate's words are. There were many times of laugh out loud moments, but this is a book set in a WAR ZONE.
While in the middle of reading this book, I had the opportunity to hear a WWII survivor speak. (I know, I know...different war...but a hero is a hero.) Her name is Marthe Cohn, she is 97 years old. Marthe is a French Jew who served as a spy in Nazi Germany during WWII. She was a nurse. She is a HERO. There are SO MANY PARALLELS to Eve in Marthe's story that it was kind of weird. Marthe was instrumental in bringing about the end of the war. I share this with you because I want to honor those who have served...in any war. Those who would risk their lives daily so that my family may live in peace. The heros who, without them, things could have ended so very different. 



Evelyn is a strong and powerful representation of the many women who served in WWI. The heroes who cared for the wounded. The heroes that changed history one day at a time. Eve's independent spirit and tenacity has been an asset throughout the war. But living in "survival mode" can wear a person down. Will she continue fighting in her own strength or will she open her heart to God, and allow Him to carry her burdens? Although I have not seen the same horrors that Evelyn (and Marthe) were faced with, I hope that in the midst of chaos I will stand strong, be a light and do what I can to make the world a better place. To bring hope to those who have none. 

 *Quotation is from the song Days in the Sun found on the 2017 release of Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
** No books were harmed during the process of reading this book and writing the review.

I received a complimentary copy of High as the Heavens from Bethany House Publishers I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.


About the Author


4A Florida girl who migrated to the beautiful Pacific Northwest, Kate Breslin lives with her guitarist husband, John, and a spoiled cat named Coco. Kate has written several travel articles, published award-winning poetry, and her first manuscript, a Scottish historical romance, was finalist in RWA’s Golden Heart Contest. These days, when she’s not writing inspirational fiction or spending time with her author friends, she’s reading books, watching anything Jane Austen on BBC, or following John’s musical career as his #1 fan. An avid “tree-hugger” she often enjoys long walks in the forests or playing in the garden. Kate’s also a traveler–she and John have toured most of Washington state and many places in the U.S. And with her intrepid mom as traveling companion, Kate’s also been abroad–Paris, Munich, Rome, Pompeii, Athens, even a day trip to Turkey. She’s always looking for the next story idea!

Connect

More Books by Kate Breslin on Bookworm Mama

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. 

Author Interview & GIVEAWAY! - Erica Marie Hogan

Monday, June 12, 2017• , , , , ,

About the Book


Three couples. Three countries. One War...

On August 5th 1914, the world changed forever. For John and Beth Young, it meant the happiness they finally achieved was snatched out from under them. For Emma Cote, it meant that her husband Jared would do his duty, despite her feelings. For Christy Simmons it meant an uncertain future with the boy she loved. The lives of six people, spread across the British Empire to America were changed forever.

When John, Jared and Will find themselves thrust together in France and Emma and Christy decide to seek out their missing husbands, the lives of these three families intertwine in ways that none of them could possibly have imagined. Working together in a field hospital, Emma and Christy learn to rely on and protect each other. Lost together in a strange forest and cut off from their unit, the three soldiers run and hide.

But the further they go, the more they realize that the chances of all of them making it out unscathed are nonexistent and Emma and Christy find that blood is not easy to wash off, but no friendship is stronger than that made during times of war, sacrifice and healing.





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

While I have not read The Lost Generation YET...I am so excited to have Erica Marie Hogan sharing a little bit about the story, Julie Lessman, and BAKING! Mmmmm....now, read on while I go make a batch of brownies! 

Where did your love of books/storytelling/reading/writing/etc. come from?

From Fair to Fierce: Disney Princesses Through the Years:
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Erica: I think it all began when I was a little girl. Watching fairy tales like Beauty and the Beast, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and so on, made me want to create my own happily ever afters. I started writing when I was really young, stuffing a ton of spiral notebooks filled with stories in my bedside drawer. Then, as I grew up, my stories developed into something a little more serious, with more need for the drama and reality we live every day. This made me interested in reading a little more of what I was trying to write, which led me to Historical Fiction where I began reading books by authors like Julie Lessman, Francine Rivers, Lauraine Snelling and, most recently, Pepper Basham.

Rachel: Pepper Basham! Eeeep! (I admit to being unashamedly biased) I also adore Beauty and the Beast and Sleeping Beauty! My two favorite! (I think I am going to like you!) 

When did you KNOW that you wanted to be an author?

Erica: When I was ten-years-old. I spent a lot of time recreating stories that had already been told, which gave me a little peek into my own imagination. It made me realize I wanted to write my own stories, create my own characters, and come up with my own happily ever after.

Rachel: This is beautiful! Imagination is a beautiful thing. I am so glad you followed through with your dream. Such an encouragement.

What literary character is most like you? Why?

"The one claim I will make for my sex is that we love longest when all hope is lost. " ~Jane Austen, Persuasion.:
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Erica: Oh my. That’s a hard question to answer! I think I’d have to say Anne Elliot from Jane Austen’s Persuasion. Not only is Persuasion my favorite book by the wonderful Miss Austen, but I see a lot of myself in Anne. She’s timid and quiet around other people but strong; she always tries to do what’s right. While she can be persuaded to follow what other people say is right for her, her heart prevails in leading her to the life she was always meant for, no matter how late she was in getting there.

Rachel: Everyone says this is a hard one...Haha! Oooooh, this is a good one! I do love Persuasion. (Yup, it is decided, I like you!)

Can you share some something interesting you learned while researching for The Lost Generation?

Mairi Chisholm (L) was a Scottish motorbike fanatic who joined the Flying Ambulance Corps in Belgium. She & her friend Elsie Knocker did vital work in WWI, ferrying wounded soldiers to a field hospital in Furnes, & taking mutilated corpses to the mortuary. Appalled by the number of deaths, they left the Corps & set up their own illegal dressing station just 100 yards from the trenches, where they saved thousands of mens lives on the Belgian Western Front. Mairi was awarded the Belgian Order:
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Erica: One thing I found interesting in my research was how involved some of the nurses were on the front lines during World War I. In my research I discovered one particular nurse who wrote a little about her experience near the trenches. She actually would do sweeps down in the trenches in search of wounded soldiers, something I never realized happened and which inspired a scene in my novel. I never once thought the nurses actually climbed down in the trenches, and finding proof they did was very inspiring.

Rachel: Oh my goodness! I had no idea. WWI was a whole new arena for the world. It is so good to hear the encouraging stories of bravery that came out of it all. I really enjoyed the show on PBS Crimson Field. It is about a field hospital in WWI. I learned a lot (and researched a lot) from watching it.

Who are some of your favorite authors that you feel were influential in your work? What impact have they had on your writing?

Stack them anywhere. More More:
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Erica: Julie Lessman! Definitely at the top of the list. Julie taught me how to keep things real, have a little fun, and make my romance strong. While romance isn’t the main theme in The Lost Generation, the love between my characters is a pretty big part of it. Francine Rivers, who taught me how to dig deep into emotional trauma and find a way back out in God’s grace, mercy, and love. And Ronie Kendig. While the books I’ve read by Ronie are contemporary, her military novels are so very inspiring and deeply moving, assisting me in my journey writing a war novel.

Rachel: OH MY, YES! (where is my fan??? Julie knocks it out of the park with romance!) I am so glad that Christian Fiction is turning in the direction of keeping things real! And love, is so important!

What secret talents do you have? 

Erica: Secret talents … that’s a good question! I am a pretty good baker, something that always seems to surprise people since I’m often glued to my computer writing.

Rachel: Reader friends....now you know why I am off baking brownies...I love baking, cooking, food....haha! 


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Goodreads
What are you reading right now and what made you pick it up?

Erica: At the moment I’m reading Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon. The concept of someone being allergic to the outside world caught my attention and held on until I had no choice but to read the book! I’m always looking for new and unique books and this one seemed to have that written all over it.

Rachel: Eeeeee! I have seasonal allergies...but WOW! Now I am intrigued! Thank you! *adds to TBR planet that is threatening to topple over and crush me*

Do you have any unusual writing habits?

Erica: I think my habits are pretty normal. I do have the tendency to write scenes in the middle, or the end, of my book before I actually start with Chapter One. I’m also in the habit of rereading scenes at least three times before moving on with my book, just to be certain it’s the way I want it to be before I continue.

Rachel: Have I mentioned that I really like you? I do this with my blog posts...(yes, even this interview) I like to call it scatterbrained OCD. 

What writing advice do you have for pre-published authors?
Erica: I think the best advice I could give would be the advice given to me. Read, read, and read some more! If you have writer’s block, read a good book. Sometimes, stepping away from your story and your characters is the best thing you could do to move forward. Get your name out there too! It’s not easy, trust me I know. But if you let people know that you have this gift, you’ll gain interest long before you get published. One way of gaining that attention would be to join a good group like American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and start a blog. This will give potential readers a chance to check out your writing skill and joining the group will help you improve and grow in your talent.

Rachel: My favorite thing to do! READ! (Hopefully your book soon!!!!) A fresh perspective is always helpful. And community...is ESSENTIAL! LOVE this!

Can you tell us what is up next for you?

Erica: I am working on a couple of projects at the moment. I’ve done my best not to limit myself to one genre, so hopefully you’ll be seeing something new and different from me soon! I’m also working on another World War I novel. It’s a bit different from The Lost Generation and certainly unique, so I’m excited! I hope to share it with everyone soon!

Rachel: I really enjoy authors who can seamlessly cross genres (*ahem* Pepper Basham, Julie Lessman...to name a few). It gives a whole new perspective to their writing. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us!

I am so excited about reading The Lost Generation! I don't typically read book descriptions, but this one really grabbed my attention. It is amazing how God directs our paths. Giving us opportunities that we may never have come across if certain things didn't happen to us. And while these things often are devastating and heartbreaking, it is possible to have joy and peace from God...not IN SPITE OF...but BECAUSE of the things we have gone through. This is something that has been on my heart recently. I was wondering if you could expound on your characters experiences with this.

Find joy in your journey 8x10 instant by Mimileeprintables on Etsy:
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Erica: You’re absolutely right. That is actually one of the major themes of the book. My three couples go through some horrible things, and witness one of the greatest tragedies that stole the lives of nearly an entire generation of men and women. I’ve always said that the book isn’t so much about my characters, as much as it is about what they witness and the impact it has on their lives. Our characters set out with certain goals, but while in the heat of the conflict, they find themselves drawn to other purposes. And they each return to the same question: Where is God in all of this? They go on this journey together and find something in each other none of them ever expected.

Rachel: Such a powerful message! THANK YOU! For writing real and writing from your heart. I am so glad our paths crossed. Thank you so much for joining us today Erica! I am thrilled I got to chat with you! Brownie time?

Erica: Thank you for hosting me!

Chat with us! Comment below and tell us, what UNIQUE book have YOU read recently???

About the Author

From as far back as she can remember, Erica Marie Hogan loved to write. When she was a little girl she adored make believe, but gradually her imagination became too big to restrict it to playtime and so, she wrote. 

Erica was born and raised for nine years on Orient Point, Long Island, New York. After that she moved with her family to Virginia and, finally, to Texas where she now lives. She was homeschooled, is an avid reader, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives to plot new stories, enjoys a good tear-jerker, and chocolate is her cure for any ailment. Once a month Erica publishes a post on her blog, By the Book: Diary of a Bookaholic, where she shares her experiences with writing and, occasionally, a book review. She is represented by Jim Hart of Hartline Literary Agency. 

At twenty-five-years-old Erica’s wish is to continue to write stories that not only drop her readers into the middle of historical time periods, but also to show the ability to rise up out of adversity and tragedy in hope, faith, love, and strength. When it comes to genre, she has no limits. 

The Lost Generation is Erica’s debut novel. It was long listed in the 2017 INSPY Awards and nominated for the Christian Retailing’s Best Awards. You can learn more about her on her blog or Facebook page. Her author website is coming soon!


Giveaway

Erica has graciously provided a PRINT copy of The Lost Generation for giveaway. Please enter via the Rafflecopter form below. Open to U.S. Only. Please see Policies & Disclosures for more information. Void where prohibited.

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