Book Review: Heart of the Ocean by Heather Moore

Heart of the Ocean, by Heather B. Moore
2013, 337p, Historical Suspense, Clean Romance
My Rating=5 Stars
Source: Received an audiobook from the author for an honest review

A dark secret . . . a grieving ghost . . . a handsome stranger . . . What more could Eliza Robinson want?

Except for maybe her life.

In Heather B. Moore’s enthralling 1840’s historical romance, Heart of the Ocean, Eliza Robinson has turned down the very pretentious Mr. Thomas Beesley’s marriage proposal. As a business partner of Eliza’s father, Thomas quickly discredits the family and brings disgrace to the Robinson name.

While her father scrambles to restore his good name in New York City, Eliza flees to the remote Puritan town of Maybrook to stay with her Aunt Maeve. Although relieved to be away from all- things-male and unforgiving gossip columns, odd things start to happen to Eliza, and she is plagued by a ghostly voice. Her aunt’s explanation? That Eliza is being haunted by a woman who died of a broken heart twenty years ago.

After Aunt Maeve is tragically killed, Eliza's life is put in danger as she tries to uncover the mystery of her aunt's death. She encounters Jonathan Porter in Maybrook, whose presence in the town seems suspicious, yet she finds herself drawn to him. When she discovers that Jonathan’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.

Heather Moore is one of my favorite authors and I have loved every book of hers I have read so far. This time, I was fortunate enough to get an audiobook to listen to and I loved it! I thought the narrator, Erin Spencer, did a fantastic job! 

This is a great mystery, ghost story, and romance which gets more and more suspenseful. Eliza turns down a marriage proposal from her father's business partner, Thomas Beesley, and heads to Maybrook to spend time with her Aunt Maeve. While there, she hears the voice of Helena Talbot, a young mother who disappeared one night and her body was never found. Aunt Maeve is murdered and Eliza goes out in the storm for help when she is rescued by Jon Porter. Jon used to live in Maybrook and has his reasons for retuning. They feel drawn to each other but he's planning to marry Apryl. It gets pretty complex as we learn who Apryl's getting close to and who Jon Porter is and the connection between Jon and Eliza.

I loved all the characters! Some because they were good and some because they were bad. There were some great twists and turns and I was surprised to learn who the murderer was. There is a lot of tragedy and sorrow to get through before the satisfying conclusion. I loved listening to this and want to read it as well since I always get more out of it when I do. It's a clean read and is a book I highly recommend!!

The other great news is that you can purchase it for only $.99 on Kindle today and tomorrow!

Amazon Kindle

Visit the author's blog for more details on a multi-author Easter sale where the books are $.99 (one is even free!) through tomorrow, April 20, at midnight here.

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes historical thrillers under the pen name H.B. Moore, her latest is Finding Sheba. Under Heather B. Moore she writes romance and women’s fiction. She’s the co-author of The Newport Ladies Book Club series. Other women’s novels include Heart of the Ocean, The Fortune Café, the Aliso Creek Series, and the Amazon bestselling Timeless Romance Anthology Series.

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Blog Tour/Review: Fortune Cookie by Josi S. Kilpack

Tour Schedule

Fortune Cookie

Sadie Hoffmiller has always liked things to be just so. A place for everything and everything in its place. Order over chaos. And of all things Sadie should be able to control, her own wedding is at the top of the list.

With the big day just three weeks away, Sadie is busily adding the final touches to her wedding plans but the arrival of a mysterious letter from San Francisco changes everything. The only person Sadie knows in San Francisco is her older sister, Wendy, whom she hasn’t seen since their mother’s funeral nearly fifteen years ago.

Sadie has faced off against murderers and criminals in recent years, yet the possibility of reconnecting with her sister is both overwhelming and frightening. Sadie soon discovers, however, that the letter is just the beginning when Wendy’s world turns out to be a place of unanswered questions, twisted truths, and more than one person with a motive for murder.

The more Sadie digs into her sister’s past, the more she places her own future at risk.

What a great book! Sadie is getting ready for her wedding when she finds out that her sister Wendy died. Wendy's son, Ji, has requested Sadie's help in clearing out her belongings. Sadie hasn't seen Wendy in fifteen years and has never met her nephew, Ji. Sadie and Pete take off to help clean out her belongings.

Ji isn't very welcoming towards Sadie and she realizes what she's missed out on by not trying harder to find him when he was younger. She finds out that Wendy may have been murdered. Wendy has been living a different life than what Sadie imagined and she doesn't seem to have made many friends, which makes the suspect list pretty lengthy.

Sadie deals with quite a bit in this book. She's trying to learn more about her sister and the kind of woman she turned out to be. She's also trying to start a relationship with Ji and help him with his family issues. Then, Pete is dealing with letting go of his past. His home that he shared with his late wife has a potential buyer and they took trips to San Francisco so he's working through his memories.  

There are some great characters and their relationships are realistic and complicated. There's a lot of sadness in this book, but it didn't feel depressing. There were a lot of moving parts that came together nicely in the end. Some issues were resolved and hopefully one other one will be in the next, and final, book! We get a sneak peek at the end of this book (the title is, appropriately enough, Wedding Cake.) Sadie's wedding is getting even closer but there are still bumps in the road. I've only read some of the books in this series but if you like a good mystery, this is a great series to check out! And the recipes are a fun bonus, too.

My Rating=5 Stars

*I received a copy from the tour host for review. My opinion is 100% my own.*

Amazon * Deseret Book * Barnes & Noble

Culinary Mystery Series

Author Josi S. Kilpack

Josi S. Kilpack hated to read until her mother handed her a copy of The Witch of Blackbird Pond when she was 13. From that day forward, she read everything she could get her hands on and accredits her writing “education” to the many novels she has “studied” since then. She began writing her first novel in 1998 and never stopped. Her novel, Sheep’s Clothing won the Whitney Award 2007 for Mystery/Suspense. Lemon Tart, the first book in the Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery series was a finalist in 2009.  Josi currently lives in Willard Utah with her husband, children and super-cute cat.

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Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 4/30/14

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Blog Tour/Review: Death by the Book by Julianna Deering

Death by the Book

by Julianna Deering

Christian Mystery

Paperback, 320 pages

March 4th 2014 by Bethany House Publishers

Drew Farthering wanted nothing more than to end the summer of 1932 with the announcement of his engagement. Instead, he finds himself caught up in another mysterious case when the family solicitor is found murdered, an antique hatpin with a cryptic message, Advice to Jack, piercing his chest.

Evidence of secret meetings and a young girl's tearful confession point to the victim's double life, but what does the solicitor's murder have to do with the murder of a physician on the local golf course? Nothing, it would seem--except for another puzzling note, affixed with a similar-looking bloodied hatpin.

Soon the police make an arrest in connection with the murders, but Drew isn't at all certain they have the right suspect in custody. And why does his investigation seem to be drawing him closer and closer to home?

Bethany House * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository

Other Books in the Series:

 

I loved this book! As soon as I started reading it, I knew it would be hard to put down. I enjoyed everything about it: the time period--1930's, the location--London (Farthering St. John), a compelling mystery (hatpin murderer), an obstinate aunt, humor, polite society and a light, clean romance. 

Drew Farthering wants to marry Madeline Parker, an American. Madeline's Aunt Ruth has come to visit and to hopefully take Madeline back home with her. Drew has his hands full trying to win over Aunt Ruth and help in the investigation of the murder of his family solicitor (attorney). Soon, however, there are more bodies and the pattern seems to point to Drew as being the next victim. Will he be able to figure out what's happening before the killer closes in?

I loved Drew! He's smart, clever and witty. I enjoyed his friendship with Nick and his romance with Madeline. It was light and sweet. She hasn't given him an answer to his marriage proposal and he doesn't pressure her but lets her come to her decision when she's ready. At one point, Madeline meets another American man, Freddie Bell and he hangs out with them for a while, and even though Drew was jealous, he didn't let it show.

It was difficult to figure out who the killer was and I actually didn't so I was surprised at the reveal. The back stories of the suspects were interesting and there was a lot going on. I loved Drew's relationship with Inspector Birdsong. Inspector Birdsong begrudgingly allows Drew to help with the investigation and they have some humorous exchanges.

I didn't read the first book in the series so I missed when Drew and Madeline first met each other. I felt like enough background was given that I didn't feel lost but would love to read the first book to get a better feel for their relationship and more background on Drew's family. I'm excited to see there's a third book which will be available in July and look forward to reading more about Drew, Madeline and Nick! 

My Rating=5 Stars

 

Julianna Derring has always been an avid reader and a lover of storytelling, whether on the page, the screen or the stage. This, along with her keen interest in history and her Christian faith, shows in her tales of love, forgiveness and triumph over adversity. A fifth-generation Texan, she makes her home north of Dallas with three spoiled cats and, when not writing, spends her free time quilting, cross stitching and watching NHL hockey. Her new series of Drew Farthering mysteries set in 1930s England debuts with Rules of Murder (Bethany House, Summer 2013) and will be followed by Death by the Book (Bethany House, Spring 2014) and Murder at the Mikado (Bethany House, Summer 2014).

Website * Blog * Goodreads * Twitter * Facebook * Amazon * Novel Crossing * Bethany House

ALL readers, who are interested, can receive an autographed bookmark. 

You can see a picture of the bookmark here.

Just send a self-address STAMPED (7" long) envelope to:

Julianna Deering
P. O. Box 375
Aubrey, Texas 76227

From the author regarding the fabulous GIVEAWAY:

How could one possibly have a cozy mystery 

set in an old manor house in the English countryside near a quaint little village 

and not have tea? 

Drew doesn't usually take lemon or milk in his. He prefers honey, 

especially if it's fresh from the hive. 

Mrs. Devon, his housekeeper, spoils him terribly and makes sure he has it.

Print copies of The Rules of Murder and Death by the Book and a Tea Gift Basket (US ONLY)

March 10th - 28th

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Follow the Tour:

3/11 

Books & Chocolates

Angels With Attitude Book Reviews

3/12 

Pieces of Whimsy

JoJo's Corner

3/13 

Kelly P's Blog

Crafty Booksheeps

3/14 

The Written Adventure

Letters from Annie Douglass Lima

3/16 

My Devotional Thoughts

Beck Valley Books

3/17 

Mel's Shelves

Deal Sharing Aunt

3/18 

The Wonderings of One Person

Cherry Mischievous

3/19 

LDS and Lovin' it

My Love for Reading Keeps Growing

3/20 

Tell Tale Book Reviews

The Pensive Chronicler

3/21 - Grand Finale

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Blog Tour/Review: Wildwood Creek by Lisa Wingate

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!

There is a mystery in Wildwood Creek's history, a mystery that affects Allie's present...

Wildwood Creek

by Lisa Wingate

Christian Romance

Paperback, 384 pages

February 4th 2014 by Bethany House Publishers

Allie Kirkland has never been one to take wild risks. But when she’s offered a costuming assistant’s job on a docudrama in the hills near Moses Lake, she jumps at the chance. She’s always dreamed of following in her director-father’s footsteps, and the reenactment of the legendary frontier settlement of Wildwood is a first step. The family expectations will have to wait.

But in 1861, the real Wildwood held dangerous realities. Town founder Harland Delevan held helpless residents, including young Irish schoolteacher Bonnie Rose, in an iron grip. Mysterious disappearances led to myths and legends still retold in the folk songs of Chinquapin Peaks. Eventually, the entire site was found abandoned.

When strange connections surface between Allie and the teacher who disappeared over a century ago, everyone in Wildwood, including Allie’s handsome neighbor on the film set, Blake Fulton, seems to be hiding secrets, and Allie doesn’t know who she can trust. If she can’t find the answers in time, history may repeat itself . . . with the most unthinkable results.

I love a good mystery and this book delivered! There are two stories being told, one about Bonnie Rose who lived in 1861 and the other is Allie Kirkland in the present day. Bonnie Rose has had a tough life. She's 18 years old and the only family she has left is her 9-year-old sister Maggie May. She's trying to make life better for both of them and she is able to secure a position as a schoolteacher in Wildwood, Texas.

Allie Kirkland is living in Texas, trying to make a life for herself away from her family in Arizona. She and her best friend, Kim, are trying to get in the newest Mysterious History docudrama miniseries. Kim wants to be a cast member and Allie wants the production assistant's job. They are able to both get on and the details of where exactly they'll be going haven't yet been revealed but they know they'll be gone for three months. 

The first part of the book is Allie and Kim's preparations to head out into the wilderness. There are classes to take and lots of organizing to be done. Allie meets mystery man Blake Fulton who is positive he's part of the production but doesn't show up to any mandatory meetings. Who exactly is he? She also ends up being offered a different part in the production which changes things drastically for her.

This is a great mix between Bonnie Rose's life in Wildwood and Allie's summer working on a re-enactment. Something strange happened in Wildwood many years ago and Allie starts digging to find answers. She and Bonnie Rose have a lot in common and not all of it is good. Will Allie be able to figure things out before it's too late? The ending is suspenseful and the reveal surprising.

My only complaint about this is that it's labeled as Christian Romance and I personally thought it was very light on the romance. I would refer to it as a mystery (the small amount of romance would be a bonus!). It is also possible that I was expecting more since I read it close to Valentine's Day. That said, it's clean and it's an intriguing story and one I highly recommend reading!

My Rating=4.5 Stars

Bethany House * Amazon * Barnes & Noble * Book Depository

Lisa Wingate is a journalist, inspirational speaker, reviewer for the New York Journal of Books, and the author of over twenty novels.  Her novels combine elements of history, romance, mystery, and women's fiction with nuggets of Southern culture, from the sublime to the humorous. She is a seven-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol award nominee, a Christy Award nominee, an Oklahoma Book Award finalist, a Christianity Today Book Award nominee, an Inspy Award nominee, and a two-time Carol Award winner. Her works have been selected for Booklist’s Top Ten List in 2012 and in 2013. Recently, the group Americans for More Civility, a kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa along with Bill Ford, Camille Cosby, and six others, as recipients of the National Civies Award, which celebrates public figures who work to promote greater kindness and civility in American life.

Website * Southern BelleView Daily Blog 

Goodreads * Facebook * YouTube * Pinterest

Tour-Wide Giveaway

February 10 - March 2nd  US Only

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1 Winner, 1 Amazing Prize Pack:

   $50 Amazon Gift Card

   Print copy of Wildwood Creek by Lisa Wingate

   Handmade-by-author Prayer Box with notepads

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Follow the rest of the tour!

2/10: Launch

2/11: LDS and Lovin' it 

2/12: Mythical Books 

+ Christy's Cozy Corners 

+ I Am A Reader, Not A Writer 

2/13: Kelly P's Blog 

2/14: Mel's Shelves

2/16: Brooke Blogs 

+ Tell Tale Book Reviews 

+ Paulette's Papers

2/17: My Love for Reading Keeps Growing 

+ The Written Adventure 

2/18: My Devotional Thoughts 

2/19: Getting Your Read On 

+ Bookworm Lisa 

2/20: The Wonderings of One Person 

+ Platypire Reviews

2/21: Katie's Clean Book Collection 

+ Reviews By Molly 

2/22: Grand Finale

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Blog Tour: Rocky Road by Josi S. Kilpack

Tour Schedule

Rocky Road

It was supposed to be a girls’ weekend in scenic St. George, Utah that would include shopping, trying out the local cuisine, and participating in a breast cancer fundraiser. The fact that one of the organizers of the fundraising event, a local doctor, disappeared two months ago was not supposed to be Sadie’s problem. In fact, she refuses to participate in the grassroots investigation her friend Caro, and Caro’s cousin, Tess, have put together prior to her arrival. But then she meets the ex-wife of the missing doctor. How could she not ask a few questions . . . that lead to a few more questions . . . that lead to a small town and yet even more questions. Before she knows it, Sadie is in the middle of yet another murder investigation and trying to piece together a convoluted trail of good intentions, hidden motivations, and philanthropy turned big business.

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Years ago, I borrowed the first book in this series, Lemon Tart, from my sister and I enjoyed it, but life got busy and I wasn't reading too much so I didn't keep up with this series. And now here's the 10th book! I have a bit of catching up to do but what I enjoyed about this book was that I didn't feel like I was lost because I hadn't read books 2-9. There's obviously some history with Pete and it will be fun to go back and learn more about their story. 

Apparently, Sadie is usually inserting herself into investigations and this time, she was avoiding it. Sadie and Pete recently got engaged and Sadie just wants time to relax and plan her wedding, but the disappearance of Dr. Hendricks put a kink in her plans. Dr. Hendricks set out a backpacking trip by himself and when he didn't return home, Search and Rescue searched for him for 6 days and when they couldn't find any sign of him, he was presumed dead. A memorial service was scheduled a couple of days before the cancer walk that Sadie was coming to town to participate in. Her friend Caro, and Caro's cousin, Tess, had done some work before she got to town and wanted to continue investigating his disappearance and when Sadie refused to help, Tess turned cold toward her.

The three women go to help with the memorial luncheon and Lori Hendricks, the ex-wife, is there helping, too. Sadie gets talking with her and decides to become involved. During the memorial service, Sadie's interest is peaked even more and she and Caro set out to find answers. 

This is a great mystery! I like Sadie--she has a lot of spunk and determination. She seems easy to get along with so it's kind of surprising that Tess doesn't warm up to her. I didn't care for Tess. She seemed like a hindrance and for someone that pushed for them to investigate, she wasn't focused on the task at hand. Caro was caught in the middle between a cousin and good friend. It was an interesting dynamic which created some tension. There are some twists and turns and the ending wasn't what I was expecting!

I love St. George, Utah, so it was fun to read a story that took place there. I also now want to explore some of the smaller towns nearby next time I head down that way. In her Author's Note at the end, Ms. Kilpack mentions that there is a real city named Pine Valley in southern Utah but she took a few liberties in describing it. And then, of course, there are the recipes! There's a Cafe Rio-Style Barbacoa Pork recipe (which is yummy with salad fixings in a tortilla) with the Tomatillo dressing and a Rocky Road Fudge recipe at the end. There are also some other ones that look yummy! You can download recipes from the author's books on her website.

There's also a sneak peek at the next book, Fortune Cookie, coming in February 2014 (and there just might be yet another recipe included). 

My Rating=4.5 stars

Author Josi S. Kilpack

Born and raised in Salt Lake City Utah, I met my husband in high-school–well, he wasn’t my husband then, just the cute guy in weight training with the permed mullet–and we married in 1993. I wrote my first book while on bed rest with my third child and have gone on to publish 20 novels, the most recent being part of The Sadie Hoffmiller Culinary Mystery Series.

I currently live in Willard, Utah with my husband, children, and cat.

Website * Twitter * Blog

Culinary Mysteries by Josi Kilpack

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/6/13

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

Book Review: Pelican Bay by Jesse Giles Christiansen

Pelican Bay, by Jesse Giles Christiansen
2013, 208p, Mystery Suspense
My Rating=4 stars
Content: Mild language
Source: Received a copy from the author for an honest review

Some things are better left alone…

After Ethan Hodges discovers an undersea cemetery just off the beach of Pelican Bay, South Carolina, he seeks answers from a grandfatherly fisherman named Captain Shelby. The captain wants the past to remain buried, and he warns Ethan to stay away. But Ethan doesn't listen.

Ethan's best friend and secret love interest, Morgan Olinsworth, joins in the investigation, unearthing intriguing secrets about the mysterious fisherman. When Captain Shelby is suspected of murder and disappears, a manhunt ensues, revealing a truth that unnerves everyone in Pelican Bay. (Goodreads)

Ethan's parents died at sea and he was raised by his paternal grandmother, Sidney Hodges. Sidney worries about Ethan since his best friend is a woman who he spends all his time with but she won't marry him and a crazy old man who talks to the pelicans. Ethan's best friend, Morgan, is a librarian and is painfully shy. Any time Ethan tries to profess his love for her or give her a compliment, she stops him and tells him she doesn't want to hear things like that. He's been friends with Captain Shelby for many years and the Captain treats Ethan like a son, but how much does Ethan really know about him?

One day, Ethan sees some gravestones in the water and wants to go diving to check them out. He enlists Morgan's help and that takes them on their quest to find out exactly who Captain Shelby is. There's lots of mystery and intrigue surrounding Captain Shelby and solving this mystery becomes the focus of their lives (and mine). 

I read the summary on this and was instantly intrigued! Honestly, I wasn't too crazy about the cover so don't let that keep you from giving this book a chance. The writing is amazing! The author has great command of the English language and it shows in his vivid descriptions and flowing style. I was glad I was reading it on my Kindle so I could look up the definitions of some of the words, like sagaciously and lugubriously. It also seemed like it would be a fast read, but I found myself taking my time to absorb what was happening.

One of my favorite quotes is when Ethan is thinking back to when he was young and learning to surf: "I soon turned my focus to riding the waves, rather than trying to stop them. Now this is a good philosophy of life, I imagine. We cannot stop the waves of misfortune, but we can learn to ride them so that misfortune somehow feels like fortune." (p. 15)

This is a book I would recommend to others, with the warning that there is some language in it. The author has another book out that also sounds interesting to me and I look forward to reading even more from him in the future (and with his goal to write at least 50 novels, there will be plenty of opportunities)!

About the Author:

Jesse Giles Christiansen is an American author who writes compelling literary fiction that weaves the real with the surreal. He attended Florida State University where he received his B.A. in English literature. He wrote his first novel, "About: Journey Into The Mystic" after spending a summer in Alaska working on fishing boats. His newest novel, "Pelican Bay," focuses on a very old fisherman, Captain Shelby, and the mysterious happenings linked to him surrounding a nosy, sea-battered beach town (release date: July 20th, 2013, Imajin Books). One of his literary goals is to write at least fifty novels, and he reminds himself always of something that Ray Bradbury once said: "You fail only if you stop writing."