Amanda Tero's Blog, page 6

When “Thank You” Doesn’t Seem to be Enough

“Thank you for shopping small.”


 



You see it in cute little graphics designs. You see it from your favorite small shops. Yes, we thank you for shopping small, because for some of us in 2020, your business literally put food on our table.




Sometimes we are guilty of seeing cute pictures on social media and forgetting that there is a real person and real life behind those pictures.




Sometimes, hearing one person’s story reminds us of the real people behind all small businesses. Here’s ...

Merry Christmas – with a short story!

Guess what happened this week?!

 

I’ll give you two hints: Lena + Christmas

 

And a bonus hint: YA Christian Historical Fiction

When a Brilliant Bad Guy Takes Lead

 

 

I actually liked this cat-and-mouse chase story. Sometimes these can be redundant and make it seem like the good guys are stupid but, I absolutely loved that the criminal was so smart. It did occasionally drag the slightest bit when the Marshals were stumped again, but maybe that was just because I wanted them to catch the guy. This was not as suspenseful as some books Ive read, but the pace was good.

Im beginning to appreciate the way Lisa Harris handles romance. She doesnt go into the...

When a Belligerent Teen Meets History

 

As soon as Tisha entered the scene and Jillian had to deal with a delinquent teen, I knew this was going to be a good story. Tisha’s story was so great. I could really feel the loneliness and discouragement of that teen as she tried to maneuver her life practically alone, and I loved how Nolan and Jillian invested into her life.

 

I’m still appreciating the level of romance in these books. Yes, Jillian now has a boyfriend, but it’s not the theme of the book. Her genealogy work and the dual ti...

A Wartime Fiction Series Added to my TBR

 

Are these covers not so beautiful!?

 

And the stories sound intriguing as well. I haven’t read anything by Kelsey before, but I do hope to one day.

 

 

With the threat of the Great War looming at America’s doorstep, fear of immigrant disloyalty has become enough to divide the nation. So when German-born Amara Müller’s brother decides to join the fight, he leaves her behind in St. Louis with one final directive: Stay safe. There’s only one certain way to keep herself out of suspicion’s spotli...

One Letter’s Impact that You Should Read

There was so much depth and intrigue in this story, I was invested from pretty much the first chapter. I absolutely adored how the letter wove into every character’s story and impacted their lives. It is just one example of how the message of the power of words is threaded through the entire story.

This was a solid story with what I consider a good Christian message. While not every aspect of the theme was presented from an exact Christian perspective, because the main character was a Christian,...

Authentic Appalachian Read

This was my first Pepper Basham book, but it won’t be my last. I appreciated the mountain folk perspective and all the fun little phrases that were tossed around the pages of the book. It felt genuinely authentic. And having a family feud as the basis of the mystery was just perfect for both the True Colors series and Pepper’s brand.

 

I appreciated the way Pepper intertwined a fictional story with real characters and real events. It flowed smoothly. It also seemed to be a fairly even balance o...

Excerpts from all five Thanksgiving Stories

Today I’d like to share a little more about all five stories featured in A Very Bookish Thanksgiving! I hope you enjoy these excerpts.

 

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“I have one more request to go along with that, actually.” He watched his finger sweep pastry crumbs and icing tidbits into a pile on his plate. “I personally have a hard time with Thanksgiving. It was my wife’s favorite holiday, my son doesn’t come around, and—well, anyway, I don’t celebrate it anymore. But it’d be beneficial for Addy and Heston if ...

Meet Another YA Author

Today one of my writer friends, Darcy Fornier, is gracing my blog with her presence. I haven’t read her books yet, but I totally hope to soon!

 

Interview with Darcy

Tell me a little about you personally–separated from your writing.

One of the Best Historical Fiction I’ve Read This Year

 

When it comes to historical fiction, I’ll confess there are very few fiction books that really hit the nail on the head. So many of them romanticize history. They work in escape routes for gruesome reality and give most of the characters a happily-ever-after, which in and of itself is often historically inaccurate.

 

But this book? For me, it honors the title of Historical Fiction. It gives you a heart wrenching glimpse into Hungary during WWII as well as sobering realities of what it would h...