Robyn Echols's Blog, page 7

Wednesday Wonders: TO SUIT A SUITOR

This week's Wednesday Wonders is participating in a blog tour for: To Suit a Suitor by Paula Kremser McKellips
About the Book:
"She moved closer, holding her breath. She could see the small creature rubbing its front legs together, oblivious to her approach. She desperately wanted to prove to herself that she could catch something.”

Much to her mother’s annoyance, Julia North can’t catch a husband. After what seems like the hundredth lost suitor, Julia leaves London to visit a distant cousin, hoping to forget about husband hunting for a time. She inadvertently finds herself in the society of Henry Chamberlain, the most desirable gentleman in Somersetshire. With every young lady in town competing for his attention, Julia assumes she doesn’t have a chance. What she doesn’t know is that her desire to avoid Henry’s attention may be the very thing that catches it.


Excerpt:
     As he approached her, he began smiling in anticipation. He certainly enjoyed reminding her of their first encounter. “Do you not think I’m brave?” he asked by way of greeting.
     She looked confused at his question, then mistrustful, probably aware of what he was leading up to. “I don’t know you well enough to judge, sir,” came her proper reply.
     Her effort to be proper and distant made it almost too easy. “It’s how well I know you that makes me brave. I’ve seen you catch your prey, and yet I’ve just taken my life in my own hands and approached you.”
     Her annoyance was evident, but Henry was happy to observe that she was trying to hide her amusement. He could see her smile in her profile as she turned away from him. He wanted to recapture her attention.
     “I hope you will reward me for my bravery by dancing the next set with me, Miss North.” He waited for her to say yes so he could take her hand and lead her to the floor.
     She didn’t answer right away, and he looked down at her in surprise as her eyes darted about the room. With indecision in her countenance she said, “No, thank you, Mr. Chamberlain, I . . . I umm . . .”
     Was she trying to think of an excuse for refusing him? “you . . . what?” He waited expectantly. It was an extremely uncommon thing for him to be turned down—so uncommon that he couldn’t remember a single instance when it had ever happened.
     She finally just shrugged one shoulder and said, “I won’t be dancing with you.”
     His eyes narrowed just a bit as he scrutinized her. “I saw you dance with Alec Hibbert, your first catch of the evening. I assume he didn’t bite?” She gave him a withering look for that comment, which caused him to smile broadly. “So surely it’s safe to dance with me too.”
     He held out his hand to her, feeling quite sure that her unusual reluctance would give way. Instead, she obviously contrived a casual manner and said airily, “No, thank you.”



My Book Review:

This story was a study in personalities and relationships. Set in the Regency period, the rules and expectations of courtship were such that many young women of the ton were taught rigid rules of behavior when courting. Julia, a young woman in her third season follows these rules, but still is repeatedly rejected and wonders why.

The motivation for Julia and her sister to marry anyone suitable regardless of their personal feelings for a prospective spouse is provided by their mother, a widow, who has her own selfish agenda. The younger, Harriet, seems to be more successful, but Julia, to escape repeated failures to attract suitors while not understanding why the men are not interested in her grabs at an opportunity to leave the social scene of London to spend two months with an older cousin in the country. There she encounters a slightly different society, one where the desires of the local young women center on a very handsome man, Henry, who is well aware of how appealing he is to women and has become adept at playing on his appeal while keeping women at a distance.

Henry was an interesting character. Used to women falling all over him, he finds himself dealing with Julia who refuses to make a fool of herself by feeding his ego. He suffers rejection by a woman for the first time. The author did a good job of portraying him and how his experiences had shaped him and influenced his attitudes.

This is an enjoyable clean romance. There is not a lot of action or suspense outside of the romance elements, but the characters are well-developed and their interaction make the story. It prompts me to feel grateful I live where I do and in this period of time.
About the Author:
Paula Kremser focused on a career in science for a few years after graduating from Brigham Young University. Several years later when she moved with her young family to England, Paula seized the opportunity to focus on her love of the Regency Era. The enchantment of the aristocracy and the fascinating stories from every stately home she visits have been both research and inspiration for her first novel, Sophia. Paula lives with her husband and four children in a charming village nestled in the Chiltern hills in Buckinghamshire. 
Author Platform Links: 
Paula Kremser, Author | Historical novel Sophia, To Suit A Suitor Facebook
Purchase Links:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Books & things  |  Deseret Book

Turkey Trot Blog Hop: THE FOURTEENTH QUILT

Welcome to the 2016 Turkey Trot Blog Hop


Norwegian Wood by Hilary Gooding for makoweruk.comThanksgiving is about more than a big family feast featuring a perfectly roasted turkey. It is an opportunity for each of us to reflect on those things for which we are grateful. It is also the time to finish up that quilt you have been working on for a special gift, or to start a wall hanging, table topper or other smaller quilted gift for Christmas.
Today I will be featuring a book in which three quilters found themselves hurrying to finish the quilts they planned to give away at the local nursing home. It is also about a young couple who meet and desire to marry. But, with college to finish, and the job market and money tight, they aren't sure how they are going to manage it. The Fourteenth Quilt is based on a real story. In other words, who could make this stuff up?

Here is the book description:

Annie, Celia and Lynn are all that are left of the Relief Society quilting class, but they are still determined to make baby quilts for the new mothers at church. Annie, who is just south of eighty years old, calls the quiltsters (short for quilting sisters) together to ask for more. She wants to make lap quilts to give to some of the “forgotten” oldsters she sings to each week at the nursing home—something to wrap them in love at Christmastime. It’s a good idea, but the trio discovers that life and making quilts don’t always go as planned.

The quiltsters discuss recipes and quilting ideas including a crocheted cat mat to use up their fabric selvage and trim scraps, all of which they share in the book.
Sarah and Brian meet at the university. Their first date is after Sarah’s First Saturday Block of the Month class she attends with her mom at the local quilt shop. Their romance grows, and they plan their future together—a plan that will require them to be separated for six months before their wedding. But, can they bear to be apart that long?
What wraps together this Christmas tale? The Fourteenth Quilt. 
Excerpt:

Sarah turned to face Brian only to see him already turned towards her, studying her face. As he leaned his head forward, she leaned in to join him in a quick kiss. She could tell by the way his arm tightened around her he planned to kiss her again, this time longer and deeper. Her lips parted, longing for the kiss that promised to be so sweet only catch sight of a car entering the traffic circle on her right. With an instinct borne of her shyness, she pulled her head back as her eyes followed the car as it traveled the road in front of her, aware Brian had picked up on her mood and his eyes joined hers. Together they rotated their heads as they watched the vehicle travel three-fourths of the circle and exit behind them.          Sarah and Brian turned towards each other on the bench and once again studied each others’ faces. Sarah smiled as she watched the light of Brian’s laugh in his eyes.          “You’re not getting out of my kiss that easily, Sarah,” he teased. “No cars in the area. No one walking the streets.”          Sarah’s smile widened as she slid her arms around Brian’s neck and leaned in to kiss him. It was the sweet kiss she had anticipated. She forgot about the heat on her legs, the perspiration causing her arms to stick rather than to slide. She forgot to care whether or not her nose was turning red on top or was dotted with beads of sweat. All that mattered was Brian and their kiss.          As the two separated, Sarah’s eyes studied the hint of a smile playing around his mouth. Then he clicked his tongue and shook his head.          “Wow, Sarah,” he finally said as he looked away.

Purchase Links :
Amazon   |  Barnes & Noble

For an opportunity to win a digital copy of The Fourteenth Quilt , please leave a comment at the bottom of this blog post telling three reasons why you are thankful this Thanksgiving season.

Please visit each of the blogs on the Turkey Trot Blog Hop to learn about the great authors and their books.


For an opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, please CLICK HERE to reach the blog on which to leave a comment.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a great Thanksgiving.
About Robyn Echols:

Robyn Echols has been writing since she was in junior high school. By choice, she spent most of her evening hours in her "dungeon", as her mother called her downstairs bedroom, writing stories, only joining her family in front of the television upstairs when her favorite programs were playing. She has spent hours learning and teaching family history topics, and focuses on history from a genealogist's perspective of seeking out the details of everyday life in the past.
Now Robyn resides with her husband in California near the “Gateway to Yosemite” and has fun researching and writing the books that she hopes will interest and entertain her readers. 


Q & A with Robyn Echols :
Q:  What prompted you to write The Fourteenth Quilt?
Robyn with the original 14th Quilt
Robyn: In 2012 I and two of my friends decided to make baby quilts for the new mothers at church and lap quilts for the residents of the nursing homes where one of those friends performs each week. Shortly after we gave away thirteen lap quilts six days before Christmas, we felt prompted to make one more. The fourteenth quilt ended up taking quite a journey in the seven days between the time the decision to make it arose and when it was delivered. After it was all over, I said to myself, “Someone should write a book about this.” So, I did.
Q:  Is the book only about this quilt at Christmastime?
Robyn: No. The story actually starts in the spring of the same year the fourteenth quilt was made. It includes some of the quilting adventures, successes and disasters experienced by the three quilters. If you are looking for a novel about highly accomplished quilters whose work turns out museum quality every time, this isn’t it. At times our quilting experiences are best described as a comedy of errors.
Q:  What is the “young love” in the sub-title all about?
Robyn:  The daughter of one of the quilters fell in love that year. The story of the young couple in the book is almost entirely fictional. Only the scene where they crossed paths with the fourteenth quilt is based on real events.
Q:  Speaking of fictional, how much of the book is based on real events and how much is made up?
Robyn:  The scenes involving secondary characters and barely mentioned characters are fictionalized. They are there to support the overall plot of the book. All the names except for Archie the cat have been changed to protect the guilty – er, the innocent. Most of the quilting experiences of the three quilters along with the scene at church the Sunday before Christmas are fictionalized versions of real events. ­­In other words, who could make this stuff up?
Q:  Explain the references to blog posts at the end of some of the chapters.
Robyn: I did not take a lot of photos to support this book. After all, I had no idea it was a story worth retelling until the end. However, during the time these events took place I took some pictures and wrote up some blog posts on my personal blog. Because of the publication costs, I did not attempt to include these images directly in the book. Instead, I chose to dedicate the month of September 2015 to posting or reposting six articles or photo collections to support the book on my Quilt Gateway blog (I took the name from the Gateway Quilt Guild to which I belong). You can access them by going to http://quiltgateway.blogspot.com and searching through the history for the month of September 2015.
Q:  Do you plan to write more books about quilters?
Although I quite often touch on quilting in some of my stories, I have no plans at this time to write a book primarily about quilters. Then again, I had no idea I would write The Fourteenth Quilt until I lived the story. 

Turkey Trot Blog Hop: FAMILY SECRETS

Welcome to the 2016 Turkey Trot Blog Hop

Thanksgiving is about more than a big family feast featuring a perfectly roasted turkey. It is an opportunity for each of us to reflect on those things for which we are grateful. The sentiment of this poster from earlier in the 19th century was just valid during the years of the Vietnam War and beyond, one of the storylines of three generations of one family in Family Secrets.
Today I will be featuring Family Secrets. Although not a Thanksgiving book per se, several scenes in the book tend to revolve around Thanksgiving. Here is the book description:

About Family Secrets:
Jennie Graves Howell has a secret, including being thought of as a loyal wife to her husband serving in Afghanistan, a husband who has demanded a divorce.

     Jennie’s family do not want her to delve into the past. Grandpa Mike refuses to talk about his experiences in the Vietnam War and the aftermath. He wants the biggest mistake he ever made to remain hidden in the past, including family members Jennie never heard about until hints of their existence begin to seep through the cracks of secrecy.

      Her new friends at the Golden Oaks Family Ties club are willing to teach Jennie the skills she needs to unlock her family’s secrets, but is she willing and emotionally strong enough to learn what her family has kept hidden?
To read a Thanksgiving excerpt from Family Secrets , please CLICK HERE .

For an opportunity to win a digital copy of Family Secrets please leave a comment on this blog about three things for which you are thankful this year.
Please visit each of the blogs on the Turkey Trot Blog Hop to learn about the great authors and their available books.


For an opportunity to win a $50 Amazon gift card, please CLICK HERE to reach the blog on which to leave a comment.

Thank you for stopping by. Have a great Thanksgiving.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
 Zina Abbott is the pen name used by Robyn Echols for her historical novels. Her novel, Family Secrets , was published by Fire Star Press. Her novelette, A Christmas Promise , and the five novellas in the Eastern Sierra Brides 1884 series, Big Meadows Valentine , A Resurrected Heart , Her Independent Spirit , Haunted by Love   and Bridgeport Holiday Brides were published by Prairie Rose Publications.

Wednesday Wonders: NO PEACE WITH THE DAWN

This week's Wednesday Wonders is participating in a blog tour for: No Peace with the Dawn by E. B. Wheeler & Jeffrey Bateman

About the Book:


In 1917, the Great War seems far from Logan, Utah. But soon it will change the lives of suffragette and mechanic Clara, Swiss-German immigrant and LDS convert Trudi, Marine Corps volunteer Reed, and Shoshone seeking U.S. citizenship Joseph. This novel weaves real events with compelling fictional characters into a sweeping tale of war, romance, self-discovery, and sacrifice.  
Excerpt:


The Western Front. Reed traced his finger over the map on the wallof the library, touching the cold tacks stuck across Belgium andFrance like a line of stitches on a wound that never healed. CaptainSantschi, the professor of military science, updated it every day.        “We’re going to that camp, aren’t we?” Bert nodded toward thePreparedness Movement poster next to the map. It showed a U.S.soldier, rifle at the ready, captioned, “Are you trained to defend yourcountry?”        Reed knew he had tipped Bert off, gazing at the poster too long, buthe was drawn to it. The soldier wore the same uniform they did for thecollege’s mandatory drills, but he was actually doing something aboutthe war. He was part of the action, not just playing soldier at the A.C.        “Just tell me if we’re going, will you?” Bert said. “I have a feeling it’ssomething we ought to do, but we have to raise the money. Rail fare, tendollars for uniforms, seventeen dollars and fifty cents for food.”        “Captain Santschi said we can wear our drill uniforms issued herefor camp, plus the college will pay train fare for eight students.”        “Ah ha! I got you.” Bert laughed. “You’ve already planned all thisout!”        “Not all of it, my friend. We both have to explain to our fathershow we’re going to miss four weeks of work on our farms this summer,while not getting paid.” Reed grinned. “You tell your father first and letme know how it goes.”        “You can see for yourself. He’s coming into town this week. I’llblame you and let you smooth talk him.”        Picturing Bert’s massive, demanding father, Reed demurred. “Ah,funny coincidence, Bert, but I think I have an appointment the rest ofthis week!”        Bert chuckled. “How are you going to tell your father?”        “Very quickly and over the telephone. Let’s go sign up first so theycan’t say no!”

My Book Review:
I intended to read this book over two days, but ended up staying up late the first night to finish it, it was that good. The authors introduced the main characters who were connected in some manner to Utah Agricultural College in Logan, Utah (which, by the way, my grandmother attended in the 1910's). Beginning in the years when the United States was still neutral during the beginning of the Great War, the book details everyday life among college-age students and their families, including the beginnings of a couple of romances. It not only set the tone, but the pace allowed me to become familiar with the individuals so I was able to keep track of who was who as the story progressed. As the United States entered the war, the pace and the intensity of the plot increased. 
As each character or group of characters went their separate ways during the war, the authors alternated between four story lines—three set in Europe and one still in Logan, Utah. I personally enjoy books written in this manner. The authors did a great job of telling the separate experiences of each while keeping the relationships intertwined.
The authors did their research. Although the story was fictional, some incidences were based on actual events. It was evident in the story itself, plus I enjoyed reading the historical notes at the end of the book. The war conditions were skillfully written and the battles contained enough detail for me to get a sense of what the characters faced. As if dealing with war, death, loss and post traumatic stress disorder (which was not understood and recognized back then) were not enough, the author worked in the influenza pandemic that affected the characters of this book both during war conditions and at home.
The prejudice towards some of the characters because of their German or German-Swiss ancestry touched close to home for me. I have family with German and German-Swiss ancestry who lived not far from Logan. Although I know my grandfather with his German surname served in the United States Army, I never heard, but have often wondered, what level of discrimination he experienced once the United States entered The Great War.
Although this book was about Latter-day Saints—Utah Mormons, an obscure and misunderstood religionto many people in that time—other than expressing the role faith in God played in their lives as they faced danger and difficulties, the authors did not delve heavily into religious doctrine. The romance elements and language were clean. I recommend this story to all, especially those who enjoy reading about the twentieth century wars.
Purchase Links:
Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Books & things   
About E. B. Wheeler:

E.B. Wheeler grew up in Georgia and California. She attended BYU, majoring in history with an English minor, and earned graduate degrees in history and landscape architecture from Utah State University. She's the award-winning author of THE HAUNTING OF SPRINGETT HALL and several short stories, magazine articles, and scripts for educational software programs, as well as BORN TO TREASON (May 2016) and NO PEACE WITH THE DAWN (November 2016). She lives in the mountains of Utah with her husband, daughters, various pets, and as many antique roses as she can cram into her yard. If she had spare time, she would spend it playing harp and hammered dulcimer, gardening, hiking, shooting archery, knitting, and reading.
Connect with E.B. Wheeler:

Website  |  Blog  |  Facebook  |  Twitter

About Jeffrey Bateman:

Jeff served in the U.S. Air Force for 32 years, retiring as a colonel in 2010. A graduate of the University of Washington, he holds an MA in History from Utah State University and an MS in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
His work as a historian has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Utah Historical Quarterly, Airpower History, and the U.S. Army War College Press.
Jeff teaches Utah History, American Military History and U.S. Institutions at Utah State University.
An award winning author and poet, Jeff is the author of On the Death Beat, forthcoming in 2017, Grey Gecko Press, and co-author of No Peace with the Dawn, Bonneville Books. Jeff lives on a mini-farm in the Wasatch foothills, where horses, gardening, and playing the bass fill the time he isn’t writing or teaching.
Connect with Jeffrey Bateman on his  Amazon Author Page.
 
 

Wednesday Wonders: CHRISTMAS QUANDARY

Today's Wednesday Wonders features  The Christmas Quandary , book five in the Hardman Holidays series,by Shanna Hatfield which will release this Thursday, November 10!  
Holiday surprises await two lonely hearts in Hardman… Tom Grove just needs to survive a month at home while he recovers from a work injury. How bad can it be to return to Hardman for the holiday season? He arrives to discover his middle-aged parents acting like newlyweds, the school in need of a teacher, and the girl of his dreams already engaged. After the loss of her parents and her fiancé abandoning her to spend a year abroad, Lila Granger needs a change of scenery. She leaves her home in New York to spend a few months with relatives in Hardman, Oregon. The idea of stepping off the train into a place that gives her a true sense of coming home never entered her mind. Neither did the notion of falling in love with a man who clearly can’t wait to get away from the small town.

  The Christmas Quandary is a sweet Victorian romance, full of laughter and heartwarming moments. And you can pre-order it now on Amazon ! 


Excerpt:

Lila giggled as he pulled the sled down the street. Before either of them gave a conscious thought to their destination, he took her out to a small hill at the edge of town. At the top, he stopped and moved the sled into position. With a dramatic bow, he placed the leather strap in her hand then gave the sled a mighty shove. Amid much excited squealing, she sailed down the hill. When the sled upended in a snowbank at the bottom, she threw herself back in the snow and stared up at the winter sky, full of contentment. 

The sound of crunching snow and Tom calling her name drew her attention to him as he raced down the hill. “Are you well, Lila? Did you break anything?” Worry laced his tone as he hurried toward her.  Rather than shout that she was fine, she closed her eyes and remained unmoving, wondering what he would do. His warmth encircled her as he dropped to his knees next to her and bent down, gently tapping her cheek with his left hand. “Lila, honey? Can you hear me? Lila?” 

The endearment he used made a sweet, oozy warmth settle in her stomach while heat flooded through her entire body. Strange feelings, ones she’d never experienced, filled her until every part of her seemed keenly attuned to Tom. 

“Lila? Please be okay? Please?” He bent close and pressed his cheek to hers, slipping his arm beneath her and lifting her head and shoulders from the snow. As his scent tickled her nose with a pleasing aroma, she delighted in the experience of being wrapped in his arms. 

Even with his heavy cast pressed against her back, she couldn’t think of anywhere she’d ever been that seemed more like home. “Lila?” His voice sounded more concerned as though he bordered on panic. Unable to continue her ruse, she popped open her eyes and grinned at him. “I’m fine, Tom. I was just teasing you.” 

“You shouldn’t… that’s not…” He pulled back long enough to look deep in her eyes. Whatever he searched for, he must have found because he wasted no time in pressing his lips to hers, plundering her mouth with barely restrained passion. 



Of course the girl of his dreams is already engaged...
The Christmas Quandary  


Shanna Hatfield
USA Today Bestselling Author
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Wednesday Wonders: SAVANNAH

This week's Wednesday Wonders features  Savannah  by Laura Lee McKellips



About the Book:
In the wake of reconstruction, tensions are still high throughout the former Confederate States as they rejoin the Union and heal. Women are in mourning and former soldiers are slowly finding their way home from the battlefields and prisons.
As a former Confederate prisoner of war, Phillip Anderson is on his way out west when he is forced to stop in the sleepy town of Savannah, Tennessee. Longing for a fresh start in St. Louis, he takes a job to make the money he needs to cross the Tennessee River. The town is the same as all the other towns he’s passed through on his journey west. What he doesn’t expect to find is a widow who is secretly still mad at her husband for dying.
Rachel married Colton Williams at the tender age of sixteen. Losing Colton at the Battle of Shiloh less than a year later filled her with anger. As the war comes to its devastating end, she finds the anger is still lodged in her heart. Every displaced soldier journeying through town tugs at her heartstrings as she tries to heal along with the nation. What she didn’t expect was one of those passing soldiers to find out about her anger at her dead husband.
Phillip and Rachel have both experienced extreme loss, but life has a way of healing even the deepest hurt and anger.
Excerpt:
“Colton, forgive my anger. Forgive me,” she whispered as her voice broke. “I have to move on now. Being your wife was something that I dreamed of, but never your widow. You know black was never my color,” she laughed even though the tears still streamed down her cheeks and chin.“Goodbye, Colton,” she cried as she raised her right hand. She kissed her fingertips before placing them on the ground. It may not be Colton’s grave, but this was hallowed ground. It was sanctified in the blood of the dying soldiers from both the Union and Confederate armies.She tilted her head back to look up at the sky. Her vision cleared as the clouds moved to reveal the sun. Blinking, she felt the rays touch her skin. The heat warmed her, as she felt content for the first time in five years. She knew Colton had been listening and was saying his goodbye. She might not have buried him at home, but this was better. He was in good company with all the men who died at his side.



My Book Review:
Savannah is the setting in Tennessee, the home of Rachel, widowed after one night of marriage to Colton, a soldier fighting for the Confederacy who died at the battle of Shiloh. It is where Phillip, also a Confederate soldier who spent many years in a Union prison finds himself stopped because he does not have sufficient funds to take the ferry across the river. After searching for work for days in order to earn the ferry fee, he is hired by Rachel to clean up and repair the home that was once hers and Colton’s.
The author demonstrates an understanding of human nature as the feelings and inner turmoil of these characters are slowly revealed to the reader. Rachel, instead of being the weeping, grieving widow still wearing black four years after Colton’s death, is angry that he died and did not keep his promise to return. Phillip wanders aimlessly, with a loose goal of getting to St. Louis, not for a specific purpose, but to escape his grief and regrets.
Both fight the attitudes of a judgmental town that have certain expectations about appearances. Rachel struggles against most of her family members and friends who feel they know better than she does how she must live her life. Most of the town looks down on Phillip because he was a prisoner of war and a drifter who was just passing through. It was interesting to read how these two dealt with their own internal struggles as well as the attitudes of the people of Savannah.
The pace of this novel is slow at first as the characters are developed. It deals with the topics of losses due to war and the challenges of starting over. Although this book is set in the year following the end of the Civil War where the war was on American soil, it is a universal theme for people who face the challenges of wartime loss. The romance elements are subtle and sweet although not entirely unexpected. I found when I finished it I remained in a reflective mood.
 Purchase Links:

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Smashwords 
About the Author:
I live in southern Tennessee surrounded by Civil War battlefields. I enjoy reading romance books and my favorite author is Julie Garwood. My first book Cursed Soldier takes my love of history and romance and blends them together. Thanks to my family and friends I decided to publish my book for everyone to read.
Self-proclaimed history bluff, Laura Lee McKellips writes romance novels laced with history as well as modern-day trials. She likes to write smart and funny heroines and equally strong and funny heroes.

She is a mixture of all her characters including the males: funny, smart, sassy, outgoing, loving, and guarded. She lets her characters tell their story in their own way much to her dismay at times.

After reading a self-published book in 2013, Laura Lee decided to type out one of the stories floating around in her head. Since then she has written Cursed Soldier, The Woman Behind the Letters, Sorority Sisters Duet (Courtney and Lily). She is currently working on another historic novel based in her hometown.

You can check out what she's up to on social media: 
Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Goodreads  |  Weebly

Release Day: PEARL HARBOR AND MORE-Stories of WWII:December 1941

It is here! Today is release day.

Pearl Harbor and More - Stories of WWII: December 1941 .


About I am an American by Robyn Hobusch Echols:
The Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and the next day the President of the United States delivers an impassioned speech asking for a declaration of war on Japan and Germany. For the families of two Livingston, California, USA high school seniors, Ellen Okita, a first generation American who lives in the Yamato Colony composed of about 100 families of Japanese descent, and Flo Kaufmann, whose father is a first generation American in his family, the war hits home fast and brings unforeseen changes. 

Please visit my Rumours of Wars blog by clicking on the tab at the top of this blog or by CLICKING HERE . I invite you to sign up to follow the blog.


Please sign up to follow my newsletter on the form in the upper right-hand corner of the blog or by CLICKING HERE . 
Here is the forward to this anthology of stories written by authors worldwide about the events that took place in December 1941:


On December 7th 1941, a pivotal event took place that changed the face of World War 2. Hundreds of Japanese fighter planes carried out a devastating surprise attack on the American naval base at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. By December 11th, the United States was at war with the Axis Powers in the Pacific and European theaters. World War 2 raged for almost another four years, but the entry of the world’s greatest economy into the conflict profoundly influenced its course.

This wide-ranging collection of eight stories by a diverse group of authors, who write wartime fiction, commemorates the 75thanniversary of the Battle of Pearl Harbor. Few people’s lives were unaffected in some way by that fateful day and these stories reflect this. Some of them are set at Pearl Harbor itself, on the Pacific Islands or in other parts of the United States. Other stories take place in occupied France, Germany and Northern Ireland. They explore the experiences of U.S. servicemen and women, a German Jew, Japanese Americans, a French countess, an Ulster Home Guard, and many others.
We hope readers will enjoy our salute to the people and the events of this momentous era.

Amazon USA   |  Amazon UK   |  Amazon CA   |  Amazon DE   |  Amazon AU

Nook   |  iTunes   |  Kobo   |  !Indigo   |  Books2Read

Book Tour: OPEN-UP!

A few weeks back we had a fantastic Blits for author T.G. Harris, MFT. And now, we get to be part of a fantastic tour featuring this author and her amazing book!
Come join us!

This book is written for anyone who has a genuine desire to move forward in their lives but, despite numerous attempts, nothing seems to be working and you keep ending up with the same outcomes year after year. You will learn how to recognize habitual patterns of thought that are sabotaging your life on an unconscious level. Everyone has good intentions for their lives and ultimately wants the best outcomes, but oftentimes we get in our own way by allowing self-destructive thought patterns to impede our good intentions—without actually knowing we are doing so. I know this all too well because this was my life for several years.

This book was written because of my own personal experiences in life, and the experiences of my clients that I serve in my practice. This book gets right down to your core by unveiling the good, the bad, and the ugly about the way you think about yourself and everything that is happening in your life. In essence, this book is entirely about YOU! Most of us try to change ourselves at the level of our thoughts, but true transformation happens at the level at which you vibrate. You will learn how to completely shift your vibrational way of thinking and allow better circumstances to come into your life, whatever they may be. Whether you want to get unstuck in a relationship pattern or a financial pattern that keeps coming up, this book serves as a guide that will explore the moments when you get into trouble, and offers tools for learning to stay with your uneasiness, and offers concrete steps to get unstuck so you can finally move forward in life. 
You will learn the O.P.E.N.U.P. steps: Observation, Permission, Experience, Not Identifying, Understanding, and Practice. These steps will serve as your doorway into revealing the very thing that is keeping you stuck. Once you discover those “hidden” truths about yourself, your entire state of being will be altered, and you will no longer resist all the good that life has in store for you.


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Tanishia is a renowned Life Coach, counselor, author, speaker, and radio personality, host, and brand ambassador. She is a conscious transformational expert who thrives on enlightening her clients to step boldly outside their comfort zone and into their greatness. She assists her clients in reaching their highest potential and attaining their lifelong dreams and goals through a powerful series of steps she developed called the Open-up Coaching Method. She embarked on a similar journey as the one you are undertaking, assisted by many of today’s well-known self-help gurus. That is what led to her desire to become a Counseling Psychologist and an Open-up Life Coach.

After the birth of her first daughter (who is now a teenager), she immersed herself in yoga and meditation and has dedicated her time and energy to becoming profoundly aware of her own inner growth and awareness while assisting her clients to do the same. She is a powerful & intuitive high performance coach for those who are ready to hold themselves to a more fulfilled purpose in their life & business.

Tanishia studied earth sciences as an undergraduate at UCLA, and while there, she decided to intern with the Semel Neuropsychiatric Institute. Serving as a resource counselor for HIV+ at-risk youth and women, Tanishia knew she found her calling in the field of Psychology. She went on to obtain her Masters of Science degree in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. She didn’t want to wait until after she graduated to start working with clients, and she also realized that she enjoys coaching clients outside of the normal therapy that she provides in the clinical setting. She launched the Open-up Coaching programs and began speaking and lecturing about her own personal experiences of opening up and healing. She had A LOT of healing within herself that needed to be done.  Her deep desire for self-realization, healing, peace, and balance within herself drew her to the field of coaching and psychology.

Tanishia is very intentional in her practice when working with her clients and she believes that a lot of the challenges her clients are faced with stem from old childhood beliefs systems and paradigms that are operating in the subconscious mind. She believes that we are no longer victims of the past. Today we can move beyond mere survival, and embrace our ability to thrive!

Tanishia also provides mental health services for clients wanting more of a therapeutic counseling session. She provides counseling services to those in need and works under the supervision of a licensed psychologist while she is attaining her hours for licensure. 

Tanishia is a true environmentalist and she believes that being green is a consciousness, not a trend. She has a deep connection to the earth and all things natural. She sits on the Board of Friends of Geography at UCLA and is also a volunteer with the American Red Cross. 

Connect with the Author here: ~ Twitter ~ Website ~ Instagram ~

Top Ten List 10 Fun Facts
1. I like to do 3 day silent meditation retreats2. I love water slides (tall ones)3. I am a low-key foodie who loves to cook4. I can be a massage snob5. I believe I was a travel blogger in another life6. I am an introvert that has learned to be extroverted7. I plan to learn how to make sushi before the end of the year8. I practice yoga often9. I have a pet gineau pig named Alice10. I used to model and act


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On Pre-order: PEARL HARBOR AND MORE: Stories of WWII-December 1941

I have been busy writing on my new Rumours of Wars blog, but realized I need to say something here, for my Goodreads and Google+ followers, if nothing else. I have a short story titled "I am an American" published in the anthology,  

Pearl Harbor and More - Stories of WWII: December 1941 .


About I am an American by Robyn Hobusch Echols:
The Japanese bomb Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 and the next day the President of the United States delivers an impassioned speech asking for a declaration of war on Japan and Germany. For the families of two Livingston, California, USA high school seniors, Ellen Okita, a first generation American who lives in the Yamato Colony composed of about 100 families of Japanese descent, and Flo Kaufmann, whose father is a first generation American in his family, the war hits home fast and brings unforeseen changes. 

Please visit my Rumours of Wars blog by clicking on the tab at the top of this blog or by CLICKING HERE . I invite you to sign up to follow the blog.


Please sign up to follow my newsletter on the form in the upper right-hand corner of the blog or by CLICKING HERE . 
This digital book, scheduled to be released on November 1, 2016, is available on pre-order from the following booksellers:
Amazon USA  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon CA  |  Amazon DE
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Wednesday Wonders: FOR THIS WE ARE SOLDIERS

This week’s Wednesday Wonders is part of a blog tour for For This We Are Soldiers: Tales of the Frontier Army By Carla Kelly


For This We Are Soldiers: Tales of the Frontier Army is an anthology of Indian Wars stories written over the course of my writing career. I began writing these short stories when I was a ranger in the National Park Service and working at Fort Laramie National Historic Site. Some have appeared in magazines, one in a 2014 Timeless Romance anthology, and two are original with this publication.
Book Description:

From master storyteller Carla Kelly comes this collection of frontier tales that take you behind typical army lines and into the hearts of ordinary men and women who perform extraordinary acts of bravery. From handsome hospital stewards and dashing soldiers to courageous children and wives who will pull at your heartstrings, there's something for everyone's fancy. Excerpt:
From “A Leader of His Troops”
The two men stared at each other. For the first time, Hiram saw the potential in his lieutenant, a spoiled man from a wealthy family, who might, just might become the officer I Company deserved. It could go either way. Certainly the escort would grouse, but they would chase after five of their number who thought to escape the army. They would also follow their lieutenant’s orders and go to Laramie first, if that was the decision.
Hiram knew the troops had heard the first exchange between him and the lieutenant. He also knew that if Shaw disobeyed his commanding officer’s order, the men would talk about it to other men. In a matter of days back at Fetterman, everyone would know they could not count on Lieutenant Shaw, not in small matters as this one probably was, and certainly not in larger matters of survival on a harsh frontier. Shaw would be finished, Hiram knew. Did Shaw know?
“Consider the men you lead, sir,” Hiram said. “That’s all I ask.”
Shaw turned his horse away. He stayed that way a long time. When he turned around, Hiram saw resignation, but also heretofore unseen resolution.
“Let’s go find those miserable sinners, Sergeant,” he said and they moved together toward the escort.  My Book Review:
This collection of short stories was long on historical detail, depth of understanding the human experience and left me with a feel for what it was like being connected to the U.S. Army during the years of the Indian wars on the frontier. Some of the stories left me feeling empathy for those soldiers from captains to enlisted men who found themselves cast adrift after fighting in the Civil War then later found their niche, albeit sometimes a lonely one, in the frontier Army. Soldiers of lower rank sometimes ended up leading their superior officers by exerting diplomacy worthy of ambassadors to foreign nations.
Other stories focused on the women from the wives of officers to lowly maids and laundresses who find themselves working hard to survive in an isolated frontier fort environment. Several of these stories were romances, often telling the stories of those willing to take a chance in spite of military life’s challenges. Others told of undying love and admiration in the face of disasters.
The romance elements in these stories are sweet and clean. The characters are well-developed, and the author pulls the reader in so we can see what is in their minds and souls. I highly recommend this can’t-put-it-down-until-finished collection of stories. At least read enough to find out who clandestinely milked the three hospital cows, and why.  About the Author:
Carla Kelly is a veteran of the New York and international publishing world. The author of more than thirty novels and novellas for Donald I. Fine Co., Signet, and Harlequin, Carla is the recipient of two Rita Awards (think Oscars for romance writing) from Romance Writers of America and two Spur Awards (think Oscars for western fiction) from Western Writers of America. She is also a recipient of a Whitney Award for Borrowed Light, My Loving Vigil Keeping, and Softly Falling. 

Purchase Links: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Deseret Books  |  Books & things
Contact Carla Kelly at:   www.carlakellyauthor.com