Babs Hightower's Blog, page 47
November 22, 2017
Happy #Thanksgiving
I want to wish all of you a nice and safe Thanksgiving.
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November 19, 2017
BLACK ARTS, TARTS AND GYPSY CARTS by Erin Johnson, blog tour, giveaway and spotlight
Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Spells & Caramels)
by Erin Johnson
Black Arts, Tarts & Gypsy Carts: A Cozy Witch Mystery (Spells & Caramels)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Self Published (October 29, 2017)
Paperback: 300 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1976537110
E-Book – ASIN: B076GW21DK
With the Summer Sea Carnival visiting the enchanted island of Bijou Mer, Imogen jumps at the chance to help run the royal bakery booth. It’ll get her out of the palace and allow her to continue avoiding her feelings for a certain engaged prince.
Imogen’s plans to lay low are shattered when the world-famous necromancer, Madame Zerna, is found dead, sawed in half on the dark magician’s table and Imogen’s friend Rhonda is caught red-handed. With incriminating evidence piling up against Rhonda, Zerna’s rival, Imogen promises to help clear her name by finding the real murderer.
But between running the booth, encouraging Maple as she struggles to lead as head baker, and taking spell lessons from the friendly strong man, Imogen’s got her hands full. And it’s no easier getting information from the evasive dark magician or Madame Zerna’s secretive assistant. Even Rhonda’s hiding something.
With the Night of the Dead fast approaching, and Rhonda headed for a maximum security witch prison, Imogen races to unearth the real killer in time to save her friend. But in a mysterious carnival where nothing’s as it seems, will Imogen have the magical powers to keep from being on the chopping block herself?
About the Author
A native of Tempe, Arizona, Erin spends her time crafting mysterious, magical, romance-filled stories that’ll hopefully make you laugh. In between, she’s traveling, napping with her dogs, eating with her friends and family, and teaching Pilates (to allow her to eat more).
Website: www.erinjohnsonwrites.com. Facebook: www.facebook.com/EJohnsonWrites. Twitter:@EJohnsonWrites
The post BLACK ARTS, TARTS AND GYPSY CARTS by Erin Johnson, blog tour, giveaway and spotlight appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
November 15, 2017
My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah: Leanna’s Choice (My Heart Belongs) by Angie Dicken, book review
Journey now to Castle Gate, Utah of 1910 where…
Forbidden Love Tries to Survive Old World Expectations
Schoolteacher Leanna McKee plans on leaving the coal mining town of Castle Gate, Utah, and never looking back. Good riddance to coal dust, rugged men, and the fatal mine that took her husband’s life.
Until the widow meets a widower who awakens her heart…and she finds herself inexplicably falling for miner Alex Pappas which stirs up a whole heap of trouble.
Alex’s Greek parents have arranged a more traditional match for him. When the schoolteacher’s association with the Greek family begins to anger the American miners, they threaten Alex and his family. Leanna has received an offer to teach elsewhere and feels she has no choice but to leave Castle Rock. . .though she will be leaving her heart behind.
My thoughts
Leanna had her whole life planned out, marry for love, go where your husband goes and have a great life. But things don’t go as planned and now Leanna is a widow, she is young and has to fend for herself.
I have to admit I was drawn to Leanna she was easy to like and you felt for what she had to go through. Leanna is a school teacher and loves her students.
Alex is a great person and it was nice to see them both go slow with their feelings and grow with each other.
Leanna overcomes a lot and it makes you think about all the immigrants and what they had to go through. The author does an excellent job.
*** I am voluntarily reviewing an Advanced Reader Copy of this book***
The post My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah: Leanna’s Choice (My Heart Belongs) by Angie Dicken, book review appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
Murder at St Philomena’s by Anita Davison, blog tour
The forgotten children of London are going missing, apparently being sold by their own families. Can Flora save them before it’s too late…
Flora Maguire‘s life is perfect – a beautiful home in Belgravia teeming with servants, a loving husband, and new baby Arthur to enjoy. But when she is invited to tour St Philomena’s Children’s Hospital in deprived Southwark, she gets a harsh insight into the darker side of Edwardian London.
Shocked by the conditions people are living in, she soon uncovers a scandal with a dark heart – children are going missing from the hospital, apparently sold by their own families, and their fate is too awful to imagine. With the police seemingly unable or unwilling to investigate, Flora teams up with the matron of the hospital, Alice Finch, to try to get to the bottom of it.
Soon Flora is immersed in the seedy, dangerous underbelly of criminal London, and time is running out to save the children. Will they get to them in time, or was their fate decided the day they were born poor…
Book 1 – Murder on the Minneapolis is out now:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2wYsfs7
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2fTF90f
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2yKnDn1
iBooks: http://apple.co/2xIQXvH
Book 2 – Murder at Cleeve Abbey is out now:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2ybwoJA
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2xNQTen
iBooks: http://apple.co/2yJPzaj
Book 3 – Murder at the Grenadier is out now:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2fujH0Z
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2fvgNZP
iBooks: http://apple.co/2wYuxrd
Book 4 – Murder at St Philomena’s
Amazon: http://amzn.to/2hNzkBH
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2iiLrKG
iBooks: http://apple.co/2grLYJJ
Author Bio
Born in London, Anita has always had a penchant for all things historical. She now lives in the beautiful Cotswolds, the backdrop for her Flora Maguire mysteries.
Anita’s Blog – https://thedisorganisedauthor.blogspot.co.uk
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/anita.davison
Twitter – https://twitter.com/AnitaSDavison
Follow Aria
Website: www.ariafiction.com
Twitter: @aria_fiction
Facebook: @ariafiction
Instagram: @ariafiction
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November 11, 2017
Funny Christmas Gift socks with cute sayings #FunnyGifts #StyleBlogger #trendyprosocks
I love getting these socks. They are comfortable and thick but yet they are cute for someone to read. The are of course white and red for the Christmas season. They are easy for people to relate to you can let your feet do the talking for you.
They are made of 95% Cotton; 5% Polyester (for stretch)ONE SIZE FITS MOST: US Sizes 6 to 11. My foot is on the larger side ( 10 ) and they fit fine.
You won’t be disappointed everyone from the person reading them to the one wearing them will have lots of fun. Think of all the conversations these socks can start and the fun you can have.
You can find Trendy Pro here.
Or on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Funny-Christma...
They have other sayings:
DEAR SANTA SOCKS 2-PACK:IF YOU CAN READ THIS BRING ME SOME WINE I HAVE BEEN NAUGHTY AND IT WAS WORTH ITNAUGHTY OR NICE
IF YOU CAN READ THIS I’M FEELING NAUGHTY IF YOU CAN READ THIS I AM FEELING NICE WINE
IF YOU CAN READ THIS BRING ME SOME WINE THIS WINE TASTES LIKE I’M CALLING IN SICK FOR WORK MOOD SOCKS
3-PACK:IF YOU CAN READ THIS BRING ME SOME WINE IF YOU CAN READ THIS BRING ME A COFFEE IF YOU CAN READ THIS BRING ME CHOCOLATE
The post Funny Christmas Gift socks with cute sayings #FunnyGifts #StyleBlogger #trendyprosocks appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
November 8, 2017
Of Spice and Men: A Pancake House Mystery by Sarah Fox, blog tour, spotlight & giveaway
Of Spice and Men: A Pancake House Mystery
by Sarah Fox
Of Spice and Men: A Pancake House Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Alibi (November 7, 2017)
Print Length 280 pages
ASIN: B01N1HTUWJ
Lights. Camera. Murder? Wildwood Cove’s star turn is soured by a sneaky killer in this delicious cozy mystery from the USA Today bestselling author of The Crêpes of Wrath.
Bonus content: includes original recipes inspired by the Flip Side Pancake House menu!
With a Hollywood film crew in town to shoot a remake of the horror classic The Perishing, the residents of Wildwood Cove are all abuzz. Even Marley McKinney, owner of The Flip Side Pancake House, can overlook the fact that the lead actress, Alyssa Jayde, happens to be an old flame of her boyfriend. After all, the crew loves Marley’s crêpes—so much so that Christine, the head makeup artist, invites her onset for a behind-the-scenes tour. But when Marley arrives, the special-effects trailer is on fire . . . with Christine inside.
The cops quickly rule Christine’s death a murder, and Alyssa a suspect. Marley’s boyfriend insists that the actress is innocent, but when Marley sticks her nose into the complicated lives of The Perishing’s cast and crew, she discovers more questions than answers. It seems that everyone has a hidden agenda—and a plausible motive. And as the horror spills over from the silver screen, Marley gets a funny feeling that she may be the killer’s next victim.
Sarah Fox’s addictive Pancake House Mysteries can be enjoyed together or à la carte:
THE CRÊPES OF WRATH| FOR WHOM THE BREAD ROLLS
| OF SPICE AND MEN
About The Author
Sarah Fox was born and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia, where she developed a love for mysteries at a young age. When not writing novels or working as a legal writer, she is often reading her way through a stack of books or spending time outdoors with her English Springer Spaniel.
Author website http://www.authorsarahfox.com/
Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/authorsarahfox
Twitter: @thewritefox
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14950357.Sarah_Fox
Purchase Links:
The post Of Spice and Men: A Pancake House Mystery by Sarah Fox, blog tour, spotlight & giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
CANAL DAYS CALAMITY by Jamie M. Blair, blog tour, book spotlight & giveaway
Canal Days Calamity (A Dog Days Mystery)
by Jamie M. Blair
Canal Days Calamity (A Dog Days Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
2nd in Series
Midnight Ink (November 8, 2017)
Paperback: 240 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0738751221
E-Book ASIN: B01N5RVJDY
Cameron Cripps-Hayman is taken aback when she stumbles upon another murdered neighbor, this time behind her sister’s shop, Dog Diggity. The timing couldn’t be worse, as there’s only a week left before the store’s grand opening during Canal Days, the biggest festival of the year.
When the police arrest her handyman, Cameron knows they’ve got the wrong suspect, so the Metamora Action Agency sets their sights on cracking the case. With one solved murder under their belts, how hard could a second be?
With a flood warning and a murderer on the loose threatening the start of Canal Days, can Cameron and her crew save the town’s annual dog and pony show from being canceled?
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About The Author
Jamie Blair (Ohio) is the award-winning author of young adult and romance books, including Leap of Faith (Simon & Schuster, 2013) and Lost to Me. Visit her online at www.JamieBlairAuthor.com and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/JamieMBlair
Purchase Links
TOUR PARTICIPANTS
November 8 – Books,Dreams,Life – SPOTLIGHT
November 9 – Bibliophile Reviews – REVIEW
November 9 – Babs Book Bistro – SPOTLIGHT
November 10 – T’s Stuff – SPOTLIGHT
November 10 – Mythical Books – GUEST POST
November 11 – Readeropolis – SPOTLIGHT
November 11 – Laura’s Interests – REVIEW
November 12 – The Montana Bookaholic – SPOTLIGHT
November 13 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW
November 13 – View from the Birdhouse – SPOTLIGHT
November 13 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW
November 14 – Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 14 – Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers – SPOTLIGHT
November 15 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, & Sissy, Too! – SPOTLIGHT
November 16 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 16 – A Holland Reads – SPOTLIGHT
November 17 – A Blue Million Books – INTERVIEW
November 17 – Books a Plenty Book Review – REVIEW
November 18 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW
November 18 – Mystery Thrillers and Romantic Suspense Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 19 – Melina’s Book Blog – REVIEW
November 19 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT
November 20 – Valerie’s Musings – INTERVIEW
November 21 – Cozy Up With Kathy – GUEST POST
The post CANAL DAYS CALAMITY by Jamie M. Blair, blog tour, book spotlight & giveaway appeared first on ~*~Babs Book Bistro~*~.
November 7, 2017
My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah Celebration Tour, Guest Post & Giveaway
About the Book
Name of book: My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah
Author: Angie Dicken
Genre: Historical Romance
Release Date: November 1, 2017
Schoolteacher Leanna McKee plans on leaving the coal mining town of Castle Gate, Utah, and never looking back. Good riddance to coal dust, rugged men, and the fatal mine that took her husband’s life.
Until the widow meets a widower who awakens her heart…and she finds herself inexplicably falling for miner Alex Pappas which stirs up a whole heap of trouble.
Alex’s Greek parents have arranged a more traditional match for him. When the schoolteacher’s association with the Greek family begins to anger the American miners, they threaten Alex and his family. Leanna has received an offer to teach elsewhere and feels she has no choice but to leave Castle Gate. . .though she will be leaving her heart behind.
Click here to purchase Angie’s amazing book!
About the Author
Angie Dicken is a third generation Greek American, the granddaughter of strong men and women who endured hardship to grow American roots. My Heart Belongs In Castle Gate, Utah is set near the birthplace of her grandfather, a Greek coal miner’s son, and published 100 years after his birth. Angie is a contributor to The Writer’s Alley blog and an ACFW member since 2010. She lives with her husband and four children in the Midwest where she enjoys exploring eclectic new restaurants and chatting with friends over coffee. You can connect with Angie at www.angiedicken.com.
Guest Post from Angie Dicken
My Publishing Story: A Journey of Perfect Timing
”Wait for the LORD;
Be strong and let your heart take courage;
Yes, wait for the LORD.” Psalm 27:14
I wrote a story five years ago. My footing was finally solid on how to write, after a couple ACFW conferences and connecting with my bestie writing sister, Ashley. So in 2012, I poured my heart out within the parameters of what I’d learned.
The story I wrote stemmed from my heritage. From a very young age, I’ve been inspired by my grandfather. He was the son of a Greek coal miner who came over from Greece in the 1910’s. My grandfather always had wonderful stories to tell–he stirred up my intrigue for WWII era as he was a Purple Heart recipient (twice), and spoke of freeing concentration camps and invading Hitler’s homes; my grandfather lived a rags to riches legacy, having been born in a tent in a coal town, and then becoming a successful home and commercial builder–I declared I’d be an architect at age eleven…even majoring in Landscape Architecture in college.
Papou was one of my greatest heroes. And my novel was a tribute to him, to my Greek roots, to an American legacy.
So, at ACFW 2012, I took my novel to conference with more confidence than I had before. This story caught the attention of an agent– and I signed a contract with the Steve Laube Agency in November of that year. That was amazing…I chuckle now because the name of the room that I interviewed with Tamela was the “McKee” room–the last name of my heroine. A sign? Maybe. When she sent my story out for all publishers to see that next month, I thought my time for that book was just around the corner.
And…
Now it’s 2017, and that story is under contract with a publisher as of Fall 2016.
What timing, right?
Why the heck did it take so long? Not for lack of trying. My agent and I took every possible measure.
Why did I get rejection after rejection, and write two other books in the wait?
What happened between then?
Only in looking back, do I see why I had to wait for this book. And when I look back, I realize just how much Timing is His and there’s nothing I can do to speed it up or make it mine. All I can do is take courage, and wait.
I’ll give you a quick recap of what happened between 2013–when the book was put in the proverbial drawer of unwanted manuscripts–and now, 2017, the year it will get published (um, after a few rewrites and edits–always learning…).
In looking back, this is what I see:
My Community was Built. I fell in love with my writer friendships. A bit dramatic? Maybe, but it’s the truth. I connected with ladies who knew my heart as a writer, and allowed me into their lives in an authentic, Christ-loving way. I found hope in the writing journey because my friends held my hands and rubbed my back when all seemed lost. And in this, I grew not as a writer, but as a heart. My heart became soft for the needs of others and the value of authenticity in this short, precious life.
There was a Pride Monster, and He needed to kill it. Oh, Lord, if ever there was a pride monster, it was me. My gut reaction in every rejection, every criticism, every other person’s success was a measurement against them according to me. Yuck. Do you know what the best way to kill a Pride Monster? Starve it. Even though I had my sweet friends and my agent encouraging me along the way, my heart was set on publication and I was not getting that. I wanted it so badly that I turned ugly when it seemed to slip through my fingers with every rejection. And I spiraled and I came up for air to those authentic friendships speaking Truth in love. God knew what He was doing when He built my community, and He knew He would use it to lift me up and tear down my ugly.
The Darkest Valley Was Ahead. Everything stood still in 2014. My personal crisis gave me little room for any true focus on my writing success. If anything, it made the effort seem petty. When you go through your days wondering if you’ll make it to the next morning without a complete mental breakdown, you can’t really dream. My dream in those moments was to crawl out of my skin and run away. This was not about my writing, this was about God’s faithfulness to someone who was losing faith–in the person she loved, in the life she constructed, in the heart that was broken. Looking back (I did climb up and out of this valley), I needed this valley walk (or crawl) to happen when it did–without a book on the shelf, without confidence in something that I had accomplished. I needed brokenness to become stronger and know that my strength has nothing to do with me.
There are several other moments and signs that I see as I look back, but I’m not going for the longest blog post of 2017, but I do want to share two sweet confirmations that the timing really is His.
First, I got a book contract! You know this, but, the contract came at a time when I had grown peaceful in the journey–the pride monster lay slain, and I picked up a pen and took an opportunity. My Oklahoma Land Run book with Love Inspired Historical won the Manuscript Matchmakers contest…and WAS coming out in Spring 2018.
I had secretly told those closest to me, that it would’ve been nice for it to come out in September instead…just because that’s when the book opens–September, 1893–the historical date of the Land Run.
So, what happens after I turn in my complete book a few days before its deadline? My editor tells me they bumped up my date to September of 2017. And I am sure, for them, it had nothing to do with the history, but for me, it was everything to do with the history–and His timing. Look for my debut novel, The Outlaw’s Second Chance this September!
There’s more…
My second contract came in! And this was a wonderful surprise. My agent and I had found out last spring that a new series was being launched based on geographical places around the U.S. I immediately thought of my Coal country story. So, I put together a proposal for a book I’d written long ago…and got a contract with Barbour this Fall for my novel, My Heart Belongs in Castle Gate, Utah.
But, the timing? November 2017 is my release.
God’s Timing in its finest…The book comes out during the centennial year of my grandfather’s birth. He was born in Dec. 1917 in Carbon County, Utah. My hero and my inspiration for this very book.
I just can’t stop smiling at the chance to honor my late grandfather with a story written by his third generation Greek American granddaughter who was inspired by his roots grown a century ago.
If only he could be here now. But I know he’s smiling, too.
A century.
It took a CENTURY.
Only by God’s grace, and His perfect timing.
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Angie is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of her book The Outlaw’s Second Chance!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c1ff
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November 6, 2017
Break The Line by Allison Mullinax, Cover Reveal
Break the Line by Allison Mullinax
Contemporary Romance
Fiery Seas Everlasting
2018
As a pro-fisherman, Benson Howell’s days are spent on murky lake water, reeling in largemouth bass and winning first place trophies. At twenty-nine, life is easy and carefree. His only job is to stay in the top rankings during the fishing circuit, and keep the sponsors happy. That is, until he meets hot tempered, fiery haired Danni-Rose in small-town Alabama. He has never backed down from anything too big to reel in.
Danni-Rose has spent the past six years of her life burying her past. When Benson Howell literally plows his boat right into her life, armed with simmering anger, she fights the current pulling her closer to him. With a past she can’t let go of, and the sexy fisherman breaking down all her walls, Danni-Rose does everything she can to break the line connecting her to Benson.
Will Danni-Rose be able to let go of the past? Can Benson change her mind about him? Or will they both miss the catch of a lifetime?
About the Author:
North Alabama native, Allison Mullinax, grew up in the small lake town of Guntersville, AL. She discovered the escapism and addiction of writing at an early age. Today she remains a lover of reading, all things outdoors, and spending time with her husband and three daughters.
Social Media:
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November 2, 2017
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