Woven by Words

Monday, August 29, 2022

The Finding Of Miss Fairfield By Grace Hitchcock

The Finding of Miss Fairfield

by Grace Hitchcock

Publisher: Valmont House Publishers

Series: Aprons & Veils

AISN: B09X3W2PZR

It's always fun to join a launch team! This cover was so adorable, and the series idea appealed to me so I applied to join. I received this ebook ARC for review as part of the launch team.

Summary:

When an engagement of convenience becomes anything but convenient . . .

Forced into a betrothal with a widower twice her age, Charleston socialite, Sophia Fairfield is desperate for an escape. But, while her fiancé is away on business, he assigns his handsome stepson, Carver, the task of looking after his bride-to-be. Much to her dismay, Sophia finds herself falling in love with the wrong gentleman—a man society would never allow her to marry, given Sophia was supposed to be his new stepmother. The only way to save Carver from scandal and financial ruin is to run away, leaving him and all else behind to become a Harvey Girl waitress at the Castañeda Hotel in New Mexico.

Carver Ashton has had his life planned out for him since birth, but when he encounters Sophia Fairfield, he glimpses a new life—apart from his overbearing stepfather’s business. But, when the woman he loves disappears before he can express his devotion, Carver abandons all to find her. However, his stepfather has other intentions for Sophia and will stop at nothing until she is his bride . . . even if it is against her will.

My Review:

I'm not sure what it is, but I'm always drawn to stories about the Harvey Girls. This story was no different. The Finding of Miss Fairfield was an easy, quick read and will satisfy any historical fiction lover.

I liked Sophia because she absolutely refused to give in to her father's scheming to marry her off to a man old enough to be her father. Of course, the twist comes in that she meets Prescott's stepson, Carver, right as they're getting ready to announce the engagement.

Carver is immediately likable and it's clear he's nothing like his stepfather. As he watches over Sophia you can see his appreciation for her gumption and his desire to protect her. Unfortunately, since he doesn't make his intentions clear and society tells them how wrong their relationship would be she high tails it out of town to create a new life for herself.

And just in time, Sophia learns about Harvey Girls and sets off with the promise of a job. It's a bit amusing since she has no experience doing any kind of work since she comes from a wealthy family. It's sad though because of the competition of the ladies there vying for the various men's attention. There are misunderstandings which lead to even worse situations.

There's a Sheriff named Kane, and his connection to Carver is an interesting one. There are a number of things that happen in regards to him, and this was the one storyline that I disliked in this story. He's a rather despicable character and it's known by several other characters, yet the direction they move in is baffling to me. I don't want to give things away, but I was very disappointed in the choices others made even knowing his character.

A lot was predictable in the story, but if you're a history buff, you'll certainly enjoy this story!

About the Author:

Grace Hitchcock is an award-winning author of multiple historical novels and novellas. She holds a Masters in Creative Writing and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in History. Grace lives in Baton Rouge with her husband, Dakota, son and daughter. Connect with her online at GraceHitchcock.com.

Friday, August 26, 2022

Laura's Shadow By Allison Pittman + GIVEAWAY

Laura's Shadow Takeover

Welcome to the Takeover Tour for Laura's Shadow by Allison Pittman, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Laura's Shadow

Series: Doors to the Past

Author: Allison Pittman

Publisher: Barbour Fiction

Release Date: May 1, 2022

Genre: Christian, Dual Timeline Fiction, Romance

Can Promises Made in Times of Struggle Endure 200 Years?

De Smet, South Dakota—1890

Young women growing up in De Smet live by two rules: don’t go out in a snowstorm and don’t give your heart to Cap Garland. Young Mariah Patterson only managed to obey one. Orphaned and having devoted her youth to scrapping out a life with her brother Charles, Mariah finds herself with no option but to marry the devoted—but dull—Merrill Gowan. Throwing caution to the wind, she seizes an opportunity to lay her feelings at Cap’s feet, even though she knows Cap sees the world through the torch he carries for Laura Ingalls. Mariah is certain her love for Cap will be strong enough to break both bonds, and she’s willing to risk everything to prove it.

De Smet, South Dakota—1974

Trixie Gowan is the fourth generation of living Gowan women residing in the sprawling farmhouse on the outskirts of De Smet. Well, former resident. She’s recently acquired her own bachelor girl apartment in Minneapolis, where she works writing ads for a neighborhood paper. She might live and work in the city, but her co-workers still call her Prairie Girl. Thus the inspiration for her comic strip—"Lost Laura"—in which a bespectacled girl in a calico dress tries to make her way in the city. The name is a quiet rebellion having grown up in a household where she’d been forbidden to mention the name, Laura. But when her great-grandmother Mariah’s declining health brings Trixie home for a visit, two things might just keep her there: the bedside manner of Dr. Campbell Carter and the family secret that seems to be spilling from GG’s lips one conversation at a time.

Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance.

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Allison Pittman

Allison Pittman is the author of more than a dozen critically acclaimed novels and a four-time Christy finalist—twice for her Sister Wife series, once for All for a Story from her take on the Roaring Twenties and most recently for the critically acclaimed The Seamstress which takes a cameo character from the Dickens’ classic A Tale of Two Cities and flourishes her to life amidst the French Revolution. She lives in San Antonio, Texas, blissfully sharing an empty nest with her husband, Mike.

Connect with Allison by visiting allisonkpittman.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Laura's Shadow and a $15 Amazon egift card!

Laura's Shadow JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight August 24, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on August 31, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Sunday, August 21, 2022

Among The Innocent By Mary Alford

Among the Innocent

by Mary Alford

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800740269

Sometimes I'm surprised when an author reaches out to me asking me to review their book. I'd seen so many incredible reviews about this book I never expected the author to reach out to me. When she did, I couldn't say, "No." She sent me her book for review.

Summary:

When Leah Miller's entire Amish family was murdered ten years ago, the person believed responsible took his own life. Since then, Leah has left the Amish and joined the police force. Now, after an Amish woman is found murdered with the same MO, it becomes clear that the wrong man may have been blamed for her family's deaths.

As Leah and the new police chief, Dalton Cooper, work long hours struggling to fit the pieces together in order to catch the killer, they can't help but grow closer. When secrets from both of their pasts begin to surface, an unexpected connection between them is revealed. But this is only the beginning.

What will it mean for Leah--and Dalton--when the full truth comes to light?

My Review:

Holy smokes! What a fantastic introduction to this author!

Having never read any of her books before, but seeing fantastic reviews about the story, I figured I'd give it a go! Let me tell you, Among the Innocent did NOT disappoint!

I was hooked from the prologue until the very last page. Even in the prologue I became attached immediately to one of the characters. Then we meet the main characters of the story and it's a thriller from the get-go. I think that while it's set around an Amish community, I wouldn't consider it Amish fiction. Definitely more suspense!

Leah is an incredibly strong character! Everything she's been through with the murder of her family and trying to move on with her life only to have it explode in her face as she approaches the 10th anniversary of their killing shows her tenacity to survive!

Dalton was a bit of a mystery as he takes over as the police chief. The timing couldn't be any worse and now he has to jump in head first to new murders in the community. His secrets were interesting to uncover along the way as well!

Let me just say, the evilness that filters through the bad guy in the story is palpable. It just oozes on the page. I would say this isn't a book you want to read late at night, by yourself. Well, except for the fact that you'll have a very hard time putting the book down because it'll have you riveted!

There's a twist to the story that was a bit (not entirely) unexpected, but the way it's all explained put a stunned look on my face, I'm sure.

Now that I'm finished with this story I want to go find all of the author's other books!

About the Author:

Mary Alford is a USA Today bestselling author who loves giving her readers the unexpected, combining unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots that result in stories the reader can't put down. Her titles have been finalists for several awards, including the Daphne Du Maurier, the Beverly, the Maggie, and the Selah. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two cats and one dog. Learn more at www.maryalford.net.

Friday, August 19, 2022

Dead Sea Conspiracy By Jerry B. Jenkins + GIVEAWAY

Dead Sea Conspiracy JustRead Blog Tour

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Dead Sea Conspiracy by Jerry B. Jenkins, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I was sent this book as part of this book tour. The review is my personal opinion.