The Love Note By Joanna Davidson Politano

The Love Note

by Joanna Davidson Politano

Publisher: Revell

ISBN: 9780800736897

I had received this book for a book tour a couple years ago, but never had the chance tor read it. After reading my first book by her a month or so ago, I've been devouring her books. This one was incredible!

Summary:

A forgotten letter. A secret love. A vast estate.
Can one determined woman put the pieces together?

Focused on a career in medicine and not on romance, Willa Duvall is thrown slightly off course during the summer of 1865 when she discovers a never-opened love letter in a crack of her old writing desk. Compelled to find the passionate soul who penned it and the person who never received it, she takes a job as a nurse at the seaside estate of Crestwicke Manor.

Everyone at Crestwicke has feelings--mostly negative ones--about the man who wrote the letter, but he seems to have disappeared. With plenty of enticing clues but few answers, Willa's search becomes even more complicated when she misplaces the letter and it passes from person to person in the house, each finding a thrilling or disheartening message in its words. 

Laced with mysteries large and small, this romantic Victorian-era tale of love lost, love deferred, and love found is sure to delight.

My Review:

The Love Note was absolutely amazing! It was so much more than I could have possibly imagined!

So, there's an element to the story that's not part of the synopsis so I can't really discuss it because it's such a fabulous element and I don't want to ruin it for anyone! Suffice it to say, the love note that Willa finds creates quite the stir at Crestwicke.

I appreciated Willa's determination to be a doctor, but she also seemed to have tunnel vision. I wanted to cheer her on all the while I was groaning inside at her missed opportunities of love, one in particular who I became a champion of, but dreaded the outcome.

The author's writing is beautifully descriptive and you feel & live the moment as she's writing. My heart was put through the wringer with pretty much all of the characters in this story (and there are quite a few). One of those side characters who I love was "crazy" Aunt Maisie. She was so delightful and had so much to offer Willa in the way of encouragement and wisdom. One of the characters I never ended up liking was Burke. In fact, he made it harder and harder to like him as the story went on and in the end he sealed his fate in my heart.

There's a LOT I'm leaving out because this is a story that you have to discover and enjoy as your soak in the words! This one is NOT to be missed!

About the Author:

Joanna Davidson Politano is the award-winning author of Lady Jayne Disappears, A Rumored Fortune, Finding Lady Enderly, The Love Note, and A Midnight Dance. She loves tales that capture the colorful, exquisite details in ordinary lives and is eager to hear anyone's story. She lives with her husband and their children in a house in the woods near Lake Michigan. You can find her online at www.jdpstories.com.

Good Morning, Little One By Amy Kavelaris + GIVEAWAY

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Good Morning, Little One by Amy Kavelaris, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I received the ebook to help facilitate this review.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Good Morning, Little One 

Author: Amy Kavelaris 

Publisher: Tommy Nelson 

Release Date: February 8, 2022 

Genre: Children's Devotionals/Prayers, Christian 

Reassure kids that God is carrying them throughout the day with these morning affirmations and whimsical illustrations from beloved author Amy Kavelaris. Adorable animals with gorgeous floral art and words of hope remind little ones of God's love, security, and peace for the day ahead. 

Through a child’s eyes, the world can be beautiful, wonder-filled, and a bit fear-filled all at the same time. Remind your little one that God is always near with this unique book of blessings. A beautiful companion to Amy Kavelaris’s popular Good Night, My Darling Dear, this inspirational picture book 

• reassures children ages 4 to 8 that God carries them through good days, hard days, and anxious days 

• shares biblical promises of God's love, purpose, and protection 

• features the whimsical imagery of nature and animals that has made Kavelaris’s art beloved 

• encourages kids to discover God each day and joyfully live out who He created them to be 

• gives children confidence to be brave in scary and unexpected situations 

This unique book of blessings and prayers will remind your little one of God’s loving promises revealed in nature: that He protects us from the rain, He covers us with His wings, He shines His light into the darkness, and most of all, He’ll always be with us. Good Morning, Little One by artist Amy Kavelaris 

• includes a stunning cover with a jacket over hardcover 

• makes a touching keepsake gift book for a child's Easter basket, baby showers, and other new beginnings such as adoption, a new sibling, or the first day of school 

• is an enchanting piece of art for a botanical nursery or child's bedroom 

• is ideal for any parent, grandparent, or family who wants to establish a tradition of blessing their child in the morning 

There's no better way to start the day than praying over your children with this sweet, Scripture-based book about trusting God to carry each of you in His gentle arms. 

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | ChristianBook | BookBub

My Review:

While I love children's books that will appeal to my granddaughter, I love them even more when they appeal to me, which Good Morning, Little One did! The cover grabbed my attention because of how sweet and endearing the critters look. 

The colors the author/illustrator used for the story are warm and inviting. The critters throughout the story are soft, gentle, and inviting to look at. They're so sweet you want to cuddle the page. She did beautiful work.

I loved this story because it's a sweet way to remind little ones about God's love for them! The author speaks directly to a child's heart about God's care for them individually through short poems that they can understand. This is the kind of book that becomes a keepsake and one you and your child will treasure!

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy (Kavs) Kavelaris' work can be spotted in Target, Anthropologie, Bebe au Lait, and Better Homes & Gardens, as well as in homes around the globe. She has collaborated with countless brands, including Skechers Shoes and Pampers Diapers, and served as a judge for the Miss America Foundation. Her impressionistic, bohemian style merges with her painterly whimsy. Amy and her husband live in the Midwest with their three small girls. See her art at bloomprintsstudio.com and @amykavs on Instagram.

CONNECT WITH AMY: Website | Instagram

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Good Morning, Little One!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 21, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 28, 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

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

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Lost In Darkness By Michelle Griep

Lost in Darkness

by Michelle Griep

Publisher: Barbour Books

ISBN: 978-1636090658

Last year I received this book as part of the bookstagram tour for JustRead Publicity. I'm trying to get through my tbr books and decided to finally read my first book by this author. Just... wow! It was fantastic.

Summary:

Travel writer Amelia Balfour’s dream of touring Egypt is halted when she receives news of a revolutionary new surgery for her grotesquely disfigured brother. This could change everything, and it does. . .in the worst possible way.
 
Surgeon Graham Lambert has suspicions about the doctor he’s gone into practice with, but he can’t stop him from operating on Amelia’s brother. Will he be too late to prevent the man’s death? Or to reveal his true feelings for Amelia before she sails to Cairo?

My Review:

Ok, WOW! Lost in Darkness was such a fascinating book. This was my first time reading this author and I'm going to binge all of her books now! lol 

I just loved Amelia. She was so kind and loving even with the rough childhood she apparently had. It was clear the love she has for her brother even though she hasn't seen him for years and he's very disfigured. I mean, even I came to care for Colin!

Colin, while disfigured and living a solitary life, is such a kind soul. I was glad most of the book allowed us to get to know him.

The doctor was so easy to dislike! You could feel his diabolical mind oozing through the pages. And then there's Graham, the doctor's assistant, is a very compassionate man who sees this crazy surgeon doing unethical things, but is at a loss of how to stop him.

This story has all of the gothic feels you could hope for and more. There's even a surprise twist in the story with a side character that I thought was very clever.

About the Author:

I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I've been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write--except for that graffiti phase I went through as teenager.

The Adoption Surprise By Zoey Marie Jackson + GIVEAWAY

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Adoption Surprise by Zoey Marie Jackson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours! I received this book as part of the tour.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: The Adoption Surprise 

Author: Zoey Marie Jackson 

Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired 

Release Date: February 22, 2022 

Genre: Contemporary Romance (Sweet/Clean) 

Separated at birth and determined to become a family. 

“She looks like me!” When her orphaned niece utters those words, Kelsey Harris is shocked—not only that Morgan has a long-lost twin but that the grieving five-year-old spoke at all. Overjoyed by Morgan and Mia’s instant connection, Kelsey and Zach Johnson, Mia’s widowed adoptive father, agree to be friends—and only friends. But can they ignore their growing feelings when the matchmaking sisters put their plan into action? From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | ChristianBook | BookBub

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GUEST POST

How does the faith thread come to you as you write a story - do you usually know ahead of

time or does it come to you as you get to know the characters?

Early on in my career, I remember another author, a woman of faith, Pat Simmons, inboxing me

to give me some great advice. I’m paraphrasing—but she told me that when I am creating those

stories with all my twists and turns to ensure that I have a solid character of faith that is constant

even with all the drama. So, as a result, I usually have a main character who is confident in their

walk with Christ so their faith is a natural part of their life—personal and otherwise. I usually

know that ahead of time and so I create the character with that in mind. In The Adoption

Surprise, I knew when I created Kelsey and Zach that though they both believed in God that

their pain and hurt would affect their relationship with God—one leaned more in Him and one

leaned away from Him.

However, there are so many faith elements and experiences that I myself do not know or see

until the character does. I have had countless instances where my character is facing something

and then I will hear a message, read a scripture or see a connection to a Bible story that gives me

goosebumps. As a result, there are scenes where I know God ministered to me first so that I

could share it through my characters.

There have also been moments where I have prayed and asked God to show me what to say and

do—yes, I have prayed about my characters—because I want my readers to not just get

entertainment but encouragement. I remember an instance where a reviewer finished reading one

of my novels—Tell Me Lies—and said, she was going to call family members etc and reach out

after reading this story of forgiveness.

Then I have other moments where a character is on a journey to Christ or on a path to

redemption and I get to experience that with the character as I get to know them. That is what I

enjoy about being a woman of faith writing stories. My faith, my values, my belief system help

shape the stories that I tell: stories of hope, of healing, of second chances, of redemption and of

course, of God’s love.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zoey Marie Jackson loves writing sweet romances. She is almost never without a book and reads across genres. Originally from Jamaica, West Indies, she has earned degrees from New York University, SUNY at Stony Brook, Teachers College Columbia University and Argosy University and has been an educator for over 20 years. Zoey loves interacting with her readers. You can connect with her at www.zoeymariejackson.com

CONNECT WITH ZOEY: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $50 Amazon Gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 14, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 21, 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

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

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Beryl's Blessing BY Edwina Kiernan

Beryl's Blessing

by Edwina Kiernan

Publisher: Moliant Publishing

Series: Gems of Grace

ISBN: 978-1838285081

Having read the first two books in the Gems of Grace series, I was so happy to receive Beryl's Blessing to review. I have a personal reason for wanting to read this book. My ex-husband's aunt was named Beryl. She was the only one I'd ever heard have this name. She was an amazing women who loved me even after the divorce. She always had this smile that lit a room, and she absolutely loved on everyone. When I saw the name of the third book in this series, my heart smiled. I received the book for review. 

Summary:

She’s used to being alone. He can’t get away from the voices in his head.

Five years ago, Beryl Haywood was permanently injured in a carriage accident that claimed two other lives. Since then, she has lived a solitary existence with only painting and reading to occupy her long, lonely days.

Frederick Sinclair is struggling to adapt to normal society after his time on the battlefields in France. It doesn’t help that he carries a hefty weight of guilt and regret, from which he believes he can never be free.

When an arranged marriage causes their worlds to collide, each one begins to wonder if there may be friendship — and even, love — ahead.

But a startling discovery soon drives each of them to new depths of despair, and circumstances seem set to snatch away all possibility of the future they’d just begun to hope they might share...

My Review:

What an absolutely lovely story! If you LOVE stories filled with faith and give a clear presentation of the Gospel, you will want to read Beryl's Blessing.

Beryl is a young lady who has gone through so much and my heart just ached for her. Either rejected or completely ignored, it was easy to feel sorry for her. Thankfully her governess pour Christ into Beryl in the years they were together so after the accident they were in, Beryl turned to Scripture as she'd been taught.

Then there was Frederick. The darkness he battled was palpable. Having been in the war, it was easy to believe it was PTSD. His own sense of worthlessness and that "tiny" voice telling him that over and over was very powerful. 

Bringing these two together in an arranged marriage certainly made for an interesting storyline. Beryl's gentle spirit mingled with Frederick's inherent kindness actually made them wonderful for each other, but their struggles keep coming into play. Their struggles are what continues to turn Beryl to God. I think readers will be able to relate in some way to both of these characters. Like Beryl says at one point in the story - her struggles are visible while Frederick's are hidden.

This is a rather quick read, but I just didn't want to put it down. I stayed up way too late last night wanting to finish it, but finally had to put it down. Had I started earlier I easily would've finished in one day.

About the Author:

Edwina Kiernan is a Christian writer, and author of the award-winning novel, Ruby’s Redemption. 

An enthusiast of classic novels and history, Edwina combines her faith, imagination and research in hope-infused tales set in times past. Her latest novel is the third in the Inspirational Regency romance series, Gems of Grace. 

A lifelong word admirer, with Welsh and Irish heritage, she started writing stories early in childhood and has always deeply loved words. She is a committed follower of Jesus (the Living Word), and endeavours to use her pen to point others to Him.

When she’s not writing, Edwina loves spending time with her dashing husband and lively little son, reading and studying the Bible, getting lost in a captivating novel and drinking more types of tea than most people realize even exist.

Join her mailing list for free gifts, updates and lots of classic and historical fiction goodness. 

Subscribe at www.edwinakiernan.com