Garden of the Midnights

About the Book

Book: Garden of the Midnights

Author: Hannah Linder

Genre: Christian Fiction / Historical / Romance

Release Date: October, 2023

Danger Lurks at Rosenleigh Manor

Enjoy another Gothic Style Regency from Hannah Linder.

The accidents are not a matter of chance. They are deliberate. As English gentleman William Kensley becomes aware of the danger at Rosenleigh, he pleads for truth from the only man he can trust—until that man is murdered.

As the secrets unfold into scandal, William’s world is tipped into destitution—leaving him penniless and alone. His only comfort is in the constant love of Isabella Gresham, but even that has been threatened. When a hidden foe arises from their acquaintances and imperils Isabella’s life, will William be the only one willing to rescue her? And even if he saves Isabella from her captors, will he still have to forsake her heart?

Click here to get your copy!

  My Review:

Secrets from the past, forbidden love, greed and murder, this book had me skipping sleep and reading way into the night. I just could not put the book down! The twists and turns of events kept me guessing as to what might happen next.

Isabella and William were both well written, flawed characters who we see their reactions to life’s circumstances. Through their difficulties they grow and become better people. The theme of forgiveness that runs throughout the story added depth to the plot and to the characters. Some chose to let the go of the past and its hurts, while others let it destroy them. 

Things to love about this book: 

walks on the beach

star gazing

enjoying the small things

“doing sunshine”

faith

vile villains

love wins

I have read all of Hannah Linder’s fictional works and each one is fabulous. It is difficult to wait for the next book to be published, and I almost wish that I had learned about her books a few years into the future so I could binge read them. :) I highly recommend this book for mature readers who like historical tales, Charles Dickens-like characters, and seeing characters wrestle with their faith and have it tested and proven.

I received a complimentary copy of the book. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own. 

About the Author

Hannah Linder resides in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. Represented by Books & Such, she writes Regency romantic suspense novels. She is a double 2021 Selah Award winner, a 2022 Selah Award finalist, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). Hannah is a Graphic Design Associates Degree graduate who specializes in professional book cover design. She designs for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors, including New York Times, USA Today, and International bestsellers. She is also a local photographer and a self-portrait photographer. When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments—piano, guitar, and ukulele—songwriting, painting still life, walking in the rain, and sitting on the front porch of her 1800s farmhouse. To follow her journey, visit hannahlinderbooks.com.

 More from Hannah

Sometimes, the things we say we’ll never do are exactly the things we find ourselves doing.

Back when I was still wearing two braids and walking around barefoot everywhere, I told myself I would never make a speech. Never. But by the time high school graduation came along, despite a thousand firm declarations that I wouldn’t, my mother shook her head. “I think you should do it,” she said—and because mothers are usually right, I did.

Granted, I read the speech off a folded sheet of copy paper because I was too nervous to face the crowd. And my knees were jelly. And I stood off-centered on the stage instead of behind the pulpit like anyone else.

But I did it.

For the rest of my life, I’ll look back and remember what it felt like. Standing on the stage, reading my heart, hearing the sniffles and glancing up to see tears glistening in the eyes of endless people I love.

That was special. Mother was right.

Want to know another thing I said I would never do? Re-write a novel. I’ve heard the stories all my life. The author second guesses their own ability and burns their manuscript. Then, years later, they rewrite the story that echoes through the ages as a classic. Or the novelist loses their entire document to a computer crash, so with a blank page and a blinking cursor, they start anew.

I never thought that was something I could do.

I never wanted to.

If I ever lost a novel or was prompted to start over, I would abandon ship and try for a different vessel. Anyway, that’s what I told myself.

Garden of the Midnights was the story I wrote many years ago when I was younger, when I knew less about manors and England and history. I made mistakes. I broke writing rules. I did too little research and too much overwriting…but it had my soul. Somehow, it was alive. The characters breathed. The tears in their pillow, the aches in their throat, became a part of who I was and what I felt.

This was the one. The story I loved most.

But the edits and the mistakes and the problems overwhelmed me. Like the fearful girl in braids who refused to make a speech, I wanted to throw in the towel and say with even more defiance, “I will never re-write a novel. Never.”

But Mother knew what was needed. She knew the story was too much a part of me to tuck away in some drawer, forgotten and dusty, unread by anyone. So she nodded her head and said, “I think you should do it.”

I didn’t want to.

I was afraid because it wasn’t easy.

But because mothers are usually right, I did. Now, Garden of the Midnights is ready. My heart is still tangled in all the words, all the twists, all the secrets—but this time more, because the book has yet another part of me. The part that was fearful. The part that was too close to quitting. The part that finished anyway.

For the rest of my life, I’ll look back and be thankful. When someone writes me a note that they enjoyed the book, or gets a whimsical tone to their voice when they talk about a scene, or looks up from the pages with tears shimmering in their eyes.

That will be special. Mother was right.

Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 28

Melissa’s Bookshelf, October 28

Texas Book-aholic, October 29

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, October 29

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 30

An Author’s Take, October 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 31

Mary Hake, October 31

Book Looks by Lisa, November 1

Alena Mentink, November 1

Connie’s History Classroom, November 2

Jeanette’s Thoughts, November 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 3

Sylvan Musings, November 3

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, November 4 (Author Interview)

To Everything There Is A Season, November 4

Blogging With Carol, November 5

For Him and My Family, November 5

Betti Mace, November 6

Live.Love.Read., November 6

Wishful Endings, November 7

Cover Lover Book Review, November 7

Where Faith and Books Meet, November 8

Holly’s Book Corner, November 8

Splashes of Joy, November 9

Labor Not in Vain, November 9

Pause for Tales, November 10

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Hannah is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon e-gift card and a print copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/28978/garden-of-the-midnights-celebration-tour-giveaway

Marshaling Her Heart

 

About the Book

Book: Marshaling Her Heart

Author: Mary Connealy

Genre: Historical Romance

Release Date: October 17, 2023

Will their lives and romance survive the trouble coming their way?

Becky Pruitt has always prided herself on knowing everything that’s happening on her successful ranch, so an unexpected admission from her foreman, Nate Paxton, comes as quite a surprise. With the notorious Deadeye Gang on the loose, Nate–a former U.S. Marshal–believes Becky’s ranch is the best spot for a group of Marshals to use as a base to hunt them down.

The timing couldn’t be more crucial for the town of Pine Valley, and Becky feels obligated to help. But after escaping the grasp of her harsh father, she’s never liked giving up control, of her life or her ranch. If there’s anyone she can trust with her ranch, and her heart, it might be Nate. But the outlaws won’t go away quietly, and as danger draws ever nearer, Becky and Nate are faced with impossible choices that will test their growing bond.

Click here to get your copy!

 My Review: 

Becky Pruitt has built her successful ranch by herself and decides she will never find a husband, but sometimes it just gets lonely. When Nate Paxton, one of her ranch hands, approaches her with a plan to capture the Deadeye Gang, she doesn’t realize her decision will forever change her life.

With endearing characters from the first two books and a continuation of the the criminal activity that continues to plague the area, I was excited to read this book. It had everything I had hoped would be in the story. Even though this is the end of the series, I can see how it could continue. I would definitely love to read any more books that the author would write. 

I have read all three books in the series, and I think this is my favorite since the Deadeye Gang members and their marauding are finally put to an end and justice is served. This is not a standalone since you will need to know the history of the characters in order to understand what has happened up to the point this story begins. I highly recommend this book and the other two titles in the series.

Things to enjoy: 

Strong, independent heroine

U.S. Marshals

Danger

Faith element

Romance

I received a complimentary copy of the book through Celebrate Lit. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own. 

About the Author

Mary Connealy (maryconnealy.com) writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series Wyoming Sunrise, The Lumber Baron’s Daughters, Brothers in Arms, Brides of Hope Mountain, High Sierra Sweethearts, The Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.

 

 

 

More from Mary

Becky Pruitt has a problem. Her ranch is being invaded by good guys.

Becky wants the Deadeye Gang caught and thrown in jail as much as anyone, but the lawmen asking her to hire them on at her ranch aim to do their investigating while working undercover as cowhands. She runs a good ranch, however, and doesn’t like the idea of a bunch of low-skilled men making her look like she’s hired them foolishly.

Yet she goes along with it, suspicious and annoyed, because her foreman, Nate Paxton, a man she trusts, convinces her that these men are honorable. Then the three lawmen she hires, all of them U.S. Marshals, urge her to send every single one of her regular cowhands—except Nate, a former Marshal himself—off on a cattle drive.

Now she’s got Marshals cropping up everywhere. Her ranch isn’t being run in a way that suits her. She’s got trouble with her father, and an important speaker is coming to town to talk about women’s suffrage. So much is distracting her when all she really wants to do is make sure her herd is being tended properly.

Before long, Nate starts to question the behavior of the U.S. Marshals Service. They’re secretive to the point that they put him in jeopardy a few times before he decides to quit. Here he’d found a decent job on a top ranch, and he even shared a few special moments with his pretty, feisty boss that gave him ideas of how he’d like to change things around a little just so he could be with her. And then his brother, who’s still a U.S. Marshal, invades the ranch with a few fellow lawmen. Quite a few.

Meanwhile, the Deadeye Gang is more dangerous than ever. The woman coming to Pine Valley to speak is now at risk, which makes Becky frantic to protect her. The cattle aren’t being looked after like they ought to be. And yet Nate finds himself being drawn closer to Becky with each passing day. He’s determined to stand firmly between her and danger, but he’s got to keep up with her to do that. He soon discovers that nothing is easy when it comes to the hard-charging Becky Pruitt.

Wyoming Sunrise is a series I wrote in which I cast women as having nontraditional jobs: Forged in Love has a woman blacksmith, Laws of Attraction a woman justice of the peace, and Marshaling Her Heart a woman rancher. Those are all nontraditional for sure, but not really in my case personally. I must force myself not to make all my heroines feisty lady ranchers. It’s almost a reflex at this point. I fought that reflex as hard as I could, but I decided it would be okay to sneak one lady rancher into this series, and that’s Becky Pruitt. I slipped her into the western vernacular, the tough attitude, the riding skirts and boots and Stetsons—and I loved it.

Marshaling Her Heart is my first true lady rancher, and so I let loose and had fun with Becky. The foreman Nate recognizes intelligence and competence in his boss, and he’s smart enough to take orders from her because he knows those orders are the right way to run the ranch.

Add in the backdrops of the other books in the series, the vicious, stagecoach-robbing Deadeye Gang, the coming of the lady suffragist speaker to town, and you’ve got a story full of trouble, action, adventure, romance, and fun.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, October 27

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 28

Bizwings Book Blog, October 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 29

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 29

Books You Can Feel Good About, October 30

Lighthouse Academy Blog, October 30 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

lakesidelivingsite, October 31

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, November 1

Book Looks by Lisa, November 1

Connie’s History Classroom, November 2

Mary Hake, November 2

Wishful Endings, November 3

An Author’s Take, November 3

Betti Mace, November 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 4

For Him and My Family, November 5

Holly’s Book Corner, November 5

Splashes of Joy, November 6

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 6

Pause for Tales, November 7

Life on Chickadee Lane, November 7

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 8

Cover Lover Book Review, November 8

Labor Not in Vain, November 9

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, November 9

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $15 Amazon Gift Card and a paperback copy of the entire Wyoming Sunrise series!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/28976/marshaling-her-heart-celebration-tour-giveaway

A Deeper Love

My Review:

You are in for a great time as you read this book. You will enjoy the sights and sounds of this amazing paradise island that author, Heidi Gray McGill, has written about. Alicia, better known as Algae, has a scuba diving business that she runs with her business partner, Tug. I enjoyed the story that has a beautiful faith message, interesting characters who feel like family, a generous and compassionate male main character, and the love story of Alicia and Dan that is sure to warm your heart. I received a complimentary copy of the book the Celebrate Lit. A positive review was not required. All opinions are my own.

God is Calling you to be Fearless and to Fear Less

 

About the Book

Book: FearLESS: God is calling you to be fearless and to FearLESS

Authors: Marta E Greenman and Maureen H Maldonado

Genre: Christian Devotional

Release Date: April, 2023

What makes you afraid? Does your fear keep you from obeying God or living a free life in Christ?

Explore God’s remedies for overcoming your fears in this thirty-day devotional that gives an in-depth scriptural look at facing your fears and God’s ways of living a life free from fear.

LEARN:

• How the reverential fear of the Lord erases earthly fears and gives boldness to lead a victorious life in Christ.
• The difference between healthy fear and unhealthy fear.
• The individual Hebrew and Greek meanings of fear in Scripture.
• How to apply God’s strategies for living a life free of fear.

Old Testament and New Testament accounts of fears faced and overcome are interspersed with personal stories and examples from everyday living from two veteran Bible teachers. Thoughtful reflection questions provide a jumping-off point for personal or group study.

Click here to get your copy!

 My Review: 

I have never read a devotional that has co-authors, but I liked that Marta Greenman and Maureen Maldonado brought their own perspective and stories into the book. It has thirty days of a short devotion and one reflection page with three questions. You can consider and write your answer in the space provided if you wish.

The topic of being fearless and trusting God I think is one that everyone can study. It's good to be reminded that God tells us not to fear and that He will be with us no matter what we face.

I was given an advanced copy of the book through Celebrate Lit. A positive review was not required, and all opinions are my own.

About the Authors

Marta left corporate America in 1998 to become a staff missionary with a church-planting organization known today as e3Partners. She led American churches in planting new ones with international church partners. During this period, Marta spent much of her time in the field on evangelism and discipleship, traveling to Colombia, Mexico, Moldova, Peru, Romania, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Zimbabwe. She also had the privilege of leading women’s conferences in biblical training.

Marta began teaching inductive Bible studies in 1997 at her home church, where she taught faithfully for fifteen years. Debbie Stuart, the former women’s ministry director, said, “Marta Greenman is a master teacher, weaving biblical principles, personal stories, and clear application with every lesson. She walks in truth, loves the Word, and has dedicated her life to teaching that truth to women.”

After seven years on the mission field in Romania, Marta began to write Bible study curriculum. Her first study, Bound to Be Free, was published in 2011. Marta founded Words of Grace & Truth in May 2011, a ministry devoted to teaching God’s Word to the nations and teaching others to do the same, using curriculum God birthed through her teaching ministry. Since then, Leaders, Nations, and God and ACTs420NOW have been published. Her fourth book is a thirty-day devotional entitled FearLESS, co-authored with Maureen H.  Maldonado. LoveMORE: Your 30-Day Devotional to learn to love like Jesus is also co-authored with Maureen H. Maldonado. She continues to write additional biblically-based materials.

Marta’s latest ministry venture is GraceAndTruthRadio.World (GTRW), a global radio station outreach with God’s message of grace and truth. Her program Under God, with co-host Maureen Maldonado, airs on GTRW Mondays at 3:30 p.m. CST. Marta’s passion, regardless of the nation where she may be, is teaching God’s Word and equipping others to teach. She is a gifted teacher, speaker, and expositor of God’s Word. Marta lives in the Dallas–Fort Worth area of Texas with her husband of almost thirty years.

Maureen is the second of seven children. Growing up in a home where worldly wealth was a foreign concept, she always felt treasured by her parents and knew she was rich in love. Maureen married young and raised two amazing daughters. Her grandchildren are a blessing beyond anything she could imagine. Recently, she was able to add a granddaughter-in-love who adds joy

to the mix.

Maureen has a master’s degree in education from California State University and spent her career as a teacher, vice-principal, and principal in elementary education. Maureen never planned to leave California or the education system, but God had other plans. After Maureen’s husband was transferred to Arizona in 2006 and then to Texas in 2011, she spent several years teaching Just Moved, a Christian-based ministry program developed by Susan Miller for women who are moving home due to life changes (https://justmoved.org). God used her teaching education and experience as a training ground to begin teaching for Him. Involved in Bible studies in California, Arizona, and Texas, Maureen grew exponentially in her faith, love of God, and His Word. The culmination of these experiences led her to co-host the radio program Under God on GraceAndTruthRadio.World, where God’s Word is taught to the nations. Maureen’s first book FearLESS was co-authored with Marta E. Greenman. LoveMORE is Maureen’s second book, also co-authored with Marta.

Today Maureen is using her new-to-her method of studying the Bible and her long-applied teaching methods to teach the next generation of believers. Her prayer is for others to gain as much insight into God’s transformational Word as she has received. She describes it as “opening the shades and letting in all the sunlight on a gloomy day.” Maureen feels honored and humbled to be a part of Words of Grace & Truth and asks others to join in prayer for this needed ministry and for the church, our country, and our world. Maureen and her husband, Raymond, reside in Texas, where they have transplanted almost their entire family from California.

 More from Marta

For years I wanted to write a devotional on Fear. God’s Word teaches us to Fear NOT! Since my original thought was a 365 Day devotional, I knew I needed at least one writing partner to accomplish the devotional in a reasonable time frame. Years would come and go, I would ask people, but nothing ever materialized. Finally, God brought the right person, my friend, my ministry partner, my co-host of Under God radio show, and my co-author Maureen H Maldonado. A woman whom God has uniquely designed to be my co-laborer in the Lord. Of course, God’s timing was perfect, FearLESS was published at a time when the world was in a fearful place, but God wanted and wants His children to be FearLESS.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 27

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 28

Christina’s Corner, October 29

Book Looks by Lisa, October 30

Artistic Nobody, October 31 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 1

Guild Master, November 2 (Author Interview)

Its Mama Safe, November 2

Texas Book-aholic, November 3

Lily’s Book Reviews, November 4

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 6

Cover Lover Book Review, November 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 8

Mary Hake, November 9

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, Marta and Maureen are giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/28975/fearless-celebration-tour-giveaway

Jane and the Final Mystery

 

About the Book: 

March 1817: As winter turns to spring, Jane Austen’s health is in slow decline, and threatens to cease progress on her latest manuscript. But when her nephew Edward brings chilling news of a death at his former school, Winchester College, not even her debilitating ailment can keep Jane from seeking out the truth. Arthur Prendergast, a senior pupil at the prestigious all-boys’ boarding school, has been found dead in a culvert near the schoolgrounds—and in the pocket of his drenched waistcoat is an incriminating note penned by the young William Heathcote, the son of Jane’s dear friend Elizabeth. Winchester College is a world unto itself, with its own language and rites of passage, cruel hazing and dangerous pranks. Can Jane clear William’s name before her illness gets the better of her?
 
Over the course of fourteen previous novels in the critically acclaimed Being a Jane Austen Mystery series, Stephanie Barron has won the hearts of thousands of fans—crime fiction aficionados and Janeites alike—with her tricky plotting and breathtaking evocation of Austen’s voice. Now, she brings Jane’s final season—and final murder investigation—to brilliant, poignant life in this unforgettable conclusion.

My Review: 

Stephanie Barron’s writing from Jane Austen’s perspective was well done. The manner in which the characters spoke make you feel like you are an integral part of the story. I enjoyed reading the footnotes that the author provided. It helped to give details about Jane Austen’s real life and was fascinating.

. I enjoyed the mystery, but I felt the story was a bit too long. If you enjoy mysteries, historical fiction, or are an Austen fan you’ll like reading this story. This was the first book I have read in the series. It can be read as a standalone since I didn’t feel that I had missed any details that were connected to this case. 

I received a copy of the book through Austenprose as well as NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions are my own.

Skye Fall

About the Book: 

Isla Montjoy has it all, a new career in nursing and a police officer boyfriend she adores―until she stumbles across proof of her boyfriend’s corruption. Determined to protect his secrets, he attacks her and leaves her for dead. But against all odds, she lives. On the run for two years, Isla’s life is far from assured as her would-be murderer doggedly tracks her across the UK, intent on silencing her forever.

On a climbing trip in the Scottish Highlands, Ben Pressley-Coombes encounters Isla, a beautiful woman who promptly pepper sprays him without warning or reason. After that rough start, Ben hopes never to lay eyes on her again―but fate has other ideas. Forced into an uneasy association that transforms into a deep-seated romance, the pair soon faces a deadly Isla’s relentless pursuer has discovered her hiding place. If she is to survive, she and Ben must outmaneuver the dirty cop and his treacherous plot to snare her.

My Review: 

Isla Montjoy has had to hide herself and her secrets from a man who will stop at nothing to get her back. She has finally been able to settle in an obscure town in Scotland where she hopes to be invisible and avoid detection.

Ben Pressley-Coombes and his father end up lost in the same place where Isla is living and the funny incident when he meets her is one (un)cute meet I will never forget. Ben and Isla are great together. Ben needs to lighten up and realize he can’t take everyone’s burdens on himself. Isa helps him to see that. Ben is a wonderful confidant and helps Isla see she can trust again.

The likable characters, the exciting plot, the suspenseful events, and the faith of the characters that is subtly woven throughout the book make this a five star read. I recommend you read this and the other books in the Pressley-Coombes Romantic Suspense series.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher through NetGalley. A positive review was not expected. All opinions are my own.