Friday, November 29, 2019

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Entertaining Mr Pepys by Deborah Swift

Entertaining Mr. Pepys by Deborah Swift

Publication Date: September 12, 2019
Hachette Book Group
eBook. Paperback, Audiobook; 400 Pages
Genre: Historical Fiction
London 1666 Elizabeth 'Bird' Carpenter has a wonderful singing voice, and music is her chief passion. When her father persuades her to marry horse-dealer Christopher Knepp, she suspects she is marrying beneath her station, but nothing prepares her for the reality of life with Knepp. Her father has betrayed her trust, for Knepp cares only for his horses; he is a tyrant and a bully, and will allow Bird no life of her own. When Knepp goes away, she grasps her chance and, encouraged by her maidservant Livvy, makes a secret visit to the theatre. Entranced by the music, the glitter and glamour of the surroundings, and the free and outspoken manner of the women on the stage, she falls in love with the theatre and is determined to forge a path of her own as an actress. But life in the theatre was never going to be straightforward - for a jealous rival wants to spoil her plans, and worse, Knepp forbids it, and Bird must use all her wit and intelligence to change his mind. Based on events depicted in the famous Diary of Samuel Pepys, Entertaining Mr Pepys brings London in the 17th Century to life. It includes the vibrant characters of the day such as the diarist himself and actress Nell Gwynne, and features a dazzling and gripping finale during the Great Fire Of London. The third in Deborah Swift's atmospheric trilogy, bringing to life the women in Pepys' Diary. Each novel features a different character and can be read as a stand-alone book.
'A remarkably beguiling read. It transported me to the glitter and filth of seventeenth century London' - Martine Bailey, author of The Almanack
'The fusion of historical facts and fiction is so flawless that it is hard to know where reality ends and fiction begins' - Readers Favourite Review

Amazon | Book Depository

Praise for the Pepys Trilogy

'Swift is a consummate historical novelist, basing her books on immaculate research and then filling the gaps between real events and real people with eloquent storytelling, atmospheric scene setting and imaginative plot lines' - The Visitor 'A novel that transports readers with astonishing and engrossing detail' - Readers Favorite 5* 'Pepys and his world spring to vibrant life… Gripping, revealing and stunningly imagined' -Lancashire Evening Post

About the Author

Deborah Swift is the author of three previous historical novels for adults, The Lady’s Slipper, The Gilded Lily, and A Divided Inheritance, all published by Macmillan/St Martin’s Press, as well as the Highway Trilogy for teens (and anyone young at heart!). Her first novel was shortlisted for the Impress prize for new novelists. She lives on the edge of the beautiful and literary English Lake District – a place made famous by the poets Wordsworth and Coleridge. For more information, please visit Deborah Swift’s website. You can also find her on FacebookTwitter, and Goodreads.

Blog Tour Schedule

Thursday, November 21 Excerpt at The Lit Bitch Review at Reading the Past Friday, November 22 Review at Gwendalyn's Books Guest Post at The Writing Desk Monday, November 25 Review & Excerpt at Book Reviews from Canada Tuesday, November 26 Review at A Book Geek Wednesday, November 27 Guest Post at Short Book and Scribes Thursday, November 28 Feature at To Read, Or Not to Read Friday, November 29 Review at Locks, Hooks and Books Guest Post at What Is That Book About Monday, December 2 Review at Passages to the Past Tuesday, December 3 Excerpt at Broken Teepee Wednesday, December 4 Interview at Passages to the Past Friday, December 6 Excerpt at Donna's Book Blog Monday, December 9 Review at Red Headed Book Lady Tuesday, December 10 Excerpt at Words and Peace Wednesday, December 11 Review at Hopewell's Public Library of Life Thursday, December 12 Feature at Coffee and Ink

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a signed copy of Entertaining Mr. Pepys! To enter, please use the Gleam form below. Giveaway Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on December 12th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Paperback giveaway is open internationally. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion. – The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen. Entertaining Mr. Pepys




My Review:


Entertaining Mr Pepys is the third and sadly the final installment from Deborah Swift’s Women of Pepys’ Diary series. Since I have enjoyed the first two book of the series, I was looking forward for this book to release. I was not disappointed. It is probably my favorite of the three. Bird is a great character I loved getting to know. The author’s talent really shines through with her vivid historical details.

Entertaining Mr Pepys gets five stars from me. I highly recommend this book and the rest of the series for readers who love a compelling historical fiction.

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Blog Tour and Giveaway: Wingless and Beautiful by Jerilee kaye


Join Us For This Spotlight Tour From Nov 21 to Dec 4, 2019!

Book Details:
Book Title
Wingless and Beautiful by Jerilee Kaye
Category:  YA Fiction (Ages 13-17), 290 pages
Genre Romance
Publisher KIX Creative Media and Publishing
Release date:   November 2019
Tour dates: Nov 21 to December 4, 2019
Content Rating: PG-13 :
some curse words and there are kissing scenes. There is one love scene in the end, but non-explicit and non-descriptive.

Book Description:
Beautiful Allison Harley is far from perfect. She was a victim of domestic violence that left her physically scarred and emotionally broken.

Hunter Vaugh was handsome, rich and brilliant. He was a golden boy who thought he was invincible until a tragedy took away his perfect life… along with his ability to see.

When they met, Allison was running away from her nightmares, and Hunter thought he had no reason to undergo the treatments needed to recover his eyesight.

He was blind, but he saw how beautiful she was, and she gave him a reason to live… a reason to see again. She was his angel, and he was hers.

Hunter went away with a promise that once he returns, he will be able to see her, protect her… be the guardian angel she deserved.

But once he got his eyesight back, can he look past the scars that her nightmares left her? Will he keep the promises he made her? Or will he go back to his perfect life and leave her in the hands of the new angel, who took care of her when he left?

Get Your Copy Today:
Amazon



Meet the Author:
Jerilee Kaye was born under the sign of Leo in the year 1979. She graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Legal Management from De La Salle University. She has post-graduate qualifications in the fields of Product Management, Project Management and Procurement. She is a Certified Senior Professional in Supply Management from NLPA, Pennsylvania and is currently working her way to an MCIPS certification from CIPS UK.

She manages a global supplier portfolio for multi-national and government entities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. She is also an entrepreneur, managing a photography and printing company with her husband.

She is married to her first love, Sam, who she's been dating since she was 16. They are blessed with two beautiful angels, MarQuise Justine Jerilee and Sir Alfred IV.

When she's not buried under stacks of paper at work, or engrossed with her writing, she spends some down time playing golf, kicking her husband's butt on a judo match and learning to play the piano.

Connect with the author:    website ~ facebook ~twitter ~ instagram

Tour Schedule:
Nov 21 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 21 - Viviana MacKade – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 22 – She Just Loves Books – book spotlight
Nov 25 – Deanne's Book Thoughts – book review / giveaway
Nov 26 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 27 - b for bookreview – book spotlight
Nov 28 – Literary Flits – book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 29 - Locks, Hooks and Books - book spotlight / giveaway
Nov 29 – The Eclectic Review – book review
Dec 2 – Laura's Interests – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 3 – Bookmark and fork – book spotlight
Dec 4 - Library of Clean Reads – book spotlight / giveaway
Dec 4 - Adventurous Jessy - book spotlight

Enter the Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Thursday, November 28, 2019

Book Blitz and Giveaway: The Thirteenth Guardian by KM Lewis

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

***For a limited time, grab this on sale in ebook for $2.99!
Soon available in audiobook! Listen to the first four chapters here.***

The Thirteenth Guardian
(The Thirteenth Guardian #1)
By K.M. Lewis
Apocalyptic, Dystopian, Thriller
Paperback & ebook, 307 Pages
June 11th 2019

DA VINCI'S SECRET PALES. Michelangelo concealed an explosive truth in his famous Creation of Adam fresco in the Sistine Chapel. Eve did not cause the fall of man. She carried a far more devastating secret for millennia—one that will change the world forever.

As the modern-day world suffers the cataclysmic effects of the “Plagues of Egypt,” Avery Fitzgerald, a statuesque Astrophysics major at Stanford, discovers that she is mysteriously bound to five strangers by an extremely rare condition that foremost medical experts cannot explain. Thrust into extraordinary circumstances, they race against time to stay alive as they are pursued by an age-old adversary and the world around them collapses into annihilation. Under sacred oath, The Guardians—a far more archaic and enigmatic secret society than the Freemasons, Templars, and the Priory—protect Avery as she embarks on a daring quest that only legends of old have been on before. Avery must come to terms with the shocking realization that the blood of an ancient queen flows through her veins and that the fate of the world now rests on her shoulders.

The Thirteenth Guardian is Book One of a daring new Trilogy that will shake you to your core.

(Affiliate link included.)

About the Upcoming Audiobook

Book reviewers raved that the opening chapters of The Thirteenth Guardian hooked them immediately: so, I am excited to release the first four chapters (and a bonus excerpt) in free audio format. The audio chapters are available on all major podcast platforms—including iTunes, GooglePlay, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Stitcher and TuneIn. Check them out here.

I interviewed quite a few voice actors. I chose the “Three Days” excerpt (which I released first) as the real test of the voice actors because the chapter, in many ways, represents the overall tone of the novel - fast paced, full of suspense, and totally gut wrenching. I needed a voice that would truly capture the weight of the story and convey the gravity of what unfolds in the book. I still shudder every time I listen to the “Three Days” audio excerpt—its pretty powerful. The feedback so far has been overwhelmingly positive.

I also wanted to provide a window into what was going through my mind as I wrote the novel. So I thought a short behind-the-scenes commentary tied to each of the free audio chapters would be a cool addition. The Thirteenth Guardian is a pretty daring novel, and I think the commentary gives the reader an added dimension to the story that really brings it to life.

—K.M.

About the Author

K.M. Lewis has lived in multiple countries around the world and speaks several languages. Lewis holds a graduate degree from one of the Universities featured in his book. When he is not writing, Lewis doubles as a management consultant, with clients in just about every continent. He does much of his writing while on long flights and at farflung airports around the globe. He currently resides on the East Coast of the United States with his family.


Blitz Giveaway


One winner will receive an ebook of THE THIRTEENTH GUARDIAN
Open internationally
Ends November 30, 2019

Grab Our Button!

Blog Tour and Giveaway: The Barn Quilt by Patti Michels


About the Book


Book: The Barn Quilt
Author: Patti Michels
Genre:  Children’s Book
Release Date: November 19, 2019

Farmer Max and Miz Patti have a big red barn on their Maple Shade Farm, but one thing is missing—they need a barn quilt. But what pattern should they hang on the side of their barn? The pineapple quilt, or the corn and beans quilt, or what about a quilt with animals on it? None of them are quite right though. Since it’s Christmas, they wonder what barn quilt would have been just right for the stable where Jesus was born. Work along with their neighbor boy, Dennis, as he helps Farmer Max and Miz Patti decide on and make the perfect barn quilt.



Click here to get your copy!  

About the Author

Patti Michels has lived in the same rural midwestern county her entire life, thirty-nine of those with her husband. She loves designing her family’s Christmas card and working with senior citizens. At the end of a long day, she enjoys returning to the farm and looking out her kitchen window at her own barn quilt.   

More from Patti

Believe it or not, the idea for this children’s book started out as a Christmas card.  Each year the Michels family produces their own original Christmas card.  This tradition started out simple, in the early 1980’s, as the Michels’ two small daughters helped with the coloring, cutting, and gluing!
Patti Michels and Max, her farmer husband of 39 years, live on a small farm in Southern Illinois.  The girls have grown and moved on, and the empty-nesters have joined others in their small farm community, in creating a barn quilt to hang on their barn.
While Max was preparing the 36″ X 36″ wood panel for Patti to paint, Patti was drawing and designing and dreaming up the best barn quilt pattern to display on the barn at Maple Shade Farm. As Patti painted their special barn quilt, a Christmas card idea popped into her head. ”What if the stable where Jesus was born had a barn quilt?”
Patti feels like ideas are a gift from God, as is her husband, who helps her pull off one after another completed “project”.  Whether it’s feeding cows, baling hay, making Christmas cards, or creating a barn quilt, they continue to work side by side. This book, based on the real life story of creating the barn quilt, gives kids a glimpse into a small farm family life, while also enjoying and celebrating those things that make Christmas so special, like hot chocolate, cookies and God’s love.

Blog Stops

The Power of Words, November 26

Remembrancy, November 26


For Him and My Family, November 27


Older & Smarter?, November 29


Vicky Sluiter, November 30

Sara Jane Jacobs, November 30

Bigreadersite, December 1


Maureen’s Musings, December 2

Texas Book-aholic, December 2

janicesbookreviews, December 3

A Reader’s Brain, December 3


Mary Hake, December 4



Emily Yager, December 6

She Lives to Read, December 7



Giveaway


To celebrate her tour Patti is giving away the grand prize of a signed copy of The Barn Quilt, and a $25 gift card from Amazon!!
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/f197/the-barn-quilt-celebration-tour-giveaway



My Review

As a quilt lover, I am intrigued with the barn quilts I see around the farming communities in my area. I love seeing the different designs and styles. So, I was excited to have the chance to read The Barn Quilt: A Christmas Story and share with my children. It was fun learning a little bit of history about barn quilts and seeing some new designs we have not seen before. We loved the beautiful illustrations throughout the book. It was fun getting the visual of the words written within the book. I let my second grader read it out loud to us. He needed minimal help with the some of the words.  So, I think the unsupervised targeted reading group would be perfect for ages 7 and up. Of course, adults like me would love it, too!

I am giving The Barn Quilt: A Christmas Story a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it!

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.

Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Blog Tour and Giveaway: From Wild to Mild by Sunny Weber


Book Details:

Book Title:  From Wild to Mild: A Dog in Two Worlds by Sunny Weber
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 196 pages
Genre:  animals/pets
Publisher Pups & Purrs Press
Release date:   August 23, 2019
Content Rating: G
"Sunny Weber takes readers on a remarkable journey between two worlds as we follow the puppy, Kaya, struggle to live and grow with a family of coyotes, and then experience returning to her role as a dog living with people. In addition to exciting adventures, challenges, and drama experienced by Kaya, we also learn about the differences between the animals, and their very different relationships to people. As a biologist that works with coyotes and dogs, I appreciate the creative way Sunny distinguishes the two animals in such an engaging story. Highly recommended for young readers interested in dogs, coyotes, and the world through their eyes."
Stanley D. Gehrt
Professor of Wildlife Ecology
Extension Wildlife Specialist
School of Environment and Natural Resources
Ohio State University

"What a beautiful, heartwarming book!  Sunny incorporates the stories of abused and neglected farmed animals to bring attention to their plight. Sunny does a wonderful job of telling the story of Kaya, a caring and compassionate dog who is forced to confront her values and make difficult decisions to follow her heart or to fit in. Kaya teaches us to have empathy for all animals, regardless of their species."
Chrissy Dinardo
Development Director
Luvin Arms Animal Sanctuary
Erie, CO

 
Book Description:

Eight-week-old Australian Shepherd Kaya is kidnapped by a nasty coyote to be food for his mate and puppies. Instead, the loving mother raises Kaya with her own pups. But as hard as she tries, Kaya can’t completely fit in—she can’t kill prey or stay awake for night hunts. Why can’t she make herself a true coyote? Constantly criticized by her coyote father, Kaya finds support in her new mother and siblings. She also figures out how to contribute through teamwork with her brother and sister. Trapped by a dog rescue, Kaya re-enters the human world and learns the differences between how dogs and coyotes live. When freed to roam again, does she return to her forest freedom—or remain with her farm family? Can Kaya forever straddle between the Wild and the Mild?


Book Details:

Book Title Hurricane Dog: A Tale of Betrayal, Redemption & Change by Sunny Weber
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 221 pages
Genre:  animals/pets
Publisher Pups & Purrs Press
Release date:   Aug 8, 2019
Content Rating: G

Book Description:

Pit bull mix Gator and puppy mill survivor Magnolia are abandoned during a Louisiana hurricane. They suffer dehydration and starvation after rescuers take their people to safety but leave the pets behind.

Saved from their flooded house, Gator and Magnolia recover but remain homeless. Nobody wants a pit bull. Gator’s resentment festers into intense hatred for Gavin, the boy who left them to die. He vows to never trust again.

Transported to Colorado with other refugee pets, Gator and Magnolia face the uncertainty of a new life. Eventually they are fostered by a kind woman who seems mysteriously familiar. Both dogs relax in their new lives until upheaval again throws them into chaos.

Overwhelmed by trauma, Gator and Magnolia cling to one another through change after change. Will they be separated? Will Gator forgive the Great Betrayal and love again?

What will happen to pets and their people in the next natural disaster? Can Gavin change the rules of rescue? Will Gavin and Gator reunite?






Book Details:

Book Title:  The Dog at the Gate: How a Throwaway Dog Becomes Special by Sunny Weber
Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 246 pages
Genre:  animals/pets
Publisher:  Pups & Purrs Press
Release date:   Oct 6, 2017
Content Rating: G

“The Dog at the Gate will help teach children to be kind to animals and learn that they have feelings.”
- Temple Grandin, PhD - CO State University, Professor of Animal Science
--Author of Bright Not Broken: Gifted Kids, ADHD, and Autism

“This touching narrative, with its colorful characters and humane messaging. . .conveys a resonant message of empathy for mistreated and abandoned animals.”
- Kirkus Reviews

“Weber’s writing is clear and poignant, and includes an engaging plot and compelling narrative.”
- Blue Ink Review

“Author Sunny Weber writes with a clean, uncomplicated style. Every chapter has a charming illustration. . . an addictive and emotional adventure. . . I highly recommend it. . .”
- Caitlin Lyle Farley, Five Star Review for Readers' Favorite / Barnes & Noble Bookstores

Book Description:

Can a dog like Max go from years without a bath to unconditional love and acceptance?
Or will his new family abandon him again?


Puppy Max doesn’t have the easiest start in life. He faces hunger, living alone outside, a vicious dog next door, and menacing raccoons. Just when he thinks it can’t get any worse, he is abandoned at an animal shelter.
Max is rescued and fostered in a home complete with canine companions - Miles, a benevolent fellow Australian Shepherd, and cantankerous, bossy little Muffin. He also lives with three cats, two parakeets, and one incredible mistress.

Fans of classics like Black Beauty, Thomasina, and Beautiful Joe, which feature redemptive bonds between animals and people, will find The Dog at the Gate: How a Throwaway Dog Becomes Special offers a touching tale of love and triumph.

 



Meet the Author:

Sunny Weber has over 25 years of experience in animal welfare advocacy. She is a professional humane educator and believes compelling storytelling reflects her passion for seeing the world through the eyes of the animals she teaches about.

Real stories are Sunny’s key to making deep impressions on young minds, for the future of animal welfare lies in sensitive people who will have the power to alter the negative impacts of previous generations and bring about positive change for all inhabitants of our planet.

Sunny has developed educational programs regarding compassion, respect, and care of domestic and wild animals. She writes extensively on animal issues in fiction, non-fiction, and blogs.

Sunny lives in Colorado with dogs and cats. Their yard is a Certified Backyard Habitat for birds, squirrels, rabbits, pollinators, and any other creature with fur or feathers who wanders in.

Connect with the author:    Website Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Linked-In

Book Tour Schedule:


Nov 11 – ROCKIN' Book Reviews – book review From Wild to Mild / guest post / giveaway
Nov 12 –  My Journey Back – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 13 – Locks, Hooks, and Books – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 13 - Blooming with Books – book review Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 14 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of From Wild to Mild / giveaway
Nov 15 - Svetlana's reads and views – book review From Wild to Mild
Nov 15 - Rosepoint Publishing – book review From Wild to Mild
Nov 15 – Jypsylynn – book review The Dog at the Gate
Nov 18 – My Journey Back – book review Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 18 - ROCKIN' Book Reviews – book review Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 19 – FUONLYKNEW – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 19 - Blooming with Books – book review From Wild to Mild / guest post / giveaway
Nov 20 – Locks, Hooks, and Books – book review Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 20 - ROCKIN' Book Reviews – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 21 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 21 - Svetlana's reads and views – book review Hurricane Dog
Nov 21 - Books for Books – book review The Dog at the Gate
Nov 22 – Jypsylynn – book review of Hurricane Dog
Nov 22 - FUONLYKNEW – book review of Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 25 – Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Hurricane Dog / giveaway
Nov 25 - Blooming with Books – book review The Dog at the Gate / giveaway
Nov 26 – FUONLYKNEW – book review of From Wild to Mild / giveaway
Nov 26 - Books for Books – book review Hurricane Dog
Nov 27 – Locks, Hooks, and Books – book review From Wild to Mild / giveaway
Nov 27 - Svetlana's reads and views – book review The Dog at the Gate
Nov 28 – My Journey Back – book review From Wild to Mild / giveaway
Nov 29 - Jypsylynn – book review of From Wild to Mild
Dec 2 - Books for Books – book review From Wild to Mild
Dec 2 - Mystery Suspense Reviews – book review of From Wild to Mild

Enter the Giveaway:


a Rafflecopter giveaway




My Review

Sunny Weber does it again with From Wild to Mild: A Dog in Two Worlds. Kaya, an Australian Shepherd puppy, is taken from her home to be a meal for wild coyotes. The mother coyote decides to save and raise Kaya instead. Kaya struggles to fit in and is constantly being scolded by the father. She finds allies in her adopted siblings and learns how to survive. She, once again, is taken from her home and sent back to live within the human world. She has to decide which world she belongs in the most. 

I enjoyed From Wild to Mild: A Dog in Two Worlds. I thought it had some great lessons that so many readers can learn. My favorite is when the young ones see Kaya as different, sees her being bullied, and no matter the differences, they still chose to take up for her and show her friendship. I was kind of sad to see her taken from her new family. I was hoping all would work out for her throughout the book. I wanted to keep reading until the end to find out where she would end up and which family she chooses for herself. 

From Wild to Mild: A Dog in Two Worlds is a perfect addition for all dog loving readers – young and old. I hope to read more dog books by Sunny Weber in the future. I give this one five stars. 

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.
 

Review and Giveaway: The Christmas Eve Secret by Elyse Douglas

Christmas Eve Secret by Elsye Douglas

Christmas Eve Secret: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas Publisher: Broadback (September 16, 2019) Category: Time Travel, Historical Fiction, Romance, Christmas Tour Dates: October-November, 2019 ISBN: TBD Available in Print and ebook, 440 pages 
Christmas Eve Secret

Description Christmas Eve Secret: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas

A mysterious man from the past steals the time travel lantern. When Eve and Patrick find it, they destroy it. Eve’s life is shattered. She must return to the past, where secrets await. In the third novel of THE CHRISTMAS EVE series, Eve and Patrick Gantly are living a normal life in 2019 New York, preparing to celebrate the Christmas season. Patrick is taking courses in forensic psychology and Eve continues to work as a nurse practitioner. To their delight, she is three months pregnant. Despite their happiness, Eve is having premonitions that something dreadful is about to occur. Concerned about the future and the safety of their child, she insists that they destroy the time travel lantern. Patrick is more cautious. One afternoon when Patrick is out, a sinister man breaks into the apartment and forces Eve to give him the lantern. In many ways, Eve is relieved the lantern is gone. She hopes they can now live a more normal life. A day later, Patrick shadows a woman who has been staking out the Gantly’s brownstone apartment, and he confronts her. To his and Eve’s utter shock, they learn that Lucy Rose is from 1924 and that she time-traveled with the man who took the lantern. He returned to 1924, but she chose to stay behind. She offers to sell the lantern back to Eve and Patrick, and they reluctantly agree, hoping to keep it out of unscrupulous hands. Convinced that the lantern is a threat to their future happiness, Eve and Patrick decide to destroy it. But the lantern has more power than they could have ever imagined. Once the lantern is destroyed, Eve’s life is completely changed. She must set off on an adventure, in a struggle that will return her to the past, where she will learn the secret of the lantern’s origin and delve into the farthest reaches of her heart.

Praise Christmas Eve Letter: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas

“If you are a fan of authors such as Nicholas Sparks and Marybeth Whalen, or H.G. Wells or Jack Finney, you need to add this book to your shelves. This is a romantic suspense novel with many dangerous and tense moments. As always, when one travels in time, the concern of consequences and potential changes to history and the future weigh heavily on both the traveler’s and readers’ minds. Those worries added to the atmosphere but were also handled skillfully. I smiled at a certain twist of color. It is a perfect bookclub read.”-Laura’s Interests “The Christmas Eve Letter is a beautiful, poignant story. It is well written and will have you turning the pages eagerly. All of the characters are well thought out, and believably written, together with the well-constructed scenery, that has you feeling as if you yourself have just stepped into the past. The story is unique and moving. It will hold you long after you turn the last page. A perfect Christmas tale of love and hope.”-Whispering Stories “The Christmas Eve Letter is a wonderful time travel book and one of my favorite books of the year.”--The Book Return Blog


Praise Christmas Eve Daughter: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas

“This book is the perfect vehicle for a movie, and I can only hope that there will be more in the series. This novel is truly as close to perfection as the reader could imagine! 5 Stars!”--My Devotional Thoughts Blog and Reviews “I enjoyed the new characters, an update on characters from the first book, and the possibility for more books. If you enjoy time travel-themed novels you will love these books!”--StoreyBook Reviews “I am most impressed that this book did so well as a stand-alone novel. Kudos to the author! If you are looking for a good Christmas book with time travel, give this a go!”--Carole's Bookshelves



Excerpt The Christmas Eve Secret by Elyse Douglas

 That night neither Eve nor Patrick felt like eating.  They ordered Chinese takeout and sat in the living room, paper plates in their laps, the food half eaten.  Patrick was in a dark mood and Eve fought depression.  Now that the lantern was gone, she should have felt lighter, but she didn’t.  There was nothing pleasant or light about what had happened.
“Did he leave any clues at all?” Patrick said, knowing he was repeating himself.
“No, Patrick.  I told you.  Except for the slang and his vintage coat and hat, he didn’t say anything or do anything that suggested who he was, or where he came from. 
Patrick laid his plate aside and stood up, facing the fire, his hands clasped behind his back.
“Well, he obviously knew who you were and that you had the lantern.  How?  You’re sure Joni hasn’t told anybody?”
“No, I told you.  Joni has never told anyone.  She had no idea who the man was.  She was scared to death, so scared that she’s going to stay with a girlfriend tonight.”
Patrick turned to Eve; his eyes warm on her.  “You did the right thing.  I’m so glad you gave him the lantern without resisting in any way.”
“What could I do?  He had a gun pointed at me.”
Patrick went to her, stooped, and kissed her on the forehead.  “I’m sorry you had to go through that.  He obviously waited until I wasn’t around.  No telling how long he’s been watching us.”
Patrick turned to Georgy Boy, who was lying asleep near the fireplace.  “Too bad we don’t have an attack dog.”
“It’s not his fault.  Georgy Boy’s an orphan.  He had a bad puppy-hood until I rescued him.”
“How’s the baby?”
“The baby is fine.  I kept as calm as I could, taking a lot of deep breaths.”
“I’m sorry, Eve.  I’m sorry we didn’t get rid of the lantern the other day when you wanted to.”
“Yes, well, I’ve been thinking about that.  What would that man have done if I told him we’d bashed it up and tossed it into the river?  He probably wouldn’t have believed me, and then who knows what he might have done.”
“Good point.  I hate to say it but a proverb from my old Da comes to mind.”
Eve tilted her head, giving him a faint smile.  “I figured it was about time for one of your Da’s proverbs.  Okay, out with it.”
Patrick arched an eyebrow.  “There is misfortune only where there is wealth.”
“And what does that mean with regard to us, and about what just happened?”
“It means that the lantern made us wealthy in many ways.  Remember, not only did it bring us together and save my daughter, Maggie, but it also brought you over five million dollars from John Allister Harringshaw.”
Eve looked away into the fire, watching the play of the orange flames. “So maybe it’s all over now.  Maybe now we can finally get on with our lives and forget the whole thing. Most of me is relieved.”
Patrick stepped behind her and began massaging her shoulders.  She shut her eyes and hummed out pleasure.
“That feels so good.”
“You’re as tight as a drum, Mrs. Gantly.  Where do you want my hands to go?”
“Everywhere… I hope I can sleep tonight.”
“Let me give you a massage.” 
They were silent for a time, as Patrick worked her neck and shoulder muscles.  She began to relax, her eyes growing heavy.
“Eve…”
She mumbled out a “What?”  And then “Oh, yes, right there.  Stay there for a while.” 
Patrick was thinking aloud.  “If that rogue time traveled from the past to 2019, then he must have used the lantern from the past, right?  Because we both know that the lantern never travels back in time, it stays in the time it’s in.  The lantern in the present, stays in the present.  The lantern in the past, stays in the past.  So, where did our scoundrel find the lantern in the past, and how did he know he could time travel with it?  And how did he know who we are, where we live and that we had the lantern that he needed in order to return to his own time?”
Eve leaned her head back to look at her husband.  “So many questions.”




About Elyse Douglas

Christmas Eve Secret: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas

Elyse Douglas is the pen name for the married writing team Elyse Parmentier and Douglas Pennington. Elyse grew up near the sea, roaming the beaches, reading and writing stories and poetry, receiving a master’s degree in English Literature. She has enjoyed careers as an English teacher, an actress and a speech-language pathologist. Douglas has worked as a graphic designer, a corporate manager and an equities trader. He attended the Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music and played the piano professionally for many years. Website: www.elysedouglas.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/douglaselyse Facebook: www.facebook.com/elyse.authorsdouglas

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  Christmas Eve Secret: Time Travel Novel by Elyse Douglas



My Review: 

The Christmas Eve Secret is the third installment from  Elyse Douglas’s time travel romance series, The Christmas Eve. I recommend to readers that it would be best to read the series in order for easier reading. I have had the pleasure in reading the other books, and this one does not disappoint. It was great catching up with Eve and Patrick. There is a huge twist in the beginning that I did not expect and that kept me going until the end to find what where they would end it.

I give Christmas Eve Secret a well-deserved five plus stars. Do not let the book and series title fool you, it is one of those stories you want to read all year long. I highly recommend it!

I received this book from the publisher. This review is 100% my own honest opinion.