by Crystal Caudill | Mar 31, 2023 | Book Reviews, Reading Challenge
It’s time for another month of our Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge: Unlock an Adventure. I’m so excited to be joining you on an adventure this year with guest reviews from members of our reading challenge participants. If you have a review you’d like to submit for upcoming months, feel free to sign up for a month here and use the Google form to submit your review. As my time has become too limited to do a suggestions post each month, I encourage you to jump over to the Unlocking the Past Reading Challenge page and ask for suggestions from there or from any of a number of amazing reader groups like Avid Readers of Christian Fiction.
*The list of prizes available from my prize shelf can be found here.*
March’s Theme: Gold Rush
April’s Theme: Lawman Hero
Bridge of Gold
by Kimberley Woodhouse
Review by: Charity Henico – Check out her Instagram account at @charitys.book.escapes for lots of bookish fun!
REVIEW
This book was so good. I had no idea what to expect except that it’d be about the Gold Rush. But actually, this was more about a ship from the Gold Rush that was discovered later and then re-discovered even later. The whole thing was just fascinating.
AND! I had no idea that part of San Francisco was built ON TOP OF abandoned ships from the Gold Rush! Some of the streets were built on top of the ships-on top of a landfill! Mind-boggling.
The mystery and suspense in this book were top-notch, and I did NOT see that ending-the who-done-it coming. This is one of those books where you want to read it to see what happens, but then again, you have to take a break after each chapter because of the tension!
If you enjoy books on the Gold Rush and the Great Depression, and books that are filled with suspense, then you definitely want to read this one!
~ Charity Henico
Genre: Dual-Time
Plot Overview:
Underwater archaeologist Kayla Richardson is called to the Golden Gate Bridge where repairs to one of the towers uncovers two human remains from the late 1800s and the 1930s. The head of the bridge restoration is Steven Michaels, who dives with Kayla, and a friendship develops between them. But as the investigation heats up and gold is found that dates back to the gold rush, more complications come into play that threaten them both. Could clues leading to a Gold Rush era mystery that was first discovered during the building of the bridge still ignite an obsession worth killing for?
Purchase Links:
Amazon | Baker Bookhouse | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Christianbook.com
Giveaway
For your chance to win a print copy, comment with what book YOU read for this month and you will also be entered into the year-end Grand Prize Reader Basket. Use the Rafflecopter below for extra entries and to mark that you left a comment. Entries end on the 7th of each month at midnight EST, and the winner will be drawn sometime that week and notified by email. The winner will be announced don’t the Rafflecopter widget.
*Open to all residents of the contiguous USA, legally able to enter, and an e-book format or Amazon Gift Card will be awarded to those outside that range who are legally able to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
What did you read for the challenge? What were your thoughts on it? Would you recommend it?
by Crystal Caudill | Mar 21, 2023 | Author Interviews
I had the honor of meeting Linda when she interviewed me for her blog last November, and I’m so glad for this opportunity to get to know her a little more. Let me introduce you to her officially:
Shenton Matchett writes about ordinary people who did extraordinary things in days gone by. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry (of Star-Spangled Banner fame) and has lived in historic places all her life. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a former trustee for her local public library. She now lives in central New Hampshire, where she explores the history of this great state and immerses herself in the imaginary worlds created by other authors.
You can connect with her through: Website | Facebook | Pinterest | YouTube | BookBub | GoodReads
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Linda with rapid-fire.
CC: Sweet or Salty?
LSM: Sweet
CC: Print, E-book, or Audiobook?
LSM: Ebook and print
CC: Coffee, Tea, or Other?
LSM: Tea
Morning Person or Night Owl?
LSM: Morning Person
CC: Favorite Holiday?
LSM: Thanksgiving
I’m right there with you on the tea, Linda! In fact, I’ve got a cup of Earl Grey in front of me right now.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
LSM: I’ve been writing stories since I was in elementary school after my parents gave me a package of pens and a notebook that featured a bouquet of pencils on the front! I loved creating characters, and for some reason, most of them when I first started out were animals who talked! I also published a family newspaper for a year when I was about 12.
CC: Oh that is fun! My friends and I created a school newspaper for the last two years of elementary school. In fact, I think I still have a few hanging around. I was in charge of the joke section. Imagine that. LOL I haven’t thought of that in YEARS.
What does your writing process look like from beginning to end?
LSM: My writing process is very regimented. Probably because of my career as a Human Resources professional, I come up with my protagonists’ jobs/avocations first, then I name and describe them. I have a spreadsheet that includes everything from their physical attributes to what irritates them or makes them especially happy. Then I come up with the premise of the story, and using another spreadsheet, I outline the story from start to finish. The other columns are texture (weather and location), date and time of day of the scene, the end of chapter hook, and any anticipated research necessary. That takes a couple of weeks. After that, I conduct the research, which is dangerous because I can do that forever! I love research. The final step is to begin writing. I have a full-time job but have a short commute, so I write for about an hour before work, then until lunchtime on Saturdays. It takes about 60 days to finish the first draft.
CC: Wow! That is incredible. I usually takes me about 6 months to complete my first draft.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
LSM: Balancing my full-time job and other responsibilities with my writing career is definitely my biggest challenge. Writing “feeds me,” so I sometimes resent the interruptions that pull me away. A close second is juggling the non-writing tasks with writing.
CC: It is such a struggle not to get upset when interrupted. There really just is so much to balance in life, isn’t there?
Now I’m excited to talk about your newest release, Maeve’s Pledge (Suffrage Spinsters, Book 11).
Pledges can’t be broken, can they?
Finally, out from under her father’s tyrannical thumb, Maeve Wycliffe can live life on her terms. So what if everyone sees her as a spinster to be pitied. She’ll funnel her energies into what matters most: helping the less fortunate and getting women the right to vote. When she’s forced to team up with the local newspaper editor to further the cause, will her pledge to remain single get cropped?
Widower Gus Deighton sees no reason to tempt fate that he can find happiness a second time around. Well past his prime, who would want him anyway? He’ll continue to run his newspaper and cover Philadelphia’s upcoming centennial celebration. But when the local women’s suffrage group agrees that the wealthy, attractive, and very single Maeve Wycliffe acts as their liaison, he finds it difficult to remain objective.
Purchase your copy at Amazon
CC: Where did you get the idea for Maeve’s Pledge?
LSM: To come up with the idea, I researched pivotal events during the women’s suffrage movement and discovered that Susan B. Anthony and a group of women presented the “Declaration of Rights of the Women of the United States” during the July 4th celebration of the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exposition. Further research unearthed the fact that the Centennial exposition committee reneged on giving women space in the main exhibit hall. So a group of women fundraised thousands of dollars in only four months to build their own exhibit space. These incidents struck a chord with me, and having attended the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville, I had an inkling of what it was like to be at the exposition.
CC: I had no idea about it, but I’m not surprised. There were a lot of obstacles women faced on the road to equality and the ability to vote.
What about this story drew you to it?
LSM: As someone whose career started in the 1980s and who struggled to be taken seriously as a professional businesswoman, I could relate to these women’s desire to be taken as intellectual equals, to be able to hold office, and to vote in their representatives. Throughout a large portion of my career, women with identical experience and knowledge were paid a fraction of a man’s salary for the same job. I was hired into a large aerospace company with an undergraduate degree and was put into a non-exempt clerical position. A man my same age with the same degree was hired into a management position. No one seemed to think this was odd or out of line. I didn’t agree with the illegal activities the suffragists resorted to, but I could understand their feelings of desperation and willingness to do whatever it took to get the attention of legislators.
CC: Then that definitely makes this an intensely personal story. I’ve not had to deal with it to the same degree, but I have experienced situations where I am taken advantage of because I am a woman, even in this “modern” age. I definitely look forward to heaven when that is not a problem.
What was some of your favorite research while you prepared for Maeve’s Pledge?
LSM: I loved digging into the Exposition, especially the woman’s pavilion. Because it was the country’s centennial, there was a lot of press coverage and photographs, so there was lots of primary source material. Ben Franklin’s great-granddaughter was the major fund raiser for the women’s pavilion, and she didn’t hesitate to use his name to get her audience with people to ask for money. By all reports, she didn’t suffer fools either! The numbers differ, but somewhere between 75 and 85 women had exhibits in the pavilion, many of them patented. Female engineer Emma Allison of Iowa operated the portable engine supplying steam power to the pavilion’s machinery, which included a printing press churning out a daily news sheet.
CC: That is really fascinating. It definitely makes me want to go look into it and research it more myself! And now as we wrap up, it’s time for one final fun question.
If you could be any superhero, who would it be?
LSM: Wonder Woman. Theoretically, she never gets tired.
CC: Never get tired. . . Yep. I could definitely do with that one!
Readers, I hope you’ll check out Maeve’s Pledge and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Reader, what do you know about the suffragist movement? Do you have any experiences were someone treated you differently because of who you were?
by Crystal Caudill | Mar 14, 2023 | Character Interview
I love doing character interviews, especially with characters who I’ve had the pleasure of reading about. Gemma Bennett is a hoot. I had the pleasure of meeting Gemma as a side character in The Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong and again during Angela’s novella “Perfect Light” ( from the We Three Kings Collection coming out in September). She was fun, exciting, and totally deserving of her own story . . . which she FINALLY gets in the upcoming novel Hero Debut, releasing on August 29th. So in preparation for all that, it is my joy to introduce you to Gemma and her story.
The Hero Debut by Angela Ruth Strong
“Once again, Angela Ruth Strong combines comedic moments with gospel truth, delivering another page-turner.” — Toni Shiloh, Christy Award–winning author of In Search of a Prince
Gemma Bennett is the leading lady of her own life, and her true love is writing screenplays. With her trusty pink notebook in hand, she signs up for the Citizen’s Police Academy to research her newest blockbuster hope, “The Dangers of Dating a Detective.” And the fact that the handsome and heroic Lieutenant Karson Zellner is the one leading the training? Well, that’s a bonus.
Karson already has his fair share of problems before Gemma shows up, and he’s not exactly a fan of the ditzy blonde who can’t seem to stay out of trouble. The last thing he needs is a damsel in distress to rescue; there are plenty of people in real need of his help. The fact that she seems to think his job makes him a superhero is just one more strike against her. This isn’t a movie, and he feels like the furthest thing from a leading man.
Gemma can’t seem to stop doing the worst, most embarrassing things at just the wrong time. The harder she works to make things right, the worse things get for her perfect screenplay and her perfect romance. Can she step out of her own way to find the hero her story needs? Or will real life foil a happy ending?
Hero Debut will delight readers looking for hilarity, heart, and happily-ever-afters with a foundation of faith and a reminder that, no matter what our relationship status, Jesus is the real hero of our lives.
Purchase Links: While you can’t preorder Hero Debut YET, you can check out Gemma’s first appearance (including a scene where she practiced trying to escape being tied up) in the Husband Auditions.
Amazon | Baker Book House | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Christianbook
Now for our interview with Gemma.
CC: I’m so glad to have you here, Gemma. Would you introduce yourself to my readers?
GB: I’d describe myself as a screenplay writer even though I haven’t sold a script yet. To pay bills, I teach high school English, which thankfully allows me to focus on my writing in the summers.
Sometimes when I meet directors to pitch my stories, they are more interested in putting me in front of the camera because I’m tall and blonde. Hence, I do a little acting in hopes that it’ll get my foot in the studio door, but usually the real playwrights get annoyed by my suggestions and kill off my character. It’s tragic.
This summer, I’m not acting though. I’m going to attend a citizen’s police academy as research for my next project. Oh, and also because the police officer teaching it is my personal hero.
See, I had my roommates wrap me in duct tape so I could try breaking free in order to improve a scene I was working on when a neighbor called the police. Karson Zellner busted into our townhome to rescue me. He wasn’t thrilled to find out I’d been perfectly safe the whole time, but his grumpiness just made him even cuter.
In the “biz,” I get so many men who want something from me that it was refreshing to meet a man who only wanted to help. Unfortunately, he isn’t a fan of filmmaking and ignores all my attempts at connection, but I’m undeterred. I’ll simply take my roommates to his training class as my wingmen.
We’ll be racing cop cars, watching the K-9 Unit train, and practicing self-defense. I’ll be taking lots of notes, particularly on the cornflower blue shade of Lieutenant Zellner’s eyes. He can’t arrest me for that, can he?
CC: Oh my goodness, Gemma. I’m cracking up. And doing a citizen’s police academy sounds like a lot of fun. I can’t wait to read how your experience goes! You’ve hinted at a little, but given you’re getting ready to be the heroine of your own novel, how do you think others view you? Do you feel this is an accurate representation?
GB: Others seem to think of me as a dumb blonde. Like the directors who don’t want to listen to my ideas and my successful sister who I’m always being compared to. Yeah, I can be a little flighty, but that’s because I’m too busy thinking all kinds of deep thoughts to focus on reality.
CC: Oh, do I feel you on that one! Sometimes I get so frustrated with myself, but half our time is spent working through real, albeit fictional, problems that need our full attention. What is your biggest struggle?
GB: I want to prove myself so my sister doesn’t look down on me anymore. I want to be equals again rather than rivals. If I can sell a screenplay, she’ll have to take me seriously.
CC: Hugs. That is so hard when our family doesn’t value what we do and uses it as an opportunity to look down on us. Who is your least favorite person to deal with in this story?
GB: My twin sister, Jewel. Did you know she rigged homecoming court to steal the crown from me and become queen in high school? She was also accepted into the good college. Plus she got married and has children. My niece and nephew are the best, and I may be a little jealous.
CC: Oh man! On top of everything, she’s your TWIN sister? My deepest sympathies. I can’t even imagine. Let’s think on a happier note. Who is your favorite person to deal with in Hero Debut?
GB: My roommates share my dreams of movie-making and appreciate my writing skills, so it’s fun to work together on projects like the upcoming 48-hour film competition. They are also joining me at Safety Academy to support my interest in Karson. Charlie is his not-so-subtle self where matchmaking is involved, and Kai still has a grudge against the law enforcement officer for pulling a gun on him when “rescuing” me, but they do their best.
CC: LOL. I’m so glad that we’ll get to see Kai again. It was awesome to watch him grow so much in Husband Auditions. So now lets get to the juicy part of a rom-com. Tell me about Karson, your love interest?
GB: Intense. He crosses his arms and grunts a lot. For some reason he doesn’t want others to know how much he cares, but I can tell that’s why he took this job with the police department. And he’s a good teacher, which I know isn’t easy.
CC: Grumpy heroes are so much fun. I actually think they might be some of my favorites. I cannot WAIT until Hero Debut releases and I get to see all the trouble you cause him. It’s going to be fun!
Readers, don’t miss your chance to see meet Gemma and read the scene where Gemma first met Karson in Husband Auditions. I’ve put the blurbe below Angela’s bio. 🙂 You don’t want to miss it, and you can read my review of Husband Auditions here.
About Angela Ruth Strong:
Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been a finalist for the Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon best-sellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky filmed as a movie in Montana and aired on UPtv in 2022. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho and blogs regularly for My Book Therapy..
Connect with Angela: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Tik Tok | GoodReads
Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong
How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s?
In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she’s handed a strange present at the latest wedding–a 1950s magazine article of “ways to get a husband”–she decides there’s nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can’t get any more single, can she?
Her brother’s roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love–Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.
When Meri Me debuts, it’s an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she’s looking for . . .
With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, Angela Ruth Strong has created a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating that readers will both resonate with and fall for.
Readers, how do you feel about grumpy heroes? Yay or nay?
by Crystal Caudill | Mar 7, 2023 | Author Interviews
I had the honor of meeting Shannon Redmon during an interview with the Suspense Squad, an awesome YouTube channel where a group of suspense authors for Love Inspired Suspense interviews other suspense authors. Not only was it fun to get to know her, I happen to enjoy her LIS stories. Allow me to introduce you to her properly:
Shannon Redmon remembers the first grown-up book she checked out from the neighborhood bookmobile. A Victoria Holt novel with romance, intrigue, dashing gentlemen and ballroom parties captivated her attention. For her mother, the silence must have been a pleasant break from non-stop chatter, but for Shannon, those stories whipped up a desire and passion for writing.
Shannon is a Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author and her greatest hope is to immerse readers into a world of suspense and escape while encouraging faith, hope, and love in Christ. She has two books published by Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line—Cave of Secrets and Secrets Left Behind with a third and fourth on the way—Mistaken Mountain Abduction and Christmas Murder Coverup.
She is also one of the Managing Editors for Acquisitions of Spark Flash Fiction Magazine, where she received her first official published byline. She won first place in the Foundation awards, was a runner-up in the Genesis contest, and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.
You can connect with her through:
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube | GoodReads
Now for the fun stuff! I have to admit I am partial to my Fast Five. 🙂 So settle in as I hit Shannon with rapid-fire.
CC: Sweet or Salty?
SR: Salty – I love a good potato chip!
CC: Print, E-book, or Audiobook?
SR: I prefer Print because I love beautiful covers but often I read ebooks on my phone because I can get more on there.
CC: Coffee, Tea, or Other?
SR: Both – I love a morning coffee with creamer and then drink tea the rest of the day
Morning Person or Night Owl?
SR: Neither – I get up around 7am and often go to bed by 11pm
CC: Favorite Holiday?
SR: Thanksgiving – I love having a big meal with my loved ones without the stress of buying gifts!
I’m definitely a fan of Thanksgiving. I love cooking and baking, and yes to without the stress of buying gifts!!! Let’s move into some of the more in-depth questions.
When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer?
SR: I’ve always been a writer – writing poems, breakup letters for my schoolmates, and short stories that never got picked up by any teenage magazine. As I got older, I would start writing a story, get about ten chapters in and stop. In 2015, my husband told me I needed to finish one. I took his advice and finished my first book in 2016, which will never see the light of day. By the time I’d written my fourth book in 2020, I signed with Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line.
CC: It’s amazing what perseverance will teach you, and what it can lead to!
What does your writing process look like from beginning to end?
SR: Typically, I come up with my characters first and flesh out who they are, what they look like, and what they do, then I create a plot around those characters with what I hope lines up with market needs.
CC: So you are definitely a character-first writer. Interesting to know!
What is your writing Kryptonite?
SR: I always go through a phase during my first draft of my books where I think the story is just stupid! LOL! I question if anyone will ever read anything I ever write again after this, but God always encourages me, and I keep going. Usually in the editing phase, I start to see the beauty in the story God gave me to write.
I’m so glad I am not the only one who faces this. It’s such a challenge to keep writing when the stories feel like they won’t be worth reading.
What has been the biggest challenge for you on your writing journey?
SR: I’ve had to learn to wait well. Not everything comes together according to my timetable and God has taught me many lessons through waiting even though I struggle to this day with waiting.
CC: Man, do you feel you on this one! Learning to wait well is so hard.
How have you seen God working through your writing journey?
SR: My readers and writer friends have been such a blessing to me since I started this journey. They keep me encouraged when I want to quit and provide so much love for the stories God gives me to write. I love coming up with new ideas to share with them.
CC:The people God has brought into our lives through writing is probably one of the greatest gifts we can receive. Truly, they are amazing.
Do you have any advice for those who want to write their own stories?
SR: Don’t write to be published. Write stories because you love to weave together a tale that entertains and takes readers on a fantastic journey. That passion will keep you moving forward when the road gets tough.
Wise advice. If your only goal is to get published, you’ll wonder why you wanted it eventually. It’s a hard road.
Now I’m excited to talk about your newest release, Mistaken Mountain Abduction.
Tracking a kidnapper
leads to a deadly pursuit
After her twin is abducted and mistaken for her, former army helicopter pilot Aggie Newton must move fast. She has to find her sister and figure out why she’s become a target—even if it means working with her ex. But Detective Bronson Young knows these criminals will do anything to stop their investigation. Can they dodge deadly attacks long enough to save Aggie’s sister and expose the kidnappers?
Purchase your copy at Amazon
CC: Where did you get the idea for Mistaken Mountain Abduction?
SR: I read an article about a female Apache helicopter pilot and was completely intrigued. I wanted to write a story about a character who had these massive skills.
CC: I love finding out about something interesting and working a story around it. I bet researching it had to be fun!
In fact, what was some of your favorite research you discovered while preparing for Mistaken Mountain Abduction?
SR: I researched hostage extractions and how the military completes these, which was very different than what I expected. I was able to interview military personnel and get first hand knowledge (at least what they were allowed to share) about how army units and military operations work.
CC: Oh man, I bet that was super fascinating. I look forward to reading about what you learned in the story.
What was your favorite part about this story?
SR: This by far has been my favorite book so far to write. I love that the story drops the reader right in the action on the first page and carries through until the end.
I love a good, fast-paced story. That means it will probably be a binge read for me. As my final question, I have my usual “Fun Question”.
If you were a pirate, what would your nickname be?
SR: I actually played a pirate in one of our Vacation Bible School skits at church. I wore a large red pirate hat with a black feather and way too much eye makeup as well as a ton of costume jewelry. Unfortunately, I don’t remember my name!
CC: LOL, that is awesome. The things we do for Children’s ministry, right? I bet the kids loved it!
Readers, I hope you’ll check out Mistaken Mountain Abduction and then leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, and/or BookBub. You wouldn’t believe how important that is to an author.
Reader, have you ever flown in a helicopter? If not, would you want to? Why or why not?
by Crystal Caudill | Mar 3, 2023 | Counterfeit Hope
Counterfeit Hope was released two weeks ago and one thing I always like to do leading up to my release day is to take time to put the spotlight on the authors who endorsed my book. Not only did they sacrifice their time to read it, but they also wrote words that touched my heart and encouraged me. These are authors that I respect and look up to. Authors who know their craft, have been writing far longer than I have, and know what makes a good story. To be endorsed by them is an honor that I cannot express adequately.
This is the last week that I am going to continue to spotlight an endorser, share what she has to say about Counterfeit Hope, share more about her, the books she’s written, and how you can connect with her, as well as give you a chance to win one of her books. At the end of each post, I hope you will leave the author an uplifting note so they may be encouraged just as they have encouraged me.
I am pleased to introduce to you . . .
Jaime Jo Wright
Author of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau
Jaime Jo Wright loves to read—and write—fiction with elements of mystery, faith, and romance from her home in Wisconsin. She’s a coffee drinker by day and night, lives in dreamland, and exists in reality.
Connect with Jaime : Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | BookBub | Goodreads | Pinterest | Twitter
What Jaime had to say about Counterfeit Hope:
“Crystal Caudill shines in this new story of hope and patient love, all delivered with a hefty side of thrill. Settle in with your coffee or tea and get ready to fall in love with hero who will top the list of your bookish heroes and a heroine whose tenacity will inspire and intrigue you. If you love a good historical romance served up with adventure, this should be moved to the top of your TBR pile!”
Purchase Links for Counterfeit Hope: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Book Despository | Bookshop.org | Christianbook | Logos | Indiebound
Jaime’s Books
Jaime is the queen of “Scooby Doo” type suspense novels. I admit I haven’t gotten brave enough to read them yet, but most of her books are on my shelf waiting for me to get brave. Below are her newest release and several other stories.
The Vanishing at Castle Moreau (New Release)
A haunting legend. An ominous curse. A search for a secret buried deep within the castle walls.
In 1870, orphaned Daisy François takes a position as housemaid at a Wisconsin castle to escape the horrors of her past life. There she finds a reclusive and eccentric Gothic authoress who hides tales more harrowing than the ones in her novels. As women disappear from the area and the eerie circumstances seem to parallel a local legend, Daisy is thrust into a web that could ultimately steal her sanity, if not her life.
In the present day, Cleo Clemmons is hired by the grandson of an American aristocratic family to help his grandmother face her hoarding in the dilapidated Castle Moreau. But when Cleo uncovers more than just the woman’s stash of collectibles, a century-old mystery and the dust of the old castle’s curse threaten to rise again . . . this time to leave no one alive to tell the sordid tale.
Award-winning author Jaime Jo Wright seamlessly weaves a dual-time tale of two women who must do all they can to seek the light amid the darkness shrouding Castle Moreau.
Purchase Links for The Vanish at Castle Moreau: Amazon | Baker Book House | Barnes & Noble | Books-A-Million | Book Despository | Bookshop.org | Christianbook
The Premonition at Withers Farm
The voices of the past cannot stay silent forever.
In 1910 Michigan, Perliett Van Hilton is a self-proclaimed rural healer, leaving the local doctor convinced she practices quackery. It doesn’t help that her mother is a spiritualist who regularly offers her services to connect the living with their dearly departed. But when Perliett is targeted by a superstitious killer, she must rely on both the local doctor and an intriguing newcomer for assistance.
In the present day, Molly Wasziak’s life has not gone the way she dreamed. Facing depression after several miscarriages, Molly is adapting to her husband’s purchase of a peculiar old farm. A search for a family tree pulls Molly deep into a century-old murder case and a web of deception, all made more mysterious by the disturbing shadows and sounds inside the farmhouse.
Perliett fights for her life, and Molly seeks renewed purpose for hers as she uncovers the records of the dead. Will their voices be heard, or will time forever silence their truths?
The Souls of Lost Lake
To save the innocent, they must face an insidious evil.
Wren Blythe has long enjoyed living in the Northwoods of Wisconsin, helping her father with ministry at a youth camp. But when a little girl in the area goes missing, an all-out search ensues, reviving the decades-old campfire story of Ava Coons, the murderess who is believed to still roam the forest. Joining the search, Wren stumbles upon the Coonses’ cabin ruins and a sinister mystery she is determined to unearth.
In 1930, Ava Coons has spent the last several years carrying the mantle of mystery since the day she emerged from the woods as a thirteen-year-old girl, spattered with blood, dragging a logger’s ax. She has accepted she will never remember what happened to her family, whose bodies were never found, and that the people of Tempter’s Creek will always blame her for their violent deaths. And after a member of the town is murdered, and another goes missing, rumors spread that Ava’s secret is perhaps more malicious than previously imagined.
Two women, separated by time, must confront a wickedness that not only challenges who they are but also threatens their lives, and the lives of those they love.
On the Cliffs of Foxglove Manor
1885.
Adria Fontaine has been sent to recover goods her father pirated on the Great Lakes during the war. But when she arrives at Foxglove Manor–a stone house on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior–Adria senses wickedness hovering over the property. The mistress of Foxglove is an eccentric and seemingly cruel old woman who has filled her house with dangerous secrets, ones that may cost Adria her life.
Present day.
Kailey Gibson is a new nurse’s aide at a senior home in a renovated old stone manor. Kidnapped as a child, she has nothing but locked-up memories of secrets and death, overshadowed by the chilling promise from her abductors that they would return. When the residents of Foxglove start sharing stories of whispers in the night, hidden treasure, and a love willing to kill, it becomes clear this home is far from a haven. She’ll have to risk it all to banish the past’s demons, including her own.
Giveaway
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