Rakes and Roses by Josi S. Kilpack Blog Tour

07 May, 2020 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

  • Title: Rakes and Roses: A Mayfield Family Romance (Book 3)
  • Proper Romance series
  • Author: Josi S. Kilpack
  • Tour Dates: May 4 – May 22, 2020
  • Genre: Historical Romance, Regency Romance, Inspirational Fiction
  • Publisher: Shadow Mountain Publishing (May 5, 2020)
  • Length (320) pages
  • Trade paperback ISBN: 978-1629727356
  • eBook ASIN: B085FSQNGV
  • Audiobook ASIN: B0844W7ZQM

BOOK DESCRIPTION:

A standalone novel in the Mayfield Family series with an unusual premise and an uplifting ending.

Lady Sabrina endured an abusive marriage, a miscarriage, and early widowhood to emerge as a smart, successful, confident woman who found a way to make her mark in a man’s world. She has friends and purpose, but cannot hide from the emptiness she feels when the parties are over and the friends have gone home to families she will never have.

Harry Stillman may be charming and handsome, but he’s a gambler and a rake who has made a mockery of his privileges. He turns to the mysterious Lord Damion for financial relief from his debts, but still ends up beaten nearly senseless by thugs and left in an alley.

When Lady Sabrina comes upon Harry after the attack, she remembers the kindness Harry once showed to her six years ago and brings him to her estate to heal. Though their relationship begins on rocky footing, it soon mellows into friendship, then trust. But Lady Sabrina needs to keep Harry at a distance, even if he is becoming the kind of man worthy of her heart. After all, she is keeping a secret that, if exposed, could destroy everything she’s so carefully built.

PURCHASE LINKS:

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | DESERET BOOK | BOOK DEPOSITORY INDIEBOUND | AUDIBLE | GOODREADS

ADVANCE PRAISE:

“Uplifting…Kilpack flips the typical Regency romance script, with the heroine rescuing the hero. Kilpack’s strong, upright heroine who finds a way to claim her power in Regency society sets this love story apart. This magnetic tale will appeal to fans of emotional romance.”—Publisher’s Weekly 

 “Kilpack takes traditional regency roles and challenges them. She shows how one person can make an impact in the world. I found the story and premise unique.”—Heather Gardner, Fire and Ice

“This is a story of redemption above all else…the ending was perfect.”— Lucinda Whitney, author of Rescuing the Prince

AUTHOR BIO:

Josi S. Kilpack is the bestselling author of several Proper Romance and Proper Romance Historical series and a Cozy Culinary Mystery series. Her books, A Heart Revealed and Lord Fenton’s Folly; were Publishers Weekly Best Romance Books of the Year. She and her husband, Lee, are the parents of four children.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

EXCERPT

Another round started as Ward returned with another drink. Harry ignored this one, his stomach burning and his head pounding. The smoke in the room was thick enough to choke on.

“Can we call it a night, Stillman? It’s nearly three o’clock in the morning.”

“Not yet.”

Ward leaned in and lowered his voice. “Every round is a new risk. You’re further ahead than you’ve been in months.”

“Bad luck!” Harry turned to scowl at his friend. One never talked about losing when at the tables. It was almost as bad as having a woman stand on your left side. Thankfully, the group of light-skirts who ran pretty fingers down a man’s arm and laughed at jokes that were not funny had thinned out considerably after one o’clock in the morning. However, women had not served as a distraction for him for months now.

Harry ran a hand through his hair, which felt as grimy as his skin, willing his heart to slow. He began to swirl the cup—his main was nine this round, so he needed to swirl the cup eight times counterclockwise—eight was his universally lucky number—and nine times clockwise.

“. . . Stillman’s got a fortune waiting if he’d just find himself a wife.”

“Shut your mouth!” Harry yelled, snapping his head toward Ward, who sat backward in his chair, elbows propped on the table.

Ward raised his eyebrows. “I was just telling these blokes that I don’t know why you spend so much time here when you’ve a fortune just waiting to be—”

“Stop!” Harry barked as his heart sped up even more. It had been a mistake to tell Ward about Uncle Elliott’s gracious offer—an inheritance if Harry married a genteel bride—but Harry had been too drunk to be wise the night it had come out. Harry was too drunk to be wise most nights. He was not too drunk tonight, however, to keep Ward from revealing private information.

“Why should I not tell your friends?” Ward challenged, his eyes bleary with drink but also anger. He wanted to leave.

If only Harry could.

“Afraid the rest of us will be jealous of your opportunity?” Ward pressed. He was trying to pick a fight, likely thinking it would force Harry out of the hall, but he did not understand that Harry needed to stay. Ward was as much a gambler as Harry was, but he had better income and more understanding parents. Harry’s parents were dead, Uncle Elliott had cut him off more than a year ago, and he’d burned through his quarterly profits—such as they were—within weeks of the last payment.

“I shall ask you to keep my business private, Mr. Ward,” Harry said through his teeth.

Harry tried to focus his attention on the game, but his thoughts had been jumbled by Ward’s reminder of the world outside this club. There was no doubt in Harry’s mind that Uncle Elliott’s “bribe” that he settled upon his nieces and nephews when they made a good marriage had mostly been directed at Harry—Uncle Elliott had never liked Harry very much. Two of Harry’s cousins—Peter and Timothy—had already saddled themselves with wives, but Harry had no plans to do the same. Harry had inherited his father’s estate, which meant he could

make his own way. However, Uncle Elliott was no longer paying Harry’s debts now that he’d presented an opportunity that he believed would turn Harry into a respectable gentleman.

Harry had seen his uncle only once since his explanation and presentation of the “marriage inheritance” plan almost a year ago. Harry had lost nearly five hundred pounds the night before and had been in the depths of misery, so many of the details had been lost on him.

He’d been able to sell fifty acres of his land soon after meeting with Uncle Elliott, however, which paid off his debts and allowed him to live well through the fall and winter off the remaining profits and improved luck at the tables.

In January, he’d received his profits for the last quarter of the previous year and been surprised at the decreased revenue. The fields had not produced well, his solicitor had explained, and there were concerns about the old steward’s ability to manage. Two tenants had moved to a neighboring estate due to unfinished repairs Harry had neglected for three years. The solicitor had suggested Harry spend some time at the estate setting things right and improving profitability, but Harry had been sure that the faster way to make up for the lost profits was at the tables.

Chapter One Pages 12-14

Bestselling author Josi S. Kilpack tours the blogosphere May 4 through May 22, 2020 to share her third novel in the Mayfield Family series, Rakes and Roses. Forty popular book bloggers specializing in historical romance, inspirational fiction, and Austenesque fiction will feature guest blogs, interviews, exclusive excerpts, and book reviews of this acclaimed Regency romance.

RAKES AND ROSES BLOG TOUR SCHEDULE:

May 04         My Jane Austen Book Club (Guest Blog)

May 04         Historical Fiction with Spirit (Review)

May 04         Austenprose—A Jane Austen Blog (Review)

May 04         All About Romance (Guest Blog)

May 05         Timeless Novels (Review)

May 05         Literary Time Out (Review)

May 06         For Where Your Treasure Is (Review)

May 06         Courtney Reads Romance (Review)

May 07         Fire and Ice (Excerpt)

May 07         Gwendalyn’s Books (Review)

May 08         History Lizzie (Review)

May 08         Wishful Endings (Review)

May 09         Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen (Spotlight)

May 09         Relz Reviewz (Character spotlight)

May 10         Book Confessions of an Ex-Ballerina (Review)

May 10         Delighted Reader (Excerpt)

May 11         Frolic Media (Guest Blog)

May 11         A Bookish Way of Life (Review)

May 11         Bringing Up Books (Review)

May 12         Lu Reviews Books (Review)

May 13         English Historical Fiction Authors (Guest Blog)

May 13         Adventure. Romance. Suspense (Review)

May 14         Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals (Interview)

May 14         So Little Time…So Much to Read (Spotlight)

May 15         Storybook Reviews (Excerpt)

May 16         The Book Diva’s Reads (Review)

May 16         The Fiction Aficionado (Review)

May 17         Inkwell Inspirations (Spotlight)

May 17         Half Agony, Half Hope (Review)

May 18         Romance Junkies (Guest Blog)

May 18         Christian Chick’s Thoughts (Review)

May 18         The Lit Bitch (Review)

May 19         The Caffeinated Bibliophile (Interview)

May 19         Heidi Reads (Review)

May 19         Bookworm Lisa (Excerpt)

May 19         Laura’s Reviews (Review)

May 19         Katie’s Clean Book Collection (Review)

May 20         The Silver Petticoat Review (Excerpt)

May 20         Joy of Reading (Review)

May 20         Austenesque Reviews (Review)

May 21         The Calico Critic (Spotlight)

May 21         Getting Your Read On (Review)  

May 21         From Pemberley to Milton (Excerpt)

May 22         Wishful Endings (Interview)

Scheme Blog Tour and Giveaway

23 Apr, 2020 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment



I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the SCHEME by Jennifer Sommersby Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

About The Book:
Title: SCHEME (AVRA-K #2)
Author: Jennifer Sommersby
Pub. Date: April 21, 2020
Publisher: Sky Pony Press 
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 456
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org 

The key to good is found in truth.

Genevieve may have left the circus behind in Oregon, but there is plenty of show still to come.

When she and Henry land in France, they are whisked away to Croix-Mare, the home of Henry’s grandfather, Nutesh, where they will prepare for a journey they never could’ve imagined. Now that they have all three AVRAKEDAVRA texts—Life, Death, and Memory—the books must be destroyed in the Undoing.

However, it’s not as simple as taking the books to their birthplace in Babylon and setting them alight. Genevieve and Henry must rely on unexpected allies as they embark on a harrowing global search to acquire pieces necessary to complete the Undoing. They’re offered cover and protection by La Vérité, the secret network of followers devoted to the message of the AVRAKEDAVRA, who, not surprisingly, are found under the big top—because no one does underground quite like the circus.

But loyalties among the magical community are fragile. Genevieve, still grieving the loss of her mother, now struggles to control the new AVRAKEDAVRA-bestowed gifts, and with mounting threats to her psyche and body, she clings mightily to the promise of a brighter future once this is over—if they can survive it. And Henry, broken by his father’s treachery but entranced by the heartwarming connection his family’s text has granted him, grapples with the fact that once they succeed in destroying the books, he’ll lose the only family he has left.

Together, our two young heirs will learn that when hope has abandoned us, the overwhelming love of friendship and family is all the magic we need.

About Book 1:
Title: SLEIGHT (AVRA-K #1)
Author: Jennifer Sommersby
Pub. Date: April 24, 2018
Publisher: Sky Pony Press 
Formats: Hardcover, eBook
Pages: 424
Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD,  Bookshop.org 

Delia smiles at the shadow only she sees—

Something slams into her. The lyra whirls like a half-dollar spinning on its edge.

My mother is thrown backward.

And she falls.

Growing up in the Cinzio Traveling Players Company, Genevieve Flannery is accustomed to a life most teenagers could never imagine: daily workouts of extravagant acrobatics; an extended family of clowns; wild animals for pets; and her mother, Delia, whose mind has always been tortured by visions—but whose love Geni never questions. In a world of performers who astonish and amaze on a daily basis, Delia’s ghostly hallucinations never seemed all that strange . . . until the evening Geni and her mother are performing an aerial routine they’ve done hundreds of times, and Delia falls to her death.

That night, a dark curtain in Geni’s life opens. Everything has changed.

Still reeling from the tragedy, the Cinzio Traveling Players are also adjusting to the circus’s new owner: a generous, mysterious man whose connection to the circus—Geni suspects—has a dark and dangerous history. And suddenly Geni is stumbling into a new reality of her own, her life interrupted daily by the terrors only Delia used to be able to see.

As the visions around her grow stronger, Geni isn’t sure who she can trust. Even worse, she’s starting to question whether she can trust her own mind.

Praise for Sleight

“Jennifer Sommersby’s Sleight makes magic from an enthralling premise, wonderfully-drawn characters, and beautiful words. It’s hard to avoid descriptors like entrancing, spell-binding and mystical.” —Michael Grant, New York Times bestselling author of the Gone series

“Fantasy readers will fall in love with Sleight. Like a circus, it’s an intoxicating mix of beauty, humor, magic, and danger that means the reader can’t bear to look away until the final page.” —Eileen Cook, author of With Malice

“Startlingly imaginative and vividly realized.” —Ira Bloom, author of Hearts & Other Body Parts

Review: With a cast of interesting chracters, colorful backstory and action packed plot, I enjoyed Scheme. The relationship between Geni and Henry is solid. They compliment one another. It was refreshing to see positive adult models and mentors in their lives to guide their journey. Magic, circus elements, and fantasy make a menagerie of an adventure. A unique and spellbinding read. Content: moderate violence, swearing.

About Jennifer:

Really, though, who am I? How about a list? We Virgos tend to like lists:
  • Writer, copy/line editor (www.plumfieldediting.com)
  • I reside in the Great White North, though the webbed feet prove that I originate from Portland, Oregon. Last U.S. address was Los Angeles. No, I do not miss the traffic. (Although Vancouver is #2 in North America for Worst Traffic Ever.) I do miss California’s awesome beaches.
  • I write under the pen name Eliza Gordon for non-YA titles — romantic comedies and Happily Ever Afters. (These books are NOT for kids. Mature themes, adult language, super-inappropriate jokes that will make you giggle. Well, I hope.)
  • Member of SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators)
  • Member of the eight-person fiction cohort of the 2007 Writer’s Studio at Simon Fraser University
  • Studied copy and substantive editing (2005-06) at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver. As a writer, I have worked with and studied the practices of some of the best editors in the publishing industry. #luckyJenn 
  • Studied English, political science, and criminology via Washington State University
  •  I’m called Mom by three brilliant babies.
  • I will never join the PTA or PAC, so please, don’t ask. I also don’t do candle, jewelry, or clothing parties. Thanks, though. I’m sure the finger sandwiches are delicious.
  • I used to do all of my first-draft writing in the car, at night, in the parking lot of my favorite coffee shop. These days I write where it’s quietest — home, or my local coffee shop.
  • I buy a lot of books. A LOT. No, seriously. I have a problem.
  • I am a soundtrack/movie score JUNKIE. Hans Zimmer and Alexandre Desplat and Sonya Belousova and the Greyson-William brothers and Ramin Djawadi … and HARRY ESCOTT. *swoon* He followed me back on Twitter and I almost died. Almost. If you ever need movie score recommendations, I AM YOUR PERSON.
  • I am obsessed with elephants and otters. I’d like to smooch one of each someday. 
  • Cat person. The household is ruled by an overweight tuxedo cat named Nuit and her very energetic little sister, Rosie Cotton (named after Samwise Gamgee’s wife from Lord of the Rings). 
  • I love coffee, Shakespeare (!!!), Joan of Arc, most things pastry, MOVIES (oh man I love movies so much), the Golden Rule, and bloody good writing. 
  • I am Team Superman all the way. I wear the same outfit every day: a Superman T-shirt and jeans, and I have a very cool Superman tattoo inspired by the artwork of comic book artist Jim Lee.
  • I adore Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit — and I ship Kili + Tauriel forever, and I don’t care if Tauriel wasn’t in original Hobbit story. <3 horin="" ili="" o:p="" ragon="">

  • I now have five tattoos, including the Dwarvish script from Kili’s rune stone (from Desolation of Smaug). I waited until my 30s to get my first tattoo, just to be sure I wouldn’t regret it.
  • Muses help me write — I have many. I love movie stars!
  • I hate thunderstorms, paperwork, people lacking humility, lazy writers with a sense of entitlement, and going to the dentist. Oh, and bad drivers. THE BAD DRIVERS TURN ME INTO A RAGE STORM OF CALAMITOUS DOOM.


    • Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Goodreads



    Giveaway Details: International
    1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC, International.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

    Tour Schedule:
    Week One:
    4/13/2020
    Mythical Books
    Excerpt
    4/13/2020
    BookHounds YA
    Excerpt
    4/14/2020
    momfluenster
    Excerpt
    4/14/2020
    Sweet Things
    Excerpt
    4/15/2020
    Jazzy Book Reviews
    Excerpt
    4/15/2020
    Two Chicks on Books
    Excerpt
    4/16/2020
    Locks, Hooks and Books
    Excerpt
    4/16/2020
    The Book Junkie Reads . . .
    Excerpt
    4/17/2020
    A Gingerly Review
    Excerpt
    4/17/2020
    Down The Rabbit Hole
    Excerpt

    Week Two:
    4/20/2020
    eating between the lines inc
    Excerpt
    4/20/2020
    Jaime’s World
    Excerpt
    4/21/2020
    She Just Loves Books
    Review
    4/21/2020
    Simply Daniel Radcliffe
    Review
    4/22/2020
    A Dream Within A Dream
    Excerpt
    4/22/2020
    Jena Brown Writes
    Review
    4/23/2020
    Book-Keeping
    Review
    4/23/2020
    Fire and Ice
    Review
    4/24/2020
    popthebutterfly reads
    Review
    4/24/2020
    Fyrekatz Blog
    Review

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    A Zero Waste Life in 30 Days Release Day Blitz and Giveaway

    22 Apr, 2020 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment



    I am so excited that A ZERO WASTE LIFE IN THIRTY DAYS by Anita Vandyke is available now and that I get to share the news!

    If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author & Influencer Anita Vandyke, be sure to check out all the details below.

    This blitz also includes a giveaway for a Mermaid Straw and a copy of the eBook courtesy of Rockstar Book Tours. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

    About The Book:
    Title: A ZERO WASTE LIFE IN THIRTY DAYS
    Author: Anita Vandyke
    Pub. Date: April 22, 2020
    Publisher: Apollo Publishers 
    Formats: Paperback, eBook, audiobook
    Pages: 192
    Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Audible, B&N, TBD, Bookshop.org

    A practical guide to improving your life–and your impact on the world–in thirty simple days by radically reducing waste without losing your lifestyle.

    Overwhelmed by clutter, anxious about your environmental footprint, and looking to make a change? You don’t have to be a rocket scientist to reconfigure your consumption–still, it doesn’t hurt that Anita Vandyke is. A qualified engineer and the eco-luxe lifestyle champion behind the popular zero-waste Instagram @Rocket-Science, Anita Vandyke has made the change to a zero-waste life, and through hands-on advice and charming illustrations, she shows us that with ease and style, we can too.

    By incorporating thirty simple rules one day at a time, A Zero Waste Life is a manageable guide to forming a more conscientious, intentional life in just one month. Offered inside is guidance for tackling waste and making ethical choices when it comes to shopping, eating, travel, beauty, and more. With her signature elegance and encouraging voice, Vandyke proves that we can stop depending on plastics, tidy our homes, and clear the way for a cleaner future–and that when we stop wasting, we start living.


    When people hear of the conservationist lifestyle, it sounds idealistic and undesirable—a life spent sacrificing conveniences and laboring over smelly compost. Not quite so, according to stylish lifestyle expert, social influencer, and qualified rocket scientist Anita Vandyke, whose popular Instagram (@Rocket_Science) documenting her hip, conservationist lifestyle has amassed more than 82,000 followers, and who is the author of the upcoming, much anticipated, beautifully illustrated, and highly readable guidebook A Zero Waste Life in Thirty Days.

    Releasing just in time for Earth Day (April 22, 2020), A Zero Waste Life in Thirty Days makes it easy—even convenient, fun, and envy producing!—to become a conservationist. Inside, Vandyke elegantly and encouragingly invites readers to follow a simple, manageable plan that will incorporate sustainable techniques into their lives one day at a time over a 30-day period, and leave them with a more intentional, fulfilling, and Earth-friendly lifestyle.

    Vandyke focuses on incorporating practical ways to reduce waste, such as with:

    • food and shopping (become a better cook, reduce costs from packaging, and spend less eating out);
    • beauty and cleaning (DIY organic beauty and cleaning products to avoid toxins);
    • and recycling and composting (the basics and why it isn’t as daunting (or smelly!) as it seems).

    Vandyke says quitting her corporate job helped her find her path, and that her financial savviness during her “funemployment” is what led to a zero waste lifestyle. “I don’t have all the answers to living a 100% zero waste life,” she says. “It’s a goal, nothing more. I believe we can all be everyday activists and take little steps to reduce our waste.

    About Anita:

    Anita Vandyke is a qualified rocket scientist (graduated with a Bachelor of Engineering – Aeronautical Space) and runs a successful Instagram account (@rocket_science) about zero waste living.

    She was born in Guangzhou China, raised in Australia and currently splits her time between studying Medicine in Sydney, and living with her husband in San Francisco. She regularly blogs about her passions of zero waste switches, minimalism, travel and all things green living.
    Anita’s first book A Zero Waste Life: a thirty day guide published by Penguin Random House, Australia is available at all good book stores. Her second book is coming out in 2020.

    Sign up for Anita’s newsletter!

    Website | Facebook | Instagram

    Giveaway Details:
    3 winners will win a Mermaid Straw and a copy of the eBook, US Only.

    The giveaway will be open until April 30th at 12:00 a.m. Eastern.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway

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    Ultimate List of Our Favorite Educational Resources

    18 Apr, 2020 by in Uncategorized 1 comment

    The Julia Rothman Collection: Farm Anatomy, Nature Anatomy, and Food Anatomy

    The 50 States: Explore the U.S.A. with 50 fact-filled maps! 

    Rod and Staff

    McGuffey’s Eclectic Primers

    Dick and Jane Readers

    Bob Books

    Gibbs Smith Board Books

    Dover Coloring Books

    The Core Knowledge Series

    Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons

    My Book of Mormon Study Squares: A Lesson in Every Chapter

    Come Follow Me 2019 Unofficial Senior Primary Workbook

    The Young Folks Shelf of Books: Collier’s Junior Classics

    ValueTales

    First Language Lessons

    Disney Record Books

    My First Steps to Reading Complete Set

    A Serendipity Book

    The Golden Book Illustrated Dictionary

    DK Eyewitness Books

    The Anatomy Coloring Book

    Saxon Math

    Colorforms

    7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens

    Hazardous Tales

    Botanicum: Welcome to the Museum

    Handwriting Without Tears

    Teaching Textbooks

    Classical Conversations

    Heroes of History

    The Burgess Bird Book for Children

    Puffin in Bloom Classics

    Smithsonian Handbooks

    Pathway Readers

    Story of the World

    Life of Fred

    D’Aulaires’ Books

    The Good and the Beautiful

    Tuttle Twins

    Amazon affiliate links

    No Nice Girls Swears Blog Tour and Giveaway

    14 Apr, 2020 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment



    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the NO NICE GIRL SWEARS by Alice-Leone Moats Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

    About The Book:
    Title: NO NICE GIRL SWEARS: Notes on High Society, Social Graces, and Keeping Your Wits from a Jazz-Age Debutante
    Author: Alice-Leone Moats foreword by Stellene Volandes
    Pub. Date: April 7, 2020
    Publisher: Apollo Publishers
    Formats: Hardcover, eBook
    Pages: 184
    Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

    No Nice Girl Swears is the original, trailblazing guide to the “new etiquette,” brimming with timeless advice on style, romance, and grace, and finally back in print 90 years after its original release. Forewords by today’s editor in chief of Town & Country and the editor in chief of Vogue from 1914–1952.

    Heralded as the go-to guide for soon-to-be debutantes and ladies who’d recently made their debut, No Nice Girl Swears ushered in a “new etiquette” on its release in 1933, much to the shock—and delight—of the high-society crowd of jazz-age America. Today it is equal parts time capsule (how to dress for dinner on your transatlantic voyage) and timeless missive (how to ditch a date who’s had a few too many).

    Worldly-wise socialite Alice-Leone Moats advises on everything from style and dating to travel and party throwing, and weeds through the dos and don’ts of weddings, weekend trips, and the workplace. Her wisdom, though steeped in the charm of her time, endures: treat others—and yourself—with respect, always put your best foot forward, and don’t throw a party without champagne. It’s just good manners.

    This keepsake volume includes a new foreword from Stellene Volandes, the editor in chief of Town & Country, the original foreword from Edna Woolman Chase, Vogue’s editor in chief from 1914–1952, and a contextualizing preface. It encourages consideration of what etiquette rules we’d like instilled today, and shows how Moats helped usher in a world where women could speak—and act—freely.

    “A book of modern etiquette for the modern debutante and sub deb, with an eye on her mother. Definitely keyed to the city and suburban communities, rather than the small town. Humor and commonsense combined in due proportion in answering such questions as: Shall I ask him in? May I call you up some time? What is the technique of being picked up? What should be done if my escort passes out on me? And so on. In addition, the author gives the latest usage in the matter of debutante parties, chaperonage (you’d be surprised!), engagements, weddings, clothes, week-end parties, and other contingencies. In good taste, and yet distinctly smart. The book itself is another experiment in colored stock—yellow this time—but since the books are to be sealed with cellophane wrappers, the prospective buyer wont know what she is getting until the purchase is made.”
    —Kirkus Review

    “In spite of such reminiscent titles of ‘Shall She Ask Him In?’ and ‘Never Speak To Strangers Unless They Speak to You,’ these chapters contain serious advice—the pragmatism of it all cloaked in a flippant and humor-flecked style.”
    Review: This book was a fun diversion and trip into the past rules of society in urban New York. I enjoyed reading the advice the writer gives women trying to navigate their season of dating. Fun, yet practical, some of it is still applicable today.
    —New York Times

    Excerpt:




    About Alice:

    Alice-Leone Moats (1908–1989) was an American journalist and author who was born in Mexico to wealthy and socially prominent American parents. She attended convent schools in Mexico City, Rome and Paris, as well as the Brearley School in Manhattan and the Fermata School for Girls in Aiken, South Carolina.

    Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.










    Publisher Info:
    Apollo Publishers Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram

    Giveaway Details:
    One lucky winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC, International.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway


    Tour Schedule:
    Week One:
    3/30/2020
    Two Chicks on Books
    Excerpt
    3/31/2020
    BookHounds
    Excerpt
    4/1/2020
    Mythical Books
    Excerpt
    4/2/2020
    Twirling Book Princess
    Excerpt
    4/3/2020
    She Just Loves Books
    Review

    Week Two:
    4/6/2020
    Satisfaction for Insatiable Readers
    Review
    4/7/2020
    What A Nerd Girl Says
    Excerpt
    4/8/2020
    Hurn Publications
    Review
    4/9/2020
    Locks, Hooks and Books
    Review
    4/10/2020
    The Phantom Paragrapher
    Review

    Week Three:
    4/13/2020
    Jena Brown Writes
    Review
    4/14/2020
    Fire and Ice
    Review
    4/15/2020
    The Book Junkie Reads . . .
    Excerpt
    4/16/2020
    Jaime’s World
    Excerpt
    4/17/2020
    Simply Daniel Radcliffe
    Review

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    BEYOND THE SHORE AND SHADOWS by Chantal Gadoury Cover Reveal

    11 Apr, 2020 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment



    About Chantal:
    Today Chantal Gadoury, The Parliament House, and Rockstar Book Tours are revealing the cover for BEYOND THE SHORE AND SHADOWS, the second book in her YA Little Mermaid Retelling Series, which releases May 2021! Check out the awesome cover and enter to win a $10 Amazon GC!

    On to the reveal!


    About The Book:
    Title: BEYOND THE SHORE AND SHADOWS (Lena #2)
    Author: Chantal Gadoury
    Pub. Date: May 2021
    Publisher: The Parliament House
    Formats: Paperback, eBook
    Pages: ?
    Find it: Goodreads

    A Merrow with a Choice
    A Man Who Loved Her
    And an Evil that could destroy them both
    The Sea Is Calling. . .

    Lena is a merrow in possession of the Magick Skal, the shell once owned by the Queen of the merrows. And now, Lord Jarl knows her secret and wants it for himself.

    After running away from the Lundby-Wyatt Inn, leaving behind everything she was familiar with, Lena finds herself in the company of the warm and kind Soren Emil.

    When the villagers turn against her and Soren, they’re forced to leave the burning Bror Boghandel behind and escape to a forgotten cottage on the edge of the shore, where no one will find them. Lena knows she must get the shell back to the sea and destroy it, before it falls into the hands of Lord Jarl, or worse, his apprentice, Jace Wyatt.

    With the help of some unruly pirates, Lena and Soren journey to the sea, a place Lena never thought she’d return to. There, she will have to face not only the Sea King’s army, the Fosse-Søfolk, but the impossible choice to sacrifice her own life, or the life of the man she loves.

    What will Lena choose?

    About Book 1:
    Title: BETWEEN THE SEA AND STARS (Lena #1)
    Author: Chantal Gadoury
    Pub. Date: June 19, 2018
    Publisher: The Parliament House
    Formats: Paperback, eBook, audiobook
    Pages: 268
    Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, Audible, B&N, iBooks, Kobo, TBD, Bookshop.org

    A Legend, 
    A Magical Shell 
    A Girl Who Dreamed Of Something More… 

    Lena, a Merrow girl, lives in the Skagerrak sea with her father, Carrick and her brother, Javelin who tells her of the legend of the Merrow Queen murdered by her human lover when greed takes over. But what’s worth spilling the queen’s blood? Gifted from Poseidon, himself, a magic shell gives any human the ability to control both land and sea. 

    When Javelin is called to join a clan of Merrow soldiers bent on protecting their waters from human invasion, Lena resists Merrow law and ventures to the shore with no choice but to swim to land. 

    With newfound legs, Lena is whisked away on a new adventure with new friends and new trouble. Everyone seems to want something from her as intrigue lurks around every corner. 

    Trying her best to hide who she is and remain safe from the dangers of the human world, will Lena finally find where she belongs, or will she be swept into a strong and stormy current by lust, greed, and jealousy?




    Excerpt from BETWEEN THE SEA AND STARS (Lena #1):

    “Tell me the legend of the Skagerrak queen.”

    Javelin lifted a brow. “It’s hardly a legend, Lena,” he said. “It’s barely been a decade.” His voice was easy, unbothered by the possibility of being overheard. They were alone in this place. There was no need to whisper or scold or shush. Still, he groaned. “I’ve told that one a thousand times. You should know it by heart. Aren’t you tired of it yet?”

    “Come on,” Lena urged him. “It’s my favorite. Tell me again.”

    He rolled his eyes, but his mouth curved into a grin. “Fine.” His scooped a clam shell out of the sand and began sliding the sharp side of a rock against its grain. “The queen fell in love with a human man,” he began, his strong fingers holding the clam firmly in place. “Every full moon, she used her magic to travel ashore to see him.”

    About the Author

    Chantal Gadoury is an Amazon Best Selling Author who is originally from the countryside of Muncy, PA. Chantal likes anything Disney, plays a mean game of Disney trivia, enjoys painting and has a interest in British History. Chantal first started writing stories at the age of seven and continues that love of writing today. As a recent college graduate from Susquehanna University, with a degree in Creative Writing, writing novels is a dream come true.

    Website |  Twitter | Facebook | Intstagram | Pinterest | Goodreads | Amazon Page

    Giveaway Details:
    1 winner will receive a $10 Amazon GC, International.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway
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    The Other Side of Heaven 2: Fire of Faith Review

    06 Apr, 2020 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

    Other Side Of Heaven: 2 Fire Of Faith

    Actors: Christopher Gorham

    Studio: Excel Entertainment

    DVD Release Date: October 4, 2019

    Missionary John H. Groberg returns to Tonga in the 1960s with his wife and their five young daughters. When their sixth child is born with a serious illness, the Grobergs face their ultimate test of faith, only to find themselves surrounded by the love andprayers of thousands of Tongans. Barriers of inter-religious strife are soon broken down as all unite in hopes of a miracle that will save the baby’s life, as well as the life of a Tongan minister’s son.

    Yesterday, we watched The Other Side of Heaven 2 as a family. It is a high action film with moderate violence, so you may want to pre-screen or have the remote ready to fast forward. Elder Groberg is in Idaho Falls, Idaho with his young family when he is called to be a mission president to Tonga and surrounding islands. Back to the place where he served as a young man, now with hundreds in his care. We cried many times and marveled at the hardships they endured, as well as the faith they showed with prayer. Highly recommend for youth and adults.

    Content: domestic violence, gang violence. High tension.

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    Free Homsechooling and Family Activity Ideas

    16 Mar, 2020 by in Uncategorized Leave a comment

    free

    We have been homeschooling for over five years and are happy to help any families start on this journey. Leave your questions in the comments. Here are some free resources available during the quarentine due to Coronavirus, COVID-19.

    Family School Free until June

    Living Scriptures Streaming Free for One Month (ad)

    The Good and the Beautiful

    Libraries of Hope

    ABC Mouse

    Scholastic Learn From Home

    We use Pinterest for ideas and have several homeschool boards. This week is a good time to study Ireland, St Patrick’s Day. Listen to Celtic music, eat Irish soda bread, make Colcannon.

    What are you using for curriculum this week? What are you doing as a family to pass the time?

    Worth the Wait Blog Tour and Giveaway

    12 Mar, 2020 by in Uncategorized 1 comment

    I received this book for free from in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

    This book may be unsuitable for people under 17 years of age due to its use of sexual content, drug and alcohol use, and/or violence.


    I am thrilled to be hosting a spot on the WORTH THE WAIT by Traci Douglass Blog Tour hosted by Rockstar Book Tours. Check out my post and make sure to enter the giveaway!

    About The Book:
    Title: WORTH THE WAIT
    Author: Traci Douglass

    Pub. Date: March 8, 2020
    Publisher: Entangled: Bliss
    Formats:  Paperback, eBook
    Pages: 200
    Find it: Goodreads, Amazon, Kindle, B&N, iBooks, Kobo

    Mandy Reynolds needs a reset on life in so many ways. Her acting career isn’t exactly where she’d hoped it to be. She can’t even get a job as a germ for a commercial. When she inherits half a house she sees it as a sign and heads home to Heavenly Falls, Illinois. She’ll sell the house, and use the money to take her career to the next level in Los Angeles. That is if she can convince her hard-headed––and stupidly gorgeous–– ex-stepbrother, Alex Noonan, to sell fast.

    The last time Alex saw Mandy, she was a gangly teen, who followed him around like a sad puppy. But she’s grown into a smart and funny woman, who is as frustrating as she is beautiful. The fact that they have to live in the house––together––while they fix it up, is one temptation he doesn’t need. And while he’s having fun spending time with her, she’s moving on soon, and he needs time to heal.


    Plus, she has no idea he’s got a secret that could put a monkey wrench in all of her plans…





    Review Worth the Wait was a fun romance and look into the effects of PTSD and anxiety in a relationship. The main characters both have to navigate how to handle moving through their grief, lost relationships and career changes. Alex goes through some major adjustments to finally land where he needs to be. I enjoyed their support for one another and the sub plot of renovating a Victorian home. Content: adult.
    About Traci:

    Fresh, Flirty, Fun. Sweet, Sexy Romance.

    I’m a USA Today Bestselling Author whose stories feature sizzling heroes with humor, quick wits and troubled pasts and heroines who are smart, tenacious, and always give as good as they get. I hold an MFA in Writing Popular Fiction from Seton Hill University and I love cute animals, chocolate, coffee, hot UK actors, and sarcasm—not necessarily in that order.

    My books are published with Harlequin/Mills & Boon, Entangled Publishing, and Tule Publishing.

    Want to try a FREE book? Sign up for my newsletter here: https://bit.ly/2OVrnZH

    Website | Twitter | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Goodreads

    Giveaway Details:
    One lucky winner will receive a $15 Amazon Gift Card, International.

    a Rafflecopter giveaway


    Tour Schedule:
    3/9/2020
    Mythical Books
    Guest Post
    3/9/2020
    Twirling Book Princess
    Excerpt
    3/10/2020
    A Dream Within A Dream
    Excerpt
    3/10/2020
    BookHounds
    Interview
    3/10/2020
    Preciousbooksworld
    Excerpt
    3/11/2020
    Books_andPoetrii
    Guest Post
    3/11/2020
    Locks, Hooks, and  Books
    Review
    3/11/2020
    once.upon.a.romance.blog
    Review
    3/12/2020
    Little Red Reads
    Review
    3/12/2020
    reading_with_nessie
    Review
    3/12/2020
    Books,Dreams,Life
    Guest Post
    3/13/2020
    Two Chicks on Books
    Interview
    3/13/2020
    momfluenster
    Review
    3/13/2020
    Sassy Southern Book Blog
    Review

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