bookrelease – Author D.L. Finn

#NewRelease! “Silverhills’ Rescue” by #SandraCox #writingcommunity #whattoread #mustread

I’m thrilled to have Sandra Cox here today to share her latest book, “Silverhills’ Rescue!” It’s an amazing addition to the Silverhills stories, and my review is included.

Blurb

A marker is called in.

Brandon comes home from a trail drive to find his wife on her way to Mexico to help the mission folk that took her in. Putting herself in danger. Crossing perilous terrain, where not only the weather kills, but Comancheros and bandoleros as well. He climbs back into the saddle and heads out after her. Both of them now embarked on separate journeys that involves killers, flooded arroyos and narrow divides where one misstep means a plunge to certain death. And, if that’s not enough to challenge them, at journey’s end they’ll face the most dangerous situation of all.“This book contains plenty of grit and gunfire, but no graphic violence or explicit scenes.”

Excerpt

July, 1874

The sun hit a blood-red horizon and shot upward in a crown of tangerine brilliance, hurting the eyes, lighting the trail from the top of the canyon to the ranch house like a beacon thrown across the sea.

The early July morning a warm one.

Dust rose as a horse trotted up. Jonas, a young cowhand, reined in his sorrel gelding beside the woman who stood on the veranda. “Rider coming.”

“Is it Brandon?” Hand over her eyes, Alexandria O’Malley Wade strained to make out the narrow trail at the top of the foothill that her husband and their men would come galloping over when they returned from the trail drive. Her tan split-skirt rustled as she leaned against the smooth white-painted railing, trying to get a better view.

Jonas pushed up in his stirrups. Worn leather boots peeping from canvas chaps. “Can’t tell.”

The speck at the top of the canyon grew as it came tumbling down the trail. Her heart thumped and her breath lodged in her throat. Her fingers tingled, her excitement rose.

The speck shifted into a rider.

Anticipation heightened.

Then shriveled. It wasn’t her husband.

The horse was a pinto not the big roan Brandon rode. And even from this distance, she’d know her husband with every fiber of her being.

She heaved a deep breath and waited.

As the rider trotted closer, she slid her hand to the worn wooden handle of her 4.75-inch barrel, single-action, six-cylinder Peacemaker.

Jonas did the same.

She frowned. The pinto looked familiar, but it wasn’t one of theirs. And instead of a cowboy hat and chaps, the rider wore a sombrero along with a brightly-colored poncho.

Spying her, he yanked the sombrero off his head and waved it.

She recognized the rider and the horse at the same time. Her breath caught then whished out on a mile-wide smile.

“It’s okay, Jonas. I know him.”

Now sure there was no trouble brewing, he nodded, raised his hand to the approaching rider, and putting heels to his horse’s ribs, galloped off.

“Manuel.” She jumped off the porch and ran toward the boy who’d went in search of Brandon when she’d holed up at the mission awaiting the birth of the twins.

He leaped off his horse and grabbed her in a bearhug.

The term boy no longer applied. He was muscled and lean. A man. A young man, but still a man.

“What are you doing here? Is your family well? Sisters Sarah and Marie? Father Jon?” The questions tumbled over each other.

The smile on his face fell away.

Something was wrong. Dreadfully wrong. Stomach knotting, she took a step back and waited, dread seeping through her pores.

My Five-Star Review

I have loved the Silverhills series and was excited to see a new story. All the familiar characters are back. When someone from the past arrives seeking help, Alexandra is ready to jump in and assist. Brandon is still away tending cattle, but there are many to watch their twins. She sets out with Manuel and a hand, Charlie, to help the people at the mission who helped her. It’s a long journey, and it doesn’t always go smoothly. I love these characters, and especially Alex. She is strong, kind, stubborn, and willing to put her life on the line for those she cares for. The setting is so beautifully described that it makes me feel like I’m riding along with them. The pace is fast as they go from one situation to another. There was more than once when I thought: Oh no, how will they survive this? Plus, there was a lovesick horse and a desperate puma in the mix. This well-written western was hard to put down, and I can highly recommend it.

Amazon Purchase Link

Author Bio

Sandra, who writes as both S. Cox and Sandra Cox, is an animal lover and avid gardener. She spent a number of years in the Midwest chasing down good Southern BBQ. By the time she moved to North Carolina where Southern BBQ is practically a staple, she’d become a vegetarian.

She and her husband are ruled by four cats and a dog. An award-winning author, her stories consist of all things Western and more.

Sandra can be found at http://www.sandracoxwriter.com

OR http://www.cowboytrivia.blogspot.com

OR https://sandracox.blogspot.com

OR https://www.pinterest.com/scoxauthor/

OR https://www.bsky.app @scoxauthor

OR Amazon.com: Sandra Cox: books, biography, latest update

Miracles & Ghosts Blog Tour Day Ten #ColleenMChesebro #writingcommunity #newrelease

Today is the last day of the Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour! I’m thrilled to share the final stop with Colleen M. Chesebro. She is not only a fantastic poet but a very active and supportive mentor to many learning about symbolic poetry. I have always been interested in haikus, and through her blog, I learned what they were and many other types, including tankas and a favorite of mine, haibuns. She has several poetry collections that, if you love poetry and haven’t read them, you should! Here’s a favorite of mine and my five-star review:

Fairies, Myths, & Magic II: Book 2: A Winter Celebration

by Colleen M. Chesebro

My five-star review:

I read and loved “Fairies, Myths, & Magic Book 1” and was eager to read the second book. This dips into a darker side of fairies and magic but also offers the coming light. Told through beautiful poetry and short stories with the addition of the history of the feminine lore of different cultures. I could learn as I was entertained. Although I love my forest, I have a healthy appreciation of it and the magic it holds. This collection brought to life our past and present, leaving the promise of the future or its consequences. A perfect read for a cold fall or winter night that inspired me to bring a few new traditions into our house.

BLOG POST STOP TEN

Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour Day Nine #NoelleGranger #writingcommunity #newrelease

Today is the ninth day of the Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour. We are visiting the supportive and talented Noelle A. Granger. She has a catalog that includes historical fiction and mysteries. I went back and forth between two books to share here today. The Last Pilgrim is amazing and a must-read, but the first book I read by Noelle was Death by Pumpkin. This is the one I’m going to share today, as it introduced me to her great writing. Who could pass up a title like that? So before we move on to today’s post, here’s my review.

NOTE: I am having a technical issue on my end with today’s blog post stop. I can’t directly respond to comments; I can only leave a general comment. I apologize and have tried three different browsers. I did respond, but as a general comment, and I appreciate all comments. So you won’t be notified of my response, but it’s there separately 🙂 Sorry for any issues, but do stop by and visit. Noelle has really rolled out the red carpet!

Death by Pumpkin: A Rhe Brewster Mystery (Rhe Brewster Mysteries Book 3)

My five-star review:

“Death by Pumpkin” is the third in the Rhe Brewster Books. Although this is the first I’ve read of this series, I found it very easy to follow along and get to know the characters. Rhe is a nurse and works for the police department while being a widowed mom. The story starts out with an unusual death and Rhe involved in the investigation. Soon it becomes apparent there is more to this and an unknown danger lurking. While Rhe struggles with being a mom, nurse and working to be an investigator, she questions her love life and feelings. There are many exciting parts and twists, including an airplane ride where it was obvious there was a lot of research put into it. I love Rhe’s character and her caring but inquisitive side while being a protective mother to her son and good friend and relative. She focused on not only solving a crime but protecting her brother-in-law and friend Sam’s job. This is a wonderfully written cozy whodunit that weaves in relationships, making it a page turner. I will definitely be reading more Rhe Brewster stories and can easily recommend this one.

TODAY’S BLOG POST LINK

Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour Day Eight #RobbieCheadle #writingcommunity #newrelease

Today is day eight of the Miracle & Ghosts Past Blog Tour. We are visiting the hardest-working author I know, Robbie Cheadle. She not only bakes and creates amazing fondant cakes for her children’s books that are written with her son, Michael, but also has novels, poetry collections, and draws and paints. Additionally, she is involved in creating poetry anthologies and is a big supporter of other authors. Have you had the pleasure of reading any of her books? If not, you should. Before we head over to the post, I want to share a favorite book of hers and my five-star review.

My five-star review:

“Lion Scream” is a creative collection of poetry, photos, information, links, and a short story. The poetry tells a story of the wildlife in South Africa. It is not always a pleasant narrative with the loss of their habitat or cruel hunters maiming for profit. I learned a lot about the animals and found all the poems fascinating on many different levels. Ms. Cheadle discusses the Sixth Mass Extinction and Climate Change effect on animal life through her visits to wildlife reserves and personal interaction. She shares extra reading through links to learn more, which I appreciated. This was a meaningful way to bring the plight of animals to people’s attention. The short story, at the end, tackled another important subject of our youth’s mental health and the medication used. I won’t pick out my favorites because the message is too important. A book not to be missed by those who love animals and the world we share with them.

BLOG POST STOP EIGHT

Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour Day Seven #DWallacePeach #writingcommunity #newrelease

Welcome to day seven of the Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour. Today, we visit Diana Wallace Peach. Having been in two groups with her, I’ve found her to be very supportive of fellow authors, including her extensive reading and reviews. I find many great reads from those reviews. Plus, we share the love of nature. If you haven’t read any of her fantasy books, you should! Before we head to her stop, I want to share a review from one of my favorite books by Diana.

Liars and Thieves (Unraveling the Veil)

by D. Wallace Peach

My five-star review:

“Liars and Thieves” is a fantasy with Elves, Goblins, and Changelings living in an uneasy truce with crystals as their energy. The theme of greed and need felt current to me, and the world was brilliantly written in beautifully described images. My favorite character is Talin, who is a spy with a heart, and Alue is a close second as an Elf who has more sense of justice and temper than most. I enjoy the interactions between them in any form. Naj, the half-Elf and half-Goblin, approaches things more logically but is a solid leading character with a charming relationship with the Goblin he loves. I like what binds the three together. Then, there’s a lack of trust and blame between the three groups that felt very real to me as well as some misplaced loyalties. The unexplained disappearances and earthquakes threw in some chaos. I can’t wait for the next book to see what happens. If you love fantasies, you will want to read this.

BLOG POST STOP SEVEN

9-24 John Howell
9-26 Sandra Cox
10-1 Miriam Hurdle
10-8 Jan Sikes
11-5 Lauren Scott
11-6 Darlene Foster
11-12 Diana Peach
11-20 Robbie Cheadle
12-3 Noelle Granger
12-4 Colleen Chesebro

Miracles & Ghosts Blog Tour Day Five #LaurenScott #newrelease #writingcommunity

Today I’m visiting Lauren Scott for Day Five of the Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour. I met Lauren through the poetry community. After reading one of her collections, I found we had the same love for nature, animals, and family. We both have a soft spot for the redwoods. She is supportive of other writers and enjoys reading print books. If you haven’t read anything by her, which includes poetry and a children’s book— you are definitely missing out. Before you go to the post, check out one of my favorite books and its review.

Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poems

by Lauren Scott

My five-star review:

“Ever So Gently” is a beautiful collection of free verse and symbolic poetry. It is broken into three sections that cover nature, life’s moments, and some author insights. I love nature and I’m drawn to vivid images, but the emotions and insights explored in our shared experiences were equally intriguing. There was a peace within these pages that allowed me to drift off into a poetic slumber when I was done reading. Although I enjoyed the entire collection, here are a few lines that captured my heart. “Fresh raindrops/gently landed/on their wilted spirit/as I witnessed them lifting…”—Wilted Spirits, “You stowed dreams in the clouds,/imaginings rose higher than the heavens…”—First Breath, “Their presence graced my universe beautifully like an endless ceiling of bright blue sky. Then they were gone.”—Friendships Gone, and “Its glow will grow ever so gently/into a bright beacon of hope/rising with the golden sun/bringing clarity to our vision.”—Ever So Gently. A collection that I will be enjoying again and can highly recommend.

BLOG TOUR POST STOP FIVE

9-24 John Howell
9-26 Sandra Cox
10-1 Miriam Hurdle
10-8 Jan Sikes
11-5 Lauren Scott
11-6 Darlene Foster
11-12 Diana Peach
11-20 Robbie Cheadle
12-3 Noelle Granger
12-4 Colleen Chesebro

#NewRelease “Whispers of a Southern Moon” by #PriscillaBettis #shortstories #poetry #faith #writingcommunity #mustread

I’m excited to have Priscilla Bettis here today to share her latest release, “Whispers of a Southern Moon.”

BLURB

An artistic, new collection of inspirational fiction and poetry by Priscilla Bettis.

Includes the award-winning story “Fix Your Face,” a “wonderful Southern Gothic piece akin to the work of Flannery O’Conner!”—Brooke Dreger, Editor, Solid Food Press

A simple man in rural Alabama risks his sanity to keep his sister alive. Lines of poetry celebrate the symphony of a Southern night. A sentient house deep in Virginia’s Great Dismal Swamp lures those it seeks to protect.

In Whispers of a Southern Moon, Priscilla Bettis intertwines short stories and poetry to create an inspirational collection of literary fiction and verse. Bettis explores questions about faith, love, and our perceptions of reality, and she does so with an elegant but fierce grip on the reader. This collection spans everything from Southern Gothic prose to Biblically inspired haiku. By the end of the collection, readers will be encouraged that even in the most twisted circumstances, God is present, and we are loved.

Amazon Purchase Link

My Review

“Whispers of a Southern Moon” is a beautiful faith-based collection of short stories and poetry. The stories take the reader on a journey where the message is that one is never alone, even in the darkest circumstances. It’s a well-balanced combination of entertainment and Christian reading. The poetry is lush and full of imagery and emotion connected to the stories. Many subjects are covered, like aging, inner beauty, addiction, relationships, reality, and Alzheimer’s, which offered a truth I could relate to. It’s hard to pick a favorite, but “Whispers of a Southern Moon” was a beautiful tale of an ex-dancer who never got over the loss of her family. The house felt like a character within the story. What made this more special was the author’s sharing of her personal journey of how she found and grew in her Christian faith. I can easily recommend this collection.

Author Bio

Priscilla Bettis is an avid reader and a joyful writer. Priscilla lives in small-town Texas with her two-legged and four-legged family members. She is a former secular horror author who now writes Christian short stories and poetry inspired by her awe of God and love for fellow human beings.

Find Priscilla on X (at PriscillaBettis) where she chats with others about life and writing.

Amazon Author Page

Twitter

Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour Day Four #JanSikes #writingcommunity #newrelease

Today is day four of the Miracles & Ghosts Past Blog Tour, and I’m visiting the very supportive Jan Sikes. I was first introduced to Jan right after I published my first book, and I found that she is one of the first to jump in to help. The beautiful image she sent me of an angel and a bear is my screensaver, and a story is still to come from it. If you haven’t read her memoirs, short stories, or novels, you are missing out. Before you head over to the blog post, I’d like to share one of my favorites of Jan here.

A Beggar’s Bargain (The Bargainer Series Book 1)

by Jan Sikes

My 5-star review:

Layken returns from fighting in World War ll and finds that his family’s farm is about to be foreclosed. After the bank turns down his loan extension request, Layken is presented with another option – to marry the unwanted and badly treated daughter of the bank man to get two years to catch up on the loan. At first, Layken refuses but then sees that he has no choice if he is to honor his parents and family that has lived on the land. A quick wedding leaves two strangers living together. This beautifully written story offers hope and second chances in grim situations. What shines through is the friendships that are developed and honored, especially between Sara Beth and Layken. I had a soft spot for Sara Beth’s bunny and the person who borrowed food from them. In the middle of selfishness, greed, and cruelty, we are reminded of the goodness in people too, including when neighbors show up to lend a helping hand. When things seem hopeless, there is always a small glimmer of light. The setting on the farm is lush. I could picture living there and smell that blackberry pie cooking. The story skillfully incorporated tarot card reading and music in a natural way that I love. I am eager to continue the story of the inhabitants of this small farm. I highly recommend this heartwarming story!

BLOG TOUR POST STOP FOUR

9-24 John Howell
9-26 Sandra Cox
10-1 Miriam Hurdle
10-8 Jan Sikes
11-5 Lauren Scott
11-6 Darlene Foster
11-12 Diana Peach
11-20 Robbie Cheadle
12-3 Noelle Granger
12-4 Colleen Chesebro

#NewRelease “The Weight of the Snow and Regret” by #ElizabethGauffreau #writingcommunity

I’m thrilled to have Elizabeth Gauffreau here today to talk about her latest book, “The Weight of Snow and Regret.” It is a beautiful and touching read. Here’s my review: LINK

Introduction

Thank you for hosting me on my blog tour for The Weight of Snow and Regret, Denise! Today I will shine the spotlight on Flossie Kimball, the oldest of the Poor Farm residents in the novel. But first, here is what The Weight of Snow and Regret is all about.

Description

For over 100 years, no one wanted to be sent to the Sheldon Poor Farm. By 1968, no one wanted to leave.

Amid the social turmoil of 1968, the last poor farm in Vermont is slated for closure. By the end of the year, the twelve destitute residents remaining will be dispatched to whatever institutions will take them, their personal stories lost forever.

Hazel Morgan and her husband Paul have been matron and manager at the Sheldon Poor Farm for the past 20 years. Unlike her husband, Hazel refuses to believe the impending closure will happen. She believes that if she just cares deeply enough and works hard enough, the Sheldon Poor Farm will continue to be a safe haven for those in need, herself and Paul included.

On a frigid January afternoon, the overseer of the poor and the town constable from a nearby town deliver a stranger to the poor farm for an emergency stay. She refuses to tell them her name, where she came from, or what her story is. It soon becomes apparent to Hazel that whatever the woman’s story is, she is deeply ashamed of it.

Hazel fights to keep the stranger with them until she is strong enough to face, then resume, her life—while Hazel must face the tragedies of her own past that still haunt her.

Told with compassion and humor, The Weight of Snow & Regret tells the poignant story of what it means to care for others in a rapidly changing world.

The character of Flossie was inspired by a photograph from the Library of Congress.

Photo Credit: https://www.loc.gov/item/2011632969/.

When I began drafting the novel, I knew that one of the poor farm residents would have been impacted by the Great Flood of 1927, the worst natural disaster in Vermont’s history. Flossie was the right age. The following film footage shows the devastation the flood left in its wake. (The video is best viewed on a small screen.)

https://youtu.be/g-YxIDkCVtg

Excerpt from “He Had a Dream” Chapter

Ninety-four-year-old Flossie started out a happy young bride on the prettiest little farm overlooking the Missisquoi River. All that changed once the babies started coming. Three children dead before their sixth birthdays, one from whooping cough, one from diphtheria, the third from scarlet fever. Her eldest son survived childhood, only to be killed in the Great War, his grave somewhere in France bereft of a mother’s ministrations. The defining event for the remainder of Flossie’s life would come with the Great Flood of 1927. The rampaging flood waters destroyed the pretty little farm overlooking the Missisquoi River and swept her beloved husband away.

Books2Read Purchase Link: https://books2read.com/WeightofSnow

Author Biography

Elizabeth Gauffreau writes fiction and poetry with a strong connection to family and place. Her work has been widely published in literary magazines, as well as several themed anthologies. Her short story “Henrietta’s Saving Grace” was awarded the 2022 Ben Nyberg prize for fiction by Choeofpleirn Press.

She has previously published a novel, Telling Sonny: The Story of a Girl Who Once Loved the Vaudeville Show, and two collections of photopoetry, Grief Songs: Poems of Love & Remembrance and Simple Pleasures: Haiku from the Place Just Right.

Liz’s professional background is in nontraditional higher education, including academic advising, classroom and online teaching, curriculum development, and program administration. She received the Granite State College Distinguished Faculty Award for Excellence in Teaching in 2018. Liz lives in Nottingham, New Hampshire with her husband. Find her online at https://lizgauffreau.

Click/tap to follow blog tour: https://lizgauffreau.com/the-weight-of-snow-and-regret-blog-tour-2/

Sisters on Tour Final Stop! #ABoldBargain #CadesQuest #JanSikes #LindaBroday #writingcommunity #newrelease #mustread

I’m thrilled to be the final stop on the Sisters on Tour! Both are favorite authors, so to have both here today is an extra treat 🙂 They have a special announcement following their interview.

My reviews for both five-star stories are here: LINK

We are deeply grateful to you, Denise, for offering to let us wrap up this tour on your wonderful blog site!

When we decided to launch our new books together on the same day, Linda and I wanted to make it something special. It feels like we are making publishing history, and perhaps we are.

For this blog tour, we’ve chosen questions and answers designed to give the readers a deeper look into who we are, our background, and how we ended up where we are today, launching books together.

Question: What’s the most difficult thing about writing characters of the opposite sex?

Jan: I think the hardest part about writing characters of the opposite sex is getting the dialogue right. Men talk and express emotions much differently than women. I think women writers who have raised sons have a deeper insight into this. Also, men tend to get angry much quicker than women. I love writing male characters who are both rugged, yet sensitive. However, I think they only exist in fiction. (Sorry guys. No offense)

Linda: Men react differently from women when under stress or fear and it’s not always easy to figure out what they should be doing. My male writer friend is very helpful whenever I’m in doubt. Also, men show emotion very differently as well. I can’t claim that I always get that right. And, as Jan said, the dialogue. Men tend to speak in short, choppy sentences and they don’t use “ly” words.

Question: How do you select names for your characters?

Jan: I almost giggled when I read this question. I honestly can’t say I spend a lot of time selecting names for characters, at least the main characters. They tell me. I know that sounds crazy, but it’s true. However, when I wrote Ghostly Interference, I struggled with a name for the main character. Everything I came up with didn’t fit. So, Linda suggested I interview the character and ask him. But it was his mother whom I wound up interviewing. I know that sounds crazy as this entire conversation took place in my head, but it happened. She told me her backstory. Once, when she was still in high school, she met Mick Jagger of the Rolling Stones and vowed if she ever had a son, she’d name him Jag. Boom! Not only did I get the character’s name but also another story (hers) that I wrote as a short story for an anthology. But if I do have to search for names for secondary characters, I have some favorite internet sites I use. It helps to put a year in the search bar for popular names in that time period. One thing I try to avoid is having character names that sound too much alike or names that all start with the same letter. I once read a story with characters named J.J. and Jay. That was super confusing.

Linda: I keep a list of names that I’m always adding to, and if none of those fit my character, I turn to the internet. Also, I’ve found names in cemeteries. Once I ran across the name Texanna on an old tombstone, and I used that in a novella. They’re a great place to look. And as Jan said, often a name will just pop into your head. Writing historicals, I need to know their nationality, and the name has to fit where they originated from. You can’t have an Alistair from Sweden. One of my favorite parts is naming characters. My hardest thing is not repeating. I love the name Luke, and I used it in four different books!! As the hero, no less. Crazy.

Question: What one thing would you give up to become a better writer?

Jan: This one made me stop and think. What would I give up? I’ve already given up time, money, ego, and fear of rejection. What’s really left? I’m not a big TV watcher, so that’s nothing I’d miss. I mostly read for entertainment, and I’m definitely not ever giving that up. Besides, as Linda mentioned at a previous stop, reading enhances writing. So, really, I don’t have an answer to this question.

Linda: I really love coffee but I would give it up if I could be a better writer. That’s how much I yearn to turn unique phrases and write vivid descriptions. I read books by bestselling authors and feel so inadequate next to them. I really admire good writing. A long time ago, a writer told me never to compare myself to other authors. Everyone has different viewpoints and skills. She said, “Someone is always going to write better, and you will always better than some. So, I try not to compare.

Question: Does your family support your career as a writer?

Jan: For me, the answer is yes and no. They seem proud when I win book awards, and they celebrated with champagne when I got my first publishing contract. But I don’t think any of them have actually read my books. My oldest daughter has read some, but not the younger one. It’s almost as if she has a mental block against it – like Mom couldn’t possibly be good enough to write a compelling story. Still, I always give them both an autographed copy of every new book. I envy writers who have family involvement in their writing.

Linda: Not much and I’ve been a published writer for 25 years. My oldest daughter is good about reading each new book, but she’s the only one. I’ve spoken to my writing friends about this subject, and they tell me their families don’t read their books either. My family, including my oldest, never asks what I’m writing or even seems curious, and I don’t know why that is.