Tag: NoelleGranger

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

 

Books That Changed Me: 2025 Fall Edition! #JanSikes #NoelleAGranger #PTLPerrin #DawnPasturino#writingcommunity #mustreads

Welcome to the Books That Changed Me: 2025 Fall Edition! You’ve seen these books before with my review, but today I’m bringing them back with their blurb because good reads deserve attention. This time was hard to pick, I’ve been reading a great group of books that linger.

So, grab a cup of pumpkin latte, coffee, or tea with a nice slice of apple pie and settle down in the changing colors and read a great book this fall.

Daniel Boone and Me

By Noelle A Granger

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When the two Corey children are orphaned in an Indian attack on the frontier of Kentucky, Daniel Boone tracks their escape through the woods and brings them to his home in Fort Boonesborough. There they will live with him, his wife Rebecca, and their eight children in their crowded cabin, where she and her brother Thatch learn much about Colonel Boone and why he is regarded as one of the greatest frontier explorers and hunters. Eliza is soon immersed in the hard life of a frontier woman – doing the many household chores, working gardens and crops, foraging for food in the woods, and hunting. After surviving a pivotal historic event in the Revolutionary War – the siege of Boonesborough, Eliza’s own story is integrated into the remainder of Daniel Boone’s life, his constant uprooting of his family to unexplored areas, his failed business ventures, and his growing fame.
This is a tale of life’s challenges in frontier Kentucky, Eliza’s grit and determination in meeting them, and above all, high adventure. It offers a deep look into the long and amazing life of Daniel Boone through the eyes of a young girl.

A Bold Bargain (The Bargainer Series Book 3) 

by Jan Sikes

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A Young Man With the Heart of a Wolf

Eighteen-year-old Jack Barlow Blaine is driven by unwavering compassion for all, and a thirst for knowledge. Born into poverty and haunted by a violent past, he’s determined to escape his history by helping others—whether human or animal, no matter the cost.

But when Jack discovers an elderly woman in crisis, he faces a choice that challenges everything he thinks he knows about living and dying. The bargain she offers promises a better future, if the price isn’t higher than he’s capable of paying.

As Jack grapples with his decision, he must summon the courage to honor their bargain if he accepts her offer.
How far is he willing to go to keep his word?

The greatest acts of kindness are the ones that demand the most from us—and every decision can unlock destiny’s doors.

Sanctum: Dragon Guild Book 1

By P.T.L. Perrin

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Two worlds separated by time and space, a frantic search, a powerful enemy, and a baby dragon… At sixteen, Gabri’s life is complicated.

When a nightmarish vision rips Gabri O’Connell from her home and family, she wakes up powerless in a freezing tower on a hostile planet.

Saved by a dragon and brought to Sanctum inside the planet, her rescuers don’t want her there.

Will a baby dragon be the key to her survival? Will Gabri ever see her family again?

Get your copy of SANCTUM today.
Literary Titan Book Award Winner

TEEN TO ADULT FANTASY ADVENTURE

Ancient Voices: Poems About Ancient Egypt

By Dawn Pisturino

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The Ancient Egyptians loved life and celebrated it with joy. Their deepest desire was to live an honorable life and achieve immortality in the afterlife, where they could exist in perfect harmony with the cosmic order and never experience pain, suffering, and hardship again. These original poems by Dawn Pisturino reflect the hopes and dreams of people who were not much different from us. They worked, loved, raised families, worshipped their gods, honored the dead, enjoyed festivals and celebrations, imbibed beer and wine, danced, sang, and played, aspired to better themselves, and appreciated the beauty and wonder of nature. Take a journey back in time to explore the minds and hearts of the Ancient Egyptians

NOTE: Two days until Miracles & Ghosts Past release, and John Howell is kicking off the blog tour on Wednesday. So there will be no Tuesday post tomorrow, but I will be posting the links here for the tour stops.

Embrace that inner child by reading a fantastic book this fall! D. L. Finn (Denise)

Books That Changed Me: 2024 Fall Edition! @Sandra_Cox @RobertaEaton17 @YvetteMCalleiro #writingcommunity #mustreadbook #whattoread

Happy belated Fall! (—or Spring!)

It’s back my favorite time of year! The leaves are changing into yellows and reds while the nights are getting cooler. Summer is still trying to hang on but Fall is pushing its way in. I’ve been baking pumpkin and banana bread and thinking about an apple cobbler. My Halloween decorations are up and I’m ready for this season’s walk in the woods.

Another fun autumn thing to do is read a good book. You’ve seen these books reviewed on my blog, but they deserve another look. I’ve included their blurb and link. Happy fall reading.

The Last Pilgrim 

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This book captures and celebrates the grit and struggle of the Pilgrim women who stepped off the Mayflower in the winter of 1620 to an unknown world – one filled with hardship, danger and death. The Plymouth Colony would not have survived without them.
Mary Allerton Cushman was the last surviving passenger of the Mayflower, dying at age 88 in 1699.
Mary’s life is set against the real background of that time. The Last Pilgrim begins from her father’s point of view – she was, after all, only four when she descended into the cramped and dank living space below deck on the Mayflower – but gradually assumes Mary’s voice, as the colony achieves a foothold in the New England’s rocky soil.
What was a woman’s life like in the Plymouth Colony? The Last Pilgrim will tell you.

Mateo’s Woman 

by Sandra Cox 
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Delilah is dead.
With her demise, everyone should be safe, but something insidious is happening to Mateo’s town and to the woman he loves. People are dying and Blair is changing, taking on mannerisms that are clearly not her own. Becoming a danger to herself and others. He has no idea what is happening to the town’s people but he has an inkling of what is happening to Blair and what he’s thinking just isn’t possible. But whether it’s possible or not, he has to pry Blair from the evil that’s sunk its fangs into her. Now it’s a race against time to save the woman he loves and get to the bottom of who is killing Grizzly’s citizenry. And if that’s not enough of a challenge for the shapeshifting sheriff, his future mother-in-law has come for a visit.
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A collection of short paranormal and dark stories.
Includes the award-winning short story, The Bite.A group of boys participate in a reality television challenge; to the death.What does it mean to be a Canary Girl? One young woman is about to find out.Where is the bride? A beautiful young woman goes missing during a game of hide and seek on her wedding day.Some stories will make you cry, some will make you gasp, and some will leave you believing in vigilante justice. All will end with a grave.

And a powerful short story:
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JT pulled the short end of the stick when he was given his life’s journey. With a convicted felon as a dad and a drunk as a mom, there weren’t many positive influences in his life. When his mom’s boyfriend began sharing his marijuana with JT, his father fought for custody and won.
Life on his dad’s farm was simpler. JT started turning his life around until one tragic event sent him spiraling again. All choices have consequences. For JT, those choices left him staring down the barrel of a gun. Could JT rise above his circumstances, or would karma have its way with him?
Embrace your inner fall child, read a good book! D. L. Finn

July Book Reviews! @teagangeneviene #writingcommunity #mustread #readersoftwitter #bookreviews #readersoffacebook

Here are the books I read in June that were four stars and higher. Click on the book titles for an Amazon link.

The Rabbit Hole: A Short Story

By Teagan Ríordáin Geneviene

“The Rabbit Hole” is a fresh adaptation of “Alice in Wonderland.” Liddie is in a strange place but finds guidance through her friends, Catty, and Loco Hatley. A special tea helps her clear her head as they go out into this reality. I was a big fan of not only Liddie but Catty and Loco too. Although a fast read, it doesn’t feel incomplete. It’s a fantastic take on a classic with a modern twist. I can easily recommend this well-written story!

Lunar Gazing Haiku

By Dawn Pisturino

“Lunar Gazing Haiku” is a collection of 62 haiku poems that cover subjects including season, moon gazing, supernatural, and emotions. While I enjoyed all the poems, there are a couple that stood out to me, such as: “Passion burns, hurts, scars/The tender flesh of my heart/Feeling life again.”—Passion, “leaves rustle in the trees/withered gold-brown-red treasures/blowing far away.”—Leaves, “Words sprinkle across/The paper like fairy dust/Shining with magic.”—Words, and “Monsters lurk in dark/Corners where nightmares come true/Frightened children scream.”—Monsters. This chapbook is meant for endless reading. If you’re a fan of poetry, I can easily recommend this to you.

The Last Pilgrim

By Noelle A. Granger

“The Last Pilgrim” is an amazingly detailed and well-written story focused on Mary Allerton Cushman’s life. Four-year-old Mary and her family were on the Mayflower, wanting to start a new life with the freedom to practice their religion. They squeezed together below deck with many other families, enduring limited food, water, and no hygiene. The boat faced various obstacles, such as sickness and scurvy, but upon reaching land and finding a suitable place, the survivors had to hastily construct a shelter for the cold winter. They were a hardy group who not only pulled together to accomplish their survival, but I found it captivating how they pieced together a group of people with a dream of a better life into a functioning society. What caught my attention was the strong women with limited voice or rights. They were equal in the colony’s success as the men and, at times, surpassed them. Some medical treatments and punishments given to lawbreakers made me cringe. Mary’s daily life and the surrounding people were as fascinating as the politics and religion. Although a long read, I didn’t even notice because I was so drawn in. I can highly recommend this historical fiction!

“Telling Sonny” is a heartfelt story set in the 1920s. Faby is a bored small-town girl who catches the eye of a vaudeville performer, Slim White. They enjoy each other’s company for the week the show performs there. Despite things going too far on the last night, Faby moves on as he promises to stay in touch. He doesn’t, and she finds herself in trouble. Although Faby finds him, and he does the right thing. Now, Faby is married to a stranger and they are currently traveling together. The attention to detail pulled me deep into this drama. Faby is relatable, and I was rooting for her. Even though the book starts with an older Faby having to relay unwelcome news, the story goes back and relives her life up to that point. I couldn’t stop hoping she would find happiness on her journey, but it quickly became clear that Faby was just along for the ride as she explored new places. An exceptionally written coming-of-age, historical fiction, that I wholeheartedly recommend.
Congrats to my Blog Tour Winners: $10 Amazon Gift Card goes to Jan on day 3 (John W Howell’s Fiction Favorites) and $5 Amazon Gift Card goes to Debra on day 4 (Jacqui Murray’s Word Dreams)!
Thank you to all who stopped by and offered your support on the tour 🙂
Read a good book and embrace your inner child, D. L. Finn