Sunday, February 28, 2021

~ MMGM WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH ~

~ MARVELOUS MIDDLE-GRADE
MONDAY WOMEN'S HISTORY
MONTH FEATURE, MARCH 2021 ~ 

Here are some links to some books featuring women which I have shared on my blog previously. Following this list is a link pack I curated for your reference of a wide variety of Women's History Month activities for children of all ages -- Kindergarten through 12th grade.

BIOGRAPHIES OF WOMEN:

 
 
 
 
NON-FICTION BOOKS ABOUT WOMEN:
 
 
 
 
RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS & PARENTS:

--Women's History Month 6 Lesson Plan Resources for Teachers:
 
--Top 15 Women's History Month Activities:
 
--Women's History Month - A Collection of Teaching Resources:


--Quick Ideas for Women's History Month:
 

https://www.scholastic.com/teachers/articles/teaching-content/quick-ideas-womens-history-month/ 

 
--17 Children's Books to Read to Your Kids in Honor of Women's History Month:
 
--Reading Rocket's Women's History Month Reading List:
 
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Find the links to read more great Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts from middle-grade authors and bloggers at Greg Pattridge's 'Always in the Middle' Blog.

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~ GREAT ESCAPES GONE ASTRAY ~

 ~ GREAT ESCAPES BLOG TOUR STOP ~
--  'GONE ASTRAY'  --
AUTHOR TERRY KORTH FISCHER
~Post Includes:  Book Spotlight, Author
Bio, Blog Tour Stop Giveaway + Tour Giveaway~
***NOTE: Find the Rafflecopter entry forms for
both giveaways toward the end of this post***
  

 

Gone Astray by Terry Korth Fischer

About Gone Astray

 
Gone Astray Mystery/Suspense  
Publisher: Wild Rose Press (February 15, 2021)  
Paperback: 300 pages ISBN-10: 1509235256  
ISBN-13: 978-1509235254 Digital ASIN: B08SQCWXBG
 
 

A heart attack sends detective Rory Naysmith reeling. Too young to retire, he accepts a position in small-town Winterset, Nebraska. Handed an unsolved truck hijacking case, with the assistance of a rookie, Rory sets out to prove he is still able to go toe-to-toe with younger men. When the body of a Vietnam veteran turns up, he dons his fedora and spit-shines his shoes. But before he can solve the murder, an older woman disappears, followed closely by a second hijacking. He doggedly works the cases, following a thread that ties the two crimes together. But can Rory find the mental and physical strength to up his game and bring the criminals to justice before disaster strikes and he loses his job?

About Terry Korth Fischer

                                                                

Terry Korth Fischer writes mystery and memoir. Her memoir, Omaha to Ogallala, was released in 2019, S&H Publishing, Inc. Her short stories have appeared in The Write Place at the Write Time, Spies & Heroes, Voices from the Plains, and numerous anthologies. Transplanted from the Midwest, Terry lives in Houston with her husband and their two guard cats. She enjoys a good mystery, the heat and humidity, and long summer days.

Author Links Website:https://terrykorthfischer.com Twitter:http://twitter.com/terryiswriting Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/TerryIsWriting Amazon Author Page:www.amazon.com/author/terrykorthfischer Goodreads:https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14349440.Terry_Korth_Fischer BLOG Website:https://www.terryiswriting.com 

Purchase Links - Amazon - B&N 

BLOG TOUR STOP GIVEAWAY ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

TOUR  GIVEAWAY ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway


 

TOUR PARTICIPANTS: 

March 1 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic - SPOTLIGHT, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY 
March 1 – Christy's Cozy Corners – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
March 1 – #BRVL Book Review Virginia Lee Blog – SPOTLIGHT
March 2 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
March 2 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 
March 3 – Here's How It Happened – CHARACTER INTERVIEW
March 3 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 
March 4 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST 
March 4 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 
March 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book - REVIEW March 5 – Books to the Ceiling – REVIEW 
March 5 – MJB Reviewers - SPOTLIGHT, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY 
March 6 – Literary Gold – SPOTLIGHT 
March 6 – I Read What You Write – GUEST POST 
March 6 – The Book Diva's Reads - SPOTLIGHT 
March 7 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT 
March 7 – Here's How It Happened – REVIEW 
March 8 – Author Elena Taylor's Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 
March 8 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT


Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?

Click Here to Find Details and Sign Up Today!

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Thursday, February 25, 2021

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~ FRIDAY FICTION FEATURE ~
--  'ABDUCTED IN ALASKA'  --
AUTHOR DARLENE L. TURNER
~Post Includes:  Book Spotlight +
Excerpt, Author Bio & Giveaway~

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Abducted in Alaska JustRead Blog Tour 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for the Abducted in Alaska by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Abducted in Alaska

Title: Abducted in Alaska
Author: Darlene L. Turner
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: March 1, 2021
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Protecting a child…
could cost them their lives. 

Saving a boy who has escaped his captors puts Canadian border patrol officer Hannah Morgan right into the path of a ruthless child-smuggling ring. Now with help from police constable Layke Jackson, she must keep the child safe. But can they rescue the other abducted children and bring down the gang…all while protecting a little boy and keeping themselves alive?
 
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EXCERPT: 

Layke stumbled on the uneven surface and turned back. The Suburban’s front tire slipped under water. He pointed. “Run! Get to the road!”

“Not without you,” Hannah yelled.

“Get Gabe to safety. Now!”

The frozen river continued to separate from the weight of the vehicle. He took a step back toward the road.

A chunk of ice broke apart beneath him and water gushed to the surface.

His legs weakened as his heartbeat exploded in his chest. A terror he’d never faced overtook his body just as the ice divided and plunged him into the arctic waters.

The last thing he heard was Hannah yell his name. Would he ever see her beautiful face again?

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Darlene Turner 

Darlene L. Turner’s love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message.

Darlene won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense twice and an ACFW Genesis award. She’s represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. Her debut book, Border Breach, released in April 2020 with Love Inspired Suspense. She has two books releasing in 2021: Abducted in Alaska (March) and Lethal Cover-Up (August). 

Darlene met her husband Jeff at the turtle races in Ontario, Canada. She loves flavored coffee and plaid shirts. You can connect with Darlene on her website where there’s suspense beyond borders

CONNECT WITH DARLENE: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a prize package including a Bible study book, swag, and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Abducted in Alaska JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 23, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 2, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

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Wednesday, February 24, 2021

~ JUSTREAD PUBLICITY THE IN-BETWEEN PLACE ~

 ~ JUSTREAD PUBLICITY TOURS
BLOG TOUR STOP ~
 --  'THE IN-BETWEEN PLACE'  --
AUTHOR KAT ARMSTRONG
~Post Includes:  Book Spotlight + Excerpt,
Author Bio & Giveaway~ 

The In-Between Place JustRead Blog Tour 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The In-Between Place by Kat Armstrong, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 

ABOUT THE BOOK

The In-Between Place

Title: The In-Between Place
Author: Kat Armstrong
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: January 5, 2021
Genre: Christian Life/Spiritual Growth

Jesus’ journey to the woman at the well in Samaria offers insights and hope for women today to make peace with the past, find hope in the present, and step into the future. 

God wants us to move toward the goodness He has planned for us. But what do we do when challenges stop our forward momentum? What’s the next step when we fall into a pit of despair with the determination knocked right out of us? 

On his way from Judea to Galilee, Jesus traveled through Samaria, a broken place everyone knew to avoid. In Samaria he stopped in Shechem, where evil had gained such a foothold of power that it eventually reigned. Yet the place once condemned as somewhere no one wanted to visit—let alone hang out in for a while—was the location of one Samaritan woman’s most hope-filled encounter with the Savior. 

The In-Between Place offers deeply important insights to anyone who feels stuck and can’t see a way forward. It is for the person who feels that if she looks left, her face will be scraped by an immovable boulder, and if she looks right, she’ll see nothing but hard to handle. It’s for the person who feels lost and is not sure she is worth the effort to be found, for the person who feels overlooked and unfulfilled. Because sometimes Jesus saves our greatest spiritual breakthroughs for our in-between places.
 
EXCERPT:

Twenty years as a Christian has taught me that following Jesus means abandoning our own way. If I’m honest, I don’t naturally like the fact that surrendering is required to follow in Jesus’ footsteps. But I have come to love it, even glory in it. Jesus had to show me how everything I was doing to survive was actually keeping me from living life to the fullest. He did the same thing with the woman at the well in John 4.

As Jesus’s conversation with the Samaritan woman progressed, he asked her to go and call her husband and come back with the man in tow. It was a request Jesus knew she couldn’t manage. Her response was truthful; she didn’t have a husband. Thanks to the historical context study of great Bible scholars, we see that her circumstances were not a result of rebelliousness. In fact, she was just trying to survive. Jesus affirmed her truth telling with this statement: “You’ve had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband” (v. 17). What I hope we will see together in this woman’s story is that none of us can thrive in life independently. And unless our survival techniques include surrendering to Jesus, we will hitch ourselves to people and provisions that won’t meet our deepest needs.

Taken from “The In-Between Place” by Kat Armstrong. Copyright 2020 by Kat Armstrong. Used with permission from Thomas Nelson.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | IndieBound | Christianbook | BookBub


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Kat Armstrong 

Kat Armstrong has been emboldening women to be all-in for Jesus for twenty years as a speaker, Bible teacher, author, and podcast host. As cofounder of The Polished Network, a nonprofit connecting and gathering professional women to navigate career and explore faith, her mission is to create holy curiosity.

Kat holds a master of Christian education from Dallas Theological Seminary. She and her husband, Aaron, have been married for eighteen years, and live in Dallas, Texas, with their son, Caleb. They attend Dallas Bible Church, where Aaron serves as the lead pastor. 

CONNECT WITH KAT: WebsiteFacebook | Instagram | Twitter

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a print copy of The In-Between Place and No More Holding Back!

The In-Between Place JustRead Giveaway

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 22, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 1, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE


Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

JustRead Publicity Tours 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

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~ REVELL READS A DANCE IN DONEGAL ~

~ REVELL READS BLOG TOUR STOP ~
--  'A DANCE IN DONEGAL'  --
AUTHOR JENNIFER DEIBEL
~Post Includes:  Book Spotlight + Link to Excerpt,
Author Bio, Book Trailer & Review~
 


 ABOUT THE BOOK:

"Jennifer Deibel's debut is rich in atmosphere, family mystery, and sweet romance. A gem!"--Julie Klassen, author of The Bridge to Belle Island

All her life, Boston-born Moira Doherty has relished her mother's descriptions of the Emerald Isle. When her mother dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1920, Moira is compelled to fulfill her dying wish--that she become the teacher in Ballymann, the beloved village in Donegal, Ireland, she's heard so much about.

After an arduous voyage, Moira begins a challenging new job in an unfamiliar and ancient country. Though a few locals offer a warm welcome, others are distanced by superstition and suspicion. Rumors about Moira's mother are unspoken in her presence but threaten to derail everything she's journeyed to Ballymann to do. Moira must rely on the kindness of a handful of friends--and the strength of Sean, an unsettlingly handsome thatcher who keeps popping up unannounced--as she seeks to navigate a life she'd never dreamed of . . . but perhaps was meant to live.

PRAISE FOR THIS BOOK:

"With an authenticity born of having lived in Ireland herself, the author deftly paints a lush landscape, colorful customs, and memorable characters with personal journeys of their own. This impressive debut marks Jennifer Deibel as an author to watch."--Jocelyn Green, Christy Award-winning author of Veiled in Smoke

"Fans of Catherine Marshall's Christy will want to clear room on their favorites shelf because this one's earned a place alongside!"--Kristy Cambron, bestselling author of The Paris Dressmaker and The Butterfly and the Violin

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher whose work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and others. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the lens of culture, history, and family. After nearly a decade of living in Ireland and Austria, she now lives in Arizona with her husband and their three children. You can find her online at www.jenniferdeibel.com.

LINK TO EXCERPT COURTESY OF THE PUBLISHER


 

 

REVIEW:
 
This story is set in Donegal County, Ireland, in 1920. At her late mother's heartfelt request, twenty-year-old American, Moira Doherty, has traveled to her mother's homeland to become the village of Ballymann's school teacher.
 
Her mother's unexpected death has left Moira feeling unsettled in her grief, anxious about her new life, and bewildered about why her mother recommended her for this job when Moira has never taught a day in her life.
 
Moira's arrival in Ballymann stirs up negative feelings in the townspeople; and for the most part, their reaction to the new schoolteacher is chilled, and in some cases downright chilling.
 
A mystery unravels when Moira questions why she is being shunned by the villagers who constantly compare her to her mother. References are made to her mother's lifestyle before she moved to America. Whispers, accusations, and suspicions grow in their intensity throughout the first half of the book or so. Finally, the questions are answered and untruths are unearthed and Moira finds peace about her mother's life in this small town.

There are some loving, kind, compassionate, faith-filled characters in this book whom I grew to admire and respect for their loving treatment of others. Colm, Peg, Sean, and Brid were great sources of support and encouragement to Moira when she needed it most. They became her family since her parents were both deceased.

The author did a fine job of describing the beautiful countryside of Donegal County and teaching readers about the customs, traditions, and lifestyle of the Irish in this time period.
 
The faith element in the story is strong at times, and I was touched by one quote from Brid when she was comforting Moira about an uncomfortable situation, "The Laird said to love and pray for our enemies. He didna say 'twould be easy."  (page 190)
 
There are a few instances of verbal and physical abuse aimed at Moira from three different men in the village. All of these incidents were worrisome. One event, in particular, was especially disturbing as it involved a brutal assault which I did not expect to read in a Christian historical romance.
 
Moira grew up fast in Ballymann. She learned a lot about God, herself, and human nature as time passed by. She found answers to her search for why her mother wanted her to live in Donegal County. More importantly, she found the true love of a good man.
 

 I received a paperback copy of this book from Baker Publishing Group through the Revell Reads blogger program. My opinions and comments are solely my own.
 
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Tuesday, February 23, 2021

~ GREAT ESCAPES SPRING UPON A CRIME ~

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Spring Upon a Crime (A Seattle Wilderness Mystery) by ML Erdahl

 

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About Spring Upon A Crime

 

Cozy Mystery 2nd in Series  
Publisher: Wild Rose Press (January 13, 2021)  
Paperback: 294 pages ISBN-10: 1509234608  
ISBN-13: 978-1509234608 Digital ASIN: B08P87F6J1

 

 

Wilderness guide Crystal Rainey leads a group of college students to a private campground amidst the awe-inspiring Olympic Rain Forest. The excursion is ruined when the charming hostess Roxie is discovered standing over the land owner's body, murder weapon in hand.

Enlisted to investigate the crime to absolve her friend, Crystal descends on the quiet city of Forks to find loggers, developers, and eco-protesters circling the property, intent on either exploiting or protecting the bastion of old-growth forest. The list of suspects is intimidating. Can Crystal find answers in a community determined to keep her in the dark?

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Excerpt

“That’s why we have to go after the guy. He took the dress. It’s the proof we need to get the police here. Not the local ones. Real policemen, who want to get to the bottom of this. Ones who will want to solve Olivia’s mur...” Crystal couldn’t finish the word. Choking back the pain, she continued. “I think I’m ready to go after him.” 

Sympathy radiated from Suzy’s tormented expression. “We can’t chase an armed murderer through the forest. You can barely stand.” 

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About ML Erdahl

Award-winning author ML Erdahl lives amidst the trees of the Pacific Northwest, where he pens humorous cozy mystery novels set in the wilderness he has spent his lifetime exploring. The only thing slowing him down is when his adorable rescue dogs, Skip and Daisy, demand to be pet and cuddled on his lap while he types. When he's not working away in front of a computer, you can find him gardening, hiking, or grumbling to his wife, Emily, about the perpetual Northwest winter rain that prevents him from going outside.

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How to Find Writing Inspiration

Much like every other fellow writer I’ve spoken with, I’ve been inspired by authors I’ve read over the years. I wanted to be the writer who made people laugh, imagine, wonder, and say “I didn’t see that coming!” Over the years, I’ve dabbled in short stories for myself and friends, and started at least three novels that never passed twenty pages.

However, I decided to get serious about the craft of writing when I was inspired by an idea that my wife had. We decided to do a genre swap, and while I had always been partial to fantasy novels, she typically read mysteries. She picked books by Janet Evanovich and Isis Crawford for me. I was captured by the light-heartedness of the stories, and quickly lost myself in solving the mysteries with Stephanie Plum and the Simmons sisters. My own story began percolating in my brain, until one day I put pen to paper. I didn’t stop until I’d written, “The End.”

That’s how I was inspired to begin writing, but another type of inspiration is what goes into the story itself. I followed the old adage, “write what you know.” I grew up in the Pacific Northwest, and spent my formative years hiking and camping in the surrounding pristine forests. I spent two summers working in the Olympic National Park, clearing the forest roads, and living in a tent. Those memories found their way into my novel and soon Crystal Rainey was guiding guests into the wilderness for Emerald City Outfitters.

When I need to be inspired for a book, it’s an easy solution. I head out into the wilds. For example, in my first book, “Winter Takes All,” I strapped on a pair of snowshoes to immerse myself in the experience. I made conscious notes of not only the mechanics of snowshoeing, but the crispness of the air, the sound of snow packing underneath my steps, and the serenity that comes from losing oneself in the silence of a winter forest. For my short story, “A Climb to Kill,” I took classes on rock climbing, memorizing all of the equipment and knots. For my upcoming third book, “Summer Assault,” I hit the the rivers for white-water rafting. As you can imagine, this is a sublime way to inspire my writing.

You also can’t discount the inspiration of one’s own imagination. When I’m not actively writing, I’m often pondering the direction of the story, red herrings to drop, plot twists I want to incorporate, and even bits of dialogue. I pull this from whatever part of the brain imagination comes from. In my opinion, this is the most vulnerable source to pull inspiration from, since it is all based on whatever stray thoughts come forth from the recesses of my psyche, but it is invariably the most rewarding when I develop it properly.

My advice to every person who has a story in them is to imagine the pivotal scenes come to life, sink into your setting by immersing yourself, and pick up a pen.

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Author Links:

Website Facebook Instagram Twitter Goodreads Bookbub  

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Purchase Links:   

Amazon Barnes and Noble Apple Books Kobo Google Play  

Book 1 in this Series:  


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a Rafflecopter giveaway 

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TOUR PARTICIPANTS:
February 22 – I'm All About Books – SPOTLIGHT 
February 22 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW  
February 22 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST  
February 23 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW  
February 23 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT  
February 23 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW 
February 23 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT  
February 24 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – GUEST POST  
February 24 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW  
February 24 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW  
February 24 – The Ninja Librarian – REVIEW, CHARACTER INTERVIEW  
February 25 – Literary Gold – REVIEW  
February 25 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW 
February 25 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT  
February 26 – I Read What You Write - SPOTLIGHT  
February 26 – Novels Alive – REVIEW  
February 26 – Here's How It Happened – SPOTLIGHT  
February 27 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW, GUEST POST  
February 27 – Brooke Blogs – CHARACTER GUEST POST 
February 27 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT  
February 28 – A Blue Million Books – AUTHOR INTERVIEW  
February 28 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT    
 
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?  
 
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~ NEW SEWING PATTERN FABRIC FLOWER TOWELS ~

~ NEW SEWING PATTERN FABRIC FLOWER TOWELS ~