The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart (A Proper Romance) by Nancy Campbell Allen-Book Review

 Product Details

• Title: The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart (Proper Romance)
• Author: Nancy Campbell Allen
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shadow Mountain (September 7, 2021)
• Genre: Victorian Romance
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 336 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1629729272

• ***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own***

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Book Summary

A romance develops as a detective partners with a lonely-hearts columnist to solve a murder mystery.

London, 1885

Amelie Hampton is a hopeless romantic, which makes her the perfect columnist to answer lonely heart letters in The Marriage Gazette. When Amelie plays matchmaker with two anonymous lonely hearts, she also decides to secretly observe the couple’s blind date. To her surprise, the man who appears for the rendezvous is Harold Radcliffe—a grieving widower and a member of Amelie’s book club.

Police detective Michael Baker has been struggling ever since his best friend and brother-in-law died in the line of fire. Because he knows the dangers of his job, he has vowed never to marry and subject a wife and family to the uncertainty of his profession. But when he meets Miss Hampton, he is captured by her innocence, beauty, and her quick mind.

When a woman’s body is pulled from the river, Michael suspects the woman’s husband—Harold Radcliffe—of foul play. Amelie refuses to believe that Harold is capable of such violence but agrees to help, imagining it will be like one of her favorite mystery novels. Her social connections and clever observations prove an asset to the case, and Amelie is determined to prove Mr. Radcliffe’s innocence. But the more time Amelie and Michael spend together, the more they trust each other, and the more they realize they are a good team, maybe the perfect match.

They also realize that Mr. Radcliffe is hiding more than one secret, and when his attention turns toward Amelie, Michael knows he must put an end to this case before the woman he loves comes to harm.

My Review

This new Proper Romance is different from Nancy Campbell Allen's recent Steampunk novels. The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart is set in Victorian times and is more murder mystery than romance. There is a sweet romance that eventually happens but I absolutely loved figuring out the mystery along with the characters. 

Speaking of characters, I loved the three female cousins who were there for each other through thick and thin. Amelie is a "modern" lady who not only writes columns for a newspaper but she does a little matchmaking. It is on one of her matchmaking adventures that she runs into Detective Michael Baker. Right from the start sparks fly between these two as they often are butting heads. They find out how well they work together as they piece together how Mrs. Radcliffe died. They also find out how they go together in other ways too. 

The dialogue is fun, the mystery keeps the plot moving at a fast pace, and the characters develop and unfold in very satisfying ways. I enjoyed this novel so much I read it in one day. I can't wait to see whose story will be next, Charlotte or Eva. The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart was a rather pleasant surprise.  

Meet Author Nancy Campbell Allen

NANCY CAMPBELL ALLEN is the award-winning author of eighteen published novels and several novellas, which encompass a variety of genres, ranging from contemporary romantic suspense to historical fiction. Her most recent books, which include Regency, Victorian, and steampunk romance, are published under Shadow Mountain’s Proper Romance brand, and the What Happens in Venice novella series is part of the Timeless Romance Anthology collection published by Mirror Press. 

She has presented at numerous conferences and events since her initial publication in 1999. Nancy loves to read, write, travel, and research, and enjoys spending time with family and friends. She nurtures a current obsession for true crime podcasts and is a news junkie. She and her husband have three children, and she lives in Ogden, Utah, with her family, one very large Siberian Husky named Thor, and an obnoxious but endearing YorkiePoo named Freya. 

For author interview requests, please contact Callie Hansen at chansen@shadowmountain.com

***Purchase The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart***

HERE: https://amzn.to/3kL4qfp

Advance Praise: 

“Allen pairs a matchmaker and a detective in this charming Victorian romance. Allen expertly combines mystery and romance into a fast-paced tale complete with plenty of surprises and a central relationship founded on mutual admiration and respect. Readers are sure to appreciate the strong, well-shaded heroine and twisty plot.” —Publishers Weekly 

“Allen's chaste tale of Victorian romantic suspense will also appeal to historical mystery readers, and it would be great for mother-and-daughter reads. This has great appeal for teens who like historical fiction laced with mystery and romance.” —Booklist

 “Michael and Amelie's slow-burning romances combines well with the fast-paced tale of surprise, death, and heart. The core of the story is their relationship; it builds from a place of admiration and respect, and eschews any forced obstacles to being together. Amelie is a nuanced heroine who is both naïve and fierce as she gathers her knowledge of fictional crimes and joins Michael in his off-duty undercover work. And the endearing secondary cast of friends and coworkers results in humor and warmth; they support Amelie's headstrong nature and Michael's softening heart. Charming...combines a Victorian murder mystery with an endearing romance between two souls.” —Foreword Reviews

The Slow March Of Light: Inspired By A True Story by Heather B. Moore-Book Review & ***Videos Showcasing Hero Bob Inama***

 

Product Details

• Title: The Slow March Of Light
• Author: Heather B. Moore
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shadow Mountain (September 7, 2021)
• Genre: Historical Fiction
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1629729280

***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own***

Book Summary

Based on a true story. Inspired by real events.

A riveting and emotionally-gripping novel of an American soldier working as a spy in Soviet-occupied East Germany and a West German woman secretly helping her countrymen escape from behind the Berlin Wall. 

In the summer of 1961, a wall of barbed wire goes up quickly in the dead of night, officially dividing Berlin. Luisa Voigt lives in West Berlin, but her grandmother lives across the border and is now trapped inside the newly- isolated communist country of East Germany. Desperate to rescue her grandmother and aware of the many others whose families have been divided, Luisa joins a secret spy network, risking her life to help bring others through a makeshift, underground tunnel to West Germany. Their work is dangerous and not everyone will successfully escape or live to see freedom. 

Bob Inama was an outstanding university student, with plans to attend law school when he is drafted into the US Army. Stationed in West Germany, he is glad to be fluent in German, especially after meeting Luisa Voigt at a church social. As they spend time together, they form a close connection. But when Bob receives classified orders to leave for undercover work immediately, he does not get the chance to say goodbye.

With a fake identity, Bob's special assignment is to be a spy embedded in East Germany. His undercover job will give him access to government sites to map out strategic military targets. But Soviet and East German spies, the secret police, and Stasi informants are everywhere, and eventually Bob is caught and sent to a brutal East German prison. Interrogated and tortured daily, Bob clings to any hope he can find from the sunlight that marches across the wall of his prison to the one guard who secretly treats him with kindness to the thought of one day seeing Luisa again.

Author Heather B. Moore masterfully alternates the stories of Bob and Luisa, capturing the human drama unique to Cold War Germany as well as the courage and the resilience of the human spirit.

My Review

The Slow March of Light is a historical fiction based on true events and a true-life hero. Bob Inama's story is told brilliantly and with much heart as the events of the beginning of the Cold War ravaged East Germany. This is a part of history that I haven't read as much about as other periods. It was highly fascinating for me to read how The Berlin Wall came about. It was also horrifying to know what life was like for so many people living there.

The story is told from two perspectives, Bob a real-life American soldier, and Luisa, a fictional young lady from West Germany. I loved seeing the story from the two characters and their experiences. Bob eventually is taken as a POW and Luisa becomes involved in underground groups to help people escape from East Berlin. There were many moments to think about how this all came about after WWII ended. Could things have been done differently? 

I loved the strength, faith, and hope of Bob Inama while in prison. What a perfect example of endurance and living through trials. I also loved the last chapter of the book that took place many years later. There is something that happened that made me cry. It made all of Bob's pains, sorrow's and lost dreams seem worthwhile to him. Author Heather Moore had the privilege of spending time with Bob before she wrote the story. He did get to read a rough draft of this novel before he passed away in August of 2021 at the age of 86.

Moore writes such remarkable books bringing characters and situations to life so effortlessly. She has harmoniously melded the fiction and real-life events and created a masterful story that will educate and move any reader. 

***Videos Showcasing Hero Bob Inama***

          The Inspiration Behind THE SLOW MARCH OF LIGHT

The Making of a Spy

Surviving Prison in the Cold War

To Read more about Bob Inama and his real life

experiences, Heather Moore wrote a compelling article in The Deseret News about him. BUT don't read this until you've read the novel. It will spoil many things!!

 My favorite quote from the article is this:

 

"There might have been some things that Bob Inama had to forget. Yet there were many things he didn’t forget. He didn’t forget how to make the best of a horrible experience. He didn’t forget how to pray, how to fast, how to sing, how to love his enemy and treat his fellow man with Christ-like love, whether he or she was East German, Soviet or Stasi. Bob loved with his whole heart. And he accepted many calls during his life to serve others — no matter the cost."

After you've read the novel: 

Go read the article HERE

https://www.deseret.com/faith/2021/8/29/22646649/bob-inama-the-heroic-untold-story-of-the-latter-day-saint-spy-from-idaho-east-germany-cold-war

Meet Author Heather B. Moore

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than a dozen historical novels and thrillers, written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt, the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Utah.

Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore.com/contact/
Blog: MyWritersLair.blogspot.com
Website: HBMoore.com
Twitter: @heatherbmoore
Instagram: @authorhbmoore
Facebook: Fans of Heather B. Moore

Literary awards: 2019 Maggie Award Winner, ALA Best New Books - September 2020, 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 4-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner     

Purchase Your Copy of

The Slow March of Light HERE:

https://amzn.to/3wVdW1W

Between the Lines Podcast: For Readers and Writers-My New Favorite Podcast! Hosts Traci Hunter Abramson, Sarah M. Eden, Sian Ann Bessey and Esther Hatch

 

Between The Lines Podcast is presented by award-winning fiction authors: Sarah M. Eden, Traci Hunter Abramson, Esther Hatch & Sian Ann Bessey.Between The Lines: The Inside Scoop for Adoring Fans and Aspiring Authors. Available on all podcast platforms.

The podcast started this summer and I've been hooked ever since. Now, I already loved all of these ladies because they write some really GREAT  books! 

There is such wonderful synergy created by these authors you can't help be totally pulled in to whatever they are discussing that day. 

***Here are some of their already completed ***

podcasts that you can still listen to

Jul 14, 2021

Introduction

Welcome to Between the Lines!

Jul 28, 2021

The Journey Into Writing

Sarah M. Eden leads the conversation to the how's and why's of the Between the Lines authors journey into the writing world.

Aug 11, 2021

We Write to Entertain

Many authors feel called to write. Why is this job of "creating" so important, and what part do authors play in filling the niche in the entertainment market for readers? Discussion led by Esther Hatch

Aug 25, 2021

Research, More Research!

From boarding a plane to take a research trip on location, to the Google search - which works best for you? Traci Hunter Abramson likes to "breathe the same air" as her characters, listen in as we discover how each of our Between the Lines hosts tackle the necessary part of writing, research. 

 

Sep 9, 2021

Friends First

The author life can sometimes (most of the time) be a solitary life. However, strong bonds and connections are made between authors-and today we'll share with you how the four of us became friends. Discussion led by Sian Ann Bessey. 

 

I'm excited that I will be highlighting each of these authors in the next few weeks for you to get to know them and their books. 

Sign up to follow and listen to the 

Between the Lines Podcast 

HERE:

Between the Lines - iHeart Radio

Between the Lines - Google

Between the Lines - Amazon Music

Between the Lines Podcast - Apple

Between the Lines Podcast - Spotify

Follow Between the Lines Podcast

here on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/BetweentheLinesPodcast.WR/photos/a.130476899212685/130476872546021

Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny By Frank L. Cole-Middle Grade Fantasy Book Review, Book Trailer and Author Interview

 

Product Details

• Title:Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny 
• Author: Frank L. Cole
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shadow Mountain (August 3, 2021)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 304 pages
• Genre: Middle Grade Fantasy/Children's Fiction
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1629728500
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1629728506
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 9 - 12 years

• ***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own***

Book Summary

Lucas Silver's life is about to change. He thinks it’s because he's made plans to escape from his foster home and make his way to New York, but then he and his friend Miles and two girls they're acquainted with―Jasmine and Vanessa―find Hob and Bogie's Curiosity Shoppe and agree to play a game of Champion's Quest.

When the four kids walk out the front door of the Curiosity Shoppe, they immediately discover they’re no longer in West Virginia, but transported into the game and a wild fantasy world of dangerous goblins, brutish ogres, and a powerful witch.

They must work together as a team, overcome their real-world weaknesses, and believe in themselves and each other if they are to outwit, outplay, and survive their foes in this ultimate quest to defeat a treacherous monster.

Book Trailer For Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny

My Review

What a wild adventure Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny turned out to be. From the moment I started reading this I knew that Author Frank Cole had written another Middle-Grade Fantasy series that kids will love. The story takes place at first in our real world and then the teens find themselves in a video, role-playing game. It was so much fun! I kept thinking how kids are going to eat this up. I'm sure they'll understand a lot more about the gaming things than I did. When I first heard about the book I remember it being described as "Dungeons & Dragons meets Jumanji". That's a perfect description!

Most of the main characters are kids whose lives have not been normal. Lucas and Miles have been in the Foster-Care system for many years, new girl Jasmine now lives with her Grandmother, and snotty, "older sister" Vanessa is where Lucas and Miles live currently. This odd mixture of kids learn many lessons as they go through the game to accomplish a goal working together to finish the game. Each teen learns about their strengths and weaknesses and learning to believe in themselves. There is great action meeting & fighting trolls, witches, orcs, goblins, and chimeras. You get the picture. The world building is good and hopefully we'll get a deeper look into each character's personalities and problems in the next book.

I can't wait for Book #2! I know that Middle-Grade readers are going to absolutely love Champion's Quest: The Die of Destiny.

Meet Author Frank L. Cole

Frank L. Cole was born into a family of southern storytellers and wrote his first book at age eight. Sadly, he misplaced the manuscript and has since forgotten what he wrote. Highly superstitious and gullible to a fault, Frank will believe in any creepy story you tell him, especially ones involving ghosts and Big Foot. Frank L. Cole lives with his wife and three children in the Rocky Mountain West. When he’s not writing books, he’s selling them as a bookstore manager. Frank is the author of ten books and has visited more than 120 schools, where he promotes reading and using your imagination. His philosophy is “With a good imagination, you can solve any problem you ever come up against in life.” You can learn more about Frank's writing at frankcolewrites.com   

 Watch an Interview with Author Frank Cole  

 

For author interview requests, please contact Callie Hansen at chansen@shadowmountain.com

                                            

***Purchase Champion's Quest HERE:***

https://amzn.to/3rpd4RR

Brides & Brothers By Anneka R. Walker-Blog Tour Review and Giveaway

Product Details

• Title: Brides & Brothers
• Author: Anneka R. Walker
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Covenant Communications, Inc. (September 1, 2021)
• Genre:
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1524409197

• ***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own***

Book Summary

A modern retelling of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.

Camille Kelly is in real danger of becoming an old maid—at least by Cherish, Montana, standards. She has all but given up on finding Mr. Right—until her broken laptop leads her to Aiden Peterson, a tall, dark, and handsome computer genius. Camille would never have believed her magic moment was right around the corner, but after two whirlwind weeks, she has a ring on her finger and has happily ever after in sight. However, she soon discovers Aiden is part of a daunting package deal . . .

As the eldest of seven brothers, Aiden has never had a problem living under the same roof as his rambunctious siblings. When he falls for Camille, he is confident she'll fit right into his family's already bursting home. He thought wrong. Aiden and Camille's storybook romance comes to a screeching halt when she discovers her new living situation. Not willing to submit to a life mothering a bunch of grown men, Camille has only one option: she embarks on a campaign to improve her new brothers-in-law and marry them off. And what better candidates for wives than her own best friends?

My Review

One of my favorite musicals growing up was Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. We watched it many times as a family and memorized all of the songs. I jumped at the chance to read this modern retelling of the musical. I have to say that I loved it and Author Anneka Walker did a great job with the story. I caught all of the similarities with the original and also loved the original pieces she wrote too.

The main characters Camille and Aiden "fall in love" fast and they both have other reasons to get married. Once they're married and Camille finds out she has many brothers-in-law living with them, the fun and the chaos start. It was nice to get to know each brother and then see how Camille wanted to match each of them up with her friends. There are many humorous things that happen along the way. The more serious side of the story comes out too as we learn more about Camille and Aiden's background and the trials they've lived through. It helps the reader to understand so much more about the conflict that arises between Camille and Aiden.

Overall, this is a wonderful, fast read that romance readers will love. Those like me that love the musical, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, will especially love this enjoyable tale of finding love, working through differences, and finding a happy ever after. 

***First Two Chapter Excerpts from Brides & Brothers***

Go to Amazon to read the first two chapters

from the novel:

Brides & Brothers

Here is the Amazon link  https://a.co/8rbj0bK

Meet Author Anneka R. Walker

Anneka Walker was raised by a librarian and an English teacher turned judge. After being fed a steady diet of books, she decided to learn about writing. The result was a bachelor's degree in English and History. When she isn't dreaming up a happy ending for a story, she's busy living her own together with her husband and adorable children.

Learn more about Anneka and her books

HERE:https://www.annekawalker.com/

Purchase Your Own Copy 

HERE: https://amzn.to/38JB9Ku

**Enter the Giveaway to Win a Copy of Brides & Brothers**

                                                  a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Slow March of Light By Heather B. Moore-Super Launch Bundle Available & Release Week E-book Sale: September 6-11th ONLY!!

 Purchase the Launch Bundle from Publisher: https://shadowmountain.com/slowmarch/ 

***Review Coming Soon!!!!!!!***

Book Summary

Sometimes all you have is hope.

In the summer of 1961, a wall of barbed wire goes up quickly in the dead of night, officially dividing Berlin. Aware of the many whose families have been divided, Luisa joins a secret spy network, risking her life to help East Germans escape across the Berlin Wall and into the West.

Bob Inama, a soldier in the US Army, is stationed in West Germany. He’s glad to be fluent in German, especially after meeting Luisa Voigt at a church social. As they spend time together, they form a close connection. But when Bob receives classified orders to leave for undercover work immediately, he doesn’t get the chance to say goodbye.

With a fake identity, Bob’s special assignment is to be a spy embedded in East Germany, identifying possible targets for the US military. But Soviet and East German spies, the secret police, and Stasi informants are everywhere, and the danger of being caught and sent to a brutal East German prison lurks on every corner.

Best-selling author Heather B. Moore masterfully alternates the stories of Bob and Luisa, capturing the human drama unique to Cold War Germany was well as the courage and the resilience of the human spirit.

***Videos Showcasing Hero Bob Inama***

The Making of a Spy

Surviving Prison in the Cold War

                                        Amazon Kindle: https://amzn.to/2VTS4H4  

Barnes & Noble  Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-slow-march-of-light-heather-b-moore/1138815940 

Meet Author Heather B. Moore

Heather B. Moore is a USA Today bestselling author of more than seventy publications. Her historical novels and thrillers are written under pen name H.B. Moore. She writes women's fiction, romance and inspirational non-fiction under Heather B. Moore. This can all be confusing, so her kids just call her Mom. Heather attended Cairo American College in Egypt, the Anglican School of Jerusalem in Israel, and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Brigham Young University in Utah. Heather is represented by Dystel, Goderich, and Bourret.

Please join Heather's email list at: HBMoore.com/contact/
Blog: MyWritersLair.blogspot.com
Website: HBMoore.com
Twitter: @heatherbmoore
Instagram: @authorhbmoore
Facebook: Fans of Heather B. Moore

Literary awards: 2019 Maggie Award Winner, ALA Best New Books - September 2020, 6-time Best of State Recipient for Best in Literary Arts, 4-time Whitney Award Winner, and 2-time Golden Quill Award Winner