#HFVB Blog Tour Distant Sgns by Ann Richter review +GIVEAWAY

Distant Signs by Anne Richter

Publication Date: November 7, 2019
Neem Tree Press
Hardcover; 240 Pages

Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Saga

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Synopsis

Distant Signs is an intimate portrait of two families spanning three generations amidst turbulent political change, behind and beyond the Berlin Wall. In 1960s East Germany, Margret, a professor's daughter from the city, meets and marries Hans, from a small village in Thuringia. The couple struggle to contend with their different backgrounds, and the emotional scars they bear from childhood in the aftermath of war.

 As East German history gradually unravels, with collision of the personal and political, their two families' hidden truths are quietly revealed. An exquisitely written novel with strongly etched characters that stay with you long after the book is finished and an authentic portrayal of family life behind the iron curtain based on personal experience of the author who is East German and was 16 years old at the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Why do families repeat destructive patterns of behaviour across generations? Should the personal take precedence over the political? Can we rise above our histories and political identities to forge a new understanding of the past and to welcome change?

Available on Amazon

My thoughts:

Distant Signs is an artfully written novel that looks into the lives of two families, three generations spanning from 1965 to 1992 and the effects of WWII.  It's an interesting read but a slow moving one, which I liked.  I'm a fan of historical fiction and usually read a novel of this genre in a few days, not so with this one.  This reader needed to spend extra time with the characters so I went bask and read several passages a few times.

Margaret and Hans are the main protagonists who have differing views which held my interest throughout. I enjoy reading about family dynamics although this is different from what I normally read, I found the  plot held my interest throughout.  The post war, the fall of the Berlin wall and the finely crafted characters made this a very enjoyable read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through  HFVB Tours.  All opinions are my own.


About the author

Anne Richter was born in 1973 in Jena, in the former German Democratic Republic. Her degree in Romance languages and English included study periods in England, Italy and France. In 2011, Anne was nominated for the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize, a highly regarded German-language literary award. Her debut novel, Distant Signs, was published in Germany in 2013. Anne is currently writing her second novel.

Douglas Irving is Scottish. He studied German and Spanish at Aberdeen University. In 2014 he completed a Masters in Translation at Glasgow University. His first translation, Crossing: A Love Story by Anna Seghers was published in 2016 in the US to positive reviews. His translation of Anna Seghers’ last work published in her lifetime, Three Women from Haiti, is set to follow.

Blog Tour Schedule

Thursday, November 7

Review at Broken Teepee

Review at Comet Readings

Friday, November 8

Review at Book Geek

Sunday, November 10

Excerpt at A Darn Good Read

Tuesday, November 12

Review at Books In Their Natural Habitat

Wednesday, November 13

Excerpt at To Read, Or Not to Read

Thursday, November 14

Feature at Lost_in_a_book_reviewer

Friday, November 15

Review at Red Headed Book Lady

Monday, November 18

Review at Gwendolyn's Books

Tuesday, November 19

Review at Locks, Hooks and Books

Wednesday, November 20

Review at 100 Pages a Day

Thursday, November 21

Review at Peaceful Pastime

Friday, November 22

Feature at What Is That Book About

Saturday, November 23

Review at Impressions In Ink

Monday, November 25

Review at So Many Books, So Little Time

Tuesday, November 26

Excerpt at Passages to the Past

Wednesday, November 27

Feature at Just One More Chapter

Friday, November 29

Feature at Coffee and Ink

Giveaway

During the Blog Tour, we are giving away a copy of A Distant Signs by Anne Richter! 

Click here to enter

Giveaway Rules

- Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on November 29th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

- Paperback giveaway is open internationally.
- Only one entry per household.
- All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
- The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.

#HCTour Home for Christmas by Catherine Laniganreview +Giveaway

On tour with Prism Book Tours

Home for Christmas

(Shores of Indian Lake #12)

By Catherine Lanigan

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages

November 1st 2019 by Harlequin Heartwarming

Can a magical Christmas under glass…

…bring them back together for good?

Widowed dad Adam Masterson still doesn’t understand why Joy Boston left Indian Lake and broke his heart all those years ago. Now she’s returned to sell her grandfather’s beloved poinsettia greenhouse—and Joy and Adam’s connection is as strong as ever. But Joy has a life in New York. And Adam has only until Christmas to convince Joy that she belongs in Indian Lake—with him.

Goodreads      Amazon     B&N     Harlequinn     IBooks

My thoughts:

Every single time I read a novel set in Indian Lake, I can easily imagine residing there.  It sounds like such a charming place where friends and neighbors rally around each other, even when a person feels underserving of it.

Joy Boston receives a warm and welcoming homecoming when she returns to her hometown after having been away for so long.  She is surrounded by old friends who want to help her with reviving her beloved grandfather's poinsettia greenhouse.  To be honest, I have never been a fan of poinsettias but after reading this book, I kind of want one or two of them and I almost started decorating for Christmas.

Adam Masterson and his young son, Titus stole my heart  along with Mrs. Beabots. I would love to have a Mrs. Beabots in my life and not just for her amazing wardrobe but because she is a good person.  All of the characters in this book and series have been good and kind which is one of the reasons why I always look forward to returning to the shores of Indian Lake.  There is something special about this place the author created and the characters she has so lovingly crafted.  

We all make mistakes and without forgiveness and second chances, I think this would be a sad world but it doesn't have to be that way and if you pick up a copy of this book, you will see what I mean.

Catherine Lanigan has become one of my favorite authors because she truly does write heartwarming  novels that are suitable for all readers, ones you can share with your daughters, mothers. grandmothers, friends and family. I love a sweet, clean romance  and Ms. Lanigan is one of the best authors in this genre.

I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Other Books in the Series

About the Author

Catherine Lanigan is the international bestselling and award-winning author of over forty-five published titles in both fiction and non-fiction, including the novelizations of Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile. Ms. Lanigan’s novels have been translated into over twenty-four languages. Lanigan was tasked by the NotMYkid foundation to pen a collection of compelling and informative true stories of teen addicts. Ms. Lanigan’s SHORES OF INDIAN LAKE series for HARLEQUIN HEARTWARMING includes LOVE SHADOWS, HEART’S DESIRE , A FINE YEAR FOR LOVE, KATIA’S PROMISE, FEAR OF FALLING, SOPHIE’S PATH, PROTECTING THE SINGLE MOM, FAMILY OF HIS OWN, HIS BABY DILEMMA, RESCUED BY THE FIREFIGHTER and HERS TO PROTECT (2019).

Ms. Lanigan is a frequent speaker at literary functions and book conventions as well as inspiring audiences with her real stories of angelic intervention from her Angel Tales series of books. She is an outspoken advocate for domestic violence and abuse and was honored by The National Domestic Violence Hotline in Washington, D.C. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs including “Coast to Coast” and on television interview and talk show programs as well as blogs, podcasts and online radio interview programs. She writes a monthly blog for Heartwarmingauthors.blogspot.com.

Website    Goodreads    Facebook    Twitter    LinkedIn    BookBub    Pinterest

Tour Schedule

Tour Giveaway

- One winner will receive a $100 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)

- Two winners will each receive a signed copy of Home for Christmas with a bookmark (US only)

- Ends November 27, 2019

ENTER HERE

Christmas at Whitefriars by Elizabeth Camden

Book Synopsis

Mary Beckwith lives in a magnificent English castle during the twilight years of the gilded age. With the help of an American millionaire, she has succeeded in renovating her beloved Whitefriars castle into a splendid estate just in time for Christmas.

From across the ocean, millionaire Everett Wooten has spent a fortune propping up Whitefriars to add modern conveniences and rebuild crumbling old walls. Even though he’s never met Mary, they have enjoyed a lively business correspondence over the nine years they have been working toward a renovation. Now he has finally come to see Mary and the castle in person, but nothing is as he was led to believe.

Mary and Everett try to find a way forward, but red-blooded American entrepreneurship doesn’t always mingle with blue-blooded English tradition. Can a Manhattan business tycoon and an English lady come to an accord, or will their joint venture in Whitefriars result in heartbreak for them both? 

My thoughts:

I thought Christmas at Whitefriars is one of the best novellas I have read.  I have loved Ms. Camden's novels but wasn't certain if a shorter story would have an impact on me but boy was I wrong!

She managed to write a captivating story that was hard to put down.  

Mary Beckwith is an endearing character, her panic attacks and anxiety are something I think we all have experienced at some point in our lives but hopefully not to the extent she did.  I felt so bad for her, especially when she and her brother travel to York to meet Everett Wooten.  Everett turned out to be much more likable than I originally anticipated and I liked how understanding he could be. Well, he was less understanding when he visits the crumbling castle that Mary is trying to renovate than he was at their first meeting but he is s wonderful character.  

In this beautifully crafted story the author skillfully brought her characters to life, she made me care about them and most importantly I think she genuinely cared about them by making them seem so real to me.  If you are already a fan of Ms. Camden, you will want to read this novella and if you haven't read any of her books, this is the perfect book to start with. 

I received a copy from the publisher.  All opinions are completely my own.

Serving Up Love - Four-in One Harvey House Brides Collecion

Book Synopsis

Bestselling novelist Tracie Peterson joins Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, and Jen Turano in this collection of four novellas, each featuring a Harvey Girl heroine. From Kansas to Texas, the Grand Canyon to New Mexico, the stories cross the country with tales of sweet romance and entertaining history.

In Karen Witemeyer's "More Than a Pretty Face," a young woman works her hardest to escape poor choices from her youth. Tracie Peterson offers "A Flood of Love," where reuniting with an old flame after more than a decade offers unexpected results. Regina Jennings's "Intrigue a la Mode" delights with a tale of a young woman determined to help support her family, despite warnings of danger nearby. And Jen Turano's "Grand Encounters" heads to the Grand Canyon with a tale of a society belle intent on finding a new life for herself. Bestselling novelist Tracie Peterson joins Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, and Jen Turano in this collection of four novellas, each featuring a Harvey Girl heroine. From Kansas to Texas, the Grand Canyon to New Mexico, the stories cross the country with tales of sweet romance and entertaining history.

In Karen Witemeyer's "More Than a Pretty Face," a young woman works her hardest to escape poor choices from her youth. Tracie Peterson offers "A Flood of Love," where reuniting with an old flame after more than a decade offers unexpected results. Regina Jennings's "Intrigue a la Mode" delights with a tale of a young woman determined to help support her family, despite warnings of danger nearby. And Jen Turano's "Grand Encounters" heads to the Grand Canyon with a tale of a society belle intent on finding a new life for herself. 

My thoughts:

Serving Up Love is a an excellent collection of four historical novellas by four amazing authors who happen to be some of my favorites so when I first saw this book, I was absolutely giddy with delight and that is not an exaggeration!

Tracie Peterson set her novella in 1929 New Mexico where I fell in love with the precious and precocious Katiann.  This little charmer will steal you heart along with the rest of the characters in this story.

Karen Witemeyer  takes us to 1902 Texas where we meet Rosalind, a lovely young woman who has made some past mistakes and seems to be paying for them far longer than she should have had to.

Regina Jennings novella takes place in 1898 Kansas and the one that had me turning pages as I could because it had such a fascinating storyline. I loved everything about this story.

Jen Turano takes her readers to 1908 Arizona where I found myself laughing at the antics of her characters as I usually do.

I was thoroughly entertained while learning about Harvey Houses.  The young ladies worked hard and tirelessly to provide top of the line service to the guests.  This is the perfect read for busy times because you can read a complete story at you leisure or you find it hard to put down like I did you read the book in two days.   I highly recommend this novel to readers of historical and Christian fiction. 

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.   All opinions are completely my own.

In the Cradle Lies (Tree of Life- Book 2) by Olivia Newport

Book Synopsis

A Father-Daughter Genealogy Team Link Present to Past on Family Trees

 
On a solo ski vacation in Canyon Mines, Colorado, Tucker has a love-hate relationship with his wealth, spending indiscriminately while skiing fearlessly and preparing to conquer the overgrown slope of Hidden Run, a dangerous run not attempted in decades. As genealogist Jillian tries to uncover enough of Tucker’s family tree to understand his charming nature but reckless resolve, Jillian’s equally charming father, Nolan, cajoles Tucker into giving him ski lessons to get him talking about the suspicious circumstances surrounding his grandfather’s life in St. Louis in the 1930s. 
 
On the surface, Tucker’s family’s history seems too perfect. The secret may lie in the sealed envelope Tucker carries with him at all times—even on the ski slope. When no one can find Tucker to tell him the fiancée he never mentioned turned up in Canyon Mines, they realize he must be off attempting to ski Hidden Run alone in a snowstorm. And they may be too late. 
 
In the Cradle Lies is the second book in the Tree of Life series by Olivia Newport. You’ll want to return to the lovely Colorado mountain town of Canyon Mines again and again to explore and celebrate unforgettable family stories that will inspire you to connect with your own family histories and unique faith journeys.

My thoughts:

In the Cradle Lies is a page turner of a novel. I loved the first book in the series but this book was my favorite. It was fun going back in Canyon Mines, Colorado and catching up with Jillian and Nolan, the father-daughter duo who are rather charming. I loved their relationship, how they help each other and their friends in their community.

This is another time-slip story, the storyline was fascinating even if it was a bit sad. Tucker was difficult for me to like at times, yet I still myself feeling bad for him occasionally. His family has a dark secret as we learn more about when we meet his grandfather as a child in the 1930's. It was surprising what had transpired but it kept me turning pages as fast as I could to find out how it would all play out.

I loved the returning characters, their shops, their penchant for ice cream and hot chocolate but most of all I loved the emotional story the author told. A little bit of mystery with a lot of love and friendship made this book a pleasure to read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review.

#HCPSPrism Review + Giveaway

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

Her Christmas Pregnancy Surprise

By Jennifer Faye

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 256 Pages

November 1st 2019 by Harlequin Romance

A festive reunion…

…with an unexpected gift!

When Pepper Kane’s home and bakery are burned down in the weeks before Christmas, billionaire CEO Simon Ross—the man she spent one unforgettable night with—comes to the rescue! Pepper knows this playboy doesn’t do relationships, but staying with him in his penthouse and caring for an abandoned puppy, their spark is rekindled… And then comes a festive surprise that shocks them both: she’s carrying his baby! 

Goodreads    Amazon    B&N    Harlequin    IBooks    Kobu    Book Depository

Freebie

Go to Jennifer's Contact Page HERE and order your bookmark(s)!

My thoughts:

I thought this book would be a fun, lighthearted read, which it is in but it also broke my heart just a little.  I certainly knew the storyline would be detailed and the reader would gain insight into the characters lives but I was surprised by how fragile Pepper Kane and Simon Ross are.

Pepper is thriving in her bakery business, Simon is a successful CEO. and yet they have both had to overcome some difficult situations and losses in their pasts to get where they are now.

If I had to have someone in my corner to help me get through trying times, it would be someone like Simon and not because he's super wealthy but because he has a good heart and genuinely cares for his friends.  Pepper is instantly likeable, she's a hard worker plus she volunteers at an animal shelter where we meet the adorable, Daisy.  Simon's  neat, orderly life is about to be drastically changed when he opens his home to Pepper but when Daisy joins them the tidy penthouse things are a bit more comical.

Overall, I found this heartwarming story a fast and end entertaining read.  I normally find novels about billionaires a little unbelievable but that wasn't the case in this book.  

My thanks to Prism Book Tours and the author for a complimentary copy.  All opinions expressed are completely my own.

About the Author

Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming contemporary romances with rugged cowboys, sexy billionaires and enchanting royalty. Internationally published with books translated into nine languages. She is a two-time winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous other awards.

Website   Goodreads   Facebook   Twitter   Pinterest   YouTube   BookBub   Newsletter

TOUR SCHEDULE

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive (US only):

• The Pioneer Woman – Utensil Crock and spoon holder
• $25 Amazon Gift Card
• Wilton cookie cutters & more…
• Plus autographed copy of HER CHRISTMAS PREGNANCY SURPRISE

Ends November 13, 2019

Click HERE to enter the Giveaway

Carry Me Away (Blue Wren Shallows #2) by Dorothy Adamek

Book Synopsis

Inspired by the incredible true story of an Australian shipwreck and those who survived to tell the tale.

When the Black Swallow sinks off the Australian coast in 1877, Australian midshipman Tom Darley rescues English passenger Ada Carmichael from the disaster that claims her entire family. News of the only two survivors enchants the world, but Ada needs to hide before secrets and old foes find her. Tom is chasing big dreams of a crumbling house he will convert into a small hotel ~ but the promising start he’s acquired now sits at the bottom of the sea. 


Inexplicably entangled, Ada and Tom lean upon each other to make sense of the tragedy that’s displaced them. But when scheming journalists observe their affection they drag Tom into life-altering riches and a news-worthy romance he cannot resist. So he arranges for Ada’s protection where only he might find her ~ the quiet Phillip Island farm of his friends Shadrach and Finella Jones. 


And that’s where real trouble finds them. When heroic promises fail to shelter, and love refuses to be silenced, only surrender will pluck Ada and Tom from where life has wrecked them. 

My thoughts:

Carry Me Away is a beautiful and heartfelt novel inspired by the true story of an Australian Shipwreck and I got swept up in this novel from the very first page.  It is such an emotional read filled with characters who I absolutely adored, well there is one character who was truly despicable but he played an important role in the storyline.

The setting of Australia in 1877, Tom Darley and Ada Carmichael are two survivors of the shipwreck that took the lives of so many, including Ada's entire family.  Oh, how I cried for her loss but kept hoping she would have  the life she deserved.  I cannot imagine the pain of losing my loved ones like she did.  Tom and Ada  both suffered the loss of family and friends not to mention there personal possessions.  They shared a bond formed by the tragic events they shared but it seemed impossible for them to live a peaceful life once journalists discover where they were staying which led Ada to go into hiding at the home of Shadrach and Finella Jones. I loved this couple so much and was glad Ada had a safe place to stay away from the prying eyes of the public.  The reader gets to learn all about silkworms, which I have to admit was pretty interesting. Shadrach and Finella are characters from the first book in the series so you may want to read that book first to get to know them better. 

Overall, I thought this novel was one of the best I have had the pleasure of reading, it's impeccably written and truly compelling which is why I highly recommend it.

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher.  All opinions are completely my own.