It's Monday! What Are You Reading? & Mailbox Monday - Jul 28

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Happy Monday on a Sunday! Tomorrow morning, I will be up and out the door early, so it makes sense to get this posted first. Can you believe this is the last Monday of July? In case you were wondering, there are only 150 days until Christmas. 

Thought you might like a peek at more of the wedding photos. Beyond My Lens Photography, LLC, out of Wallingford, Connecticut, did an amazing job! She truly went above and beyond in so many ways. 

Our girls

The Lil' Diva and Sammie

The kids and the rents

Not a ton of reading is going on, but that is not stopping me from buying books or blogging. I'm also keeping up with my journal app most days. 

My review of Stop That Witch! was posted today at The Children's and Teen's Book Connection.  

I didn't read Behind the Scenes by Elizabeth Hobbs Keckley on my Kindle this week. 

I snuck in a few more pages of The Bible Simplified by Zach Windahl on NetGalley. 

I didn't touch The Sea Captain's Wife by Tailar J. Mazzeo this week, but I only have 29 days left to read it on NetGalley, so I'd better get back to it.

I didn't touch Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard Levine. Since the review is in September, I have some time.

My First Chapter Reviews of Whispers by J. Herman Kleiger was posted on Wednesday.

On Audible, I listened to Generating Business Referrals Without Asking by Stacey Brown Randall. Great book! 

I started listening to the next two books, but since one is meditations and the other devotions, I opted not to continue with them while driving. I will get back to them.

How to Train Your Mind by Chris Bailey

God's Purpose for Your Life by Charles F. Stanley

These First Chapter Reviews are coming in August and September. 

Gone to the Ground by Morgan Hatch

What Lies We Keep by Janet Roberts

Whatever It Takes by Alan Benham 

Need to read Old Flames, New Beginnings by Lea Schizas soon. 

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. 

Author Sarah Hamaker has been running a Christmas in July Reader Extravaganza. As a result, I am grabbing some free e-books and using my credits to buy others. I scooped up A Sleigh Ride for Ruby by Donna Schlaghter for only 45 cents! 

Because I subscribe to Lyssa Lund's newsletter, I was able to grab a copy of The Witch's Inheritance while it was free. 

Some book swag arrived this week from Carolyn Bennett Fraiser, author of M is for Mason Jar. I'm on her book launch team. Need to read this one soon.

Karen White's new book, The Last Carolina Summer, which I had pre-ordered, arrived the same day as the book swag from Fraiser. 

Upcoming Events

• Arabesque by M G da Mota - Jul 31 (Book Spotlight)
• Gone to the Ground by Morgan Hatch - Aug 7 (First Chapter Review)
• Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard Levine - Aug 12 (Author Interview)
• What Lies We Keep by Janet Roberts - Aug 20 (First Chapter Review)
• Whatever it Takes by Alan Brenham - Sep 2 (First Chapter Review)
• Like Driftwood on the Salish Sea by Richard Levine - Sep 15 (Review)

The latest Christmas... in the news post is up at Christmas Year Round. You can read all the seasonal good stuff here. 

The Children's and Teens' Book Connection has my review of Stop That Witch!. (link above). 

Nothing new at Laura's Little Houses, but the ideas are brewing. 

Lots going on as you can tell. I have a closing this Friday (woo-hoo!), and I am working on several other things. Hoping to take one day of the coming weekend off. We shall see. Enjoy your day!

Book Review: The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Martha Bolton

 

Contestants of the Tuscarawas County Baking Contest are disappearing. Can Fannie and her private investigator friend, Foster Bates, discover why before the finals get underway?

The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits by Wanda E. Brunstetter and Martha Bolton finds Sugarcreek, Ohio, resident Fannie Miller as a finalist in the county baking contest. People from far and wide come to compete in the annual event, and Fannie is determined to take the blue ribbon and cash prize home this year. But then she notices what no one else is talking about: finalists are disappearing. Who could be responsible? 

Is it the cash-strapped couple on the verge of divorce?

Could it be one or all three of the Beiler sisters, who own the local bakery?

Maybe its the bishop's disgruntled son.

Fannie brings in her good friend and private investigator Foster Bates to help get to the bottom of this whacky mystery before more contestants go missing.

The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits is a lighthearted and fun read with a dash of romance. What the authors did best is create a quirky cast of characters in and around an Amish community in Ohio. 

• Fannie owns the local quilt shop. She likes mystery novels and considers herself an amateur sleuth. 
• Foster is widower and a retired policeman who owns a private investigator's office in town. He loves fishing. 
• Hope, Faith, and Charity Beiler are the town gossips who own the local bakery. They have a pet parrot named Peggy, who often says the wrong thing at the wrong time. 
• Bishop John is often busy writing sermons. He has a son, Jeb, who struggles socially. 
• Michael and Melissa Taylor are on the brink of divorce after a married life filled with disappointments and challenges. 

Sprinkling in a hint of romance between a few characters while still keeping it light is another wonderful thing about the story. There were definitely some chuckles along the way.

While mystery is one of my favorite genres, this mystery slogged along with few real developments and convenient conclusions. Typically, in Amish fiction, you get that sense of the community the characters live in. That didn't seem to be a big focus for this story. It also felt like moments of faith were haphazardly tossed in. Now, this is supposed to be a light mystery, so that could be intentional on the part of the authors. 

Michael and Melissa's storyline was the most compelling because it came from the heart. That's what propelled me to continue with The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits. This storyline offered the most satisfying conclusion for me as a reader. 

If you enjoy lighthearted mysteries filled with quirky characters, then The Rise and Fall of Miss Fannie's Biscuits could be just what you're looking for. 

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CYD821C4
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Barbour Fiction (January 1, 2025)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8891510111

I received a paperback from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? - May 27

Welcome to It's Monday! What Are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit and comment, and er... add to that ever growing TBR pile! So welcome in everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and then was taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.   

Before we get into family and book news, we take a moment to honor and remember all who paid the ultimate sacrifice protecting freedom around the world.

Photo credit freepik.com

While, I didn't manage to squeak out any days off this past week, we had some nice family news and some sad news from across the miles.

The Lil' Diva said yes to the dress. That part of wedding plans is now behind us.

John Boy celebrated a birthday over the weekend. He made me a mama many moons ago. I am thrilled to see him settled into a life that brings him joy. We took him out to breakfast on Sunday. 

As you might recall, in 2014, I went on a trip with other fans of Little House on the Prairie. One of the women I met in Wisconsin was related to Laura Ingalls Wilder. She has been a dear friend for years. Last week, she passed away. We will all miss her very much.

Beth Ingalls-Leisses

Shifting to book news, on Audible, I read this book while on appointments. It's a good book, and it is very in-depth. This one took a while. 

I've been listening to this one lately and have about half an hour left. 

I am almost finished this true crime book. Look for my review on Friday, May 31st. 

I started this one on NetGalley. 

I need to read these two. 

I still didn't finish this one, but I will read the last few chapters soon. 

These will come on vacation with me in July. 

These are books I added to my Kindle recently. Maybe I will tackle them on vacation, too. 

Upcoming virtual book tours:

• I Will Ruin You: The Twisted Truth Behind the Kit Martin Murder Trial by Emilio Corsetti III - May 31 (Review)
• Royally Arranged by Amber Malloy - June 4 (First Chapter Review)
• Rock, Crush, and Roll by Hunter Snow - June 12 (First Chapter Review)
• Is Truth Stranger Than Fiction? You Decide... by JB Miller - July 3 (Review)
• The Righteous Arrows by Brian J. Morra - July (Review)

Talked about my small town Christmas romance NaNoWriMo 2023 project and my next steps at the Christmas Year Round blog. You can check that out here.

That's it for me. Hope you enjoy your week! Looking forward to seeing what you're reading. 

Book Blast: Sapphires in Snow by Amy Schisler

 

Cindy never had a real home or a real Christmas, and Jackson plans to leave home as soon as Christmas is over; they never planned on meeting each other, but now secrets from Cindy’s past threaten both of their futures…

By Amy Schisler

Book Blurb

The little white house on Main Street in Buffalo Springs, Arkansas, is the only home Jackson Nelson has ever known. With college behind him and both his sisters back in town to look after their aging parents, Jackson knows now is the time to make his big move. All he’s ever wanted is to move to New York and lead the high-stakes life of a real estate investor. He’s determined to leave town right after Christmas and never look back.

Cindy Kline has never had a real home or a real Christmas. Abandoned by her father and raised by an unfit mother, Cindy thought she had finally found the family she always wanted when the man of her dreams asked her to marry him; but when his Navy SEAL helicopter went down in a fiery crash before their wedding, Cindy had nothing left to keep her in sunny California. Packing her meager belongings into her old, beat-up car, Cindy drives straight to Buffalo Springs and to the only real friend she’s ever had – Andi Nelson. With Christmas around the corner, Andi, Jackson, and the whole Nelson family convince Cindy to stay through the holidays even finding her a job that may turn out to be a real career.

Just when Cindy is beginning to get into the Christmas spirit, her life is once again up-ended – this time by a series of break-ins and the news that her dangerous father may be lurking nearby. Cindy has no idea that her father’s mysterious past will put her life in jeopardy, and Jackson has no idea that the bright lights of New York are but a flickering flame when it comes to the sparks of the heart.

Release Date: November 11, 2022

Publisher: Chesapeake Sunrise Publishing

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VsSVst 

Target: https://bit.ly/3uEJVop 

Walmart: https://bit.ly/3UuxwOe 

Barnes & Noble: https://bit.ly/3B5L8IX 

Books2Read: https://books2read.com/u/mZEXgR

Book Excerpt  

And unto you a child is born!” The child actor belted out the play’s most robust line with all the enthusiasm he could muster. 

It was all Cindy could do not to jump to her feet and applaud. She laughed and clapped along with the rest of the audience. When the play was over, she went with the Nelson family to the town drug store that boasted an old-fashioned ice cream parlor and soda fountain in the back of the store. The proprietor had kept the doors open late to welcome the theatergoers.

“What would you like?” Jackson asked as Cindy eyed the many choices written on the blackboard.

“There are too many to choose just one.”

Jackson laughed. “Andi is partial to anything with peanut butter, and Helena always goes for something super sweet and fruity like cherry or raspberry. Mama likes plain old chocolate.”

She looked at Jackson. “And what do you like, Jackson?”

She saw his expression falter for just a moment, and a curtain of pink danced across his features, reminiscent of the curtains that closed at the end of the show. He blinked and just as quickly as the odd look appeared, it disappeared, and he broke into a wide grin. 

“I always go for a good, old-fashioned root beer float with vanilla ice cream.”

“Would you believe, I’ve never had a root beer float?”

The look he gave her was one of exaggerated shock. “What? That might be the most un-American thing I’ve ever heard.” He clutched at his chest. “A shot to the heart.”

Cindy laughed, and Andi inserted herself between them to grab some extra napkins from the top of the ice cream display case. 

“Is this guy bothering you?” she asked with a mock scowl.

Cindy shook her head. “Not at all. This has been one of the best nights of my life, and I’m going to top it off with my very first root beer float.”

Andi smiled. “I think that’s a great idea.”

On their turn, Jackson ordered for them both then reached for his wallet to pay, but Cindy put her hand on his arm.

“Jackson, no, I can’t let you do that.”

“Why not?”

“Because I can pay for my own ice cream. You all have been so generous already.”

“Sorry, Cindy, but my daddy would skin me alive if he heard that I allowed a female to pay for her own ice cream.”

She frowned and said in a firm voice, “Jackson, this isn’t a date. I can pay for my own ice cream.”

Again, she saw his face redden. “I never said it was a date, and you should accept an act of kindness when presented with one.”

The cashier cleared her throat, and Cindy realized they were holding up the line. Embarrassed for drawing attention, she said, “You’re right. Go ahead and pay, but I owe you.”

“That’s fair. On the next family outing, you can buy me ice cream.”

Cindy accepted her root beer float from the young girl behind the counter and took a sip. She didn’t know how to respond to Jackson. She wasn’t part of the ‘family’ and didn’t know if she’d be there for the next outing. Rather than agree, she concentrated on her float and sat quietly while listening to the rest of them banter about Christmas and New Year’s and the June wedding. She couldn’t help but wonder what she would be doing by then and where she would be.

As she ate, Cindy felt a peculiar tingling on the back of her neck. She looked around, peering up and down the streets. Other families hovered nearby, eating ice cream, and several couples walked along the sidewalk. It looked like everyone in town had come out to see the play. None of the other theater goers paid any attention to Cindy or the Nelsons, and Cindy had no reason to be paranoid, but she could not shake the eerie feeling that she was being watched. 

More...

 

About the Author

Amy Schisler is a novelist, poet, children’s book author, spiritual writer, blogger, reader, and avid traveler with years of professional experience in all manner of writing-related endeavors. Whether she’s writing novels filled with faith and inspiration, books that children will love, or her weekly blog devoted to family life and faith, she loves connecting and resonating with her readers. Amy’s first novel, A Place to Call Home, a romantic suspense, debuted in 2014, and her much-loved Chincoteague Island Trilogy has won numerous literary awards.

Amy lives on the Eastern Shore of Maryland with her husband, Ken, their daughters, Katie and Morgan (and sometimes their daughter and son-in-law, Rebecca and Anthony), and their dogs, Rosie and Luna. When she’s not writing, Amy can usually be found on a boat in the Chesapeake Bay or hiking in the Rocky Mountains, most often with a good book in her hand.

Website: http://amyschislerauthor.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amyschislerauth

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/amyschislerauthor 

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/amyschislerauthor

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