Friday, December 29, 2017

" Unstuck" by Chris Dupre BookTour and GiveAway



About the Book



Title: Unstuck  
Author: Chris Dupre  
Genre: Self-help, personal growth  
Release Date: November 14, 2017

Do you feel like you missed the boat? Are you burnt out? Have your feet been dragging the sidewalk? Do you catch yourself dreaming of what could have been? Of if-only-I-had, or if-only-I-hadn’t? This book is for anyone sitting in the audience who should be on stage, anyone reading blogs who should also be writing them, anyone supporting ministries who should be leading them. It’s for the Christians who know there is a better life, but who are just stuck in the one they’re living. Saved in the Jesus Movement of the seventies, Chris DuPré connected with countless Christians across the world. Yet too many of those Christians, Chris discovered, have years later lost the fire and stepped back from living out their faith. Why? Because they got stuck—stuck in rejection by others, stuck in fear of the unknown, stuck in loving a comfortable life, stuck in scores of similar ruts. What can set them free from their internal prisons? And what could Christians accomplish if we all just got unstuck?


My Review:
" Unstuck" by Chris Dupre is a self help book about getting unstuck in life.  The author shares stories about people we all have heard about and Biblical characters.  This book is easily read and understood and I have underlined some things that I think are a great help. This book would be great for anyone to have in their personal library as a reference tool. It talks about fear, pride and putting the negative voices from the past to rest. It also talks about how to be silent and rest in the shadows.

I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own.


Click here to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Originally from Upstate New York, Chris moved to Kansas City to work alongside Mike Bickle in establishing the International House of Prayer. Chris recently served as Associate Pastor at Grace Center Church in Franklin TN, and is now an associate pastor of Life Center in Harrisburg, PA. A pastor, teacher, worship leader, traveling speaker, and spiritual father to many, Chris may be best known for his song “Dance With Me.” He has produced eight albums and published three books, including The Wild Heart of God (Whitaker House, 2016) and The Lost Art of Pure Worship with James Goll. Parents of three daughters and grandparents of four grandchildren, Chris and his wife, Laura, reside in Harrisburg, PA.

Guest Post from Chris Dupre

I grew up in a small town about 30 miles east of Rochester, NY. Winters there could be brutal. One year, I received beautiful new pair of boots which I loved, particularly for the joy with which they enabled me to engage in the marvelous sport of puddle jumping. One day when the ice and snow had begun to melt, I eyed a nice puddle and jumped in the middle sending a freezing splash in all directions. But wait, something was wrong — this was no ordinary puddle! This one was made to capture people, and I was captured! Frantic, I pulled one foot out, but no matter how much I tried, the other foot would not budge. My boot was stuck. I was stuck! I pulled and pulled until finally my foot came free in a soggy sock. My beautiful boot had been left behind, buried beneath the slush. My little mind was faced with a choice. Did I care enough about to do something? It only took a second to act. I loved those boots. I found a stick and began to fish. After what seemed like an eternity, I finally pulled out my boot. That’s the first time I ever went fishing and was glad to catch a boot instead of a fish. My desire with this book is to address some of those “stuck” moments we all face. I want to provide keys that will hopefully open a door or two that have held you back on the incredible journey of life. I say a door or two, or even three, because it’s almost always more than one thing that gets us stuck. Ah, but God—He is the change factor in all of this and in Him we can break free.

Blog Stops

Giveaway



In honor of the tour, Whitaker House is giving away
Grand Prize: Unstuck: Hope for Christians in a Dead-End Job, Dead-End Faith, or Some Similar Soul-Shriveling Rut by Chris DuPré; The Wild Love of God: A Journey That Heals Life’s Deepest Wounds by Chris DuPré;” Covenant” Pillar Candle scented with ancient biblical fragrances from Abba Jerusalem, and a Whitaker House Grown-Up Coloring Book

 First Place Prize: Unstuck: Hope for Christians in a Dead-End Job, Dead-End Faith, or Some Similar Soul-Shriveling Rut by Chris DuPré; The Wild Love of God: A Journey That Heals Life’s Deepest Wounds by Chris DuPré;” “Man of God” Ceramic Mug, CTAInc.com; and a Whitaker House Grown-Up Coloring Book

 Second Place Prize: Unstuck: Hope for Christians in a Dead-End Job, Dead-End Faith, or Some Similar Soul-Shriveling Rut by Chris DuPré; and The Wild Love of God: A Journey That Heals Life’s Deepest Wounds by Chris DuPré”.
Click the link to enter! https://promosimple.com/ps/c457
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"Hope Travels Through" by Loni Kemper Moore Book Tour And GiveAway


About the Book



Name of book: Hope Travels Through  
Author: Loni Kemper Moore
 Genre: Contemporary Lit

TeJae Smythe gave up on God and her hometown of Evansville, Indiana, ten years ago, but a deep personal loss requires her to return to both. Her life as a stewardess is going to be perfect. She has a plan. If only life would stick to it. In Hope Travels Through, TeJae finds the biggest challenge comes from the conflict within herself. Will she hold it all together? Or will she fall apart and embrace the beauty in the midst of disaster? Based on actual events of December 13, 1977, a date most people don’t remember, but one many living in the Ohio River Valley will never forget, the crash of the University of Evansville men’s basketball team plane.
 My Review:
I thought this book was too long because the book was supposed to be about the crash of the University of Evansville men’s basketball team plane and the crash was only mentioned toward the end of the book and it was only a short passage. I kept reading "Hope Travels Through" to learn about the basketball players and the crash and was disappointed. I felt the book was more about TeJae Smythe's life than the crash. Another disappointing factor was that the story switched back and forth from characters without warning.

I did like the story and generally long books don't bother me. I will be on the look out for more books by Loni Kemper Moore as I really think this was a good book for a debut book. I like the title because it reminds us to hold onto hope.

I really felt TeJae's pain as she visited the graves of her brother and parents. I was confused about how no-one got ahold of her when her parents died, I kept asking myself did that really happen and was it because even the authorities couldn't get ahold of her because she was a stewardess, I know things back then wasn't as advanced. I felt her pain as she went through the trouble with her cousin.

I would recommend this book but I will tell other readers it isn't really about the plane crash.

I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These opinions are my own.

Click here to purchase your copy.

 About the Author


Loni Kemper Moore is a Denver-Broncos cheering, Diet-Pepsi sipping, Rocky Mountain adventure-seeking kind of girl. She’s passionate for God and wants to share His beautiful love through life’s ugliness with remarkable women around the globe. Her writing came alive seven years ago after she broker her ankle. The crazy time of being laid up forced her to flip through decades of diaries which inspired the story that became Hope Travels Through. When she’s not writing, she’s an entertainer, technical support analyst; mom of a teenager named Adam; traveler with Robert, her dear “Hugsband,” stepmom to University of Evansville alumna Becca and her husband, Anthony; and spender of way too much time on Facebook. With her experiences of learning to trust God through tragedy, being employed by travel agencies and Delta Air Lines, and attending University of Evansville graduate school, she’s the best person to tell this story.

Guest Post from Loni Moore

What Made Me Write Hope Travels Through?

The weathered orthopedic surgeon shook his head and stared at the x-rays. Without making eye-contact, he said, “I usually work on Olympians and professional athletes. This doesn’t look good. She’s going to have arthritis and limp for the rest of her life.” I hadn’t had anything stronger than Tylenol since the entire weight of my 128 (at the time) pounds crunched my left ankle, 24 hours earlier. Robert, aka Dear Hugsband, had told me, so very graciously, when we arrived at Skate City, “Once you’re over 50, you shouldn’t roller skate.” But our son, Adam was 10 and I wondered how many more years he’d want me to hang out with him, so I’d strapped on the skates and joined the crowd of skaters. I avoided landing on the body of the five-year old who cut me off. Didn’t that count for something? However, none of that mattered at that moment. I needed drugs, and Robert agreed to whatever that surgeon said to get my prescriptions. One afternoon, my stomach growled on a gurney as I waited in the surgery center with IVs in my hands until a perky nurse announced, “The doctor will need to reschedule because something came up.” REALLY? After waiting 10 days, he no-shows? I’ve never loved Robert’s New York attitude more than the next day when by 7 pm that evening I was at Red Robin, post-surgery, eating a celebratory French Onion soup. Thanks to a nerve blocker the new, cute surgeon had provided after rebreaking bones and inserting pins. Adam was able to complete his homeschool work with little interference from my drug infested brain and I occupied my time by flipping through decades of accumulated diaries. The story of a woman surviving tough times percolated in my brain and I remembered my mother saying, “Everyone has a Great American Novel in her. You just need to take time to write it.” As my leg healed leaving no arthritis nor limp, I returned to the million things life demands, including a visit to our Becca at the University of Evansville, where I’d done my graduate work. As she showed us the Weeping Basketball, my protagonist informed me the story began in 1976, not 2011. The story climaxed when the university’s men’s basketball team plane crashed, but I was too busy to spend much time on it. Three days before Christmas that year, my younger sister passed away from Lyme complications, I could barely breathe. I’ve seen it a dozen times someone’s busy life prevents her from taking care of herself until something stops them in their tracks and they cannot move on. That happened to me. At the time, Dear Hugsband programmed Coca-Cola’s Freestyle machine (you’re welcome), so Adam and I joined him in Atlanta for several months. During that time without the cooking-cleaning-requirements and Adam insisting he preferred independence of his homeschool curriculum with minimal input from me, I processed my grief by putting the story that became Hope Travels Through on my computer. “In a weak moment, I have written a book.” Margaret Mitchell – Gone With The Wind Dear Hugsband loved his project with Coca-Cola and enjoyed everything about working in Atlanta except the humidity, the traffic and the commute. Typically, he worked in Georgia every other week, and was home every weekend. But occasionally, he’d be forced to stay in Atlanta over the weekend and tried to find something to entertain himself. One weekend, after seeing every movie running, he decided to go to the Margaret Mitchell House Museum where one of my favorite books, Gone With The Wind, was written. He bought me a mug with the above quote on it which he said was to encourage me in my writing, along with several commonalities between myself and the famous author.
  1. She was short—I am 5 feet tall, if I stretch;
  2. Her husband was over 6 feet tall—mine is 6’3 1/2”;
  3. She started writing her novel, after an ankle injury– I started writing after I a similar injury;
  4. She used a typewriter—I use a computer;
  5. Her mother gave her the quotes she used about how to survive in an upside-down world – my mom had a Bible verse for every occasion. I think her favorite was Ephesians 4:32 “And be ye kind, Loni to whomever…”;
  6. It took Margaret ten years to complete her novel – I’m not far behind, at nearly eight years.
Obviously, I don’t have one commonality with Margaret, in that she died at the age of 48 in a traffic accident, but his conclusions are precious. I’m well aware the odds of my little novel being successful, without the industry connections Margaret had, are low, but it’s been a fun journey even if no one buys a copy!

Blog Stops

Karen Sue Hadley, December 16
Jami’s Words, December 17
Quiet Quilter, December 18
Texas Book-aholic, December 19
Radiant Light, December 20
Carpe Diem, December 21
A Reader’s Brain, December 22
A Greater Yes, December 23
Blogging With Carol, December 23 
SusanLovesBooks, December 25
Remembrancy, December 26
Mary Hake, December 26
Janices book review, December 27
The Power of Words, December 28
Just Jo’Anne, December 29


Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Loni is giving away a grand prize of a $50 Amazon Card!!
Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c5be
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Tuesday, December 26, 2017

Spotlighting Josephine Blake with GiveAway

BIO: 
Josephine Blake is a bestselling historical romance author who enjoys a quiet life on the outskirts of Portland, OR. Her debut novel, Dianna, hit the shelves in August of 2016. Before publishing her own work, she worked as a freelance fiction and ghostwriter for numerous clients.
Josephine Blake is happily married and freely admits that her husband is the inspiration for every bit of romance she ever writes.
She lives with her delightfully charming husband, Dalton, and a Persian kitty named Ruby. Both are equally feisty.
When she’s not writing, she’s chasing her nieces and nephews, spending time with her family, or thinking about what to write next!
She’d love to hear from you. Shoot her an email at admin@awordfromjosephineblake.com.

 BOOK SPOTLIGHT 
In 1888 London, Isabel Vanderton is facing down the society gossips with defiance and indifference. As the only child of Marcus Vanderton, she is the rightful heir to the Vanderton fortune, and whoever dares to marry her will inherit the lot, winner take all.

As rumors of her ill health circulate, Isabel finds herself encountering suitor after suitor, no doubt hoping to win her hand—and her inheritance—before she passes to an early grave. 

An endless wave of greedy suitors is not the only thing Isabel has to contend with. Her legs are failing her, her body is weak, and she is being haunted by a man of such breathtaking beauty that he cannot possibly exist. 

But exist he does. Terrified of slipping into madness, Isabel tries to ignore the pull he has over her mind and her body as she suffers through encounter after encounter with a man no one but she can see.

Death is impatient. 

Since Isabel’s mother died thirteen years ago, he has watched her. He has haunted her for years, and now he has come to claim what is rightfully his. He will have Isabel at any cost.

Determined, Death sets out on a careful game of seduction that threatens Isabel’s very sanity. She will succumb to him, or she will suffer the consequences.

As Isabel bargains desperately for her soul, Jack the Ripper stalks the London streets, endangering everything and everyone Isabel holds dear. 


INTERVIEW
1 What is the first book that made you cry?
I wish I had a solid answer for this. Unfortunately, I can't remember that far back. The most recent book that made me tear up was Me Before You by Jojo Moyes.

2 What book title best describes your life?
?????? NO IDEA. lol

3 If you could tell your younger writing self anything, what would it be?
That dream you have? That one... you know... where you're married to an amazing man, and spend a lot of time exploring worlds you've never seen. That one with a fuzzy kitty on your lap, hot tea on your desk, and your fingers tap-tapping at the keyboard... It comes true. Just wait."

4 What made you want to become a writer?
Oh, well... That must have been all the crazy stories in my head. ;) Really, though, I think it was the work of other authors. I was ALWAYS a reader.

5 What book that you have read has most influenced your life?
Influenced my life? As far as works of fiction? I'm not gonna lie... Harry Potter is up there at the top of the list. I listen to J.K on audiobook whenever I need a second to breathe.

6 Does your family support your career as a writer?
OH YEAH. My family is my biggest support network. For example: my husband is my first proofer, my mother reads every book I write within a day or two and then lets me grill her for feedback, my Dad and Papa both read EVERY girlie novel I've put out, and my grandma is always begging for me to get them into print. They're amazing, and super, super supportive. :)

7 Are your characters based off real people or did they all come entirely from your imagination?
My characters themselves are a combination of things. Some of them have attributes picked up from real people. Some of them completely write themselves on the page. I'm convinced that I actually have very little to do with it.

8 Does your book have a lesson? Moral?
LOVE CONQUERS ALL. lol. Every story, every time. I'm also noticing a running theme in my work... that the events we go through and the people around us truly mold us. Our pasts make us into the people we are today.

9 What has your experience been like as an Author? Bruises, Highlights, and lessons?
Well... You learn a lot in that first year. Truly. So... I've learned the importance of taking critique. I've learned that designing book covers is a second passion of mine, and I've learned that other authors are always happy to chat about the things they love. (Hint: It's books.) You can learn a ton by just listening to the advice given by writers that have been in the game longer than you.

10 What are you most looking forward to in the next 10 years?
The next ten years? Whoosh. I'm a one-day-at-a-time, fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants kinda girl. I can't even tell you what I'd like to happen tomorrow, let alone what I'd like to happen in the next ten years. As far as writing goes, I'd like to finish up my new Hands of Fate series, then I'd like to get the rest of my books onto audiobook, and I'd really like to record them myself. Oh, and I'm really looking forward to the Historical Romance Retreat in California next September. I suppose we'll see how it all goes. :)


SOCIAL LINKS







GIVEAWAY

I can giveaway an ebook copy of any of my books, just give me a shout and let me know which one you would like. :)  To be enter you must leave contact info! 


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Saturday, December 23, 2017

"12 Days at Bleakly Manor "by Michelle Griep Book Tour and GiveAway


About the Book



Name of book: 12 Days at Bleakly Manor  
Author: Michelle Griep  
Genre: Historical Christmas  
Release Date: September 1, 2017  

England, 1851: When Clara Chapman receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet feels compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of five hundred pounds. But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests—her former fiancé, Benjamin Lane. Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on whoever stole his honor. When he’s given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it—and is faced with the anger of the woman he stood up at the altar. Brought together under mysterious circumstances, Clara and Ben discover that what they’ve been striving for isn’t what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.
  
Click here to purchase your copy.




My Review: 

"12 Days at Bleakly Manor" by Michelle Griep is a Mystery story revolving around 12 days at Bleakly Manor. I really enjoyed reading about these characters. These characters are really quite the mixture and while most are eccentric, Ben and Clara are the normal characters. 



One of the characters has a box of mice and I am surprised at my self because I really wanted the mice to be more of the story, and I don't like mice. I loved their names, but wonder at three of the names. I was quite surprised at the ending. 



Ben and Clara had a past before being invited to the manor, will they be able to forgive each other and move ahead!



This is the first one in the series. I am looking forward to reading the other books in this series. 



I was given a complimentary copy by the author and Celebrate Lit. These are my own opinions. 



  About the Author











Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She is the author of both Regency and Colonial historical romances but also leaped the writerly fence into the realm of contemporary with the zany romantic mystery Out of the Frying Pan. Keep up with her escapades at www.michellegriep.com or stalk her on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Pinterest.





Guest Post from Michelle Griep

Go Green With Victorian Christmas Décor



Guest post by Michelle Griep



Walk in any store and you’ll be bombarded with displays of Christmas lights, gaudy ornaments, and inflatable life-size lawn characters. Commercialization at its worst. 150 years ago, that wasn’t the case. Yearning to decorate in a simpler fashion this year? Here are some ways you can bring a bit of the nineteenth century to your home this Christmas…

 



TREE DECORATIONS



Queen Elizabeth’s husband, the German Prince Albert, introduced the concept of a Christmas tree to Windsor castle. And you know, if it’s good enough for royalty its good enough for the common folk, right? So, the tradition spread. Generally trees were brought inside on Christmas Eve and taken down on January 6th. Trees were decorated with homemade ornaments from paper or fruits and nuts, strings of popcorn or cranberries, or hanging cookies such as gingerbread men from the branches. And remember, an authentic Victorian Christmas tree would’ve been small, like small enough to stand on a table.

 



GREENERY



Holly. Evergreens. Mistletoe. Most Victorians couldn’t afford store-bought decorations even were there a commercialized industry at the time (which there wasn’t). So the next best thing was to bring in some free/natural ornamentations. Greenery would’ve been perked up with berries, ribbons, dough ornaments or flowers. Pinecones were also scattered throughout the house.

 



WREATHS



“Writhen” is the root word where we get the word wreath from. It’s an old English word meaning “to writhe” or “to twist.” While the art of hanging wreaths goes back to Roman times, Victorians continued the tradition.

 



CANDLES



Candles were primarily placed in one of two spots during a Victorian Christmas. A single candle in a window was lit to show that the house was willing to provide food and shelter to travelers. Candles were also used on each and every branch of a Christmas tree, which meant a huge danger of fire. Usually a servant would stand nearby with a bucket of water just in case the thing started to burn.

 



DRESDENS



Dresdens are ornaments hung from the tree, from a window, or really hanging pretty much anywhere. These were handmade by cutting out shapes (usually animals or trains) and painted with metallic paint so that they looked like metal.

And that’s about it. No obnoxious Santas or reindeer inflated on the front lawn. No psycho Christmas lights strobing enough to give every passerby a seizure. Just plain and simple decor that made the home feel cozy.

And speaking of cozy, how about grabbing a blanket and a cup of hot tea and settling in for a holiday read that’s sure to put you in the Christmas spirit? My latest release is 12 Days at Bleakly Manor, a Victorian blend of Dickens and Agatha Christie.




Blog Stops





By The Book, December 14



Bukwurmzzz, December 14



Faery Tales Are Real, December 14




A Reader’s Brain, December 15



Have A Wonderful Day, December 15



Texas Book-aholic, December 16



Carpe Diem, December 16



Cafinated Reads, December 16



Just the Write Escape, December 17



A Greater Yes, December 17



Remembrancy, December 17



Allofakindmom, December 18




Simple Harvest Reads, December 18



amandainpa, December 19



Kat’s Corner Books, December 19



Mommynificent, December 19




Bookworm Mama, December 20



Vicky Sluiter, December 20



D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, December 21







Reading Is My SuperPower, December 22 (Interview)



My Writer’s Life, December 23



Janices book reviews, December 23



For The Love of Books, December 23





Red Headed Book Lady, December 25




Bibliophile Reviews, December 26



Blogging With Carol,December 26



Mary Hake, December 26


Giveaway



















To celebrate her tour, Michelle is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Barnes & Noble Gift card and a signed copy of 12 Days of Bleakly Manor!!



Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c5b8










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Friday, December 22, 2017


          

        










"Solve by Christmas"  by Amber Schamel  BookTour And GiveAway


















About the Book









Name of book: Solve by Christmas

 

 Author: Amber Schamel

 

 Genre: Historical Christmas


 

Release Date: September 1, 2017




When sabotage threatens the Rudin Sugar Factory, Detective Jasper Hollock believes this will be his first real case. But dear Mr. Rudin—the only father Jasper has ever known—holds a different assignment for his private investigator.

“I’ve struck a deal with God, Jasper, and you’re my angel.”

Mr. Rudin charges Jasper to build a “case” of reasons for his employer to continue his life. If he fails, Mr. Rudin will end it in suicide on Christmas night.

As the incidents at the factory become life threatening, Jasper’s attempts at dissuading Mr. Rudin prove futile, and Jasper is left staring at the stark reality of his own soul. Time is ticking. Jasper must solve both cases by Christmas before Mr. Rudin, the company, and Jasper’s faith, are dragged to perdition. Will this be the Christmas Jasper truly discovers what makes life worth living?

 “Amber Schamel’s engaging prose weaves together not one, but two edge-of-your-seat threads in this historical mystery. With the hero racing against time to solve the two cases readers will be kept guessing as they attempt to crack the case. “ ~ Laura V. Hilton author of Christmas Admirer (Whitaker House)





About the Author









Amber Schamel writes riveting stories that bring HIStory to life. She has a passion for history, books and her Savior. This combination results in what her readers call “historical fiction at its finest”. A homeschool graduate from a family of 12 children, Amber found her calling early in life. First published at age 21, she has continued to hone her craft and has been awarded the 2017 CSPA Book of the Year Award in Historical Fiction. Between ministry, family and working in their family-owned businesses, Amber loves to connect with readers and hang out on Goodreads with other bookish peoples. Find her on the Stitches Thru Time blog, or on any of the major social media sites. Amber is an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers.




Pick up your copy here.





My Review: 

"Solved By Christmas" by Amber Schamel is a who did it story that keeps you guessing to the end! I kind of knew who the guilty person was but it was fun to read! The story was also about Jasper's finding his boss a reason not to commit suicide on Christmas! I hope there are more books coming about Jasper and his cases because the ending makes this reader think there is. The sabotage that threatens the Rudin Sugar Factor starts out mild but is beginning to get more dangerous, Jasper is beginning to run out of time who is going to help him solve the case, I think you might just be surprised at who helps him.

I would like to read more of these characters. And maybe a little more of the romance that seems to be building. This is definitely a clean read.

There is even a few laugh out scenes.

 This book is not like her other books but she still shares the Message of God's love and the message of hope in "Solve By Christmas".

If you want a short sweet story then I recommend "Solve By Christmas"

I was given a complimentary copy by the author  and Celebrate Lit and these opinions are my own.

I am giving "Solve by Christmas" 4 stars.




Guest Post from Amber Schamel

Thank you so much for joining us on the Celebrate Lit blog tour for Solve by Christmas!! I am so excited you’re here. For this special event, I wanted to share the inside scoop behind the story.

Solve by Christmas is a historical Mystery set in Denver during the great blizzard of 1913. It has a unique storyline, so people often wonder where the idea came from. Honestly, it was one of those ideas that just popped into my head, then took on a life of its own and evolved over several weeks.

I wanted to give my readers a new story before the year was out, but I didn’t have a specific plot in mind. I did know I wanted to write a Christmas story. So, I had that much. Then I decided I wanted something with a firm deadline.” If this doesn’t happen by this date, everyone dies” sort of thing. Then “By Christmas” popped into my head and flicked on a light. What if Christmas was the deadline?

I’ve always loved detectives and mystery stories, and they go perfectly with deadlines. So, then I thought, what if a detective must solve the case by Christmas or death wins?

Sometimes, as an author, there are ideas and thoughts that seem to come out of nowhere. Almost like God dropping a card into your mental mailbox. The next point of Solve by Christmas was that way. What if a detective was assigned a case that he had to solve by Christmas, but it wasn’t a real case –at least not the type of case he wanted—but something completely different? From there, the story began to really take shape.

The next step, of course, is to come up with a character to be the detective. I wanted the story to have a Sherlock Holmes feel, so I started by studying his character a bit. But my story also has a less serious side since it isn’t a murder mystery and takes place at a sugar factory. I wondered…what would happen if you took Sherlock Holmes and meshed him with Barney Fife?

Now THAT would be hard to pull off. But I was determined to try. So, I made a list of Sherlock Holmes traits, and one of Barney Fife’s traits. I began to see that they actually DO have several similarities. They’re both a bit socially awkward. They both have a very similar flavor of pride. And they both have this air of authority…although Sherlock can back his up while Barney struggles in that area. Then I began to pick and choose between the traits that were left, this Barney trait, this Sherlock trait, and pretty soon I had Detective Jasper Hollock forming on the page. Whether you will get a Barney Fife and Sherlock feel when you read Solve by Christmas, I can’t say. But I do believe I was successful in creating a unique, quirky character that will bring this Christmas mystery to life.

There you have it. The scoop behind Solve by Christmas. I hope you enjoy the story, and best wishes in the giveaway! I will be stopping by along with Jasper and Denny (the two main characters) to answer any questions you may have about the story or the characters, so please do leave us a comment.




Blog Stops








Bigreadersite, December 13




Genesis5020, December 14



Baker Kella, December 15



Daysong Reflections, December 15




Karen Sue Hadley, December 16





Aryn The Libraryan, December 18



A Reader’s Brain, December 18



Bibliophile Reviews, December 19



Mary Hake, December 19



Texas Book-aholic, December 20



Simple Harvest Reads, December 20



Babs Book Bistro, December 21



Reading Is My SuperPower, December 21 (Interview)





Just the Write Escape, December 23



The Power of Words, December 23



Live.Love.Read., December 24



Carpe Diem, December 24



Blogging With Carol, December 25




Giveaway





















To celebrate her tour, Amber is giving away a grand prize of a Christmas themed basket which will include a paperback copy of Solve by Christmas and The Swaddling Clothes (my two Christmas books) as well as a Christmas terrarium jar, and a Solve by Christmas notepad!!



Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries! https://promosimple.com/ps/c5bb










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