Book Review: Bone Deep by Charles Bosworth, Jr. and Joel J. Schwartz


ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Bone Deep
Author: Charles Bosworth, Jr. and Joel J. Schwartz
Publisher: Kensington Books
Release Date: February 22, 2022
Genre: True Crime

The true story of the case that is the subject of NBC's Marquee Mini-Series "The Thing About Pam" starring Renée Zellweger as Pam Hupp and Josh Duhamel as Joel Schwartz


The explosive, first-ever insider’s account of the case that’s captivated millions — the murder of Betsy Faria and the wrongful conviction of her husband  told by Joel J. Schwartz, the defense attorney who fought for justice on behalf of Russel Faria, and New York Times bestselling author Charles Bosworth Jr.

On December 27th, 2011, Russell Faria returned to his Troy, Missouri, home after his weekly game night with friends to an unthinkable, grisly scene: His wife, Betsy, lay dead, a knife still lodged in her neck. She’d been stabbed fifty-five times.
 
First responders concluded that Betsy was dead for hours when Russ discovered her. No blood was found implicating Russ, and surveillance video, receipts, and friends’ testimony all supported his alibi. Yet incredibly, police and the prosecuting attorney ignored the evidence. In their minds, Russ was guilty. But prominent defense attorney Joel J. Schwartz quickly recognized the real killer.
 
The motive was clear. Days before her murder, the terminally ill Betsy replaced her husband with her friend, Pamela Hupp, as her life insurance beneficiary. Still, despite the prosecution’s flimsy case and Hupp’s transparent lies, Russ was convicted—leaving Hupp free to kill again.
 
Bone Deep takes readers through the perfect storm of miscalculations and missteps that led to an innocent man’s conviction—and recounts Schwartz’s successful battle to have that conviction overturned. Written with Russ Faria’s cooperation, and filled with chilling new revelations and previously undisclosed evidence, this is the story of what can happen when police, prosecutor, judge, and jury all fail in their duty to protect the innocent—and let a killer get away with murder.

0

Blog Tour: Her Mountain Refuge by Laurel Blount

Her Mountain Refuge JustRead Blog Tour 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Her Mountain Refuge by Laurel Blount, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Her Mountain Refuge

Title: Her Mountain Refuge 
Author: Laurel Blount
Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired
Release Date: May 24, 2022
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christian

Going home could mean risking her heart… 
She needs help to start over… 
But can she ever trust again? 

Widowed, pregnant and under her controlling mother-in-law’s thumb, Charlotte Tremaine needs help—but she doesn’t expect it to come from her estranged childhood best friend. Yet after a fainting spell lands her in the hospital, Sheriff Logan Carter whisks her away to his foster mother’s mountain home to recover. But when her secrets follow, can she face her painful past with Logan at her side?
5

Book Review: A Strike to the Heart by Danielle Grandinetti

Title: A Strike to the Heart
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Iron Stream
Release Date: April 12, 2022
Genre: Historical Christian Romance

She's fiercely independent.  
He's determined to protect her.

Wisconsin, 1933—When a routine mission becomes an ambush that kills his team, Craft Agency sniper Miles Wright determines to find the persons responsible and protect the woman he rescued. But the fierce independence that led Lily Moore to leave her family’s dairy business for the solitary life of a dog trainer and the isolation of her farm don’t make that easy. Neither does his unwanted attraction to her. Meanwhile, escalating incidents confirm that she’s far from safe.

Lily fears letting the surprisingly gentle retired marine into her life almost as much as she fears whoever is threatening her. As Wisconsin farmers edge toward another milk strike, one that will surely turn violent, it becomes clear that the plot against Lily may be part of a much larger conspiracy. When the search for her abductor leads close to home, she must decide whether to trust her family or the man who saved her life.


0

Takeover Tour+Review: A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma

A Promise Engraved JustRead Takeover Tour

Welcome to the Takeover Tour for A Promise Engraved by Liz Tolsma, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Promise Engraved
Title: A Rose for the Resistance 
Series: Doors to the Past 
Author: Liz Tolsma 
Publisher: Barbour Fiction 
Release DateMay 1, 2022 
Genre: Christian, Dual Timeline Fiction, Romance 

Can Promises Made in Times of Struggle Endure 200 Years? 

Young, spirited Josie Wilkins life is about to take a turn when faced with political turmoil and forbidden love in San Antonio of 1836. John Gilbert has won her heart, despite being a Protestant preacher who is forbidden to practice his faith in Texas. Will either of them survive an epic battle for liberty to create a legacy of love? 

Nearly 200 years later, Kayleigh Hernandez takes breaks from her demanding job as a refugee coordinator working with Mexican migrants to attend flea markets where she has found a uniquely engraved ring. Enlisting the help of appraiser Brandon Shuman, they piece together a love story long forgotten. But will dangers linked to Kayleigh’s work end her own hopes for leaving a legacy built on hope, faith, and love? 

Visit historic American landmarks through the Doors to the Past series. History and today collide in stories full of mystery, intrigue, faith, and romance. 
1

Book Review: Bluebird by Genevieve Graham

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Bluebird
Author: Genevieve Graham
Publisher: Simon & Schuster (Canada)
Release Date: April 5, 2022
Genre: Historical Fiction

A dazzling novel set during the Great War and postwar Prohibition about a young nurse, a soldier, and a family secret that binds them together for generations to come-from USA Today and repeat #1 bestselling author Genevieve Graham.

Present day

Cassie Simmons, a museum curator, is enthusiastic about solving mysteries from the past, and she has a personal interest in the history of the rumrunners who ferried illegal booze across the Detroit River during Prohibition. So when a cache of whisky labeled Bailey Brothers’ Best is unearthed during a local home renovation, Cassie hopes to find the answers she’s been searching for about the legendary family of bootleggers...

1918

Corporal Jeremiah Bailey of the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company is tasked with planting mines in the tunnels beneath enemy trenches. After Jerry is badly wounded in an explosion, he finds himself in a Belgium field hospital under the care of Adele Savard, one of Canada’s nursing sisters, nicknamed “Bluebirds” for their blue gowns and white caps. As Jerry recovers, he forms a strong connection with Adele, who is from a place near his hometown of Windsor, along the Detroit River. In the midst of war, she’s a welcome reminder of home, and when Jerry is sent back to the front, he can only hope that he’ll see his bluebird again.

By war’s end, both Jerry and Adele return home to Windsor, scarred by the horrors of what they endured overseas. When they cross paths one day, they have a chance to start over. But the city is in the grip of Prohibition, which brings exciting opportunities as well as new dangerous conflicts that threaten to destroy everything they have fought for.

Pulled from the pages of history, 
Bluebird is a compelling, luminous novel about the strength of the human spirit and the power of love to call us home.

0

Blog + Review Tour: Her Amish Springtime Miracle by Winnie Griggs

Her Amish Springtime Miracle JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Her Amish Springtime Miracle by Winnie Griggs, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Her Amish Springtime Miracle
Title: Her Amish Springtime Miracle 
Series: Hope's Haven #2 
Author: Winnie Griggs 
Publisher: Grand Central/Forever 
Release Date: May 24, 2022 
Genre: Christian Amish Romance 

In this delightful and heartwarming novel, an orphaned baby brings together an unlikely couple who learn the true meaning of family. 

When Hannah Eicher discovered sweet baby Grace in her barn last spring, the adorable infant seemed like the answer to her prayers. The young Amish baker has always wanted a familye of her own and now that she’s fostered Grace for nearly a year, her adoption application is almost certain to be approved. But an unexpected visitor to Hope’s Haven could change everything… 

Englischer paramedic Mike Colder is only returning to his childhood hometown to locate and adopt his late sister’s baby. But when the trail leads to Hannah and Grace, Mike’s determination falters. With Hannah, the simple life he left behind suddenly seems appealing. Despite their wildly different worlds, can Mike and Hannah give each other—and Grace—the greatest gift of all: a life together? 
0

Book Review: Her Country Gentleman by Sian Ann Bessey, Sarah M. Eden, and Rebecca Connolly


Series: Timeless Georgian Collection: Book 1
Publisher: Mirror Press
Release Date: March 8, 2022
Genre: Victorian Historical Romance

Not all love is found in London...

♡ SPRING AT TRIBBLEY HALL by Sian Ann Bessey
When Charlotte's grandmother invites her to accompany her to Norfolk, Charlotte jumps at the chance to visit the sea and escape the fuss surrounding her sister's wedding preparations in London. Lord William Cheston, on the other hand, is most unhappy when his mother informs him that her old friend and a granddaughter are coming to stay. Not only is it lambing season, but he's also dealing with the mysterious loss of several sheep. The last thing he needs is a child underfoot. When Charlotte and William first meet, he does not realize that the lovely young lady is the granddaughter in question, and she assumes that the man dressed in work clothes in the barn is a servant. Soon afterward, however, Charlotte stumbles upon a clue to William's sheep's disappearance, and when her life is placed in jeopardy, William is forced to choose between saving his unwanted houseguest and catching the thief.

♡ LOVE OF MY HEART by Sarah M. Eden
Cordelia Wakefield has never lived anywhere but London and is not overly happy when her family is forced to retrench to a small estate near Teviotbrae, Scotland. An ill-fated game of battledore and shuttlecock brings her face-to-racquet with Sebastian, who runs the home farm at nearby Teviot Castle. What begins as a clash of personalities, expectations, and preferences, soon leads to a friendship neither had expected. As the magic of Teviotbrae weaves its spell, the possibility of something more than friendship begins to blossom. But what future is there for a lowly farmer and a London lady?

♡ MISS SMITH GOES TO WILTSHIRE by Rebecca Connolly
Martha Smith wants to marry for love, and will not be persuaded otherwise. She is highly sought after in Society for her beauty and status, but refuses to consider any suitor whose only claim is that his prospects meet with her mother's approval. Her widowed mother has had enough of Martha's romantic sensibilities, and is sending her to stay with unfortunate cousins in Wiltshire to show her that marrying for love is a risk that is too great. Benjamin Steele, Lord Hillier, is working on his new and dilapidated estate when he first catches sight of the striking Martha Smith. Becoming Lord Hillier has only brought him a house that needs significant repairs, tenant farms that had been abandoned, and only the money he'd already possessed. He wants meaning in his life, and he's more than willing to work for it. Though worlds apart in all else, on this point they can agree: a life of meaning would change everything.

0

Reviewer Tour: Love Reunited by Tara Taffera

Welcome to the Reviewer Tour for Love Reunited by Tara Taffeta, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Love Reunited
Author: Tara Taffera
Publisher: Forget Me Not Romances
Release Date: April 29, 2022
Genre: Clean Contemporary Romance

Elizabeth Carlson turns heads wherever she goes but has never moved on from Tyler Williams, with whom she shared a whirlwind relationship her senior year of high school. After only a month together, Elizabeth ran away from her past and her broken family. Ten years later, Tyler comes crashing back in her life, eager for a second chance. But she can’t forgive him for the order he issued all those years ago. Slowly, a high school romance turns into so much more, but her secrets, and his anger, threaten to ruin their happily ever after. Will God’s grace and love lead them back to each other?

0

Book Review: Just Add Romance by Heather B. Moore

ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Just Add Romance
Series: Everly Falls #1
Author: Heather B. Moore
Publisher: Mirror Press
Release Date: May 10, 2022
Genre: Clean Contemporary Romance

No commitment? He can do that.
A fling? She can do that.
There's no harm in adding a little romance.

Everly Kane’s life might be on a Plan B track, but she’s perfectly content with her job, her nights out at the movies, and putting her past behind her. She certainly doesn’t need to be reminded over and over that her sister is, well, engaged to Everly’s ex. Spending time with the visiting architect in town is the distraction that she needs.

Austin Hayes is the architect hired to redesign Everly’s beloved theater. As a widower with a young daughter, the last thing he wants is to juggle another relationship. Thankfully, Austin is only in Everly Falls for a few weeks. What could be better than having a fling with a guy who has no power to break her heart?

0

Book Review: The Valentine Proposal by Beth Pugh

Title: The Valentine Proposal
Series: Pine Valley Holiday Series #1
Author: Beth Pugh
Publisher: Candlelight Fiction
Release Date: February 1, 2022
Genre: Inspirational Contemporary Romance

Award-winning photographer Mason Montgomery is back in Pine Valley, Kentucky. 

Hopefully, for good, if his business proposal is accepted. On paper, he’s the perfect buyer for Forget-Me-Not Photography. Too bad the seller, Ol’ Man Rowe, doesn’t see it that way. He’s looking for a family man to take over, and Mason’s bachelor status doesn’t fit the bill.

For shy Lily Anne Dawson, life has not turned out the way she’d hoped. Working at her mother’s bakery and editing for the local newspaper is a far cry from her journalistic dream. She’s a failure. A lonely failure worrying about infertility with no romantic prospects in sight.

That all changes when a decade-old promise to marry on Valentine’s Day pushes the two together at their high school reunion. The impromptu proposal offers a solution to their problems. But marriage requires honesty—and both have secrets. Secrets that could make or break their budding love.


0

Blog Tour: Your Finances God's Way by Scott LaPierre

Your Finances God's Way JustRead Blog Tour 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for the Your Finances God's Way book and workbook by Scott LaPierre, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Your Finances God's Way

Title: Your Finances God's Way 
Author: Scott LaPierre
Publisher: Harvest House
Release Date: May 3, 2022
Genre: Christian living – nonfiction

Experience the Peace that Comes with Wise Stewardship 

Financial insecurity can be one of the greatest threats to your well-being—but the good news is that even if you’re on a tight income, you can eliminate many of your monetary worries when you create and abide by a biblical plan for your spending. 

In Your Finance’s God’s Way, you’ll identify the negative money management habits you need to break and the positive habits that should take their place. Implementing the teaching laid out in the Bible, this book gives you advice and practical steps backed by proven principles, helping you 
 • get the most out of your money by paying off debt and building up savings 
 • make wise spending decisions that enable you to avoid anxiety, regret, and conflict 
 • find a healthy balance between being financially frivolous and frugal to a fault 

Even when you have less to spend, you can use what God has provided to thrive. Whether you’re young or old, married or single, working or staying at home, Your Finances God’s Way will give you everything you need to be a careful steward of the resources you’ve received from the Lord.
8

Social+Review Blitz: Out of the Blue by Susan L. Tuttle

Welcome to the Social + Review Blitz for Out of the Blue by Susan L. Tuttle, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Out of the Blue
Author: Susan L. Tuttle
Publisher: Candlelight Romance (Fiction) 
Release DateMay 10, 2022
Genre: Clean Contemporary Romance

Falling in love again wasn't on her checklist, but he's about to pencil it in.

Nate Reynolds’s ugly history has dogged him long enough. He has spent years reforming himself, but there has to be a purpose for all the pain in his youth. When he discovers the perfect campground for rehabbing juvenile delinquents, he sees his chance for redemption. Even if it means butting heads with the owner’s granddaughter, Gwen Doornbos, a woman who, for all her sharp edges, possesses a heart similar to his. The more time he spends with her, the more he envisions a future he once thought impossible.

Four years ago, Gwen Doornbos lost her husband at the hands of a troubled teen. Her dream of ministering to kids died with him, and she returned home to help her grandfather run their family summer camp until his retirement. That day has finally arrived, except her grandfather has other plans for Camp Hideaway, and they include the irritatingly handsome Nate, a do-gooder with more brawn than sense who insists on bringing the past right to her door.

When an accident requires Gwen to temporarily assist Nate, she discovers that the campers challenge her in ways she’s not ready to face. Yet if she can find the courage to stay, the darkness that has shrouded her for so long may lift to reveal a love arriving out of the blue.

0

Book Review: Dear Bette: Advice from the Screen Queen by Patrice Williams Marks


ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Dear Bette: Advice from the Screen Queen
Author: Patrice Williams Marks
Publisher: Circa Publishing
Release Date: April 7, 2022
Genre: Rich & Famous Biographies

From, Bette: The Life of Bette Davis. “Her father rejected her. Her first husband involved her in a blackmail scheme. Her second died tragically. Her fourth faught her in a bitter custody battle. Her love affairs with Howard Hughes, William Wyler, threatened her reputation. Her mother, sister, and children made demands that threatened her health, her finances and her sanity. Yet, through it all… Bette Davis endured.”

Bette Davis, the outspoken silver screen queen, was known for her unconventional style, her braisenness, and feminist views before there was even a name for it. After receiving thousands of fan letters monthly asking for her advice on personal matters, Bette decided to respond.

This book is a compilation and reprint of answers to such delicate questions from fans such as, “What should I do? I’m in love with two brothers,” or, “I met a man who says he is a talent scout and wants me to come to Hollywood with him. Should I go?,” or, “Is it wrong to be in love with a married man?”

These intimate letters seek advice on child abuse, interracial dating and marriage, body image, entertainment goals, loss of a loved one, wartime woes, and the reporting of a murder.

Shocking, poignant and straight-forward, Bette Davis hands out advice that may surprise you. A “must” for old-Hollywood fans and Turner Classic Movie fans.

(Questions/Responses from letters received, circa 1938-1949)


0

Book Review: Creative Acrylics by Carla Co Chua

Title: Creative Acrylics
Author: Carla Co Chua
Publisher: Quarry Books - Quarto Publishing Group
Release Date: January 11, 2022
Genre: Arts & Crafts

Discover how easy, satisfying, and fun it is to create with acrylic paints and mediums in Creative Acrylics.

Acrylics are one of the most versatile, affordable, and accessible art mediums, and you’ll learn all the tips, tricks, and techniques for blending colors and building texture, plus excellent instruction on how to paint a range of different subjects.

Confused about which types of paints to use, and how to use them? 
Creative Acrylics cuts through the clutter and offers clear fundamentals for working with a variety of paints and mediums to produce beautiful results. Acrylic paint is water-soluble, dries quickly, and is forgiving, making it perfect for those starting out. Begin your acrylic painting journey with an expert who will guide you through enjoyable techniques and projects as you build confidence and ramp up your skills.

Step-by-step techniques, lessons, and projects cover a wide range of styles and genres, including color mixingbrushworkglazing, and how to paint easy floralsstill lifeslandscapes, and animals. Take your new skills even further and paint on different surfaces to create an apron, painted shells, a paintbrush rest, clay pot, and more.

In 
Creative Acrylics you’ll find: 

  • How to set up your workspace to make painting more enjoyable
  • A guide to the different types of acrylic paint
  • Basic techniques such as understanding color and value, and how to add texture and other effects using paint and mediums
  • Lessons and projects that build skills: creating still lifes, florals, landscapes and skies, and painting on fabric, wood, shells, clay, and more

With all these ideas and inspiration, your acrylic painting journey can begin today!

Perfect for all skill levels, the books in the 
Art for Modern Makers series take a fun, practical approach to learning about and working with paints and other art mediums to create beautiful DIY projects and crafts.

0

Book Review: The Veteran's Vow by Jill Lynn

Title: The Veteran's Vow
Series: K-9 Companions #3
Author: Jill Lynn
Publisher: Harlequin-Love Inspired
Release Date: February 22, 2022
Genre: Clean Contemporary Romance

Could his biggest fear be what he needs to heal?

After a traumatic brain injury, military vet Behr Delgado refuses the one thing that could help him—a service dog. But Ellery Watson is sure the perfect pup will change Behr’s life and offers to work with him one-on-one. As Behr sets about overcoming his fears, Ellery’s surprised to find herself opening up about her troubled nephew. Will family obligations force them to deny what’s in their hearts? 

0

Bookstagram + Review Tour: Shadowed Loyalty by Roseanna M. White

Welcome to the Bookstagram+Review Tour for Shadowed Loyalty by Roseanna M. White, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Shadowed Loyalty 
Author: Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Chrism Press 
Release DateMay 2, 2022
Genre: Historical Christian Romance

Sabina Mancari never questioned her life as the daughter of Chicago's leading mob boss until bullets tear apart her world and the man she thought she loved turns out to be an undercover Prohibition agent.

Ambushes, bribes, murder, prostitution—all her life, her father sheltered her from his crimes, but now she can no longer turn away from the truth. Maybe Lorenzo, the fiancé who barely paid her any attention in the last two years, has the right idea by planning to escape their world. But can she truly turn her back on her family?

All his life, Lorenzo’s family assumed he would become a priest, but he has different ideas—marrying Sabina and pursuing a career in the law. Despite his morals, he knows at the core he isn’t so unlike his mafiosi father and brothers. Has he, in trying to protect Sabina, forced her into the arms of the Prohibition agent bent on tearing her family apart? How can they rebuild what has so long been neglected and do it in the shadow of the dark empire of the Mafia?

Shadowed Loyalty, set amid the glitz and scandal of the Roaring Twenties, examines what love really means and how we draw lines between family and our own convictions, especially when following one could mean losing the other.

0

Blog + Review Tour: Secrets of Rosenli Manor by Heidi Eljarbo

Secrets of Rosenli Manor JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Secrets of Rosenli Manor by Heidi Eljarbo, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Secrets of Rosenli Manor
Title: Secrets of Rosenli Manor 
Series: Mysteries of the Modern Ladies' Society #1 
Author: Heidi Eljarbo 
Publisher: Independently Published 
Release Date: March 29, 2022 
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction/Mystery 

Betrayal and trust go hand in hand in the first book of Heidi Eljarbo’s new turn-of-the-century series. 

It’s 1898, and Lilly has spent most of her life motherless and living with a father who never looks for a silver lining. When her great-aunt Agatha passes, Lilly’s existence takes a drastic turn. She packs her few belongings and moves into the old lady’s magnificent estate, Rosenli Manor. 

In the days that follow, Lilly tries to understand who Agatha really was, and hidden secrets slowly rise to the surface. Her great-aunt’s glamorous legacy is not quite what Lilly had imagined. She must trust in newly forged friendships, and to her surprise, she discovers what it means to truly fall in love. But not everyone is happy about the new mistress of Rosenli. 

Intrigue, mystery, and a touch of romance in the Norwegian countryside fill the pages of Secrets of Rosenli Manor. Fans of Rhys Bowen, Julie Klassen, Kathleen McGurl, Kate Morton, and Lucinda Riley will be delighted with this new novel. 
1

Blog + Review Tour: The Rancher's Want Ad Mix-Up by Megan Besing

The Rancher's Want Ad Mix-Up JustRead Blog + Review Tour

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Rancher's Want Ad Mix-Up by Megan Besing, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Rancher's Want Ad Mix-Up
Title: The Rancher's Want Ad Mix-Up 
Author: Megan Besing 
Publisher: Love Inspired Historical 
Release Date: April 26, 2022 
Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance 

A mail-order mistake… 

Or a made-to-be match? 

When Della Mae Wagner’s train arrives in Missouri, she’s shocked to find that the couple who hired her don’t just want a teacher for their grandsons but a wife for their son! After a broken engagement, marriage is not in Della’s plans. And Hank Lamson isn’t pleased—with his parents, with his unexpected guest or with Della’s unfairly appealing smile. But his plans to send her packing are foiled as his family comes to love her…and he feels the walls around his wounded heart start to fall. 
5