Middlebury, Indiana

This contemporary novel is where Amish and Englisch unite to make this a hugely delightful story. Vannetta has a fresh and lovely storyline that bloomed into three novels. MURDER SIMPLY BREWED is the first in the AN AMISH VILLAGE MYSTERY series.

Since murder is in the mix, danger is lingering around the bend. Sergeant Gordon isn’t seeming to find the murderer. Amber Bowman and Hannah’s curiosity and need to find the murderer pull them together in a story that has twists and turns and surprises! But will they find the murderer--I'm not telling!

Vannetta uses an actual town, but all fictional characters. I enjoyed learning more about Amish society and their interactions with the Englisch. This book has that small town inviting feel to it with interesting characters throughout. I've purchased these books for gifts and so far everyone has liked them! 

This is a story with mystery, character and heart! I highly recommended this story and the series.
 

1755 York, Virginia

This story is profound, A HEART ADRIFT, is memorable without question. Laura’s stunningly written tale swept this reader into the foam-tipped tides of a fresh story. Her unique grasp of the depth of human nature—both good and bad punctuate the story, making it dance on the pages, peeling away time so that we mere readers may glimpse the struggles of the 1700s, so remarkably relatable and relevant today. Such as prejudice, pandemic, and corruption of a few powerful men.

Esmée Shaw’s heart had been wounded by love a decade ago. The kind of love weighted with regret that is uncommon, irreplaceable, and which molds her life and future as skillfully as she does chocolate recipes. She has settled in as York’s Chocolatier in her father’s shop. Such a busy town where ships lay anchor and distribute their wares. And sailors remind her of a man she knew, loved, and lost.

Captain Henri Lennox gave his whole heart to the black-haired girl with stunning green eyes. But he was a sailor who couldn’t stay ashore. Adventures and duties awaited his skillful attention. And his return may cost the one he loves dearly more pain. The French threat approaches, and the government needs his sailing skills to defend them.  

Esmée and Henri’s story touches the beauty of generosity and dives into the pits of human greed and corruption. This is a story bolstered by their courage and fully ladened with opportunities for their growth and sacrifice.
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Laura’s brilliant language, intrigue, and details make this story shine—which makes this possibly her best novel yet. Laura reaches the peak of storytelling only to climb up into the clouds and deliver a full-bodied adventure that stays with the reader and inspires courage for today.      
 
I asked Laura if I could share her grandmother's hot chocolate recipe. She had posted it on FaceBook previously. Laura graciously agreed and so dear reader I place it here for your enjoyment! 

Laura F. Frantz's Grandmother's Hot Chocolate Recipe

1/4 cup water
1 Tablespoon cocoa
2 teaspoons sugar
Pinch salt
1 cup milk
Splash vanilla

The key is letting the first 4 ingredients simmer a couple of minutes before adding the milk & vanilla. Organic ingredients are best.
 
Well, there you have it. This is a lovely novel to sit and read and enjoy some of Laura's grandmother's hot chocolate! Blessings on your day!

​Chelsea Palace, London, England, May 1825

While the Duke of Wey is out of town, his daughters are in for an unforgettable season. And they were only looking for husbands! Lady Larissa’s former goal, to marry a prince, is announced at Chelsea Palace by her sister Belle in the presence of Callie, Tuny, Petunia Bateman, and their chaperone, Aunt Meredith, along with several gossips. Still, Lady Larissa knows how to handle tale-bearers—with elegance, grace, and class. Once these ladies meet King Frederick of Batavaria, and his two unmarried sons, Crown Prince Otto, and Frederick Archambault, life, as usual, begins to change.
 
The prince and his family are being followed and hindered by mysterious and possibly dangerous opponents. While this family tries to discover who is throating their efforts for gaining back their country, sparks fly between Lady Larissa and Leo. But the prince and the leader of the Imperial Guard are identical twins and very difficult to tell apart.
 
What I enjoyed about Book 1 of NEVER PURSUE A PRINCE is that the interesting and fun characters brought me into their tale and walked me around their 1825 limitations in the face of danger and challenges and expectations that are hard to meet. What I found particularly entertaining was what the ladies saw with their eyes sometimes proved to not be reality.

Regina shines in this lovely tale of conspiracy, and mystery and romance. She plucked my heartstrings, and I hope that you will give this very talented and inspired writer a chance!
I was given this novel for an honest evaluation and so you have it, reader—I recommend NEVER PURSUE A PRINCE, this author, and I’d love to hear what you think when you read some of Regina’s stories. 

This 40-day prayer journal did something amazing in my heart! These encouraging true stories are opening me where I’ve felt a bit narrower. I’m working my way through this more than a journal on prayer—which is awesome all by itself. Each day has a call to trust or believe or share community and so much more. Each day ends with a brief journal and prayer section for the reader to stop. Breathe and seize the moment of inspiration and invitation to know Him better. Allowing ourselves to be still and know that He is Lord over us if we pause and let Him lead.

As I read through these remarkable and specific days, there is a beautiful lifting and settling of my heart. Amy poured out her heart about her experiences as she encountered challenges and listened to Him in the middle of very different circumstances. So like our own lives, and always inspiring us to step higher and catch the view from these daily mountain tops! As I just wrote that last sentence, I glanced at Amy’s cover and noticed the mountains! How about that! 

And yes, I smiled!

Splendid encouragement from a lovely-hearted young woman of God. I was given a copy of this book for an honest review, and there you have it. Looks like I’ve opened my heart to you, dear reader! If you are searching to know the Lord and deepen your prayer perspective, then this is the book for you! I highly recommend this prayer journey of a journal! 

Questions for Amy:

Right now, which chapter in your prayer journal speaks to you and why?
Chapter 1, Believe In Miracles speaks to me right now. In my family right now we are believing for God to bring healing, restoration, new doors of opportunity and to do the impossible in our lives! ​

What do you like to drink or snack on when your write?
When I’m writing I try to focus more on drinks...like water, coffee, hot herbal tea, sparkling water (LaCroix Limoncello my favorite). For snacks, I grab fruit or chips & salsa. Very challenging to eat those while typing!   :)

Where do you like to write and dream with the Lord?
Lately, I’ve been getting up in the wee hours of the morning I’m going in the basement. Thankfully it is finished so it’s very cozy. It’s a great space to pray and hear from God and I’m not waking anyone up. During the day I like to go out on my patio and dream, journal, pray and hear from Him. 
 
Do you journal a lot? When did you start that?
​I do journal quite a bit. I actually journal out a lot of my prayers or write to God about challenges I’m facing. Sometimes, I write prayers of gratitude & record answered prayers. I also write out scriptures that speak to me about what me and my family are going through. I often insert our names into the Scriptures and pray them over my family & situation. 

I started journaling years ago when I first became a Christian - almost 30 years ago! Yikes!  :0
 
Do you have another book in the works? What can you tell us about it?
I have not started writing another book yet. I have thought about writing a book for special needs families. I want to write about our son Ashton’s Noonan Syndrome
and include the various areas he is affected. I also have a couple of other ideas in the works that I am praying over. 

What ministry for the Lord grips your heart right now?
Lately, the biggest things on my heart as far as ministry go are families and youth. I just see how modern-day society and all of its challenges are weighing heavy on families and on our young people. I am seeking God about ways I can be a part of the solution & help encourage & inspire Moms, Dads & their children living at home. 
 
Do you think your reader's voice matters when they leave a review on Amazon and other social media? Why?
I really think every voice matters. Whether you are are leaving a review on Amazon, another platform or sharing your story in any capacity, I think your voice matters and your story should be told. I think we should all find freedom & boldness to speak and share our faith openly too. This world needs the hope found in Jesus!
 
How do you want your readers to find you?
My readers can find me on my website at www.amyjoob.com, on Facebook at https://www.Facebook.com/AmyRobnikJoob, Instagram at @amyjoob1, or YouTube (Amy Joob). 

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyhv00G4l8bFgmBK7Y0OA6w/
https://www.instagram.com/amyjoob1/
email  amyjoob@yahoo.com  

Beautiful.
That is my one-word description of this third book of the AMERICAN WONDERS COLLECTION. I have so much to say about A VIEW MOST GLORIOUS! The characters are fresh and stunning. They are vibrant and well-rounded and quite different from one another. They are challenged emotionally, mentally, and physically by Mount Rainier and each other’s goals. Honestly, the way that Regina described the ascent and descent on Mount Rainier was so perfect—just as though she walked in Coraline Baxter’s boots. The hero, Nathan Hardee, is strong and complicated, as Coraline Baxter is determined and resourceful. The other various characters add so much to the interest and power of this tale.  

The descriptions mesh wonderfully with the challenges and emotional changes of the characters while moving the story along. This is a page-turner that you don’t want to miss. The experience of these written words has my stamp of excellence on every level.
I’ve longed to read VIEW MOST GLORIOUS, the third book of AMERICAN WONDERS COLLECTION from Revell. The covers are lovely--a delightful way to see some of America’s fabulous park areas through the exciting tales of relatable and inspiring characters.

VIEW MOST GLORIOUS is a satisfying and beautifully written, and insightful novel that I was sent a free copy of for an honest review. This is my favorite series by Regina, and that is saying a lot. This is a writer that I respect, admire, and enjoy. I’m honored to share her newly published novel, and this story was an experience for me. I’m too cowardly to climb such a mountain, but to experience this challenge through the eyes of Regina’s characters was absolutely rewarding, refreshing, and satisfying! Hint, hint- this series or this novel would make a wonderful Christmas, birthday, or just because gift to those you love! The stories in this AMERICAN WONDERS COLLECTION are stand-alone novels as well as being part of a series. How did you come up with the hero, Nathan Hardee’s background?

I knew who Coraline, my heroine, was—a strong young lady who is determined to make her own way in the world. She was going to need a guide to climb the mountain, so the hero had to be skilled in living in the wilderness. But I also wanted someone who could appreciate the lifestyle she lives. It’s easy to look at someone who is born into wealth and think they have it made. Cora has always been at the mercy of others. He understands that. 

QUESTIONS FOR REGINA:

How did you come up with Coraline Baxter’s Achilles heel, her mother?
Because Cora has chosen to walk a path few ladies trod in those days (although there were some!), I wanted someone close to her to be a contrast. Her mother is what many women aspired to be in the late 1800s. She wields her power quietly, in Society and through her husband. She’s buried two husbands before this one, so she knows how to keep that power too. But it’s not the kind of power Cora wants.

Have you climbed Mount Rainier? Your descriptions of the characters’ ascent and descent, their reactions and the views were so specific. I loved this!
While I have hiked all over that mountain, I have never reached the summit. I considered trying it in the leadup to the book’s publication, but the amount of preparation would have been too much with family and writing, especially with the coronavirus. I’m afraid I’m not in Cora’s shape, LOL. However, there is a marvelous book by Aubrey Haines, a former park ranger, called “Mountain Fever.” He has gathered first-hand accounts of those who climbed Rainier in the early days. The details, combined with my own experiences on the mountain, helped me imagine what it might have been like for Cora.

Will you write any additional AMERICAN WONDERS COLLECTION novels? If not, what is your next novel to be published?  
At the moment, this book is the last one planned in the American Wonders Collection. In January, I will be returning to my beloved Regency period with the release of Never Pursue a Prince, a follow-on to my bestselling Fortune’s Brides series. Can the daughter of a duke give her heart to a prince in disguise when she and her sisters vow to be wed by harvest time?

 
You can find Regina Scott at:
​
www.https://www.reginascott.com

https://www.facebook.com/authorreginascott

https://www.pinterest.com/reginascottpins/_created/

Other book reviews and author interviews for AMERICAN WONDERS COLLECTION series by Regina Scott! 

NOTHING SHORT OF WONDEROUS (11/8/2020
http://www.susanmarlene.com/book-review--author-interview/archives/11-2020
​
A DISTANCE TOO GRAND  (10/4/2019
​http://www.susanmarlene.com/book-review--author-interview/archives/10-2019
​

BEYOND THE MASK is a go-to movie for me! The Burns Family Studios formed an excellent fiction film inspired by actual historical happenings. I love the storyline, characters, and Ben Franklin’s inventions! This is a clean, family-friendly adventure that I find so pleasing! The film also includes exciting scenes with the East Indian Company! If you watch this movie, I’d love to hear what you enjoyed most about this film.
​
My hopes are high that The Burns Family Studio will release a new film every bit as good as BEYOND THE MASK!  

London, England, May 1817


From the opening line to the very last—all the way to the end of the epilogue, Julie Klassen bound me to the pages. Her winsome and dark characters drew me into the situations, concerns, and mysteries that each one held secret from each other and from the readers for a time.

THE SECRET OF PEMBROOKE PARK is steeped with mystery as Abagail Foster and her father arrive to inspect their possible temporary home, due to their recent financial woes. My brain immediately tried to figure out why the former family left teacups on the table and their possessions unpacked and in their closets. I’ll bet that you would love to know too!

The characters’ concerns played perfectly into the plot. Abagail and Louisa Foster are sisters whose integrity and goals are revealed to be completely different from one another. Their longings, as well as the curate, Mr. William Chapman, and distant relation, Miles Pembrooke, kept me turning pages to find out what would happen next! Even the least important characters took on life and seemed full-bodied!

A book review just doesn’t do such a book justice. I highly recommend this story to historical fiction lovers. If you’ve not read THE SECRET OF PEMBOOKE PARK, I suggest that you do! 

This was not my first time to read this historical mystery, but it held me with the same strength and interest. This is a story about relationships and riches and the treasures people pursue. THE SECRET OF PEMBROOKE PARK should become a classic! In my estimation and on my bookshelf, it already is.

QUESTIONS FOR JULIE:
 
Have you traveled to England, and is or was western Berkshire an actual location? (What inspired you to write about this town and storyline?) I’m delighted that you did! 

Thank you! Yes, while Pembrooke Park is a fictional estate, Berkshire is a real county in England, west of London. I feel blessed to have traveled to England several times now and have even hosted two group tours there. Lord willing, I will be able to return one of these days.
 
The mystery throughout the story is superb! What inspired you to write this story? 

The idea was inspire by something from my childhood. In the countryside where I grew up, there was a wooded area about a half-mile behind our home. Among the trees was an abandoned house with three walls still standing. I was fascinated to look upon its crumbling walls, the sagging piano, and the tattered blue dress on its hanger. I tried to imagine what had happened to the people who once lived there and why they left so suddenly without their belongings. I found it very satisfying to weave this real-life mystery into The Secret of Pembrooke Park.
 
Who is your favorite character in this mystery? Why?

I enjoyed several characters, but if I had to pick a favorite, it would be the young clergyman, William Chapman. He is handsome and humble, godly and kind, but also a man’s man—athletic, good-humored, and hardworking.
 
Where do you feel most inspired to write? For example, home, coffee shop, or a hidden cabin in the woods? 😊
 
A lot of my ideas are inspired by traveling and research, but for purely focused writing, I am happiest in my little turret office overlooking the lake.
 
Is there anything you would like to add and tell your readers?

If you enjoyed the mystery elements of this novel, I think (hope!) you will also enjoy my next release, Shadows of Swanford Abbey (December 2021).   
 
What is your favorite way to hear from your readership? 
I enjoy interacting with readers through social media (Facebook and Instagram), and receiving emails at julie@julieklassen.com always makes my day. Thank you!
 
You can find Julie Klassen at: https://julieklassen.com/ 
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJulieKlassen
https://www.instagram.com/julie.k.klassen/

Release date, September 7, 2021

DiAnn Mills set my heart to pitter-pattering with this suspenseful tale. Emphasis on suspense. DiAnn skillfully lured me into the difficulties and challenges of Shelby Pearce and FBI Special Agent Denton McClure, who have an adversary equipped with intelligence, connections, and extreme ruthlessness.

Shelby Pearce is in prison at the start of the novel. She’d confessed to murdering her brother-in-law and is believed to have embezzled five hundred thousand dollars of his money. At her release from prison, she is looking for a fresh start, but complications keep arising. Maybe someone is after the money? Are you wondering if she took it too? I’m not telling.

Shelby is super likable, smart, and has excellent instincts. You can believe me when I tell you that she will need every bit of skill that she owns to combat the opposition and more.
Denton McClure is a rookie assigned to the Pearce case. I think he is everything a hero is meant to be! I loved the interaction between characters and how they grow to know one another. These are the perfect characters for the right kind of plot! I refuse to tell spoilers. I will tell you that I had a difficult time putting this story down! Interesting, enlightening, and perfectly entertaining! I highly recommend this novel and this author friend of mine, DiAnn Mills! If you expect an adventure—you will get one with DiAnn’s suspense!

I was given the TRACE OF DOUBT novel for my honest review, and I have happily provided my reaction and thoughts.

1861 London, England

This debut novel that has the yawning emotional pull and suspenseful secrets one finds in the classics, even of Charles Dickens. And may I say that I believe that even Dickens would have to approve of Joanna Davidson Politano’s storytelling!
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Aurelie Harcourt’s father passes, which spins his daughter into a world of secrets, mystery, and danger. He left Aurelie an emotionally distant family and his famous pen name, Nathaniel Droll, which has kept his identity hidden from avid readers and fans.  He raised his daughter in the strangest of situations and left her—not his fault—to fend for herself in a suspicious family of means. I love the main character; she is intelligent, strong, and resourceful. Believe me—she has to be so to be in this situation. She captured my admiration immediately, and Aurelie’s story drew my attention with exacting meticulousness.

May I quote Aurelie to you, “Fiction was not always a lie, but a truth told in parallel to real life.” How I’ve always believed that myself! Well stated, Aurelie. The generations of her family and the other characters of interest were excellently represented and kept my full attention and appreciation for their crafty, mind-boggling fabulous uniqueness.

The beauty of the writing and the uniqueness of this tale kept me turning pages and loving every millisecond of well-spent time of pursuing these pages. This hauntingly wonderful story is a reread and favorite. I’ll keep it close on my well visited shelves. If you like to think through the story, enjoy the cadence of the language, and hold on through twists and turns—well, this is a story for you that I’m excited to point out to you. Thank you, Joanna for writing with excellence and clever challenges your character had to scale.  

You may find Joanna Davidson Politano at:

http://jdpstories.com/
https://www.pinterest.com/sunshine39n/