Tag Archive for: The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn

Feature: The Portraitist, Susanne Dunlap

Hello readers and followers! It is my pleasure to be a part of the virtual book tour for The Portraitist, a new release by Susanne Dunlap. This historical fiction novel is based on the true story of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard, an eighteenth-century artist. I want to thank Amy Bruno at HFVBT for the invite. Enjoy the tour and thank you for stopping into The Cozy Book Blog! Best, Diane-Lyn

THE PORTRAITIST: A NOVEL OF ADELAIDE LABILLE-GUIARD

BY SUSANNE DUNLAP

Publication Date: August 30, 2022
She Writes Press

Genre: Historical Fiction

Based on a true story, this is the tale of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard’s fight to take her rightful place in the competitive art world of eighteenth-century Paris.

With a beautiful rival who’s better connected and better trained than she is, Adélaïde faces an uphill battle. Her love affair

with her young instructor in oil painting gives rise to suspicions that he touches up her work, and her decision to make much-needed money by executing erotic pastels threatens to create as many problems as it solves. Meanwhile, her rival goes from strength to strength, becoming Marie Antoinette’s official portraitist and gaining entrance to the elite Académie Royale at the same time as Adélaïde.

When at last Adélaïde earns her own royal appointment and receives a massive commission from a member of the royal family, the timing couldn’t be worse: it’s 1789, and with the fall of the Bastille her world is turned upside down by political chaos and revolution. With danger around every corner in her beloved Paris, she must find a way to adjust to the new order, carving out a life and a career all over again—and stay alive in the process.

BUY THE PORTRAITIST

Praise

“An imaginative work that brings the story of a little-known artist to vivid life.” –Kirkus Reviews

“Deeply researched and imagined, The Portraitist offers a fascinating and dramatic plunge into the world of a brilliant female artist, struggling to make her mark before and during the turbulent and treacherous era of the French Revolution. I loved this novel.” –Sandra Gulland, international bestselling author of The Josephine Trilogy

“Written with breathless drama, The Portraitist follows the rise of the gifted portraitist Adélaïde Labille-Guiard in Paris during the last years of the late eighteenth century. The novel is a luminous depiction of Paris and those terrible times seen through the astute, compassionate eyes of a woman who had to paint. Every bit of lace, or royal carriage or bloody cobblestone is alive in the writing. The rain drumming on the skylight and a misbuttoned coat speak. Go to those streets with this book in your hand to follow her footsteps and those long-gone turbulent times will come alive to you as if they were yesterday.” –Stephanie Cowell, award-winning author of Claude and Camille

“In The Portraitist, Susanne Dunlap skillfully paints a portrait of a woman struggling to make her way in a man’s world — a topic as relevant today as it was in Ancien Regime France. Impeccably researched, rich with period detail, Dunlap brings to life the little known true story of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard, who fought her husband and society to make a name for herself as a painter to the royal family, the very apex of success– only to find everything she had built threatened by the Revolution. A stunning story of determination, talent, and reversals of fortune. As a lifelong Elisabeth Vigée-LeBrun fan, I am now questioning my allegiances!” –Lauren Willig, New York Times bestselling author of The Summer Country and Band of Sisters

“[The Portraitist is a] luminous novel of Adélaïde Labille-Guiard, whose livelihood and longing for respect are threatened by the institutions that deny women artists their due, compounded by the tumultuous events of the French Revolution. Deftly written and impeccably researched. Highly recommended.” –Michelle Cameron, award-winning author of Beyond the Ghetto Gates.

Giveaway

Enter to win a paperback copy or Audiobook of The Portraitist by Susanne Dunlap!

The giveaway is open to the US only and ends on September 8th. You must be 18 or older to enter.

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Direct Link: https://gleam.io/MYlQ3/the-portraitist

About the Author

Susanne Dunlap is the author of twelve works of historical fiction for adults and teens, as well as an Author Accelerator Certified Book Coach. Her love of historical fiction arose partly from her studies in music history at Yale University (PhD, 1999), partly from her lifelong interest in women in the arts as a pianist and non-profit performing arts executive. Her novel The Paris Affair won first place in its category in the CIBA Dante Rossetti awards for Young Adult Fiction. The Musician’s Daughter was a Junior Library Guild Selection and a Bank Street Children’s Book of the Year, and was nominated for the Utah Book Award and the Missouri Gateway Reader’s Prize. In the Shadow of the Lamp was an Eliot Rosewater Indiana High School Book Award nominee. Susanne earned her BA and an MA (musicology) from Smith College, and lives in Biddeford, ME, with her little dog Betty.

For more information, please visit Susanne Dunlap’s website. You can follow author Susanne Dunlap on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Instagram, Pinterest, and BookBub.

The Orphan House, Ann Bennett

Diane-Lyn’s Synopsis:

1934: Connie Burroughs lives in Cedar Hall, an English orphanage run by her powerful, wealthy and well-respected father – Reverend Ezra Burroughs. The large dwelling is home to the Burroughs family, countless young orphans, and a plethora of dark secrets. When a mysterious baby arrives at the doorstep, an infant somehow familiar to Connie, she begins to realize that nothing is how it seems and nothing will ever be right.

Present Day: Sarah Jennings is in the middle of a painful divorce. She leaves town and moves in with her father to escape the difficult situation. Decades earlier, her father had been an orphan at Cedar Hall, and spent years trying, unsuccessfully, to find his biological roots. Sarah decides to help him, but when her father is diagnosed with a terrible illness, it becomes a race against time. The orphanage has long since closed. Connie, now elderly, is the only Burroughs family member who is still alive. Memories of her domineering father and the mysteriousness of Cedar Hall continue to haunt her to this day. She lives in fear that long buried family secrets will be exposed.

And then, there’s the diary…..

Diane-Lyn’s Review: 

The Orphan House is a deeply emotional, riveting page turner. Author Ann Bennett drew inspiration for the book from her great-grandfather’s experience as a school superintendent for pauper children. She used her knowledge and family background to create a remarkable work of historical fiction. It is told from the alternating points of view of the three central characters – Connie, Sarah, and Anna. Bennett’s presentation of each was rich, detailed and intimate. I was so saddened by Anna’s story and the impact it had on so many lives for years to come. Connie’s father, Ezra, was a cruel, domineering narcissist who used his powerful position to gain control and wealth; all while hiding behind his religion. It was the 1930’s, a time when women had few choices. Wives obeyed their husbands. Secrets remained secrets. The shame and scrutiny of bearing a child out of wedlock was debilitating. And nothing was ever questioned. Ever. Ezra’s secrets and intimidation framed Connie’s childhood and kept her scared and silent even decades later. The Orphan House takes us through decades of lies upon lies, leading to complex mysteries, and explosive surprises. The story alternates between the past and the present, weaving through Connie’s tense upbringing in Cedar Hall, Anna’s unforgiving village in India, and the modern day chaos of Sarah’s life in England. Despite multiple eras and settings, the story read easily and flowed smoothly. I was completely absorbed in all of it from start to finish. This is an extremely captivating, heart-wrenching, yet hopeful novel. The Orphan House left me staggering long after I finished. If you enjoyed Before We Were Yours, and Orphan Train, you will love The Orphan House. Bravo!

To Purchase:

If you would like to purchase The Orphan House by Ann Bennett, click this link: Amazon. This is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click the link and make a purchase, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. Happy reading!

Seeing Eye Girl: A Memoir of Madness, Resilience, and Hope, Beverly J. Armento

***Release Date: July 5. 2022

Hello Readers, I am thrilled to have had the opportunity to read and review this powerful, emotional memoir – Seeing Eye Girl by Beverly J. Armento. Many thanks to Jackie Karneth at Books Forward for the invite and ARC. Adults who were wounded as children, as well as anybody in the education profession, will connect with Beverly’s journey on so many levels. Enjoy my review, and thank you for visiting The Cozy Book Blog. Best, Diane-Lyn

                                                   

                                                   Seeing Eye Girl, Beverly J. Armento

Beverly Armento grew up during the 1940s / 1950s; the eldest of four children. She spent her childhood caring for her blind mother – a selfish, mentally ill and abusive woman. Beatings, frequent moves, poverty, deplorable living conditions, an absent father and a mother’s paranoid delusions took center stage in Beverly’s life for decades. Each and every day, Beverly struggled for safety, survival and her own sanity. She found herself escaping into books and fantasizing of a better life elsewhere. Her only real escape, however, was school. School became Beverly’s sanctuary, her safe place, her refuge from a horrific and unpredictable home life. Beverly loved school – a place where she felt valued and nurtured. God sent this child a team of angels in the form of teachers. It was Beverly’s teachers who saw her potential, mentored her and ultimately helped to save her. Over time, Beverly learned to compartmentalize her emotional self, becoming “weak Beverly” at home and “strong Beverly” at school. During school hours, Beverly was transformed into a confident, hopeful and happy child; a child who felt safe and was able to blossom. Education became her ticket out of a troubled world – a ray of hope in a hopeless situation. Beverly did eventually make it out, but escaping was a painful process and one that plagued her with overwhelming guilt. Even after leaving, her life did not go on unscathed. The emotional aftermath of Beverly’s ordeal continued to follow her despite breaking ties with her mother and her past. Beverly’s tremendous resilience resulted from getting appropriate help, working very hard on herself and coming to terms with her past in order to save her future.

Seeing Eye Girl is a well organized, well written, and riveting narrative of surviving and thriving against so many odds. From the first page, I was completely absorbed in Beverly’s story. The writing is solid, thorough and detailed, but maintained a good pace. I enjoyed the interwoven historical context; racial segregation, the Brown vs. Board of Education case, the tragic assassination of President Kennedy. Armento did an excellent job of embedding the state of our nation into her personal world. Seeing Eye Girl is a realistic and honest account of abuse, the lingering effects of ongoing trauma, and the shame and fear that kept her silent for so many years. This book is an inspiration to anybody with a troubled background trying to find their way. As an educator, I found this book highly relatable; a poignant reminder of some of the frightened, hurting children who have walked through my classroom doors, in desperate need of a positive adult role model. By sharing her story, Armento has created a tribute to teachers and a reminder that our work matters. It truly matters. In her own teaching career, Beverly was able to give her students what she got from her teachers. A teacher’s power and influence create ripple effects on young lives for years to come.

If you enjoyed Tara Westover’s Educated, you will love Seeing Eye Girl. There is nothing more empowering than watching a once broken child evolve into healthy adulthood; rising up through strength, courage, and the indomitable power of education. I highly recommend Seeing Eye Girl – a moving, unforgettable story of hope, trust in God, and resilience. Bravo!

**To purchase Seeing Eye Girl. simply click this link: Amazon. Please note that this is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click the link and purchase the book, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. Happy reading!

About the Author

 

 

BEVERLY J. ARMENTO: Inspired by the many teachers who mentored her, Beverly J. Armento became an educator and enjoyed a fifty-year career, working with middle school children as well as prospective teachers. Retired now, she is Professor Emerita at Georgia State University, and holds degrees from The William Paterson University, Purdue University, and Indiana University. She currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia. Her memoir, “Seeing Eye Girl,” was awarded a bronze medal from the IPPY awards. For more information, please visit: www.beverlyarmentoauthor.com

Credit: Erin Brauer Photography

To enjoy an interview with the author, Beverly J Armento: click here

 

 

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Book Tour Review: The Unveiling of Polly Forrest, Charlotte Whitney

Hello and welcome to The Cozy Book Blog! I am thrilled to be today’s stop on the book tour for the new release, The Unveiling of Polly Forrest, a gripping historical fiction novel by Charlotte Whitney. I read and reviewed this book after being provided with an ARC from the author. I want to thank Amy Bruno at HFVBT for the invitation. Set in a small farming community in Michigan during the Great Depression, this novel is a twisting ride of love, murder, secrets and greed. Check out my review and other information below. Thank you again for visiting The Cozy Book Blog. Enjoy the tour!

Best, Diane-Lyn

 

The Unveiling of Polly Forrest by Charlotte Whitney
Publication Date: March 15, 2022
Lake William Press
Paperback & eBook; 322 pages
Genre: Historical Fiction/Thriller
Rural Michigan, 1934.
When her new husband Sam perishes in a bizarre farm accident, would-be milliner Polly soon becomes the prime suspect in his murder. As she digs for evidence to clear her name, Polly falls into a sinister web implicating her in a nefarious crime ring being investigated by White House Police. Polly’s life and those of her family are at stake.
Narrated by Polly, her self-righteous older sister, Sarah, and Sarah’s well-meaning, but flawed husband Wesley, a Methodist minister, the story follows several twists through the landscape of the rural Midwest. During the throes of the Great Depression Polly marries for money. After her husband Sam dies in a freak farm accident, new bride Polly assumes she is financially set to pursue her dream of opening a hat-making business. Instead, she becomes the prime suspect in Sam’s murder. Secrets abound and even Polly’s family can’t figure out the truth.

Diane-Lyn’s Review:

There’s nothing like a brisk-paced, engrossing mystery – especially one with historical context. The Unveiling of Polly Forrest grabbed me right from the first page. Set in Marshall, Michigan during the Great Depression, this novel opens with the brutal “accidental” killing of Sam Forrest. When his twenty year old widow, Polly, displays some frivolous behavior following his death, she finds herself at the center stage of public suspicion in their small, gossipy farming community.

The novel is told from the alternating points of view of three central characters – Polly, Sarah (Polly’s sister), and Sarah’s husband, Reverend Wesley Johnson. All three of them are realistically flawed; their imperfections adding an authentic, relatable feel of the book. Polly and Sarah share a supportive, yet complex, sisterhood – one marked by undercurrents of tension and jealousy. I found Sarah to be responsible and dedicated to Polly, but she also harbors unjustified resentments toward her. Polly’s undeniable selfishness and immaturity cause strife between them, much of which settles as Polly evolves throughout the story. Wes’s character was the most likable of them all. Whitney captures the reverend’s human temptations and inner struggles, but also his integrity and commitment to family and the community.

Whitney interwove the financial hardships of that period deeply within the chapters, and this historical backdrop provided a clear and poignant picture of life in depressed times. Food shortages, loss of farms / homes, second-hand, ill-fitting patched clothing, the emotional toll on families losing everything. This context gave the book rich emotional layers and added to the plot line and character development.

Greed, deception, murder, the stress of plummeting finances, and the shame / secrecy of battered women are just a few of the issues presented in this multi-themed novel. And brace yourself for a huge shocker toward the end. This novel is engaging, thought-provoking and highly recommended for readers who love a compelling historical story filled with intrigue and suspense. Bravo!

To purchase this novel at Amazon, simply click this link: The Unveiling of Polly Forrest. This is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click the link and purchase the book, I receive a tiny commission a no additional cost to you. My opinions remain my own. Happy reading!

About the Author

Charlotte Whitney is the author of historical fiction set in the rural Midwest during the Great Depression. Her most recent work, The Unveiling of Polly Forrest, a stand-alone historical mystery follows her groundbreaking novel, Threads A Depression-Era Tale, which was met with much critical acclaim. In addition, she has authored I Dream in White, a contemporary romance, and How to Win at Upwords, a nonfiction book about her favorite word game.
Threads: A Depression Era Tale was a quarter-finalist in the Publishers Weekly Booklife Fiction Contest. It also received Honorable Mention in the Readers’ Favorite International Book Awards 2020. This is also an affiliate link, as described above.
She received a master’s degree in English at the University of Michigan, and after a short stint of teaching at two community colleges, worked at the University of Michigan where she was an associate director of the Lloyd Scholars for Writing and the Arts. An avid reader, she loves libraries and book clubs. Currently living in Arizona with her husband and two dogs she enjoys hiking, bicycling, swimming, and yoga.

 

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A Deadly Legacy, Malia Zaidi – Guest Post

Hello and welcome to The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn! I am so excited to be today’s stop on the virtual book tour for A Deadly Legacy, the new release by Malia Zaidi. Many thanks to Amy Bruno at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the invite! Keep reading to learn about this intriguing historical mystery novel, and enjoy my special guest post by the author herself! Thank you again for stopping in and enjoy the tour!

**To stay up to date on all of my reviews and tour stops, you can subscribe to my blog by clicking the subscribe button on the right sidebar. Subscribing is free. You will be only notified of my new blog posts, which occur about once or twice a month. You will never be placed on additional mailing list.

Best, Diane-Lyn


A DEADLY LEGACY BY MALIA ZAIDI

Publication Date: March 15, 2022
Paperback & eBook

Genre: Historical Mystery
Series: A Lady Evelyn Mystery, Book 6

A few months after the Carlisle Detective Agency opened its doors, Lady Evelyn and her partner, Hugh, are twiddling their thumbs. The cases are slow to trickle in, leaving the detectives feeling uninspired. So, when Evelyn’s Aunt Louise asks her to join the local chapter of the Women’s Institute, she has no excuse to decline the invitation. Yet what she expects to be a tedious gathering, turns out to be anything but. She meets former suffragettes and outspoken women, eager for change, forcing Evelyn to reexamine her own prejudices. A decidedly less welcome surprise is the body she comes across only a few days later. Evelyn need hardly be a professional detective to recognize a murder when she sees one. Amid planning her wedding and navigating family affairs, she sets out to solve the case. The investigation takes Evelyn and Hugh into the past, examining the war years, which left the present far from untarnished. Is the victim’s history connected to her death? Could her involvement in the war have given someone a motive for murder? The questions pile up, and Evelyn and Hugh must race against the clock to discover the truth, before more lives are lost, not least, their own…

Guest Post by Author Malia Zaidi

The Struggle of Endless Possibilities

A part of what I love about reading and writing is that it can take you anywhere. New
worlds can be created, characters can be granted inhuman powers, adventure, true
love. There are no limits when it comes to fiction, but for a writer just this endless
opportunity can sometimes prove a bit of a burden.
My books, The Lady Evelyn Mysteries, are part historical fiction, part mystery,
and so they are grounded in facts in terms of setting and period details. However, when
it comes to what the characters do and where the story goes options are far more
unlimited. How to choose a path? For some writers, I know it helps to map out and plan
every chapter, to know precisely where the story will go, for others, outlines feel
constricting, and are ever changing to the point of being entirely useless. My own
process falls somewhere in between. I start with a rough outline, but all the details are
left for me to fill as I write. Sometimes it can be difficult to decide on a path to take and
tempting to veer away from it at times when a different possibility enters the equation.
The endless options can make writing daunting at times, but I find, once I get started, I
get a better feeling of what is right for the story and what isn’t. For my genre, there is
just enough certainty, just enough grounding in a world that already exists or existed,
that I cannot hurl myself too far from the right track. For other genres like fantasy or
science fiction, I imagine choosing a direction is far more challenging. A world that you
create from nothing can be anything, and therefore the story runs the risk of being
overfull. My advice is simply to go with your gut and keep writing. It can be a daunting
task sometimes, especially when your imagination is given completely free reign, but I
believe if a story is going to be told, the author will have a sense for what is right for it.

AMAZON | BARNES AND NOBLE | BOOKS-A-MILLION | INDIEBOUND | TARGET | WALMART

About the Author

Malia Zaidi is the author of The Lady Evelyn Mysteries. She studied at the University of Pittsburgh and at the University of Oxford. Having grown up in Germany, she currently lives in Washington DC, though through her love of reading, she resides vicariously (if temporarily) in countries around the world.

FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

Blog Tour Schedule

Thursday, May 19
Review at Passages to the Past

Monday, May 23
Excerpt at Heidi Reads

Friday, May 27
Excerpt at The Caffeinated Bibliophile

Monday, May 30
Guest Post at The Cozy Book Blog

Tuesday, May 31
Review at Gwendalyn’s Books

Thursday, June 2
Guest Post & Excerpt at Older & Smarter

Saturday, June 4
Review at History from a Woman’s Perspective

Monday, June 6
Excerpt at bookworlder

Thursday, June 9
Excerpt at Coffee and Ink

 

 

Shadows in the Mind’s Eye, Janyre Tromp

Hello followers, visitors, & book lovers! Thank you for coming in today and welcome back to The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn! I am thrilled to be today’s stop on the virtual book tour for Shadows in the Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp. Many thanks to Amy Bruno at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the invite. Below you will find a synopsis, my review and some other information on this intriguing new release. Thanks again for dropping in and enjoy the tour.

Diane-Lyn

SHADOWS IN THE MIND’S EYE BY JANYRE TROMP

Publication Date: April 19, 2022
Kregel Publications

Genre: Historical Fiction/Christian

Charlotte Anne Mattas longs to turn back the clock. Before her husband, Sam, went to serve his country in the war, he was the man everyone could rely on–responsible, intelligent, and loving. But the person who’s come back to their family farm is very different from the protector Annie remembers. Sam’s experience in the Pacific theater has left him broken in ways no one can understand–but that everyone is learning to fear.

Tongues start wagging after Sam nearly kills his own brother. Now when he claims to have seen men on the mountain when no one else has seen them, Annie isn’t the only one questioning his sanity and her safety. If there were criminals haunting the hills, there should be evidence beyond his claims. Is he really seeing what he says, or is his war-tortured mind conjuring ghosts?

Annie desperately wants to believe her husband. But between his irrational choices and his nightmares leaking into the daytime, she’s terrified he’s going mad. Can she trust God to heal Sam’s mental wounds–or will sticking by him mean keeping her marriage at the cost of her own life?

Debut novelist Janyre Tromp delivers a deliciously eerie, Hitchcockian story filled with love and suspense. Readers of psychological thrillers and historical fiction by Jaime Jo Wright and Sarah Sundin will add Tromp to their favorite authors list.

Review by Diane-Lyn:

Oh my – nothing is as it appears to be in this stunning historical fiction novel by Janyre Tromp. The constant twists and turns left me, as well as the main characters, wondering what was real and what was imagined; begging the question of delusion versus reality.

Tromp has written a love story of perseverance; the endurance of two hurting souls trying desperately to hold their family together after unimaginable trauma. Sam returns home from war a broken man, struggling with what is now known as PTSD. As he works to integrate himself back into his family, nightmares, flashbacks and triggers take hold – putting him on the brink of insanity. To make matters worse, strange things begin to happen on their farm, and even Sam cannot discern what is real and what is imagined. It doesn’t help to live in a community filled with organized crime and corrupt political leadership. Still, everybody around Sam begins to question his mental capacity. Tromp did a brilliant job of immersing the reader into Sam’s post-war inner battles, as told from alternating points of view between Sam and his wife, Annie.

This novel has great historical context. Set in Hot Springs, Arkansas, post World War II, I enjoyed the authentic early southern dialect and spiritual themes. Tromp’s writing is smooth and clear. The book is well researched and well organized. The plot line flowed beautifully. The characters are insightful, well developed and realistic. I was intrigued by Annie’s traumatic childhood and her level of strength and love despite her agonizing start in life. My favorite was Sam’s mother, Dovie May, who was such a source of strength, support and wisdom throughout the novel. Shadows in the Mind’s Eye incorporates love and family with crime and corruption. Addiction, murder, family secrets, betrayal, and the tremendous emotional aftermath of war all come together in this is multi-layered and multi-themed book. There were so many parallels between Sam’s story and that of Louie Zamperini, the former WWII POW. Both suffered nightmares and flashbacks in various settings. Restaurants were difficult for both of them as even certain food items triggered horrific memories and reactions. Both marriages were profoundly tested after the war. The story lines are different, but the general themes are comparable. If you were moved by Zamperini’s story, you will enjoy Shadows in the Mind’s Eye. This novel is well written and uncovers the realities of post-war trauma, including its effect on entire families. I recommend this book to historical fiction lovers, or to anybody looking for a good read about a family in turmoil. Brace yourself for an array of characters and some surprise endings. Well done!

“Sometimes God uses broken things to save us. Ain’t no light that can get through something solid. It sneaks through the broken places.” Dovie May, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye (Tromp)

**I was provided with an ARC of this novel in exchange for an honest review. My opinions on this novel are my own.

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE | INDIEBOUND

Praise

“Readers will enjoy this emotional exploration of a soldier’s journey as he returns home to his family’s farm after fighting a war in the Pacific. This story examines not only the traumatic impact on his own psyche but on the lives of all who love him most. With alternating points of view, Tromp weaves a complex historical tale incorporating love, suspense, hurt, and healing―all the elements that keep the pages turning.” — Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of Perennials

“Oh my! What a story! Shadows in the Mind’s Eye is a stunner of a debut novel. Sam and Annie’s love is beautifully rendered, Sam’s combat fatigue (what we now call PTSD) is compassionately portrayed, and Janyre Tromp’s writing effortlessly captures the Southern voice. And the last half of the book is one dangerous, breathtaking twist after another, as Sam’s worst nightmares come to pass. A compelling look at a town struggling to find its soul and a wounded couple struggling to reclaim their love. Not to be missed.” — Sarah Sundin, ECPA best-selling and award-winning author of Until Leaves Fall in Paris

“An achingly poignant tale of rediscovering love and trust between wounded hearts. Love, forgiveness, and danger weave together in Tromp’s emotional tale where the greatest of battles are fought in the mind. Beautiful in description with complex characters, readers will not forget this emotional journey.” — J’nell Ciesielski, best-selling author of The Socialite

“Stunning and compelling, Janyre Tromp’s Shadows in the Mind’s Eye kept me turning pages. With a cast of true-to-life characters, pitch-perfect narrative, and a plot that will keep the reader wondering what is true (and what is imagined), this novel is not to be missed. Intense and full of heart, Tromp delivers a fresh voice in the world of fiction.” — Susie Finkbeiner, author of The Nature of Small Birds and the Pearl Spence Series

“With twists and turns as unexpected as an Arkansas thunderstorm, Tromp brilliantly explores the things war can change and the important things it can’t.” — Lynne Gentry, USA Today best-selling author of Lethal Outbreak

“A hair-raising, mind-bending psychological thriller, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye by Janyre Tromp deftly explores a marriage torn asunder by war. Is a marriage worth fighting for when you cannot see the people your husband is fighting, or when you even become the one he is fighting? Tromp’s nuanced empathy elevates this story to another level and blurs the line between villain and hero, causing readers to ponder the lengths they would go to protect themselves, even against the ones they love.” — Jolina Petersheim, bestselling author of How the Light Gets In

“Shadows in the Mind’s Eye is an intense, beautifully written novel about secrets and sacrifice. A story about poignant trauma and truth potent enough to heal a broken family. A fabulous debut!” — Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of The Winter Rose and Catching the Wind

“With pitch-perfect dialect, lyrical prose, and homespun wisdom, Tromp delivers a slow boiling mystery that dares to ask the deepest questions about faith, love, suffering, evil, and hope.” — Elizabeth Musser, award-winning author of The Promised Land

“Tromp’s debut novel is the perfect blend of historical fiction and psychological thriller. Shadows in the Mind’s Eye hooked me early on and kept me enthralled until the very end. A story of war, of heartache, of love and healing, this novel will appeal to a broad swath of readers. Tromp is a new author to watch!” — Kelli Stuart, award-winning author of The Fabulous Freaks of Monsieur Beaumont

Author Janyre Tromp

In case we get to meet in person some day, you pronounce that first name Jan-air. Kind of like the stove. I’m a developmental book editor by day and a writer at night.

And that all happens from my kitchen table when I’m not hanging out with my husband, two kids, and slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog. Unfortunately, I spilled coffee on my super cape and then the dryer ate it. So you’ll just have to imagine I can do it all!

I have four traditionally published books—a WWII era novel, Shadows in the Mind’s Eye; a juvenile fiction, That Sinking Feeling; and two board books in the All About God’s Animals series—and 2 indie books—Wide Open, a historical novella and It’s a Wonderful Christmas, a Christmas novella collection (coming October 2021).

But my passion is writing about the beauty of the world—past and present—even when it isn’t pretty.

After all, isn’t it the beauty in the world that gets us through the day?

Hopefully after you hang out with me for a bit, we’ll be able to see things a little more clearly, find a little bit of meaning, and make a bigger impact.

With me what you see is what you get…all the Beautiful, all the Ugly, all the Me.

WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS

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The Viscount’s Lady Novelist, Alissa Baxter

Hello, and welcome to The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn. I am thrilled to be today’s stop on the virtual book tour for The Viscount’s Lady Novelist by Alissa Baxter. Many thanks to Amy Bruno at Historical Fiction Virtual Book Tours for the invitation. Below please find an excerpt and other information about this intriguing new novel. Thank you for visiting my book blog and enjoy the tour!

Best, Diane-Lyn

 

THE VISCOUNT’S LADY NOVELIST
BY ALISSA BAXTER

Publication Date: April 26, 2022
Vinspire Publishing

Genre: Historical Romance
Series: The Linfield Ladies, Book 2

Harriet Linfield is a lady novelist who has been disillusioned by love. She sets out to write more realistic tales about the emotion when she returns home to Linfield Court for the summer. Vowing to avoid any romantic entanglements along the way, she focuses instead on her writing and her plan to turn the estate she inherited from her uncle into a refuge for orphans.

Oliver, Viscount Wentford, is determined to restore his family fortunes. But his plans for the estate he inherited are in direct opposition to the wishes of Harriet, his new neighbour. Upon meeting her, Oliver is amused when, in response to his provocative comments, she informs him that she intends to make him the villain of her next book. But his amusement swiftly turns to dismay when circumstances align to show him in that exact light.

When an enemy comes back into Harriet’s life, she sees that love isn’t as clear-cut as the romantic tales she pens. But will the viscount manage to discard his villainous mantle to become Harriet’s real-life hero?

Excerpt:

“Will you be staying long in North Somerset?”
A slight smile touched his lips, but his solemn voice reflected no hint of humour. “My
man of business has hired a team of servants to make Greenacres liveable. I plan to move in
shortly, as I have business concerns to attend to there. I don’t wish to trespass on your parents’
hospitality for too long.”
“No, indeed, my lord. They are delighted to have you stay. Before you arrived at the
breakfast table this morning, Papa said he was eager to show you his natural history collection. It
is housed in what was, until recently, the southeast wing of the stables.”
“I look forward to viewing it.” He studied her for a moment and then spoke softly, “Poor,
harried Harry—surrounded by natural historians, and unable to escape.” He tucked her hand into
his arm and drew her closer to the colliery wall. “I gather your whole family calls you Harry?”
“My brothers and sister do…and some of my friends. But not gentlemen I barely know.”
He drew to a halt. “That is something I hope to remedy.”
“What is?” She eyed him warily.
“Barely knowing you.”
“Oh!” She blinked and then found herself quite unable to avoid speaking in a rush of
verbiage. “Let me show you our five-hundred-year-old oak while we wait for James.” She
pointed towards the other side of the colliery before walking ahead to the ancient tree. Looking
over her shoulder, Harriet found him close behind her. He stared at the majestic oak and let out a
soundless whistle. “A magnificent specimen.”
Up in these branches is a comfortable nook where I used to read The Juvenile Budget by
Anna Laetitia Barbauld as a little girl, and then later, much less—um—improving tales. I stole

many hours alone here, and my brothers and sister never discovered my hiding place.” With a
hesitant smile, she indicated her old hideout amongst the wide, crooked branches.
He leaned against the rough tree trunk and examined her closely. “Have you always felt
the need to retreat from the world?”
“I suppose I have.” She rubbed a gloved hand over her eyes. “I love my family, but in
order to maintain my equilibrium, I must withdraw from the clamour of communal life quite
frequently.”
“I had the opposite problem as a child before I was sent away to school.”
“I can’t imagine how very lonely you must have been, having no brothers or sisters to
play with.”
He shrugged. “Children grow accustomed to their situations, and I was used to being
alone.”
Pressing her lips together, she frowned. “Your parents were frequently away from
home?”
“My mother died when I was five from influenza. My father also contracted the illness
and never fully recovered. He was an invalid for the rest of his life.”
Tears welled up, and she blinked the moisture away.
“You have such a tender heart, Miss Linfield.” A smile flickered on his lips.
Harriet turned to one side. “It, well—it’s a tragic story.”
“With a sympathetic nature such as yours, life cannot be easy.” His voice softened.
“It is my greatest fault—feeling things too deeply.” She drew in a trembling breath.
“I wouldn’t call it a fault per se… But it wouldn’t do you any harm to develop some
armour. In a harsh world, it is the sensitive plants that are blighted first.”

Staring up at him, she shook her head. “It is difficult to change one’s nature.”
“Indeed. And natures such as yours have unique compensations. I forgot that.”
“Compensations?”
“A rich internal world and spiritual resources to draw upon in grim times. More robust
characters might lack those things.”

AMAZON | BARNES & NOBLE

Praise

“A charming love story set in the English countryside that’s grounded in impeccable research.” ~ Kirkus Reviews

“Alissa Baxter’s writing is period perfect.” ~ Mimi Matthews, USA Today bestselling author of The Matrimonial Advertisement

“This book is gorgeous!” ~ Rachel Burton, author of The Tearoom on the Bay

“A truly traditional Regency romance, with lots of witty banter, very reminiscent of Georgette Heyer. Recommended for anyone who likes a completely clean traditional Regency, with strongly authentic writing, historical accuracy and a satisfying romance. Baxter’s writing is excellent, and her dialogue, manners and settings are true to the era.” ~ Mary Kingswood, author of traditional Regency romances

“While immersing the reader in the mores and life of the Regency era, Alissa Baxter manages to write strong, independent heroines whom modern-day women will cheer and root for. Plus the addition of little details that wrap around the plot and the characters make reading her books all the more special because you never know when you might land on a little Easter egg morsel in the beautiful and engaging prose. Historicals with heart and engaging characters that read real—that’s what you get in Ms Baxter’s books.” ~ Zee Monodee, USA Today bestselling author

About the Author

Alissa Baxter was born in a small town in South Africa and grew up with her nose in a book on a poultry and cattle farm. At the age of eleven, she discovered her mother’s collection of Georgette Heyer novels. The first Heyer novel she ever read was Sylvester and she was hooked on Georgette Heyer after that. She read and reread her novels, and fell totally in love with the Regency period and Heyer’s grey-eyed heroes!

After university, where she majored in Political Science and French, she began writing her first Regency novel, before moving to England, which gave her further inspiration for her historical romances.

Alissa has lived in Durban and Cape Town but she eventually settled in Johannesburg where she lives with her husband and two sons. Alissa is the author of two chick-lit novels, Send and Receive and The Blog Affair, which have been re-released as The Truth About Series: The Truth about Clicking Send and Receive and The Truth About Cats and Bees.

Alissa’s Linfield Ladies Series features women in trend-setting roles in the Regency period who fall in love with men who embrace their trailblazing ways… at least eventually. The Viscount’s Lady Novelist is the second book in this series.

 

Thank you!

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Feeling Fate, A Memoir of Love, Intuition and Spirit, by Joni Sensel

Hello Readers,

Thank you for visiting The Cozy Book Blog by Diane-Lyn. I am thrilled to present a sneak preview of an intriguing soon-to-be released memoir – Feeling Fate by Joni Sensel. Enjoy the information, summary and excerpt below. Many thanks to Jackie Karneth at Books Forward for the invite. Thanks again for stopping in!  Best, Diane-Lyn

                                      Synopsis of Feeling Fate:

Intimate memoir reveals how a premonition of a loved one’s death led one woman to cherish their time together more fully

Joni Sensel’s true story of numinous experiences gives meaning to the unknown

SEATTLE, Washington – From nearly the start of their fairy-tale romance, Joni Sensel knew she would lose the man whose love changed her life. A dark premonition had warned her. Though she kept this secret in their short time together, upon his death she’s compelled to share it in a letter addressed to his spirit.

In “Feeling Fate” (She Writes Press, April 26, 2022) Sensel defends the insights of the heart regarding love, intuition, hints of an afterlife, and other experiences that defy logical explanation. 

A grief memoir with a paranormal twist, “Feeling Fate” explores how Sensel’s dark intuition magnified her love and gratitude for her partner before her premonition came true. Torn between faith and skepticism after the loss, Sensel is nearly undone by her grief—until further uncanny experiences help her defeat despair and find meaning in the irrational insights of the heart.

An intimate and soulful read with some playful humor, Sensel proves that sharing our spiritual and intuitive experiences can lead us to a more fulfilling, joyous understanding of life and love.

Excerpt from Feeling Fate:

Excerpt from “Feeling Fate” by Joni Sensel
My dearest Tony,
You’d been gone a couple of hours, but your body was still here. All six-foot-two of you
stretched out on the living room floor on the sheet the paramedics had used to carry you
downstairs. They’d banged your big feet and shoulders against the wall and balustrade. As I
followed them, I’d looked away. Pretended not to hear that clunking. Now I was crouched on the
step stool in the kitchen, clutching my robe around me and trying not to see your husk from the
corner of my eye. Your essence clung more to the kitchen cabinets you’d installed, the slate
gray appliances we’d picked out together, the wood grain flooring you’d removed and replaced.
But it’s a small house we shared, so your face loomed pale in my peripheral vision.
I hunkered over my knees, my position upright but fetal. I needed to be close to the floor.
Where it’s hard to fall down. The floor your body was laid out on. It kept us together. I
considered slipping down to the cold laminate and curling into myself there. Its chill seemed
inviting. But I didn’t want to make the volunteer EMTs, mostly strangers, any more
uncomfortable than they already looked.
They’d tried hard. For an hour. After my own thirty minutes of CPR on your chest. They
were kind. Several lingered until Mom or the medical examiner could arrive so I didn’t have to
wait by myself. You were gone. In the meantime, I had to make myself small, low to the ground,
so the Universe wouldn’t notice me there. It had made a bargain with me, and the price had
come due, but the real pain hadn’t hit yet. If I stayed small, maybe I could keep the pain smaller,
too.
Mom and Dad arrived, sliding open the door. A puff of cold came in with them, the air
chilled by the two feet of snow on the ground. I looked up but stayed down, my wrists pressed to
my chest.
Mom bent toward me. “I’m so sorry, honey.” She probably put an arm around me. I don’t
remember.
Tears choked my voice. “I’ve always known I wouldn’t have him for long.”
She straightened. “How did you know?”
She probably expected to hear of some illness, some diagnosis you’d had. There hadn’t
been one. The paramedics had not wanted to believe the bottle of aspirin in the kitchen
windowsill was there for our two arthritic dogs, not so you could thin your blood or treat splitting
headaches. They asked over and over when I told them the truth.
Their persistence stirred a childhood wound—aspirin and I have an ugly history—but I
understood why they kept asking. Nobody likes the grim fact that a strong, athletic man of fifty-
nine might die in his sleep, without the slightest warning, at 4:45 in the morning. Your only
health complaints were knees worn down by football and an old shoulder injury stirred by the
lifting you’d done to single-handedly build dormers onto our house. You didn’t even carry the
typical American’s spare twenty pounds. We’d pumped iron at our local gym twelve hours
earlier. We’d made love in front of the fire before heading upstairs to bed.
But when Mom asked how I knew our time would be short, I shrugged through my tears.
“I don’t know. Pre-birth contract?” The truth was too complicated to push out while weeping.
So I’m telling you instead, sweetheart. We never talked about this, though it was on my
mind often. I tried once to share this secret. But my bargain with the Universe was hard to bring

up. It seemed presumptuous to suggest I’d made a divine bargain for you as though you had no
say in our love. You were too self-possessed, too powerful a man for me to claim such a thing.
Even if I knew it was true.
More importantly, I was afraid to give my intuition weight. To put it in words. If I never
said what I knew, maybe it wouldn’t come true. Better yet, perhaps I was wrong, a kook for
believing divine forces made bargains.
Your death three years later confirmed my worst fears . . . while sliding rebar into the
intuitions that form my spiritual faith. I’m put in the strange position of having lost the one thing
in my life—you—that had convinced me of a benevolent Universe of wonder and love. And yet
your loss and our fairy-tale romance are also my best proof of spiritual truths—a capital-I
Infinite, divine forces of fate. If I’m to survive, I have to cling to that rebar. Searing or not, it
reminds me that a grander reality exists. My heart knew the truth, and I have to keep trusting it.
Through and beyond the despair of my grief.
I can no longer touch you or smell your scent on your pillow. My intuition, that most
maligned of the senses, is the only one I can lean on to keep your love close. As far as I know,
there were no other secrets between us. Please let me share this one with you now: all the hints
that accumulated on my big premonition, like coral building a reef. They added up to my
knowing. You gave me evidence you knew it, too, which kept us honeymooning for nearly four
years. That internal wisdom deserves to be honored. I have to explain what my heart knew, and
how.

About the Author:

Joni Sensel is a certified Grief Educator and the author of more than a dozen
books, including the memoir, Feeling Fate (April 2022), which Kirkus called, “A poignant,
engaging guide to healing that’s infused with valuable insights into dealing with grief.” She lives
in the Pacific Northwest. Learn more at https://www.jonisensel.com/

 

Click Amazon to purchase. Note that this is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click the link and make a purchase, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. Happy shopping!

Good Eggs, Rebecca Hardiman

Hello Readers,

If you have been following my blog for a while, you know that I tend to gravitate toward genres with darker, more serious themes. I love a poignant book that makes me think and feel deeply. I lean toward historical fiction that tackles tough times of the past, as well as page-turning mystery thrillers and weighty true stories. So, when I came across Good Eggs, I was unsure if Rebecca Hardiman’s lighthearted debut novel was going to grab me and hold onto me through 323 pages. After a brief internal debate, I decided to give it a chance and I must admit that I loved this book. It took a while for me to warm up, but before long I found myself truly enjoying the relatable Gogarty family craziness and the hysterical antics of eighty-three year old Millie. This is a fun book about family dysfunction; one that is sure to deliver a much-needed stress break to anyone who reads it. Enjoy my review of Good Eggs below. Best, Diane-Lyn

Synopsis by Diane-Lyn:

Despite the fact that Kevin Gogarty is unemployed, he has more on his plate than he can handle. His wife, Grace, often travels for work – leaving Kevin alone to deal with their four children. His teen daughter, Aideen, is an angry, rebellious young lady about to be shipped off to boarding school. He is at his wits end with his shop-lifting eighty-three year old mother, Millie, and her never-ending shenanigans. In an effort to help Millie get control of her behavior, he hires Sylvia, a young, energetic home aide. At first, Sylvia seems like the perfect companion for Millie. That is, until….

Review by Diane-Lyn:

Good Eggs is a generally feel-good novel focusing on the ups, downs and overall chaos of the Gogarty clan – a rowdy, dysfunctional, multigenerational Irish family. At center stage is Millie, a likable, spirited eighty-three year old grandmother determined to live life independently and on her terms. Her “terms” include shoplifting, belching loudly at the dinner table, an elaborate escape from an elder care facility, and kidnapping. Millie is hilarious, but Hardiman did a superb job of balancing this character by presenting a few somber pockets of her past. In doing so, she brought the reader back to Millie’s earlier life, a time that included some pain. These transitions were brief. They weren’t overdone and they didn’t distract from the overall mood of the novel. They just presented Millie as a whole person; a balanced character. Stubborn, fun loving, and boisterous – but also with a history of loss and heartache; a true survivor.

I loved Aideen’s character as well, and I felt for her throughout the book. Aideen, the less attractive, less admired fraternal twin of Nuala, is the angry “problem child” of the family. Her parents deal with this by shipping her off to boarding school, apparently never considering that this decision would only make her 100 times more angry (Duh!). Once there, she immediately latches on to another rebel and her problems escalate more than anybody could have ever imagined. There were definitely personality parallels between Aideen and Millie and it was great to see them connect and understand each other.

Kevin’s character is scattered, but he does his best to manage a high-maintenance family – all while having a midlife crisis of his own. His wife, Grace, is the sole bread winner of the family and needs to work in order to support everybody. However, her job involves constant traveling to exotic places, deeming her an absent parent and creating a very unbalanced parental dynamic. Grace’s character is not likable and seriously lacks appropriate priorities. She was an uninvolved parent, yet she couldn’t understand why her children wouldn’t share details about their lives with her. Then, in the midst of a family crisis, she responds to Kevin by saying, “…I’m at work and you’re the parent”. Oh yes, priorities.

I found Good Eggs to be light and humorous; heartfelt but not overly emotional. I loved how the novel tackled the issues that elders face today. I was able to connect with some of the family themes, which were well represented through the lenses of three generations. I enjoyed seeing the family come together in the end, despite all of the quirky bumps in the road. The twists and turns were, at times, unrealistic. However, these stretches didn’t seem inappropriate given the genre, and they even added to the hilarity of the novel. The book was well-organized and well-written, although I did enjoy the second half of the book more than the first. Fun, relatable and engaging, Good Eggs was a nice break from heavier themed books, yet still had plenty of substance on which to ponder. Bravo to Rebecca Hardiman for a debut novel that has it all!

I recommend Good Eggs to anyone looking for an entertaining book that offers some comic relief. To purchase your own copy of Good Eggs, just click this link: Amazon: Good Eggs. This is an affiliate link, which only means that when you click the link and purchase the book, I receive a tiny commission at no additional cost to you. Happy reading!

The Summer Getaway, by Susan Mallery

Hello Followers and Visitors.

Thank you for visiting The Cozy Book Blog. I am pleased to be today’s stop on the book tour for The Summer Getaway, by Susan Mallery. Many thanks to Lisa Munley at TLC Book Tours for the invite. Enjoy the synopsis and excerpt below. You will love this soon-to-be released novel!

Best, Diane-Lyn

About The Summer Getaway

Publisher: HQN; Original edition (March 15, 2022) Hardcover: 416 pages

One woman discovers the beauty in chaos in this poignant and heartwarming story about the threads that hold family together from #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery.

With her divorce settlement about to run out and a mortgage she can’t afford, Robyn Caldwell needs a plan for her future. She nurtured her family and neglected herself. But how’s she supposed to think when her daughter has become the most demanding bride ever, her son won’t even consider college, her best friend is on the brink of marital disaster and her ex is making a monumentally bad decision that could bring everything crashing down on Robyn’s head? So when her great-aunt Lillian invites her to Santa Barbara for the summer, Robyn hops on the first plane.

But it’s hard to run away when you’re the heart of the family. One by one, everyone she left behind follows her across the country. Somehow, their baggage doesn’t feel as heavy in the sun-drenched, mishmash mansion. The more time Robyn spends with free-spirited Lillian, the more she sees the appeal in taking chances—on dreams, on love, on family. Life is meant to be lived on purpose. All she has to do is muster the courage to take a chance on herself.

Excerpt:

“Having fun, Iliana?” Harlow Caldwell raised her voice over the roar of the boat’s engine.
The ten-year-old nodded, her wide grin saying more than any words. Both her small hands
were on the wheel, with Austin, Harlow’s younger brother, standing right behind her, ready to
take control.
“We’re doing great, Captain,” Austin said, giving Harlow a mock salute.
“I’m going to tell Thea we’re heading in,” Harlow said. “And get everyone ready to disembark.”
The charter had been a success. Three families had gone out for a day of sun, fun and
fishing. Eight hours later, everyone was happy and tired, which was how Harlow liked her
charters to end.
She took the stairs down from the flying bridge to where the three guys were sipping beer on
the stern deck, while two of the wives sunned on the foredeck. Only Thea sat inside, skin pale
and eyes closed.
There was always one, Harlow thought, who couldn’t handle the motion. She’d never been
seasick herself, but had seen enough of the malady.
“Hey, Thea,” she said softly.
The fortysomething’s eyes opened. “Are we heading back?” she asked, her tone both hopeful
and desperate.
“We are. In about two minutes, we’re going to get some chop. When we’re in the marina, the
boat will stop rocking. Come outside and face the wind. Stare at the horizon, or close your eyes,
and keep breathing. Five minutes and then we’re done.”
Thea struggled to her feet. “I haven’t felt this horrible since I was pregnant.”
“I know it’s been bad.” And the motion sickness medicine hadn’t helped. “Just a few more
minutes. Once we dock and you’re on steady land, your stomach will settle quickly.”
“I hope so.”
Harlow guided her guest to the rear of the boat and had her sit so she was blasted by the
wind. Right on time, they hit the chop, and the boat began to sway. Thea clutched the side, her
face going white.
“It’s okay,” Harlow told her. “Austin knows what he’s doing.”
“If you say so.”
Harlow excused herself to tell everyone else they were nearly back at the marina. She got the
lines ready, then returned to check on her queasy guest. Just then, they entered the protected
waters of the marina, and the rocking stopped. Thea relaxed her death grip on the side of the
boat.
“Better?” Harlow asked.
“A little.” Thea offered a tight smile. “I swear, I’m never getting on a boat again in my life.”
Harlow patted her arm, then went up the steep stairs to the flying bridge. Iliana was in her
seat, watching Austin worshipfully as he guided the fifty-foot boat through the marina.
When he saw Harlow, he stepped back, giving her the wheel. He winked at Iliana before
making his way to the main deck, where he would be responsible for securing the lines.
Harlow watched for other boats and the kayakers who ignored the signs that said they
weren’t allowed in this part of the marina. She went past their slip before easing the engines into
reverse, then backed into the space. She cut the engines and used the thrusters to snug up
against the finger pier. Austin stepped onto the dock and tied off the aft line, then jogged to the
bow and secured that line, as well.
Harlow checked the upper deck for any items belonging to their guests before going down the
stairs ahead of Iliana.
“Both hands,” she told the ten-year-old.

About Susan Mallery

#1 NYT bestselling author Susan Mallery writes heartwarming, humorous novels about the relationships that define our lives?family, friendship, romance. She’s known for putting nuanced characters in emotional situations that surprise readers to laughter. Beloved by millions, her books have been translated into 28 languages. Susan lives in Washington with her husband, two cats, and a small poodle with delusions of grandeur. Visit her at SusanMallery.com.

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