Welcome to Friday Reads!
Stop by to learn about the book, read an excerpt and my review, and enter to win one of three e-books (three separate winners)! Click here.
Showing posts with label #FridayReads. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #FridayReads. Show all posts
Friday, November 6, 2020
Friday, September 25, 2020
"Airborne" by DiAnn Mills ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Welcome to Friday Reads!
Stop by to learn about the book, read an article by DiAnn, and check out my review. You can enter to win a copy of the book, too (US ONLY).
Click here.
Friday, July 31, 2020
"Rocky Mountain Revenge" by Rhonda Starnes ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Stop by my blog to learn about the debut release from Rhonda Starnes, Rocky Mountain Revenge. You can read an excerpt and my review, as well as enter to win a copy of the book.
Friday, June 19, 2020
"The White Rose Resists" by Amanda Barratt ... and a GIVEAWAY!
It's #FridayReads, and I'm featuring the latest release from Amanda Barratt, The White Rose Resists. Stop by to read an excerpt and enter to win a print copy of the book (US ONLY).
Friday, May 8, 2020
Stop by my blog to learn about Kimberly Duffy's debut, read an excerpt, and enter to win a print copy of the book (US ONLY).
Click here.
Friday, March 27, 2020
"Once Upon an Irish Summer" by Wendy Wilson Spooner ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Wendy has offered to give away an electronic copy of the book. You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends April 3, 2020. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.
You can read my review, as well as enter the giveaway here.
Friday, March 13, 2020
"The Blizzard Bride" by Susanne Dietze ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Welcome to Friday Reads!
Susanne's publisher has agreed to give away three (3) print copies of The Blizzard Bride. (US ONLY) You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends March 20, 2020. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
You can read a Q&A with Susanne and my review, as well as enter the giveaway here.
Friday, February 28, 2020
"Killer Insight" with Virginia Vaughan .. and a GIVEAWAY!
Virginia has offered to give away a print copy of the book (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends March 6, 2020. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.
You can read my review, as well as enter the giveaway here.
Friday, February 14, 2020
"The Tea Chest" by Heidi Chiavaroli ... and a GIVEAWAY!
You can read my Q & A with Heidi and my review, as well as enter to win a copy of her latest release, The Tea Chest (US ONLY, print copy) on my new website/blog. Giveaway ends February 21, 2020.
Friday, December 6, 2019
"Misleading Miss Verity" by Carolyn Miller ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Carolyn's publicist has agreed to give away a complete set of the "Daughters of Aynsley" trilogy (all three books!) to one lucky blog reader (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends December 13, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
My review...
This is the final installment in the “Daughters of Aynsley”
series, but it could be read as a standalone (which is what I did).
The cover catches the reader’s eye, and the characters
quickly pull them in to this charming tale. It’s the first book I’ve read my Miller,
and I found it to be engaging and filled with vibrant descriptions. The book
has a little bit of something for just about everyone, including castles, horse
races, pirates, and foreign settings. Verity’s vulnerability made her easy to relate
to adore. In general, characters (including the secondary ones) and scenes were
well-developed, and things moved along at a realistic pace. There is a
spiritual element woven throughout the story, so it’s not overwhelming. Faith,
hope, and love are key themes. Fans of Regency novels (and those wanting to
check out the genre) should pick this one up!
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t
required to leave a positive review.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Excerpt...
Chapter One
Bath, Somerset
January 1820
It was the sobbing that decided her.
The Honorable Verity Hatherleigh eased from her bed and stole
across the room to the disconsolate girl whose snuffling and muffled
weeping made sleep impossible. She touched her roommate on the
arm. “Lucy, dear. What is wrong?”
The shrouded figure shifted, lowering the heavy blankets whose
inability to stifle the sounds of sadness had perturbed Verity’s slumber. Clouded moonlight streamed pale from the window, framing a
plain, round face made less lovely by red eyes and blotched cheeks.
“It’s Papa. He . . . he’s—” Lady Lucinda Wainbridge gulped, her chin
quivering, a sure sign more waterworks were in the offing.
“Now, Lucy, stop, take a deep breath”—Verity waited as the older
girl complied—“and tell me what has happened.”
After another shaky breath, Lucinda exhaled noisily, then blew
her nose with a honk reminiscent of a startled goose.
“If you don’t want Miss Pelling to check in here, you might want
to do that more quietly.”
Lucy’s eyes flashed accusingly. “You weren’t here when I was telling the others.”
“No, because I was in Helena’s room, helping her with her French
for tomorrow’s examination, as you well know.” Verity dashed back
10
Misleading Miss Verity
to her bed and pulled on her padded dressing gown. These rooms, for
all the exorbitant fees paid, were never heated properly. She returned,
wrapping a woolen blanket around her shoulders. “Now, what happened to your father?” Had the Earl of Retford sickened? Her heart
quickened. Had he died? Poor Lucinda . . .
Lucinda shook her head. “Nothing has happened to Papa. It’s
what he will do.”
“Which is?”
“Remove me from Haverstock’s!”
This was a bad thing? “Why are you so certain he will?”
Lucinda wiped her eyes. “He’s bound to as soon as Haverstock
sends him the letter she found from William.”
“She found it? I thought you had it well secured. Didn’t you place
it under the floorboard as I suggested?”
“I was going to . . .”
Lucinda’s shoulders slumped, and she looked so miserable, Verity didn’t have the heart to scold her roommate’s folly. Dear foolish
Lucy, with her silly infatuation for a squire’s son of whom her fastidious parents would never approve. Many had been the confidences
Lucinda had whispered, ever since Verity had been forced to leave the
room she had previously shared with Helena. Many a dull evening
spent listening to Lucy prattle on about William’s inestimable qualities, whilst Verity strained to hear the telltale creaks in the hall that
told of vigilant staff, waiting until the creaks had quite faded away
before stealing across to the room which had fostered a friendship
more dear than that of her family’s.
Helena Chisholm was the most loyal and encouraging person Verity had ever met, filled with a zest for life and mischief that rivaled
Verity’s own. When Miss Haverstock had been informed about one
of Verity’s previous secret visits to the headmistress’s study by the
not-so-honorable Prudence Gaspard, Verity’s separation from Helena had been swift, painful, and irrevocable. Her punishment was to
be bored by Lucinda’s ill-advised romance for the remaining weeks
until their schooling was considered complete.
Not that Verity was against romantic attachments as such; more
Carolyn Miller
11
that with such opposites involved, this particular attachment seemed
a complete and utter waste of emotions, when anyone could see it
was an attachment doomed to futility and failure. Her lips twitched.
Although, judging from Lucinda’s descriptions of her beau, he
seemed as dull as she, so perhaps they were well-matched.
“This is not funny, Verity. What am I going to do? When Papa
sees what we have been writing to one another, he’ll have a fit, and
threaten to marry me off to old Lord Winchester. I’d rather die than
marry him!” Lucinda sniffed, as another tear tracked down her face.
“What did William write that is so concerning?” Normally Lucinda
shared every phrase over and over until Verity could mouth along
too, but lately she had been too busy helping some of the younger
girls prepare for their upcoming examinations. “Surely it cannot be
so bad.”
The moonlight revealed a faint blush on Lucinda’s cheeks. “It was
most poetic. William was describing me, you see. He said I am beautiful.” She smiled a wobbly smile.
“And if he loves you, then I suppose he should.” Verity nodded her
affirmation, while wondering at how men could be so blind. Lucinda,
beautiful? Even at her best she could only be described as somewhat
attractive. Verity knew herself to hold no pretensions to beauty—her
hair was too black, her eyes too pale, her eyebrows too slanted, her
chin too pointed, the whole effect considered to be odd-looking rather
than attractive, or so her mother said. But it had always surprised
her how men could see what they wanted to see, such as the men
who loved her elder sisters and openly admired their golden beauty,
most recently at last month’s Boxing Day Ball during which Cecy’s
betrothal had been announced. In Verity’s mind, Helena was more
attractive, her smile even brighter than the red curls that adorned her
head. “Titian-haired” their drawing master had once remarked.
Lucinda sighed, reclaiming Verity’s attention. “I suppose he did
get a little carried away.” She smiled coyly, clearly inviting Verity to
enquire further.
Verity stifled the yawn. “It’s very late—”
About Carolyn...
Caroloyn Miller lives in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of Regency romance, Miller has won a number of Romance Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers awards. Her debut series, Regency Brides, is now available in German and Dutch translations and on audiobook. She's a memeber of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. See more at carolynmillerauthor.com.
Where you can find her online...
Friday, November 22, 2019
"Call to Love" by Mary Felkins ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Mary has agreed to giveaway one copy of the book to one lucky blog reader. (Winner's choice of a print copy - US ONLY - or an electronic copy.) You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends November 29, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
Call to Love – The
Story Behind the Story
Unbeknownst to me, moving to the foothills of the Appalachian Mountain from my hometown, Houston, Texas, in September, 1997, with my husband and our two kids (now, four) stirred a sleeping desire. Enveloped in breathtaking landscape during the radiance of fall color and cooler temperatures, my imagination began to stir. As a child, I’d “written” several little “stories” (most of which I still have) but never dreamed I’d be called to write professionally – as evidenced by the fact that I acquired a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Nutrition. But these characters I now know by name started talking. I saw them interact with each other, listened in on their dialogue. No clue this was the foundation of a book. As scene ideas interrupted conscious thought, refusing to be silenced, the prophetic sentence spilled out…“I’ll write a book.”…on the heels of an unsavory conversation with my husband about our financial situation at the time.
I wanted to create a heroine who, after the shooting death of her law enforcement father two days before the father-daughter dance, had come to believe the lie that love can’t be trusted, that life is a vapor. It made sense to create her profession as a nurse in the emergency department where she often sees evidence of the frailty of life.
I have great respect for the profession of law enforcement, particularly after graduating from our local police department’s Citizen Police Academy, in 2012 for research purposes and was compelled to create the hero as a hyper-vigilant, robust, and brawny cop. Fun to write, enjoyable to read!
I wondered, What would it be if two crisis-driven professions who don’t hesitate to answer emergency calls crossed paths – one hurt by the loss of her law enforcement father’s death and the other abandoned by his ex after years of investment and sacrifice – yet refused to answer God’s call to love again?
Blurb...
What if saying yes to love means trusting the kind of man you said
you’d never marry?
What if pursuing a woman’s heart means restoring a painful past?
Tracy Cassidy, a fiercely independent ED nurse, must choose
between her dream job or staying in her hometown to help support her mother’s
faltering ministry. Even if it means risking her heart in love with the kind of
man she said she’d never marry.
Why sign up to be Laurelton’s next cop widow?
Tom DeLaney, a hyper-vigilant cop and new hire from Texas, is
wearied by years of failed rescue attempts to save his marriage to his ex. A
free man, he moves to the foothills of North Carolina.
Thing is, he hadn’t
expected to fall for Tracy, his supervisor’s sister. But when his adolescent
son is diagnosed with a chronic illness, he faces the risk of loving another
woman with keep-out issues.
Fears related to the death of Tracy’s cop father and Tom’s
inability to forgive the past threaten to sabotage any chance at love.
To trust again means surrender. Will they risk their hearts and
answer the call?
Fun Facts & Scene Inspiration
I chose to assign Tom’s white squad car the number 19 which references Revelation 19:11: “I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a Rider on a white horse Whose name is Faithful and True.”
I love this verse! Talk about, “Some day my Prince will come!” I included a white horse named Cruiser, in the story, which is the gift Tracy’s father gave to her when she was ten. It symbolizes her father’s squad car and his promise he’d always be there for her. Cruiser, featured on the front cover, represents the white horse of Revelation 19:11.
Co-Zee’s Coffee Shop with The Gathering Room was inspired by a Christian coffee shop that used to be here in my hometown, Hickory, NC. Today, the place is a bar with pool tables in the back room and features live music on weekends. Sigh. I’m thankful to have “spared” the coffee house within the pages of the book.
In the first scene, the reader finds Tom’s 14-year-old rascally son, Stephen, watching a race car cartoon (aka Speed Racer) because he has fond memories of watching it as a kid. This was inspired by my own son, now 21, who loved Speed Racer so much that he rose early to watch it before his siblings joined him on the sofa and dominated TV time. Stephen shares with Tom the deeper reason for why he loves the show, “The better racer (Racer X) sacrifices winning to protect Speed.” His statement carries a deeper spiritual truth, one Tom needs to learn and later recalls during his black moment event.
In the story, Tracy utilizes what she calls The Humility Score (scale of 1 – 10) when the need for humility is in order. On a few occasions, she gives Stephen a score depending on his attitude. The inspiration for the Humility Score came years ago from interaction with one of my own son’s friend when the two played lacrosse together. Whenever the young man tended toward exuberant pride, I’d slap him a low score…to his dismay. He’s in college now and he still enjoys playing along. Y’all feel free to put it to good use in your own circles of influence. J
The scene in the emergency department with a Mrs. Van Deventer was inspired by my own experience with an elderly friend of mine. She’d been hastily whisked from her assisted living facility to the hospital after another fall and lamented that they’d forgotten to bring her teeth along. Thus, the dear woman was toothless. The ER nurse assigned to her reminded me so much of my heroine that a scene was created from the experience. I also used it to show that things aren’t always a matter of life and death in the emergency department.
My review...
This is the first book I’ve read by Felkins. It’s an emotional,
heartwarming tale of love and second chances.
The prose is descriptive, which makes the reader feel a part
of the story. The characters are well drawn. While I liked Tracy, I particularly
liked her mother. Tom’s son was a realistic portrayal of a teen, and I enjoyed
getting to know him throughout the story. Tom and Tracy face realistic
struggles, and they demonstrate what all Christians are called to do: look to
God and place your burdens at His feet (a reminder I can always use).
If you’re a fan of sweet romances, you’ll want to add this
book to your TBR pile.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn’t
required to leave a review.
About Mary...
Mary A. Felkins is an
inspirational romance author, devotional writer, and contributor to an on-line
Bible study magazine. Her debut, inspirational romance novel, Call To Love, (www.pelicanbookgroup) releases November
15th, 2019.
Raised in Houston,
Texas–and forever a Lone Star girl-she and her husband Bruce moved to the
foothills of North Carolina in 1997. They have four adolescent to young adult-ish
children. She can be lured from her writing cave if presented with a large,
unopened bag of Pnut M&Ms or to watch an episode of Fixer Upper. A surprise
appearance by her teen idol, Donny Osmond, would also do the trick, although
she’d likely pass out.
If, upon introduction,
she likes your first or last name, expect to see it show up in one of her
novels.
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/MaryAFelkins
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/maryafelkins/
Twitter https://twitter.com/MaryAFelkins
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday, October 11, 2019
"Fatal Strike" by DiAnn Mills ... and a GIVEAWAY!
The publisher has agreed to give away a print copy of this book (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends October 18, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
What
to Do When God’s Plan Feels like a Mystery Novel
DiAnn Mills
Ever
feel like God’s plan for our lives is a futile attempt to solve a mystery? Our
days are spent looking for clues in everything we experience. Is this God’s plan for me? What does this
Scripture passage mean? Is God listening to my prayers? Nights are worse
because we replay and stumble through the day’s incidents with no conclusion.
You
see, I’ve faced the same challenges. But we can turn that mystery into a
satisfactory ending. Take a look at the following:
Who
is the hero in our life story?
While
we may be quick to think we are, that isn’t accurate. God is the hero in our
life story. The glory all goes to Him. When we realize where we fit in the
grand story of life, we can relax knowing our Hero has it under control.
Establish
a problem or a goal.
How
do we discern God’s plan for us? We have choices to make, places to go, and
things to do. Can’t He simply send us a text?
Who
is the secondary character in our life story?
That’s
us. We are servants of the almighty God, not the other way around. When we
resign ourselves to letting God take control, we can toss off our heavy
backpacks of doubt and worry.
Who
is the antagonist?
Think
about it. Satan doesn’t want us to know and live God’s plan. The evil one is
determined to push us in the wrong direction, distract, and discourage us. In
short, he’d like for us to give up on God and find another solution to our
problems that doesn’t involve God.
How
does the plot thicken?
We
hear lies, trip, fall, get back up, proceed, and it all repeats. While the
victories give us momentary relief and assurance we’re headed in the right
direction, the defeats can be painful. But the wounds and scars are how we grow
closer into the image of Jesus Christ.
It
can seem like God doesn’t care. Are we earnestly seeking Him as a priority
instead of self-solving our mystery?
Search
for clues.
Are
we searching in the right places for God’s answer? Does what I need line up
with God’s holiness?
Research
Scripture, talk to respected Christians, pray for the Holy Spirit’s guidance,
and be aware of God working in your life.
The
first clue is John 9:31: “We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if
anyone is a worshiper of God and does his will, God listens to him.”
The
second clue is Jeremiah 29:11-12: “For I know the plans I have for you,
declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and
a hope. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear
you.”
The
third clue is Matthew 7:8: “For everyone who asks receives, and the one who
seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.”
The
fourth clue is Psalm 145:18: “The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all
who call on him in truth.”
The
fifth clue is Psalm 66:19: “But truly God has listened; he has attended to the
voice of my prayer.”
And
there are many more!
Take
definite steps
We
must constantly ask ourselves if we are following God’s path or one that may be
good but not for us in this season.
Resolution
We
accept that a sovereign God will reveal His plan to us at the perfect time. On
the journey we grow, worship, grasp patience, love others, cultivate a
servant’s heart, and repeat our commitment to joy in all circumstances.
How
do you move ahead when God’s plan feels like a mystery novel?
Great question, DiAnn. Readers, how do you move ahead? Leave your answer below to be entered in the Rafflecopter giveaway for a copy of Fatal Strike.
Q & A with DiAnn...
Q: Tell us about some of the core themes you
discuss in this novel. How can your readers relate to these areas in their
own lives?
There
are two important themes in this story: (1) how unforgiveness can make us
bitter and the peace of embracing forgiveness and (2) the power of adoption in
families and in the spiritual realm. Leah comes from a family that has embraced
adoption, and both she and Jon go on a spiritual journey exploring what it
means to be adopted into God’s family.
Q: What
do you enjoy most in writing about the work of the FBI?
Creating
courageous men and women who dedicate their lives to keep us safe while showing
traits that make them relatable and real.
Q: Can
you tell us about some of the research that went into writing Fatal Strike?
I
interviewed a gentleman who worked FBI SWAT. I learned so much about teamwork,
the role of a negotiator, and the training. A sniper is used as a last resort
when all other means of negotiation fail and people are in danger. The sniper
must be confident his or her shot will not hurt another person. Following a
mission, the team discusses what went well, what went wrong, and how the
operation could be improved.
Q. What
inspired the plot of this novel—especially the motif of snakes and venom?
First
of all, I hate snakes. J
And I believe in writing what we fear. I knew I wanted a female FBI agent who
also worked SWAT and had the role of a sniper. What if she were afraid of
snakes? How would bad guys use rattlesnake venom? While a rattler bite is not
always deadly, it is fatal (fatal strike) when injected into the heart. Plus, the
bad guy leaves less evidence by eliminating the need to discard a knife or giving
law enforcement an opportunity to trace a bullet.
Q. What
was your favorite scene to write?
Actually,
there are two. (1) Leah faces her nemesis when she’s given what she thinks is a
box of flowers and a rattler is inside. Loved her reaction. (2) Leah and her
dad reunite after years of estrangement. I cried during that scene.
Q. What
are you most excited for your readers to experience through reading this novel?
The
characters’ journey to solve a horrible crime. On the way they find forgiveness
for their pasts and the gift of love.
Q. How
do you come up with fresh ideas for your books? How do you beat writer’s
block?
My
ideas come from the media, dreams, watching TV or movies, and sometimes ideas
just pop into my head. Writer’s block means I don’t know what happens next. I’m
an organic writer, so the idea of an outline destroys my adventure. When I’m stuck,
I do one of three things: (1) write a scene I know is coming, (2) go back to
the beginning and read and edit, or (3) do something else creative like cook,
garden, or shopping.
Q. Why
did you decide to become a writer in the romantic suspense genre specifically?
Romantic
suspense is my favorite genre. We live in a dangerous and unpredictable world.
My goal is to show real relational people who are trained to keep us safe. And
along the way, they find the gift of love.
Q: What’s
the most challenging thing about being a Christian author in this genre?
Making
violence a part of the story, but keeping graphic scenes that glorify the
violence out.
Q: Can
you tell us about some future projects you’re working on?
I’m finishing up a book currently titled Airborne. A female FBI agent boards a plane in
Houston for Salzburg, Austria. She needs a vacation to renew her relationship
with God and to figure out her future. Her husband has moved out, wants a
divorce, and he doesn’t know she’s pregnant. Two hours into the flight,
symptoms become evident of a deadly virus onboard, and her husband, a
bioengineer, becomes a person of interest.
FBI snipers Leah Riesel and Jon Colbert are tasked with solving gruesome murders taking place in Galveston. Victims are being injected with rattlesnake venom. The prime suspect is a young man, seen near the latest body found on the church steps, who is missing. A local gang is claiming responsibility. Leah and Jon have a history together, and in order to solve the case, they'll have to move beyond their past.
This is a fast-paced thriller that will keep the reader guessing, as Mills is a master with suspense and mystery. The main characters are intelligent and tough, though they still struggle with realistic fears and faith issues. (The religious element was not overwhelming in any way.) The suspense angle was more prominent than the romance angle, which I enjoyed.
DiAnn Mills is a
bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She
combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create
action-packed, suspense-filled novels.
Her
titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy
Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne du Maurier, Inspirational
Reader’s Choice, and Carol Award contests. Firewall,
the first book in her Houston: FBI series, was listed by Library Journal as one of the best Christian fiction books of 2014.
DiAnn
is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers and a
member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Sisters in Crime, and
International Thriller Writers. She is codirector of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Christian Writers Conference, where she continues her passion of helping other
writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing
workshops around the country.
DiAnn
has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader,
loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the
universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.
DiAnn
is very active online and would love to connect with readers on Facebook: www.facebook.com/DiAnnMills, Twitter: https://twitter.com/diannmills, or any of
the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Friday, August 30, 2019
"The Yellow Lantern" by Angie Dicken ... and a GIVEAWAY!
Barbour has agreed to offer one print copy of this book to one lucky blog reader (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends September 6, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.)
Here's a sneak peak at the author's note (NO spoilers are included!)...
Dear Reader,
I suspect you wonder what in the world is true about Josephine's tale. There are several factual threads that make up such a yarn. The true crime of body snatching was more rampant than rare throughout history, and as I dug into research, I discovered how common this practice was amidst the 19th century medical community.
Because of the lack of medical advancement, doctors sometimes mistook a person as being truly dead, ending in the alarming outcome of "live" burials. These types of horrific mistakes along with the desire for finding cures, led many doctors to hire body snatchers, or "resurrection men," to obtain corpses for research purposes. I was surprised to come across a case where several stolen bodies supplied an entire medical society, but more disturbing was that fact that some dody snatchers would even murder for the chance of payment.
Outraged relatives of the deceased pressured officials for justice, and by 1815 in Boston, an acto to protect the "Sepulchres of the Dead" passed, declaring body-snatching illegal (see www.truecolorscrime.com for the actual act). Several snatchers ventured to New York to continue supplying doctors around Boston.
As precautions were made to protect gravesites, body snatchers would hire women to pose as mourners and keep watch for any obstacles that might thwart a quick retrieval.
It is a very real fact that body sntaching was not always a lonely business, but one that depended on a type of network.
Many other factual tidbits are laced in Josephine's tale. If you'd like to contact me or learn more about my books, sign up for my newsletter at www.angiedicken.com.
My review...
Josie Clay has a shocking discovery and learns she’s the
victim of Dr. Chadwick’s (her employers) deception. He plans to take her life,
but she agrees to help him in exchange for him letting her live. She must stick
with it in order to save her father, who was taken to debtor’s prison. However,
her father owes bodies, not money, and now that task falls on Josie.
Josie takes a job at Gloughton Mill in 1824. She’s there to
spy on the factory’s operations, as well as be on the lookout for grave
robbers. She must secure some bodies for medical experimentation if she hopes
to pay off her father’s debts.
Each book in this series is by a different author, and I’ve
enjoyed them all so far. Parts of this book, however, did have some lulls, and
it was occasionally hard to tell the connection between some of the characters. For the most part, I enjoyed Josie and her
development. This book does have a Christian theme running throughout, but it
wasn’t as strong as anticipated. Sadly, the suspense element wasn’t as strong
as in the prior books in the series, and the relationship between Josie and her
employer (Braham) felt a bit forced at times. The author's note was quite informative, as it has been in prior books in this series.
This is the third installment in the Barbour’s “True Crime”
series. All the books are based on historical facts, and this one (like the others)
was unfamiliar to me, so I learned a bit along the way. I look forward to
reading the final book in the series.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.
About Angie...
Angie Dicken credits her love of story to reading British literature during life as a military
kid in England. Now living in the U.S. heartland, she's a member of ACFW, sharing about
author life with her fellow Alley Cats on The Writer's Alley blog and Facebook page.
Connect with her online at www.AngieDicken.com, twitter.com/AngieDicken, or facebook.com/dicken.angie
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)