Giveaway at Chat with Vera Blogsite

Follow this link! This sounds like a great read for my grandkids!

Steeplechase by Carrie Fancett Pagels and Giveaway!!!

Synopsis: 

Martha Osborne fears for her six-year-old brother, who was shuffled off to boarding school when his British mother departed to England. 
Set in Hampton Roads, Virginia, in the build-up to the War of 1812, expert rider Martha plans to substitute for her older brother in a “race to the steeple” to win the prize—and a bet with Phillip Paulson, equestrian trainer at Yorkview Academy, to help have her little brother returned home. When Phillip stumbles upon the real reasons behind the secret race he finds he may not be able to keep his end of the bargain. Can he save Martha and her brother? And will his heart be lost in the process? 

My Thoughts

I so enjoyed this book of Carrie Fancett Pagels.  Her vivid descriptions of places and events can stir the imagination and make you feel as though you too were witnessing and living in the events of the books.  

The 1810 time period shows a still somewhat fledgling young country and the events and feelings that still existed from a time recently passed when feelings of old wounds perhaps were not completely healed.  How will this affect Martha Osbourne and a family whose father remarries an English woman who spends much of her time in England?

The Steeplechase has many twists and you will enjoy this book very much.  The author is a very talented writer of historical fiction, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite genres.

Carrie has graciously offered a ebook to one lucky winner who comments below.  Follow my blog and you get an extra chance!  Thanks Carrie and good luck to all that enter.  Last day to enter will Feb. 17th and the winner announced on Feb. 18th!

Disclosure: I received a PDF version of this book from the author for my honest review.  

Christmas Traditions by 7 Great Authors and a Giveaway!

This is a charming and wonderful way to get ready for the Holidays.  Seven authors combine to put together this wonderful book.  Each story was really enjoyable to read.  I have been listening to this set of romance stories on my Kindle as I travel to and from work.  It is always hard to set it aside.   The stories are heartwarming and remind me of Christmas times of my youth.  One of the stories is written about a time period not too terribly far from my age. The majority setting us back to the late 1800's.

This is a time period I really enjoy reading about, specially when it comes to traditions.  And I really enjoy historical writings.  So I knew that I would enjoy this set.

An Apple for Christmas is a cute story written in the "apple" theme, including the name of one of the characters, Pippin, a twin, whose school  difficulties may bring a little Christmas miracle of sorts to their lives.  Very nice stories, as all of them are.

Handcarved Christmas is a delightful read by Cynthia Hickey, whose character leaves home with intentions to marry a man she's been writing, sight unseen.  A great addition to this compilation.

Another novella written by Carrie Fancett Pagels was a fun read.  I had no idea what this book would be about, except that it took place in a lumber camp in Michigan.

I loved it.  Carrie's writing style really appealed to me and as I got to know her characters, they became very interesting people to me.

Jo is a cook at the lumber camp but would like to move on into a bakery in a different setting.  She meets the new lumberjack to their camp, Tom.  He is a very interesting young man trying to earn his living as a lumberjack, although he is actually a teacher.  As he is trying to help his mother financially, he takes this job, as the money he earned teaching does not stretch far enough.

He makes a challenge that he will marry whoever can make a fruitcake that is as good as his mother's.  That's when the fun begins and fruitcake of every imaginable recipe is baked and served to the workers at the camp.  So does he find a bride and does anyone make a good enough fruitcake to please his palette?  This you will discover as you read this delightful book!

I think these and the other Novellas would be good reading for anyone.  So fun and all good clean reads.
You can get a copy at this link

I received an e-book copy from one of the authors for my honest review, which I have given.

Carrie Fancett Pagels has offered a free e-book version of this collection to one lucky commenter!  If you would like to read this wonderful set of books, please leave a comment below for Carrie.  Be sure to leave an email address in a safe way so that you can be contacted. The giveaway ends Aug 12 at 6:00 pm MDT.  Thanks Carrie!