"THE TAYLOR TRIPLETS SERIES"--from terrific storyteller LYNNE MARSHALL--delicious contemporary romance--love stories sweetened with heartfelt emotions and spiced with a touch of mystery (see my reviews)

 

The Reluctant Fiancée

She loves him—but does she want to get married?

She’s finally getting married—

Or not?

When Brynne Taylor breaks off her engagement to Paul Capriati, she knows her life is going to change. But when two women who claim to be triplets to her show up in her small Utah town, it’s a lot more change than she ever expected. Now she’s digging up long-buried family secrets and navigating her relationship with her ex-fiancé. Does she actually want to get married? And what’s this introverted only child going to do with two brand-new sisters?

MY REVIEW: Author Lynne Marshall brings her "Taylor Triplets Series" to a reader-satisfying conclusion with Book Three, "The Reluctant Fiancee". When Brynne Taylor's mother passed away after a sudden illness, Brynne's life changed in more ways than she could have imagined. Putting her own career as an RN on hold to manage her mother's bookstore was not her only sacrifice--she'd also postponed her wedding to the man she dearly loved, Paul Capriati. Feeling pulled from all sides to meet obligations--not only in matters of business, but in matters of the heart--Brynne struggled to make it all work. Paul came from a large loving family and was more than ready to marry and become a father. Brynne's growing-up years were the opposite of Paul's--she had been raised knowing her mother as her only family. She loved her mother, but Brynne could never understand why she had been so secretive about Brynne's heredity. When Paul steps up the pressure for them to marry--giving her an ultimatum--Brynne feels she has no choice but to tell him that their relationship is over. A life-changing discovery that Brynne may one of a set of identical triplets separated at birth sends her back to Paul's arms for comfort, and he tries desperately to repair the rift between them. However, they have much to resolve between them before they they can reach out for a bright and happy future together. They must also deal with the mystery surrounding the births of Brynne and her sisters--can the three of them find peace with the past that will clear the way for lives filled with joy and newfound family? Author Lynne Marshall is a wonderful teller of romantic tales, bringing together story elements--including surprises--and in-depth characterizations which keep the reader happily turning the pages to see what happens next.If you enjoy heartwarming contemporary romance with a hint of mystery, then you will love "The Taylor Triplets Series"

Book Copy Gratis Author




Date of a Lifetime

They’re wrong for each other, but the chemistry is undeniable.

It’s not personal. It’s business. Sort of…

But it’s just one date—a wish fulfillment—for philanthropist and single mom Eva DeLongpre’s charity and a PR opportunity for Mayor Joe Aguirre’s reelection. Giving in to their mutual attraction was just a spontaneous, delicious one-off. But as the election turns ugly, Joe is forced to declare his intentions for Eva. When the votes are counted, she’s hoping love wins in a landslide.

MY REVIEW:  "Date of a Lifetime", Book Two in author Lynne Marshall's "Taylor Triplets Series", is a compelling contemporary romance with a touch of mystery served up with delicious dishes. Eva DeLongpre thought her plate of life was full with running a well-regarded charitable organization, becoming a single mother to an adopted son, and being reunited with a twin sister she had only recently discovered. Little did Eva know that making a wish come true for a special senior citizen would also be a momentous occasion in her own life--one that she never expected. When 84-years-old Savannah Schuster contacts "Dreams Come True", Eva's wish-granting charity for seniors, her request is for a date night out with the handsome mayor of her home town, Little River Valley. Joe Aguirre, a mayor up for re-election and also a lawyer with a neglected practice, sees the date as a good deed and good publicity for his campaign. With Eva along as "chaperone", Savannah enjoys her date night with "Mayor Joe". After seeing Savannah safely home, Joe and Eva are reluctant to let the evening end, and the sparks which had flickered between them flare into an unplanned passion. Both are taken aback with their impulsive actions--a relationship with each other just won't work. Or is there a way to blend  personal lives and politics and come up with a winning combination? What about the unanswered questions surrounding Eva and her twin sister, Lacy, being separated at birth? Lynne Marshall is a skilled storyteller who keeps her readers involved, and she always adds an element of surprise.

Book Copy Gratis Author

Cooking Up Romance

Food isn’t the only way to this single dad’s heart…

Lacy was a redhead with a pink food truck who prepared mouthwatering meals. Hunky construction manager Zack Gardner agreed to let her feed his hungry crew in exchange for cooking lessons for his young daughter. But it looked like the lovely businesswoman was transforming the single dad’s life in more ways than one—since a family secret was going to change both of their lives in ways they never expected.

MY REVIEW:  Fabulous food and wonderful romance just naturally go hand-in-hand, and talented storyteller Lynne Marshall blends them together beautifully in "Cooking Up Romance"--a charming contemporary love story. Lacy Winters inherited her father's food truck, and after a hot pink paint redo for the truck, and a new business name with a cool logo, her kitchen on wheels was ready to roll. A major new construction site with lots of hungry workers seems like a prime location to set up shop. She would meet with the construction manager and win him over with her cooking, and then she would have a steady income as long as the construction project continued. She was surprised when the construction manager turned out to be Zack Gardner, whom she had briefly met many years before when she had tagged along with her father on his food truck runs. She had been a young girl struck by the golden looks of the teen-aged worker, and he had teased her about her pretty red hair. Zack had grown more handsome through the years. but she had to remain professional and not become distracted. A divorced dad with a with a ten-year old daughter, Emma, who loved to cook, Zack had his hands full running his business and caring for Emma. Lacy had been devastated when she lost the love of her life five years ago in a military accident. Now, with her food truck looking to be a hit and the growing friendship and attraction she felt with Zack, her days were brighter and filled with hope. She even began to give cooking lessons to Emma--and thanks to Lacy, Zack and his daughter had a new sense of joy in their lives. However, one mysterious incident would lead to revelations which would change Lacy's world forever: A guest at wedding where Lacy was one of the caterers called her "Eva", and when Lacy corrected her, the woman told her she looked just like "Eva" and snapped her picture. When truths come to light, will Zack and Emma still be a part of Lacy's life--and hopefully a part of a beautiful, loving future together? Lynne Marshall is more than a storyteller, she is a story weaver who builds worlds and creates in-depth characterizations. She then adds unexpected elements to real-life situations, and she always has a surprise or two in store for the reader. I look forward to the next two books in the series.

Book Copy Gratis Author

 
LYNNE MARSHALL



USA Today Bestselling author, Lynne Marshall, used to worry she had a serious problem with daydreaming. Then she discovered she was supposed to write the stories in her head. A late bloomer, Lynne came to fiction writing after her children were nearly grown. Now she battles the empty nest by writing stories which always include a romance, sometimes medicine, a dose of mirth, or both, but always stories from her heart. She is a Southern California native, married to a New Englander for a long, long time, has two adult children she loves dearly, and three amazing grandchildren she adores. She is also a dog lover, a cat admirer, a meandering walker, and an optimistic traveler on this wild journey called life!

 
She believes it's never too late to fall in love, and enjoys writing not only about young romance, but more mature romance as well. Lynne heartily believes in Life, Love, and the Pursuit...

Sign up for her newsletter at her website: www.lynnemarshall.com
Friend her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LynneMarshall.Page 

"TIS HERSELF"--MAUREEN O'HARA--acclaimed actress and great screen beauty tells her story--the tale of an Irish lass who believed in herself with the strength and determination to make her own dreams come true--narrative illuminated by the warmth and charm and intelligence that defined Maureen O'Hara's performances in some sixty films

'Tis Herself

"You are about to read the tale of the toughest Irish lass who ever took on Hollywood and became a major leading lady....In a career that has lasted more than sixty years, I have acted, punched, swashbuckled, and shot my way through an absurdly masculine profession....As a woman, I'm proud to say that I stood toe-to-toe with the best of them and made my mark on my own terms. I'm Maureen O'Hara and this is my life story."-- From Chapter One of 'Tis Herself

In language that is blunt, straightforward, and totally lacking in artifice, Maureen O'Hara, one of the greatest and most enduring stars of Hollywood's "Golden Era," for the first time tells the story of how she succeeded in the world's most competitive business.

Known for her remarkable beauty and her fiery screen persona, Maureen O'Hara came to Hollywood when she was still a teenager, taken there by her mentor, the great actor Charles Laughton. Almost immediately she clashed with the men who ran the movie business -- the moguls who treated actors like chattel, the directors who viewed every actress as a potential bedmate.

Determined to hold her own and to remain true to herself, she fought for roles that she wanted and resisted the advances of some of Hollywood's most powerful and attractive men. It was in the great director John Ford that she first found someone willing to give her a chance to prove herself as an important actress. Beginning with the Academy Award-winning How Green Was My Valley, she went on to make five films with Ford and through him first met the great John Wayne, with whom she also made five films.

In O'Hara, Ford had found his ideal Irish heroine, a role that achieved its greatest realization in The Quiet Man. And in O'Hara, John Wayne found his ideal leading lady, for she was perhaps the only actress who could hold her own when on screen with "The Duke." Ford, however, was not without his quirks, and his relationship with his favorite actress became more and more complex and ultimately deeply troubled. The on-screen relationship between Wayne and O'Hara, on the other hand, was transformed into a close friendship built on mutual respect, creating a bond that endured until his death.

Writing with complete frankness, O'Hara talks for the first time about these remarkable men, about their great strengths and their very human failings. She writes as well about many of the other actors and actresses -- Lucille Ball, Tyrone Power, Errol Flynn, John Candy, Natalie Wood, to name a few -- with whom she worked, but ultimately it is about herself that she is most revealing. With great candor and a mixture of pride and regret, she reflects on just how this young girl from Ireland made it to America and onto movie screens all around the world. There were missteps, of course -- a troubled and deeply destructive marriage, a willingness to trust too readily in others -- but there were triumphs and great happiness as well, including her marriage to the aviation pioneer Brigadier General Charles F. Blair, who tragically died in a mysterious plane crash ten years after their marriage.

Throughout, 'Tis Herself is informed by the warmth and charm and intelligence that defined Maureen O'Hara's performances in some sixty films, from The Hunchback of Notre Dame to Miracle on 34th Street to The Parent Trap to McLintock! to Only the Lonely. 'Tis Herself is Maureen O'Hara's story as only she can tell it, the tale of an Irish lass who believed in herself with the strength and determination to make her own dreams come true.

“Being an Irishwoman means many things to me. An Irishwoman is strong and feisty. She has guts and stands up for what she believes in. She believes she is the best at whatever she does and proceeds through life with that knowledge. She can face any hazard that life throws her way and stay with it until she wins. She is loyal to her kinsmen and accepting of others. She's not above a sock in the jaw if you have it coming.” ― Maureen O'Hara, 'Tis Herself


 
 

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

Victor Hugo's epic novel Notre-Dame de Paris comes to life in this masterful film adaptation--The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Paris, 1482. At a time when the inevitable change of the coming Renaissance roils medieval France, the beauty of the poor, outcast gypsy Esmeralda (Maureen O'Hara) becomes an uncontrollable lure for corrupt High Justice Frollo (Cedric Hardwicke), valiant, handsome Captain Phoebus (Alan Marshall), impoverished poet Gringoire (Academy Award winner Edmund O'Brien) and, not least, the hideous, kind and noble hunchback, Quasimodo (Academy Award winner Charles Laughton). Now the desire these four men feel for Esmeralda will lead to tragedy in one of the greatest romantic dramas ever filmed.

 

The Quiet Man

After accidentally killing an opponent in the ring, boxer Sean Thornton (John Wayne) leaves America and returns to his native Ireland, hoping buy his family's homestead and live in peace. In doing so, he runs afoul of Will Danaher (Victor McLaglen), who long coveted the property. Spitefully, Will objects when his fiery sister, Mary Kate (Maureen O'Hara), begins a romance with Sean, and refuses to hand over her dowry. Mary Kate refuses to consummate the marriage until Sean retrieves the money.


 

Maureen O'Hara (born Maureen FitzSimons; 17 August 1920 – 24 October 2015)

Maureen O'Hara was an Irish-American actress and singer. The red-headed O'Hara was known for her beauty and playing fiercely passionate but sensible heroines, often in westerns and adventure films. She worked on numerous occasions with director John Ford and longtime friend John Wayne, and was one of the last surviving stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood at the time of her death.

"HADLEY BECKETT'S NEXT DISH"--Fan-favorite author BETHANY TURNER serves up a heaping helping of humor and romance with this thoroughly modern story centered on cooking, enemies, and second chances. (see my review)

Hadley Beckett's Next Dish

Get ready for a heaping helping of humor, romance, and second chances...

Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanaugh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel's other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.

When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum, he's sent packing to get his life in order. When he returns, career in shambles, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley.

As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along, but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love. In the meantime, hide the knives.

"A delightful dish of a read! Bethany Turner's Hadley Beckett's Next Dish is a savory blend of wit, humor, and swoon-worthy romance, guaranteed to earn a place on the keeper shelf. Not to be missed!"--Jen Turano, USA Today bestselling author

"Turner's fresh voice continues to be delightful, telling lighthearted stories that will be your go-to weekend reading escape. Hadley and Maxwell's romantic recipe is a savory dish to be enjoyed."– Rachel Hauck, New York Times bestselling author of The Wedding Dress

MY REVIEW: "Hadley Beckett's Next Dish"--a tasty contemporary romance from author Bethany Turner--is filled with humor, fabulous food, a certain celebrity chef behaving badly, and a talented and hopeful young woman who is a food star in her own right. Hadley Beckett, host of "At Home With Hadley", the 2nd-highest rated show on the Culinary Channel, just may have bitten off more than she can chew by entering the "America's Fiercest Chef" competition. When the contest reaches the final round, it's a cook-off between Hadley and Max Cavanagh, the media magnet and star of "To the Max"--the network's #1 show. Chef Max, whose temper is hotter than his kitchen, does not take it well when Hadley wins the contest, and his on-set melt-down causes him to be removed from the premises by security. However , the network can't ignore the ratings for the "Beauty and the Beast" face-off, and they want more on-air "Hadley & Max". Food is a universal communicator, and working together, they discover unexpected shared likes and life experiences. Is it possible that they may each grow as individuals and learn to like each other--could there be something more simmering between them?

Book Copy Gratis Revell Books via Library Thing


BETHANY TURNER



Bethany Turner is the award-winning author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck and Wooing Cadie McCaffrey and the director of administration for Rock Springs Church in Southwest Colorado. A former bank executive and a three-time cancer survivor (all before she turned 35), Bethany knows that when God has plans for your life, it doesn't matter what anyone else has to say. Because of that, she's chosen to follow his call to write. She lives with her husband and their two sons in Colorado, where she writes for a new generation of readers who crave fiction that tackles the thorny issues of life with humor and insight. Learn more at seebethanywrite.com.

"FEARLESS" by FERN MICHAELS--Weaving a thread of suspense into her trademark powerful storytelling, #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels delivers a compelling new novel about a woman who learns that her new life may not be all it appears . . .

Fearless

Anna Campbell is ready to take her first tentative steps back into the world after widowhood. On a singles cruise, she meets divorced professor Ryan Robertson, and the sparks between them are undeniable. Back home in West Texas, Anna and Ryan continue their romance, and Anna decides it's time for their families to meet.

Anna is delighted when her daughter, Christina, hits it off with Ryan's daughter, Renee. The two girls are close in age and have lots in common. Ryan's son, Patrick, is college-bound and somewhat aloof, but Anna feels sure they'll grow closer in time. She happily accepts Ryan's proposal, confident in the bond they've formed.

But the idyllic relationships Anna is hoping for is quickly thrown into doubt. Ryan and his children may not be all she thinks they are. And as the situation grows more desperate, Anna must reach deep within and draw on all her courage and self-reliance to fight for the family and home she deserves . . . 




AUTHOR FERN MICHAELS SAYS:

"Fern Michaels isn’t a person. I’m not sure she’s an entity either since an entity is something with separate existence. Fern Michaels® is what I DO. Me, Mary Ruth Kuczkir. Growing up in Hastings, Pennsylvania, I was called Ruth. I became Mary when I entered the business world where first names were the order of the day. To this day, family and friends call me Dink, a name my father gave me when I was born because according to him I was ‘a dinky little thing’ weighing in at four and a half pounds. However, I answer to Fern since people are more comfortable with a name they can pronounce.

As they say, the past is prologue. I grew up, got a job, got married, had five kids. When my youngest went off to Kindergarten, my husband told me to get off my ass and get a job. Those were his exact words. I didn’t know how to do anything except be a wife and mother. I was also a voracious reader having cut my teeth on The Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, Cherry Ames and the like. The library was a magical place for me. It still is to this day. Rather than face the outside world with no skills, I decided to write a book. For some reason that didn’t intimidate me. As my husband said at the time, stupid is as stupid does. Guess what, I don’t have that husband any more. Guess what else! I wrote 99 books, most of them New York Times Best Sellers.

Moving right along here . . . Several years ago I left Ballantine Books, parted company with my agent, sold my house in New Jersey that I had lived in all my married life and in 1993 moved to South Carolina. I figured if I was going to go through trauma let it be all at one time. It was a breeze. The kids were all on their own at that point. The dump was a 300 year old plantation house that is listed in the National Registry that I remodeled. Today it is beyond belief as are the gardens and the equally old Angel Oaks that drip Spanish moss. Unfortunately, I could not get my ghost to relocate. This ghost has been documented by previous owners. Mary Margaret as we call her, is “a friendly”. She is also mischievous. It took me two weeks to figure out that she didn’t like my coffee cups. They would slide off the table or counter or else they’d break in the dishwasher. I bought red checkered ones. All are intact as of this writing. She moves pillows from one room to the other and she stops all the clocks in the house at 9:10 in the a.m. at least once a week. When the Azaleas are in bloom, and only then, I find blooms on my night stand. I have this glorious front porch and during the warm months I see my swing moving early in the morning when the air is still and again late in the day. She doesn’t spook the dogs. I always know when she’s around because the five of them line up and look like they’re at a tennis match. As of this writing we’re co-habiting nicely.

Most writers love what they do and I’m no exception. I love it when I get a germ of an idea and get it down on paper. I love breathing life into my characters. I love writing about women who persevere and prevail because that’s what I had to do to get to this point in time. It’s another way of saying it doesn’t matter where you’ve been, what matters is where you’re going and how you get there. The day I finally prevailed was the day I was inducted into the New Jersey Literary Hall of Fame. For me it was an awesome day and there are no words to describe it.
I’ve been telling stories and scribbling for 37 years. I hope I can continue for another 37 years. It wasn’t easy during some of those years. As I said, I had to persevere. My old Polish grandmother said something to me when I was little that I never forgot. She said when God is good to you, you have to give back. For a while I didn’t know how to do that. When I finally figured it out I set up The Fern Michaels® Foundation."

READ FERN MICHAELS' FULL BIOGRAPHY HERE: http://www.fernmichaels.com/biography/  

From St. Martin's Press--"THE SECOND HOME"--by CHRISTINA CLANCY--A debut novel set on Cape Cod that centers on a beloved family home and the summer that changed the lives of three siblings forever, perfect for readers of J. Courtney Sullivan and Elin Hilderbrand.

The Second Home

Tender and compassionate, incisive and heartbreaking, Christina Clancy's The Second Home is the story of a family you'll quickly fall in love with, and won't soon forget. 
 
After a disastrous summer spent at her family's summer home on Cape Cod, seventeen year old Ann Gordon is left harboring a secret that changes her life forever, and creates a rift between her sister, Poppy, and their adopted brother, Michael.

Now, fifteen years later, her parents have died, and Ann and her sister Poppy are left to decide the fate of the old Wellfleet home that's been in the Gordon family for generations. While they both love the house, they decide to sell it and move forward. But then Michael re-enters their lives with a legitimate claim to a third of the estate. He wants the house. But more than that, he wants to set the record straight about that long ago summer.

Reunited after years apart, these very different siblings are forced to decide if they can continue to be a family--and in the process, they'll discover that the house might be the glue that holds them together.


Praise for The Second Home:


"Christina Clancy writes with warmth, wit, and wisdom about fantastically human characters. A novel of family and place and belonging for fans of Ann Packer and J. Courtney Sullivan." ―Rebecca Makkai, Pulitzer Prize finalist for The Great Believers
 
"I gobbled The Second Home in a matter of days, fully invested in the history, hurt, and hopes of this very human family. Christina Clancy writes with empathy and rich detail: to read about the Gordons is to smell the pine and oak of Wellfleet, to tread the well-worn rooms of their eccentric summer home, and to learn all sides of the explosive rift that sent them hurtling in different directions. Tender and suspenseful, Clancy's debut explores the nature of home as well as the nature of family itself―given and chosen." ―Chloe Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Immortalists
 
"A sure-footed ode to the strength of family, the depth of loss, and the power of forgiveness." ―J. Ryan Stradal, New York Times best-selling author, Kitchens of the Great Midwest

“The Second Home shows us how families are knit together and how they unravel; how a place―a geography, a house―can act as the repository for our best and most important memories. And that even the most damaged past can be reclaimed, a hard-won wisdom that shines through on every page.” ―Jean Thompson, New York Times bestselling author of The Year We Left Home

"Clancy imagines her complicated characters with such empathy and precision that every questionable choice, every mistake, feels like the only option. The Second Home is a big, sprawling, smart, beautiful story about love and betrayal, home and family, and the foundations of forgiveness." ―Lauren Fox, author of Days of Awe, Friends Like Us, and Still Life With Husband
 
"Christina Clancy writes with an arresting vividness and a nuanced understanding of her characters, who are buffeted by a storm of conflicting desires. A poignant but also very entertaining novel―full of startling detail, humor, and above all, an abiding sympathy for its beautifully drawn characters." ―Christine Sneed, author of Little Known Facts

"This deeply moving and heartfelt book explores what makes a home - and how homes make us. It's deftly plotted, sensuously told, and incredibly smart about the secrets that pull families apart and the love that knits them back together." ―Liam Callanan, author of Paris by the Book

“Every Wellfleet sand dune, every breeze and beach and pond, came alive for me in this beautiful, heartbreaking debut about a Milwaukee family’s complicated history with their summer home. Christina Clancy’s characters are so real and flawed, so caught between the darkness and the light, that they step right off the page, and you won’t rest until you know what becomes of them.” ―Meg Mitchell Moore, author of The Admissions and The Islanders

“From the first pages of The Second Home, it’s abundantly clear that Christina Clancy has an abiding love for outer Cape Cod, which she conjures in all its bluster and beauty. But as this compelling novel progresses, it also becomes obvious that Clancy has a keen awareness of how secrets can tear apart even the closest of families. Drawn in by the exquisitely-rendered setting, I was riveted by this stirring, family drama."―Karen Dukess, author of The Last Book Party

"Warm, absorbing and thought-provoking..." ― Shelf Awareness

"A riveting family saga that fans of J. Courtney Sullivan, Cristina Alger, and Maria De Los Santos will devour, Clancy's debut novel is a delight. With nostalgia as thick as the scent of coconut-scented sunscreen, The Second Home explores the consequences of emotional decisions and the strength needed to set things right."―Booklist (starred review)

"Transporting...Clancy's beach-ready debut is sure to be a favorite with book clubs." ― Publisher's Weekly


 

AUTHOR CHRISTINA CLANCY SAYS:

"Like the characters in THE SECOND HOME, I spent the summers of my youth on Cape Cod in the rugged and artsy town of South Wellfleet, MA. The outermost Cape is a place of steep sand dunes, pristine fresh water kettle ponds, salty air, scrub pine and oak trees. It's a place that has stayed with me everywhere I go.

My grandparents lived in a simple cove-side house that has been in our family since the 1890's. Writing this book has allowed me to imagine how other families spend their time in a place I feel I uniquely adore. It has also provided me with the opportunity to think about our fierce attachments to second homes -- from tiny, bat-filled cabins in the woods to grand seaside estates. These places we go back to again and again often define us, just as they define our families. When families change and the homes are passed down from generation to generation, these memory-filled receptacles can stress relationships or bring us closer together.

In addition to writing, I teach spin classes (the sweating, not the weaving kind) and I taught English at Beloit College for almost a decade. I've been writing short stories and essays that have appeared in The New York Times "Modern Love" column, The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, The Sun Magazine, and in literary journals like Glimmer Train Stories, Hobart, Pleiades, The Minnesota Review and on Wisconsin Public Radio. I have a PhD in Creative Writing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

I live in Madison, Wisconsin with my very tall husband. We have two children, Olivia and Tim."  

http://www.christiclancywrites.com

"SIMON THE FIDDLER"--by PAULETTE JILES--The critically acclaimed, bestselling author of "News of the World" and "Enemy Women" returns to Texas in this atmospheric story, set at the end of the Civil War, about an itinerant fiddle player, a ragtag band of musicians with whom he travels trying to make a living, and the charming young Irish lass who steals his heart.

Simon the Fiddler

In March 1865, the long and bitter War between the States is winding down. Till now, twenty-three-year-old Simon Boudlin has evaded military duty thanks to his slight stature, youthful appearance, and utter lack of compunction about bending the truth. But following a barroom brawl in Victoria, Texas, Simon finds himself conscripted, however belatedly, into the Confederate Army. Luckily his talent with a fiddle gets him a comparatively easy position in a regimental band.

Weeks later, on the eve of the Confederate surrender, Simon and his bandmates are called to play for officers and their families from both sides of the conflict. There the quick-thinking, audacious fiddler can’t help but notice the lovely Doris Mary Dillon, an indentured girl from Ireland, who is governess to a Union colonel’s daughter.

After the surrender, Simon and Doris go their separate ways. He will travel around Texas seeking fame and fortune as a musician. She must accompany the colonel’s family to finish her three years of service. But Simon cannot forget the fair Irish maiden, and vows that someday he will find her again.

Incandescent in its beauty, told in Paulette Jiles’s trademark spare yet lilting style, Simon the Fiddler is a captivating, bittersweet tale of the chances a devoted man will take, and the lengths he will go to fulfill his heart’s yearning.

Reviews

 

“Jiles’s limber tale satisfies with welcome splashes of comedy and romance.”  (Publishers Weekly)

“Imbued with the dust, grit, and grime of Galveston at the close of the Civil War, Simon the Fiddler immerses readers in the challenges of Reconstruction. Jiles brings her singular voice to the young couple's travails, her written word as lyrical and musical as Simon's bow raking over his strings. Loyal Jiles readers and fans of Anthony Doerr's All the Light We Cannot See and Elizabeth Strout's Olive Kitteridge will adore the author's latest masterpiece."  (Booklist (starred review))

“Vividly evocative and steeped in American folkways: more great work from a master storyteller.”  (Kirkus Reviews (starred review)) 


Paulette Jiles

 

Paulette Jiles is an American poet and novelist. Born in Salem, Missouri, she was educated at the University of Missouri with a degree in Romance Lanugages. Jiles lives in the Texas Hill Country on a small ranch.

http://paulettejiles.com/

"Healing through Nutrition: The Essential Guide to 50 Plant-Based Nutritional Sources"--Harness the healing power of plant-based foods. Discover some of the greatest benefits of plant-based nutrition and learn the basics about food and beverage remedies. (see my review)

Healing through Nutrition: The Essential Guide to 50 Plant-Based Nutritional Sources

Natural medicine isn’t just herbs and oils—what you eat every day has the power to support your health and well-being. Healing through Nutrition is your essential guide to 50 plant-based foods packed with vital nutrients like antioxidants and dietary fibers. With this nutrition reference at your fingertips, it’s easy to integrate more plants into your diet—and invite their healing properties into your life.
Discover some of the greatest benefits of plant-based nutrition and learn the basics about food and beverage remedies. With details for a wide variety of superfoods—vegetables, fruits, whole grains, nuts, herbs and spices, even coffee and tea—you’ll find resources for many common health problems.

In Healing through Nutrition, you’ll find:

• 50 healing sources—Get acquainted with each food’s restorative powers, the medical conditions it may benefit, and how you can use it in your everyday life.
• 94 nourishing recipes—Integrate each nutrition source into your life with one or two accompanying recipes, like Apple Cinnamon Ginger Oats, Chickpea-Stuffed Acorn Squash, Grapefruit Avocado Salad, and more.
• Food as medicine—Explore a short history of nutritional healing and get the rundown on adding medicinal foods to your diet for overall wellness.

Apply Mother Nature’s helping hand to many possible health issues with Healing through Nutrition.

MY REVIEW:  In "Healing through Nutrition: The Essential Guide to 50 Plant-Based Nutritional Sources", author Eliza Savage, a registered dietician and nutrition expert, advises readers how to "find health, happiness, and joy through food". In Part One, "Food as Medicine", which features natural remedies from around the world, she explains the "History of Nutritional Healing" and "Plant Nutrition Basics". In Part Two, "50 Powerhouse Healing Sources", she spotlights foods and beverages including vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, and nuts, herbs and spices, and coffee and tea. The benefits of each food or beverage are detailed, and each one is a key ingredient in one or two recipes. As always, consult with your primary care provider before making major dietary changes to determine what will work best for you. Here are some of the recipes you"ll want to try: "Spicy Baked Sweet Potato Fires"; "Classic Sauteed Garlic Spinach"; "Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Banana Bread"; "Marinated Tomato Onion Salad"; "Zesty Sesame-Orange Vinaigrette"; "PB&J Smoothie"; "Savory Shallot Brown Rice"; "Simple Almond Trail Mix"; "Garlic-Ginger Roasted Broccoli"; and "Cinnamon Spice Maple Walnuts". Each recipe includes a nutritional breakdown.

Book Copy Gratis Callisto Publishers


Eliza Savage



Eliza Savage, MS, RD, CDN, is a NYC-based registered dietitian with a lifelong passion for wellness. She has extensive experience counseling patients one on one in private practice and in outpatient settings at NYC's top hospitals. She wears many hats as a nutritionist: writing for various wellness companies, consulting with brands as a nutrition expert, and contributing to media outlets such as Women's Health, Well+Good, and Health. With a background in marketing, Eliza combines her love of writing with her comprehensive nutrition knowledge to create approachable and straightforward content. When not working, you can find Eliza running in Central Park, strolling with her daughter, or testing recipes with her husband.

Connect with Eliza at www.elizasavagenutrition.com or follow her on Instagram @elizasavagenutrition.