The House on Foster Hill by Jaime Jo Wright

From Amazon:
Kaine Prescott is no stranger to death. When her husband died two years ago, her pleas for further investigation into his suspicious death fell on deaf ears. In desperate need of a fresh start, Kaine purchases an old house sight unseen in her grandfather's Wisconsin hometown. But one look at the eerie, abandoned house immediately leaves her questioning her rash decision. And when the house's dark history comes back with a vengeance, Kaine is forced to face the terrifying realization she has nowhere left to hide.

A century earlier, the house on Foster Hill holds nothing but painful memories for Ivy Thorpe. When an unidentified woman is found dead on the property, Ivy is compelled to discover her identity. Ivy's search leads her into dangerous waters and, even as she works together with a man from her past, can she unravel the mystery before any other lives--including her own--are lost?

Murder mysteries aren't usually the first thing I pull off the shelves. Actually, I could probably count the murder mysteries I've read in my lifetime on one hand. But because I've been trying to expand my reading horizons this year, and because I'm searching for the good quality books and authors of today, I decided to push submit and request The House of Foster Hill. I'm glad I did. It was a newer experience, but one I don't regret. 

This book follows the stories of Kaine (I just love that name!) and Ivy simultaneously, however, their stories are set about 100 years apart. We enter Ivy's world first, plunging into the sobering world of death, as her father is the medical examiner in the tragic death of an unknown girl. Since she has confronted death all her life, she uses her time to write the stories of those who have passed away and she records it in a little book. While others in the community believe she's crazy, she knows there is something different about this girl's death and stops at nothing to bring the unknown to light. I really appreciated Wright's confidence and ability to begin a book with a distressing topic but use it to create the just horror for murder and yet wrap the book and reader in a faith-based message. The unknown girl found dead isn't the only one with a mystery around her for Ivy has her own story to live through the book and hers is one of soul-searching and courage. 

Kaine's story begins in Wisconsin as did Ivy's, but Kaine unknowingly stumbles across family history when she purchases a huge house. In order to avoid her stalker, Kaine has lived in continual vigilance and fear all her life, but she learns the meaning of trust and safety as she attempts to find evidence that her husband was murdered. She finds protection in a doggy friend, and begins the slow process of friendship with a few around her, all the while seeking to relive her past in order to bring justice to her husband and remove the stalker from her life. 

This story isn't all horror and tragedy. There are sweet moments of friendship and vulnerability. There is trust and justice. There is comfort and relief. And some of the greatest comfort and hope comes from a very unexpected place and person in the darkest of times. 

But this is a deep story, and for that reason (among others), I would not recommend it to young readers. There are a few instances where the romantic thoughts were unnecessary, in my opinion, especially as both parties were not married. However, I can only recall about two moments of that, so it's not excessive. Also, there is murder, human trafficking, abuse, stalking, and other topics that would be frightening if not handled with a mature mind. But for those who are able to process such topics, this book is an important reminder and an inside look into "everyday" lives of some people. We don't speak of human trafficking and murder much perhaps, but it's real, and it's good to understand the fear and terror that accompanies it so we can do something about it when the need should arise. And I think it's good to be reminded about the dark side of life once in a while in order to be able to support organizations and individuals who focus their time and resources on bringing relief to such victims.

Read carefully, but read deeply. 

Join me in 2018 for more reviews of fantastic books! Happy New Year. God bless.

*Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc.

War of Loyalties by Schuyler McConkey

From Amazon:
April, 1917.
A ring of German spies threatens the coastal town of Folkestone, England. Newly-recruited agent Ben Dorroll must uncover which British citizens are traitors to their country. When his first attempt at espionage falls prey to a trap laid by German sympathizers, the security of the British Secret Service is threatened. Feeling lost in a strange country and aching for a steady place to call home, he wants to resign and go back to his American medical work. But when he learns that his family identity holds the key to capturing the spy ring, Ben has no choice but to unite with the mysterious Jaeryn Graham so that the truth can be discovered.

In the aftermath of the Irish Rebellion, Jaeryn Graham's British colleagues look warily on his Irish background. Always up for a challenge, he thinks his new mission in the Secret Service should be an opportunity to prove his prowess. But after encountering death and alienating two agents, he finds the road to victory isn't as easy as he thought. Unless he can win the loyalties of his newest assistant, Ben Dorroll, his secret ambitions and his perfect success record will be destroyed.

So, guys. If you buy any books this year, this one should make it to your bookshelves. And then buy it for all your friends, too. (Jk, but not really.) I met Schuyler while she was working on her last drafts of this book, and I got to read it a little beforehand, but now I finally hold the print copy in my hands. And it's so thick...makes me happy.

I'm not even sure where to start with this book, because just you just have to read it to fall in love with Pearlie, laugh with Terry, and find a peaceful home with Ben and Charlotte. And of course there are so many more characters to love and learn from. This book is set during World War 1 and you'll experience some of the horror of war, the separation of families, the pain of betrayal, and the trust of friends and allies. Because of the variety of characters, I'm positive that each reader will find at least one character who they can identify with while following their struggles and joys to the very last page.

War of Loyalities is (as most well-written books are) 735 pages of heartfelt research, love, and dedication. I'm already a fan of historical fiction, but well-researched historical fiction is even better. Especially when it gets down the little things in daily life. There are moments of happiness and joy, but the sadness of war is a big part. A spy ring is no simple thing, and it's hard to live when your family, friends, and life itself are in danger. I appreciate Schuyler's willingness to tackle moral and ethical issues of war also. There are no easy answers for death, killing, pain, and murder, but that doesn't mean we shy from them. In fact, sometimes it's better we remember.

And so, entering the word of books, in the centennial years of World War 1, we have War of Loyalties. This isn't necessarily a "Christian" book, in the sense that it doesn't make faith it's main topic. However, I pray that, through the lives of the characters who clung to their faith regardless of the situations around them, you will find the hope and peace in the Lord again at the close of 2017.

Well done, Schuyler. Congrats. May this book be just the beginnings of stories and novels to come. Thank you for including me in this journey. :)

Favorite Quotes

"We do not break. While God is with us, we may crack and wear thin, but we do not break."

“You promised me when we came here that whatever secrets you had to keep, you would remain honest, upright, and God-fearing. God-fearing they may be, and upright I have no doubt, but you have just told me that they are not honest. If they were, you would be able to tell her the truth.”

“I ask you to wait, that’s all. Will you do that?” She lifted her chin resolutely and held back her tears. “I don’t think you have a right to ask me. But I will—if you wish it.”

"The murmured words stirred passion and wonder and heartbreak all in one—a savage, ancient sort of beauty. Then it died away, and after deliberating for a moment, Jaeryn turned back inside, and Ben pursued his own way homeward, rather breathless with what he had overheard."

"The empty house mocked him with its soft comfort and sweetness. How could such an angry soul collect so much beauty around her? From the rosewood wainscoting to the sticks of sweetgrass incense on the hall table, his mother had surrounded herself with all that was pleasing. She’d had that knack all her life. He could resign himself to the injustice, but try as he would, he couldn’t understand it."

"Neither of them knew they were standing where Terry and Pearlie had stood together, for Jaeryn was not there to tell them."

"We will go home soon. And until we do, I will be your home, my love."

“I want…I want a place that feels like home. A place where I can sweep the floors and put the washing on the line and polish the windows, and love it every day. When you were gone I didn’t have anyone to love, but I could always love home.”


"For the present, there was no threat in it and no sadness. Only a deep kind of ache for the past—an ache he was used to and could live with."




Because WoL deserves to be with books like these... :D

Whisper by Lauren K. Lotter

From Amazon:
Rachel's family raises purebred quarter horses, but even though she is surrounded by beautiful horses, she still longs for a horse for her own. And when her dad takes her to a local auction, she only has eyes for one horse - and one horse alone. A terrified mare tries to hide her fear beneath a hardened exterior, but Rachel knows better. Everything within her knows that they were meant for each other. Once they get her home, the challenge is on. Can Rachel convince a frightened, abused animal to trust again? Will the mare ever overcome her fear? And why is Ralph, a mysterious and dark-hearted stranger, so determined to steal the mare away? Join Rachel and her family as they struggle to teach trust and love to the beautiful grey mare. Will they ever succeed? And will Rachel ever find the perfect name for her?

This is a book I've had on my Kindle for a long time and have wanted to read for even longer. I've followed Lauren for a couple years now and her farm life and love for horses attracted me immediately. I also try to enable young authors to follow their publishing and writing dreams, so a book review is one of the ways I can do that. :) 

Whisper is a sweet story about Rachel and her desire to tame a fearful horse she's acquired. While her family is unsure as to how she'll do that, her father constantly reminds her to give and receive trust...and to wait on and pray to God for wisdom. I love the scattered bits of Scripture "jewels" that Lotter weaves into her story. Not preachy, but frequent and refreshing. I also enjoyed seeing Rachel and her sister interact with each other in a very real family setting. 

Throughout the book Lotter demonstrates her knowledge of horses as she sneaks in little bits of how horses think and how to train them, almost without the reader noticing. As a horse lover myself, I learned several things that I didn't know before--all while reading a book! This was one of my favorite parts of Whisper. 

I would say this book is written for readers aged 9-15 or so. Obviously, this depends on the maturity of the reader, but even though I'm in my 20s, I also enjoyed reading it. By way of (hopefully) constructive criticism, I could tell that this book was written by a newer author. There is nothing wrong with that and writing tends to improve with maturity and experience. I felt at times like I was being told most of what took place rather than feeling like I experienced it with the characters. The plot was simple (though would be still audience captivating for younger readers), and I actually liked reading a book that was wholesome, but that I didn't have to think too much about. 

I'm excited to see where Miss Lotter goes with her publishing journey, and I'd recommend this book to any young girl who loves animals and mysteries. 

Book Release and Giveaway! War of Loyalties by Schuyler McConkey

This is a happy day, everyone! Schuyler's book, War of Loyalties, has finally been released and is now out for sale in Kindle and paperback. I've waited long for this book, and having read one of the drafts previously, I know it's fabulous. You must get a copy. I'm 75% through already and it's amazing! ;) I've found one of my favorite characters in her story, and the plotline is just thrilling. Schuyler's joining me today. having written a blog post entitled The Heart of Story-Crafting in War of Loyalties. She shares a bit more of her work in writing and publishing here in this post. Watch for her other posts and tidbits about War of Loyalties on other book bloggers pages this week! Thank you so much, Schuyler. I'm proud of you and the hard work you put into this, and I'm happy to share in the small ways I can. Here's to many more books to come!

(Giveaway at the bottom of the post!)

*****

As I was sitting down to write this blog post, I got to remember some past special things about writing War of Loyalties.  I think what kept War of Loyalties simmering for the past seven years, apart from the grace of God, was the fact that it found its heart very early on. In another author interview (joy-live4jesus.blogspot.com) I said that I struggled with logic and plot early on in the book. But from the first serious draft of it in 2012, I never struggled with the heart of it. The characters showed up on set, and even though they morphed over time, I had a bond with them from day one. All of this effort to bring the book to print has really been the drive to publish characters I deeply, deeply love.

Each draft of War of Loyalties underwent extensive rewriting. But the pulsing heart remained. I had the core of the story down. I knew the people inside it, even though I did not always have words to express them yet.

So today, I’d love to share with you four things that captured the heart of War of Loyalties for me.

1.       The Handwritten First Draft

I will never forget the joy of crafting the first draft. It was just me, a bunch of loose-leaf lined paper, some regular pens, and a variety of folders the story kept growing out of. I generally wrote on my bed, or in our living-room recliner, and my most guaranteed time was snatching the 15 minute break we had mid-morning between our school subjects. The finished draft was 386 pages, I think—a far cry from the 750 it is now! While there wasn’t nearly enough espionage in it, it had some of the sweetest family times with Terry’s family interacting with Ben, and Ben and Jaeryn’s friendship was a lot simpler and closer than in the final draft.

I now keep the handwritten draft in a shoe box. I also have character profiles written with gel pen on cardstock, along with pictures pasted on. The first draft has little plot notes on the side, along with occasional random notes like “wash sheets” for myself! J

2.       The Music Playlists

Music has always been a huge part of the process since draft two. There are certain songs that still mean War of Loyalties to me. “Now and For Always”, from the Lord of the Rings musical, was something I would listen to while I exercised and thought about my book. The journey of Frodo persevering with the ring always felt like writing WoL, and that song will always bring back good memories. “I Vow to Thee My Country”, sung by Libera (the version with the violin opening) was a piece of theme music for the entire novel. I was finishing the third draft of the book in 2014, and as I worked on the last chapter, I listened to “I Vow to Thee” along with Billy Boyd’s “The Last Goodbye” to capture the nostalgia of what it felt like to work on something I had loved so long. Ryan Kelly’s lines in Celtic Thunder’s “Caledonia” capture Jaeryn to me. I think Terry’s personality is just about perfectly expressed with “Me and My Cello” (PianoGuys) and Charlotte and Ben’s relationship is “Dancing in the Minefields” (Andrew Peterson).  I like to joke that if nothing else, I supported Celtic Thunder on Spotify while I wrote this book. J

3.       The Pinterest Board

The heart of War of Loyalties has always been on my Pinterest board. It’s secret. (My apologies to anyone reading this!) But it has the photos that inspired the heart of this novel—the actors and objects that made me think of each character. It’s a heart-record online of the journey that I took when I was writing the second draft in 2013. There is so much memory on there that I wish I could download it to save.

4.       The Rush of a Deadline

Another one of the heartbeats of the book was trying to get a chapter a week done for beta readers in 2013. (Kaleigh prayed for and encouraged me constantly during these chapters!) At first the chapters were sent early on in the week, but as my writing rhythm shifted, I ended up sending chapters on Saturday night just before midnight (I wouldn’t let myself go after midnight because that was Sunday, and I didn’t want to write WoL on Sundays.) It was always a delightfully angst-filled rush of adrenaline, wondering if I would get it done on time. Somehow WoL has always coincided with big occasions. I finished the first draft on New Year’s Eve, and the second draft on Christmas Eve. The third draft was finished the day before Easter, and the final upload onto Createspace happened on the night before Thanksgiving.

While the timing wasn’t always convenient, it was always super helpful. I found the weekly accountability of sending the chapters invaluable. I always got to look forward to encouraging feedback, and every week I had to think about what plot threads I needed to continue. This helped me get the core of the final book started, even though it would need a couple of big rewrites before it was in its final shape.

Thank-you so much for having me on your blog today, Kaleigh! It was so fun to think about these things, and you were such a huge encouragement in the War of Loyalties writing process. This book wouldn’t be here without you. J

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/War-Loyalties-Folkestone-Files-1/dp/0692970541/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1511961389&sr=8-1-fkmr0&keywords=war+of+loyalties%2C+schuyler+mcconke

Giveaway

First Prize Winner:

-Paperback copy of War of Loyalties

-“Jaeryn’s Vow” 8x10 poster

-Custom War of Loyalties mug

Second Prize Winner:

-Ebook of War of Loyalties

-Real vintage Folkestone postcard (this is a postcard that has actually been posted in 1917.)

Third Prize Winner: (open to international winners)

-Ebook of War of Loyalties

 

Wordpress Giveaway Link:

https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/9759b4114/

US residents only for 1^st and 2^nd prizes. Accounts created solely for giveaways not eligible.

About the Author
Schuyler McConkey is a writing teacher, book reviewer, and ministry leader living half of her life in happy fellowship with her family and spending the other half in angst-filled fictional worlds. She is passionate about classic, Dickensian stories and characters who encounter deep struggles touched by grace. Irish music, British movies, and chai lattes provide the fuel for her dreams.