Blog Tour: Sweet Comfort by Kimberly Fish

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures
SWEET COMFORT
Comfort and Joy Trilogy, #1
by
KIMBERLY FISH
 
Women’s Fiction / Later-In-Life Romance
Second-Chance Romance / Cozy Mystery
Publisher: Fish Tales
Page Count: 359 pages
Publication Date: January 21, 2023
 
Scroll down for a giveaway!
Welcome to the hometown everyone wants to call their own.
 
Gloria Bachman, a retired bank executive, has eight weeks to flip a location on Comfort’s High Street into a boutique chocolate shop. Defying expectations for “women of a certain age,” Gloria rediscovers talents and a sharpening of skills. If only she could read people as well as she does a spreadsheet. Even with the renovation in good hands, the subsequent struggle to name the shop brings Gloria and her business partner into conflict with a shady citizen. While Gloria is capable of remaining in her retirement rut while opening a business, two competing social groups try to lure her into their networks, causing Gloria to wonder if she ever knew Comfort at all. A murder rocks the community and revives investigative instincts honed by years in the banking industry.
 
Mason Lassiter, a disgraced CEO, has his own dramas to escape and the offbeat town seems the perfect place to recover his self-esteem. What was to be a quick reversal of fortunes becomes a quest to right a deeply felt injustice. Fascinated by the women driving the energy of Comfort, he extends his stay to find out why the small town is the backdrop to their best tales. Tangling with his neighbor Gloria becomes his favorite pastime and the key to unlocking the mystery of his past—if he can convince her to trust him.
 
Chocolate and joy become the glue bringing an unlikely cast together, which just might change Gloria’s and Mason’s course for the better. With characters familiar from previous Comfort novels and introducing fresh names, Sweet Comfort will entertain those who like their stories seasoned with coziness and sweet, second chances.

Kimberly Fish has been a professional writer in marketing and media for over thirty years, with regular contributions to area newspapers and magazines. As an accidental historian, she wrote two novels, The Big Inch and Harmon General, both based on factual events in Longview, Texas that changed world history. Kimberly also offers a set of contemporary women’s fiction novels and novellas, based in the Texas Hill Country, that reveal her fascination with characters discovering their grit and sweet, second chances; all four of the novels have won distinguished awards. Sweet Comfort is her latest novel, the first book in the Comfort and Joy Trilogy.

kimberly

In this video, author Kimberly Fish describes a bit of herself

that she likes to write into her characters.

View on YouTube

kimberly video

Blog Tour: Creatrix Rising

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures
CREATRIX RISING
AUDIOBOOK
Written & Narrated by
STEPHANIE RAFFELOCK
 
Nonfiction / Self Help Memoir / Aging & Longevity
Publisher: Narrating Sound
Length: 4 hours, 43 minutes
Publication Date: February 22, 2022
SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!
 


 
Ever since Eve was banned from the garden, women have endured the oftentimes painful and inaccurate definitions foisted upon them by the patriarchy. Maiden, mother, and crone, representing the three stages assigned to a woman’s life cycle, have been the limiting categories of both ancient and modern (neo-pagan) mythology. And one label in particular rankles: crone. The word conjures a wizened hag—useless for the most part, marginalized by appearance and ability.
 
None of us has ever truly fit the old-crone image, and for today’s midlife women, a new archetype is being birthed: the Creatrix.
 
In Creatrix Rising, Raffelock lays out—through personal stories and essays—the highlights of the past fifty years, in which women have gone from a quiet strength to a resounding voice. She invites us along on her own transformational journey by providing probing questions for reflection so that we can flesh out and bring to life this new archetype within ourselves. If what the Dalai Lama has predicted—that women will save the world—proves true, then the Creatrix will for certain be out front, leading the pack.
CLICK TO PURCHASE! 


 
Stephanie Raffelock is an author, speaker, and voiceover artist. She is the editor of the anthology, Art in the Time of Unbearable Crisis (2022). Stephanie is the author of Creatrix Rising, Unlocking the Power of Midlife Women (2021) and she penned the award-winning book, A Delightful Little Book on Aging (2020). She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and a goofy Labrador Retriever named Mickey.
 
 
 

Review

Rating: 5 out of 5 STARS
*Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion and does not reflect the viewpoints of the author or publisher. A finished e-audiobook copy of this book was provided for review.*

Creatrix Rising is a self-help-style book that allows the reader to take moments throughout the book to reflect. After each chapter, the author provides self-reflection questions. A creatrix is described as a woman who is creative without the limitations of age set by society.

Each chapter in this book allows the reader to be transferred inside the mind of the author. The reader gets to be a part of the thought process of the author as the author analyzes pivotal moments in her life, which shaped her to become the person she is today. This includes diving deeper in order to truly understand the full make-up of a woman’s life and the cultural projection constantly forced upon women. Women are seen as obsolete beings once they hit the age of 40, and at the spark of a creative high are seen as having a mid-life crisis. For decades women have been seen as “less than,” compared to men. Women were meant to give up their dreams and serve as a caretaker for many.

Stephanie takes a stance on highlighting aspects of her life where she has worked to take back the authority taken from women by men for decades. She shares stories of family, the choices of women in her life, relationships, survival, recovery, healing, loss, forgiveness, and her life in the workforce. She talks about the impact of relationships she developed and her connection to her ancestors. She begins to fully understand the choices her mother and grandmother made in their lifetime and starts to see them as the women they were.

Throughout the entire novel, we get a chance to truly understand how the author has grown to become the person she is today. She finally finds her voice and learns to share her story and allow her story to impact others. This includes her being able to watch her life come full circle and inevitably achieving her dream of becoming a writer.

This central text provides such a diverse set of contexts that you are able to connect to every story shared, every moment of realization, and every relationship dissection. I highly recommend this novel to any woman regardless of age. This novel highlights many aspects of a woman’s life and the challenges women continue to face. It will reignite a fire in you that encourages the reader to give themselves space for their creative minds to prosper. 

I enjoyed the audiobook narration. The story flowed very well and I was able to stay alert throughout the reading. I listened to the audiobook in one sitting and loved it.

This book and author are truly one-of-a-kind, and I cannot encourage you any more emphatically to run to shelves to grab yourself a copy of it.

GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!
FOUR WINNERS
Each receives an audiobook + a print copy of
CREATRIX RISING
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 9/16/22.)
 

Continue reading Blog Tour: Creatrix Rising

Blog Tour: Fancy by Linda Broday

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures

FANCY

Love Train Multi-Author Series, #10

by

LINDA BRODAY

 Western Romance /Sweet Romance/ American Historical Romance

Pages:          190 pages

Publisher:      Kindle Unlimited

Publication Date:     August 15, 2022

 

SCROLL DOWN FOR GIVEAWAY!

A stolen baby
An orphan child
A bargain struck


Told her baby died in childbirth, Fancy Dalton grieves for her son. But in the midst of a raging storm, a shadowy figure appears and tells her that he’s alive and well! He was stolen! Now she has an address and a name. From despair comes hope.
One thought drives her—finding and getting him back. Selling everything she owns, Fancy buys a one-way train ticket to Denver. Nothing and no one will stop her. In a mad dash to board the train, she collides with Jack Coltrain. As fate would have it, the rugged cowboy, on a mission of his own, sits next to her. Experience has taught her to be wary of men. But when her bag is stolen, he gets it back and earns a small piece of her trust.
As the iron wheels roll, taking her closer to her two-year-old son, Fancy and Jack discover an orphan girl who needs their help and open their arms to her. Ten hours from their goal, Fancy and Jack strike a deal—her help for his. Desperate times for both call for creative solutions…but marriage, even in name only? However, nothing is off the table. She’ll do whatever she must to save the orphan and get her child back. Still, giving Jack her heart…that’s not part of the bargain.
Click to purchase!
 
Review
Rating: 5 out of 5 STARS
*Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion and does not reflect the viewpoints of the author or publisher. A finished e-book copy of this book was provided for review.*
“Fancy” is book 10 of the Love Train series. Fancy Dalton is a woman born and raised in a small town in Nebraska. Her story begins with a traumatic and tragic birth story and the start of the tale of a desperate mother.
Fancy’s life is anything but perfect. However, she continues to try to keep her composure as life throws numerous curveballs in her direction in a short time. In an attempt to clear her conscience, the midwife who helped with the birth of the baby informs her that her child is not dead. In a brief moment, Fancy’s plans of continuing to work as a waitress are no more after a recent loss. She packs up her life and heads on a train to find her stolen baby. The journey to her new, unfamiliar destination comes with many twists and turns. First, her bag gets stolen while boarding the train. Then an unlikely hero is captivated by her presence and retrieves her bag.
Fancy is finally able to confide in her new friend Jack. The two build an unlikely bond and work together on a new mission. They see a young orphaned girl on the train and vow to help her. Fancy and Jack work to resolve issues from their past and create a future. You’ll have to read the book to find out if their future is together or separate.
Fancy’s character is built as someone kind and compassionate. Of course, I love a good book with drama and a semi-happy ending. This book is well written. It shows the author spent time developing each character and creating a heartwarming story that will leave any reader audibly sighing. There are parts of this book that can be triggering for anyone who has experienced loss and sexual assault, so I recommend proceeding with caution if you have experienced any of these things.
I recommend this book for readers interested in a romance novel with an edge. Although this book is a part of a series, it can be read as a stand-alone novel. If you haven’t checked out the other books in the series, I highly recommend you do.

PRAISE FOR FANCY:

“I have loved every Linda Broday book I have read, but I must say this one touched my heart.” Cricket (Goodreads)

“Linda Broday waved her magic wand when her turn came and gave us one of her most profound heroines she’s ever written. Fancy wrapped her tragic story around my heart and transported me into the late 1800s.” Tonya (Goodreads)

“Linda Broday has always been able to weave her characters together like a mix-match patch quilt, but the end results are amazing.” Rose Ann (Goodreads)

“…Her ability to convey the goodness of their souls will leave the reader wanting more.” Sally (Goodreads
 



 
I’m a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of thirty historical western romance novels and short stories. I reside in the Texas Panhandle on land the American Indian and early cowboys once roamed, and at times if the breeze is just right, I can hear their voices whispering in the wind. Texas’s rich history is one reason I set all my stories here where cowboys still remain caretakers of the land. I’m inspired every day by their immense dedication and love for the wide-open spaces. I combine those men with the love of family in all my stories and hope to continue to give readers books that entertain and fulfill.
 
 
 


 



Giveaway! Giveaway! Giveaway!

FOUR WINNERS!

One winner:
$25 Amazon gift card plus Kindle copy of Fancy
Three winners:
Kindle copies of Fancy
(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 8/19/2022.)
 
 
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY,
or visit the blogs directly:
 

8/9/22

Excerpt

Forgotten Winds

8/9/22

BONUS Promo

Hall Ways

8/10/22

Review

Librariel Book Adventures

8/10/22

BONUS Promo

LSBBT Blog

8/11/22

Character Spotlight

Chapter Break Book Blog

8/12/22

Review

StoreyBook Reviews

8/13/22

Notable Quotables

Shelf Life Blog

8/14/22

Character Interview

All the Ups and Downs

8/15/22

Review

Carpe Diem Chronicles

8/16/22

Sneak Peek

Stories Under Starlight

8/17/22

Review

Boys’ Mom Reads

8/18/22

Review

Writing and Music
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Blog Tour: The Republic of Jack

Posted on by LibrAriel Book Adventures
THE REPUBLIC OF JACK
by

Jeffrey KerrPolitical Satire / Texas Humor / Texas Fiction

Publisher: Independently published
Date of Publication: April 7, 2020
Number of Pages: 253

Scroll down for the giveaway!

 

Jack Cowherd will do anything to win the Texas governorship, even flirt with twenty-first-century secessionists in the Texas Patriot Party. Victory is achieved, but only at the cost of Texas being tossed out of the United States. The Republic of Texas lives again! And Jack is president. 

 

Friend and political advisor Tasha Longoria has long warned Jack of the dangers of his demagoguery. Now when he tries to halt the madness, the worst comes to pass: he is impeached, arrested, and charged with treason, the penalty for which is death.
Jack has but one chance to save his beloved Texas, not to mention his life. But success depends upon help from the one person least likely to give it . . . Tasha.


PRAISE for The Republic of Jack:

“Jeff Kerr’s Republic of Jack is a ribald, raucous farce of Texas politics that often exposes the self-serving cynicism boiling beneath the surface of public debate.”

—Texas political reporter R.G. Ratcliffe 


“Jeffrey Kerr’s ideal Texas politician—a man truly for these bitter times—bites off more than any enabler could ever chew in this romp of a new novel,

—
CLICK TO ORDER ON:
AMAZON

Review

Rating :★★★★

Disclaimer: This review is solely my opinion. I was provided a copy of a finished book  from Lone Star Literary Life partner in exchange for my honest review.  The comments in this review do not reflect the views of the author or the publisher. The copies used in this review are finalized copies sent to me in exchange for my honest review.  #partner #LSBBT

The story begins with Jack simply running for Governor of Texas but we see from the start that this election was only the beginning. As the story continues to unfold we notice unexpected twists, turn, and laugh out loud moments that leave you wanting more. Throughout this entire novel you see the true humor and turmoil behind the politics of being apart of an election. As Jack works to keep tabs on his personal life he must also accept the new responsibility’s of being an elected official. Can he survive or will he be impeached?

This humorous adult fiction novel takes you on a hilarious journey. You see Jack not only step up as Governor but then get immediately promoted to President, of Texas. Yes, you read that right. The President of the United States is so fed up with Texas that he has decided to precede with a secession of the state. With the new pressures associated with becoming President, Jack struggles with those in his inner circle. He is trying to decipher between which of his advisors is giving him the best advice. In the meantime his wife is having her own party as the new appointed First Lady. She is so consumed by the fame that she is essentially described as a surface, self absorbed  female. Nadine is simply looking for attention which becomes clear when the Vice President starts noticing her more and more. This part was a bit hard to read as it humorously implied that the women next to government officials were just arm candy. As we watch the marriage of Nadine and Jack stumble we see the true effects of the how often people change their mind in regards to politics. One minute the people of Texas love Jack and the next they fight to get him impeached. This hilarious anecdote focuses on how often people change their opinions.

The author did a great job not only with the humor but the overall plot. I enjoyed the twists and turns and the way the story was told from the various character perspectives. My only downfall of this novel was I wanted a bit more depth. Overall this was a great read.

I highly recommend this book for anyone who is interested in reading a humorous adult fiction book. This book is appropriate for adults or young adults due to the mature content on some pages.

 

Click the link above to purchase this item or scroll towards the bottom of this review try your luck at the giveaway. Either way, get your hands on a copy of this book!

 

Jeffrey Kerr is the author of three nonfiction books on Texas history, a historical novel, and, most recently, The Republic of Jack, a satirical novel that imagines Texas as an independent country in the twenty-first century. His history of Austin’s founding, Seat of Empire: The Embattled Birth of Austin, Texas, was named one of sixty essential books about Texas by Michael Barnes of the Austin American-Statesman. Kerr also co-wrote and co-produced the documentary film, The Last of the Moonlight Towers, and a feature film, the psychological thriller Writer’s Block. He lives in Austin, Texas, with his wife and two dogs.

 

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————————————-

GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!  GIVEAWAY!
One Winner: One signed copy of The Republic of Jack
July 7-17, 2020
CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY. Or, visit the blogs directly:
7-Jul
Notable Quotable
All the Ups and Downs
7-Jul
Notable Quotable
Hall Ways Blog
8-Jul
Excerpt
Texas Book Lover
8-Jul
Review
The Clueless Gent
9-Jul
Review
Book Bustle
10-Jul
Character Interview
Forgotten Winds
10-Jul
Review
Missus Gonzo
11-Jul
Scrapbook page
StoreyBook Reviews
12-Jul
Author Interview
Max Knight
13-Jul
Review
Reading by Moonlight
14-Jul
Guest Post
Chapter Break Book Blog
14-Jul
Review
Librariel Book Adventures
15-Jul
Playlist
That’s What She’s Reading
16-Jul
Review
Book Fidelity
16-Jul
Review
The Adventures of a Travelers Wife
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