Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy

Book:  A Tapestry of Light

Author: Kimberly Duffy

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: March 16, 2021

Calcutta, 1886.

Ottilie Russell is adrift between two cultures, British and Indian, belonging to both and neither. In order to support her little brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother, she relies upon her skills in beetle-wing embroidery that have been passed down to her through generations of Indian women.

When a stranger appears with the news that Thaddeus is now Baron Sunderson and must travel to England to take his place as a nobleman, Ottilie is shattered by the secrets that come to light. Despite her growing friendship with Everett Scott, friend to Ottilie’s English grandmother and aunt, she refuses to give up her brother. Then tragedy strikes, and she is forced to make a decision that will take Thaddeus far from death and herself far from home.

But betrayal and loss lurk in England, too, and soon Ottilie must fight to ensure Thaddeus doesn’t forget who he is, as well as find a way to stitch a place for herself in this foreign land.

 

Click here to get your copy!

Historical Fiction is one of my favorite genres to read. A Tapestry

of Light by Kimberly Duffy had an intriguing synopsis and 

BEAUTIFUL Cover, so I was excited to read it. Also, Kimberly

Duffy is a new to me author and I am always looking for 

books from Authors whom I am hearing about for the first time. 

The book is set in Calcutta, India in 1886. Ottilie Russell has been

through a lot in the last few years. She lost both of her parents and is

now taking care of her brother, Thaddeus, and her grandmother. To 

make ends meet, Ottilie, uses her skills of Embroidery, a skill that is 

passed on through her Indian Heritage and that her mom taught her. 

Ottlie and her brother are both of British and India culture. Their father

was British and their mother, Half-British and Half-Indian. They are still

grieving the loss of their mother, when a man arrives at their door and

wants to take Thaddeus to London as he is to be given a Title. Ottilie 

travels to England with her brother. Although, now she is really feeling 

isolated and alone. Thaddeus has an easy time fitting in as he resembles

his British father. Ottlie resembles her Indian mother. She has always felt

that being of 2 Heritages, has been a disadvantage for her and now she 

sees it and feels it even more. Will Thaddeus receive his British title of 

Nobleman? Will Ottlie ever find her "Place in the World?" 

I really enjoyed this book. It is a book about grief, family, taking care of 

siblings, forgiveness, and so much more. The Christian faith of the 

characters in the book is encouraging. I must admit there were a couple

of chapters that I had to reread to understand them, but I eventually moved

forward in the book. I feel the Author did a great job of researching the Time

Period and accurate times. GOOD BOOK! 

 

Kimberly Duffy is a Long Island native currently living in Southwest Ohio, via six months in India. When she’s not homeschooling her four kids, she writes historical fiction that takes her readers back in time and across oceans. She loves trips that require a passport, recipe books, and practicing kissing scenes with her husband of twenty years. He doesn’t mind.

 

More from Kimberly

When I set out to write a new novel, I plan the entire thing from start to finish. I write down each scene on an index card and know exactly what’s going to happen when I sit down for the day’s work. I’m meticulous that way.

But I never plan my characters’ spiritual arcs. Because I want their faith journey to be organic to the story. I want it to feel authentic. It’s such an important part of each of my books and I recognize that some things just refuse plotting and need to develop in a more natural way.

My debut novel, A Mosaic of Wings, features a heroine steeped in science. Nora loves the natural world and so her faith was encouraged by studying the wings of a butterfly or examining an interesting plant. She’s not particularly sentimental or emotive so the faith element of that story had to be presented in a way that made sense for her. Nora’s faith arc is subtle.

Not so for A Tapestry of Light. I had no intention of writing a book that delved into my own struggle with doubt. But that’s what Ottilie required. And it wrung me dry.

Then built me back up.

My faith story is a twisted kind of one. Raised a Christian, I went into ministry, firmly attached myself to the faith of my childhood, and thought it would never waver.

I was wrong.

Oh, how it wavered. For whatever reason, when I hit about 30, it seemed everything I had always believed no longer made sense. It was devastating. Terrifying. And it broke me.

But brokenness is its own sort of beauty and when you recognize there is no way for you to pick up the pieces yourself, God can come in and fill those cracks and shattered places.

Those five years of doubt and questioning and facing the reality that even though I’d always loved Christ, I didn’t really know Him (and didn’t really know why I believed in Him), were some of the most painful I’ve experienced. But I believe with every bit of my being that God is in the business of redemption. Of restoration. Of filling up so that we can pour out.

And he took my own very personal struggle and helped me turn it into a story that, I hope and pray, might encourage others. I gave Ottilie my questions. I gave her my doubt. I gave her my fear and desperation and, in the end, I gave her my hope.

There’s a little piece of me in each of my books, but this one contains my heart.

Life of Literature, March 27

Through the Fire Blogs, March 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 27

Texas Book-aholic, March 28

Breny and Books, March 28

By The Book, March 29

Genesis 5020, March 29

Inklings and notions, March 29

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, March 30

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, March 30

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 31

Mia Reads, March 31

Reflections from my bookshelves, March 31

Connie’s History Classroom, April 1

Remembrancy, April 1

For Him and My Family, April 2

Rachael’s Inkwell, April 2

Vicky Sluiter, April 2

deb’s Book Review, April 3

Batya’s Bits, April 3

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 4

Godly Book Reviews, April 4

Pause for Tales, April 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 5

Simple Harvest Reads, April 5 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 6

A Baker’s Perspective, April 6

Labor Not in Vain, April 6

She Lives To Read, April 7

Betti Mace, April 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 8

To Everything There Is A Season, April 8

Mary Hake, April 8

Wishful Endings, April 9

Bigreadersite, April 9

To celebrate her tour, Kimberly is giving away the grand prize $25 Amazon gift card along with a signed copy of either A Mosaic of Wings or A Tapestry of Light!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/109d5/a-tapestry-of-light-celebration-tour-giveaway

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: A Dark Beauty by Clarissa Kae

Book:  A Dark Beauty

Author: Clarissa Kae

Genre: Fairytale

Release date: March 9, 2021

 

A Victorian Twist on Beauty And The Beast

Bold and brilliant, Georgiana has a gift for fixing machines—from clocks to carriages—while her father has a penchant for finding trouble. In an accidental fire, Georgiana and her father scar the once handsome face of Lord Pichon, cousin to the queen.
Rumors of Georgiana’s gift raise her family’s status. Her incomparable beauty captures the eye of many gentlemen and the wrath of Lord Pichon. Abandoned by his peers and alone in his cold castle, Lord Pichon is determined to enact revenge.
When Georgiana’s father makes a terrible mistake, she sacrifices herself to pay his debt—as a lowly maid in Lord Pichon’s castle.
Her wit and warmth begin to thaw Lord Pichon’s estate, making him question his version of the past. Will her kindness break the beastly lord or will he hold her family hostage forever?

 

Click here to get your copy!

Clarissa Kae has taken a Childhood Classic, Beauty and the Beast

and retold it in a Victorian and Historical genre. A Dark Beauty

is Book 1 in the new series by Clarissa Kae, Victorian Retellings. 

Georgiana has a gift of being able to fix machines. She really 

enjoys fixing just about anything that she can get her hands on. 

Her father has a knack for finding trouble or trouble finding him. 

An accidental fire, has her father and Georgiana injuring Lord Pichon, 

the cousin to the queen. Lord Pichon wants to make her father 

"pay" for his actions and tries to hold him hostage. Georigiana

would rather take her father's place, so she offers up herself

to be a "maid" to the Pichon estate. Lord Pichon has always 

been a "loner", but Georigiana has a great personality that 

is starting to "soften" Lord Pichon and the estate. Will Lord Pichon

realize that he doesn't need to be a "loner"? Will Georgiana

be able to save her family with her beautiful personality and 

softening the hearts of the Pichon estate? 

I am one who likes reading the classics and enjoy them. I for some 

reason just couldn't get into this book and enjoy it as much as I have

enjoyed the Classics. The storyline of Georgiana and her beautiful

personality is great. I just couldn't get fully into the book. The Author

has a good writing style. I do like the setting and time period and I did

find it enjoyable at points. I do think there is an audience for this book

and many will LOVE it. I do LIKE it, I just couldn't love it! Good book!

 

Clarissa Kae is a preeminent voice whose professional career began as a freelance editor in 2007. She’s the former president of her local California Writers Club after spending several years as the Critique Director.

Since her first novel, she’s explored different writing genres and created a loyal group of fans who eagerly await her upcoming release. With numerous awards to her name, Clarissa continues to honor the role of storyteller.

 

Aside from the writing community, she and her daughters founded Kind Girls Make Strong Women to help undervalued nonprofit organizations—from reuniting children with families to giving Junior Olympic athletes their shot at success.

 

She lives in the agricultural belly of California with her family and farm of horses, chickens, dogs and kittens aplenty.

 

More from Clarissa

As a young girl most of the fairy tales talked about beauty as the only attribute but when Disney came out with Beauty and the Beast, my world was rocked. For the first time the heroine was a woman with a brain and a plan. I began researching the fairy tale and read every version. When my youngest daughter was born (with dark hair and big beautiful brown eyes) I named her Isla Belle. For as long as I can remember, I dreamed of writing a Beauty and the Beast retelling. And finally, that dream as come true.

For Him and My Family, March 25

Labor Not in Vain, March 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 26

The Write Escape, March 26

Books and Everyday Life, March 26

Texas Book-aholic, March 27

Breny and Books, March 27

The Christian Fiction Girl, March 28

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 28

Melissa Wardwell’s Back Porch Reads, March 28

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 29

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 29

Through the Fire Blog, March 30

Inklings and notions, March 30

deb’s Book Review, March 31

Connect in Fiction, March 31

Inside the Wong Mind, March 31

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 1

Inspiration Clothesline, April 1

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 2

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 2

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, April 3

To Everything There Is A Season, April 3

Beauty in the Binding, April 3

Connie’s History Classroom, April 4

Blogging With Carol, April 4

A Baker’s Perspective, April 5

Genesis 5020, April 5

Pause for Tales, April 5

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 6

Godly Book Reviews, April 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 7

Adventures of a Travelers Wife, April 7

Mary Hake, April 7

To celebrate her tour, Clarissa is giving away to two winners one $25 Amazon gift card each!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/109d3/a-dark-beauty-celebration-tour-giveaway

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: A Dark Beauty by Clarissa Kae

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Wait for Me by Marguerite Martin Gray

Book:  Wait for Me

Author: Marguerite Martin Gray

Genre: Christian Historical  Romance

Release date: February 9, 2021

A town besieged by the enemy with just one Sovereign order: wait.

Charles Town, South Carolina, 1780

With the inevitable occupation of Charles Town by the British pounding at the gates, Louis Lestarjette braces for possible imprisonment or worse. How can he provide for his growing family with the evil chains of the enemy binding his source of existence? The scenarios of imprisonment and starvation force him to realize he has no control over the outcome of the stronghold of the British. All that remains is a sense of survival at almost any cost.

Elizabeth Lestarjette faces looming confinement with both a drive to protect her children and a desire to do her part to undermine the enemy.  They must thwart the British plans to imprison more men, but how?  Who can they trust?

Just how long will Elizabeth’s confidence in justice withstand the constant battering of war and circumstance?
Discover the destiny of the Lestarjette family in the final book of the Revolutionary Faith Series as they hope and wait upon deliverance from a world under siege.

 

Click here to get your copy!

Wait for Me by Marguerite Martin Gray is a Christian Historical Romance. 

It is book 5 in The Revolutionary Faith Series and also the final book in 

the series. I have not read the first books in the series, but I felt that I 

was able to engage in this book and understand the storyline. 

The setting of the book is Charles Town, South Carolina, 1780. The

British are occupying Charles Town and Louis Lestarjette is worried

about his family as there is a possibility of imprisonment as the British

take over. Elizabeth Lestarjette is trying to find the best way to protect

her family during the seige by British. She is also pregnant with their 

3rd child. Louis and Elizabeth begin to realize they need to "Hope for

the Best, Prepare for the Worst". Ultimately, they know God is in Control, 

especially during times of War and and Seige. Will the Lestariette family

make it through the seige? Will their Faith be strengthened through the 

events? 

I really enjoyed this book. The author has a great writing style, that really

makes the reader feel they are in being taken back to the time period. I 

felt this book reads well as a Stand Alone, but I am VERY interested in 

reading the entire series in order. The Christian faith by the Family really 

brings hope during the seige and when the family is unsure of what 

could happen! FANTASTIC BOOK! 

Marguerite enjoys the study of history, especially when combined with fiction. An avid traveler and reader, she teaches French and Spanish and has degrees in French, Spanish, and Journalism from Trinity University in San Antonio, Texas and a MA in English from Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. She has two grown children and currently lives with her husband in north Louisiana. She writes historical fiction.

 

More from Marguerite

Thank you for stopping by the Wait for Me tour. I’m so excited about the release of this novel, the finale of the Revolutionary Faith series,

I have always been fascinated with the ordinary—the simple acts from day to day. When an historical event is added, I surround my fascination with questions. What did they wear or eat? Why did they marry? Did they have children? Where did they shop? What is incredible or surprising to me about the historical event or activity was at one time ordinary to the characters whether in fiction or nonfiction.

The ordinary that I like to encounter and write in historical fiction includes how the characters dressed. I even had the dress pictured here made for me just in case I want to present in costume!

Also, I like to explore the food my characters ate. I found a wonderful recipe for a beefsteak pie in an American Girl cookbook. I’ve made it several times. Yummy!

The ordinary activities such as going to church or to the market or mercantile make the characters real. Their lives have depth in their interaction with society. My simple faith in God’s provisions and promises flow into the lives of my characters. What makes the story exciting is the historical element linked with the dramatic background of war.

Thank you for continuing the journey with Wait for Me, rooted in the ordinary from two centuries ago.

Connie’s History Classroom, March 26

Artistic Nobody, March 27 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 28

For the Love of Literature, March 29 (Author Interview)

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 29

deb’s Book Review, March 30

She Lives To Read, March 31

Betti Mace, March 31

Library Lady’s Kid Lit, April 1

Splashes of Joy, April 2 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 3

Texas Book-aholic, April 4

Inklings and notions, April 5

For Him and My Family, April 6

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, April 7 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, April 7

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 8

To celebrate her tour, Marguerite is giving away the grand prize package of a print copy of all five books in the series and a box of Charleston Plantation Tea!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/109d4/wait-for-me-celebration-tour-giveaway

Celebrate Lit Blog Tour: Wait for Me by Marguerite Martin Gray

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JustRead Tours Blog Tour: Downsizing by Lin Stepp

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Downsizing by Lin Stepp, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Title: Downsizing
Series: Mountain Home Books #2
Author: Lin Stepp
Publisher: Mountain Hill Press
Release Date: April 1, 2021
Genre: Clean/Sweet Contemporary Romance

Forced to suddenly downsize her life, and not by choice, pushes Mary Pat Latham to give up all that is familiar, to reexamine her life in every area, and to eventually open her heart to new beauty and purpose, instead of only looking back in regret.

At midlife, Mary Pat Latham has an almost perfect life—a successful husband, a beautiful home, four fine grown children, and a wealth of meaningful activities and social clubs to fill her days—so it’s a total shock when her husband walks in one day and says he wants a divorce. As if hearing a stranger talking in her own kitchen, Mary Pat listens to Russell’s reasons for wanting to abandon their long marriage and to his plans, already in place, to sell their home and move on. What will she do? Where will she go? She hasn’t worked since the children were born, her life wrapped up in home and family. Stunned, Mary Pat heads to the small mountain home she and Russell bought from her parents years ago, too shocked and humiliated to face her friends or anyone she knows right now. 

Owen McCarter knew he’d need to stop by the old Jennings place, on some pretense or other, after Wheeler told him he’d seen a woman up there acting sick. After all, the house was next door to his at the end of Highland Drive. When he knocked on the front door later, it took him a minute to recognize Mary Pat, weeping and so different from the girl he’d known in childhood and fallen in love with. Owen reached out in friendship, of course, seeing Mary Pat so upset, but he felt surprised at the old memories that touched him, too. Hearing her problems and learning why she’d come to the mountains, Owen knew it unlikely she’d stay for long after the more lavish life she’d known. But he couldn’t help wishing she would. 

Another Lin Stepp novel set in the Smoky Mountains … with a special “Downsizing Diet” available free to readers as a book supplement.

 Obviously she should have paid more attention. She’d seen other wealthy men trade in their long time wives for a newer version but never imagined it could happen to her. Russell was ten years her senior after all, and she’d always felt that age difference a sort of protection. That and their long-term marriage, which she’d believed a happy one. 

   “I don’t know what to say, Russell. You’ve decided our marriage is not enough for you anymore and that I am not enough. You’ve picked out a new place to live, a new partner, and you’ve already made plans to move on with your life, thinking little about how all these decisions will affect me or our children.” 

   “Our children are adults now,” he said with annoyance. “They’ve all finished college; they’re working. They’ll understand. It’s not like they’re little kids anymore.” 

   She shook her head. “If you think this won’t shock and hurt our children, you’re deluding yourself greatly.” She paused. “And I plan to let you be the one to tell each of them about this, too. You always made me be the one to deal out any disappointing news in past, but not this time.” 

   He wrinkled his nose. “No problem. I’ll talk to them.” 

   “Good, and unless you plan to change your mind about filing for divorce, contact them soon. Since you’ve already talked with an attorney and started paperwork, and since Cherise has been marketing our home—I might add without my knowledge—word will soon get out. I’d rather our children hear about this from you before someone calls one of them and tells them about it behind our backs.” 

   “I said I’d talk to them.” He bit the words out. 

   She sat there, trying to think what else she could possibly say. Surely this wasn’t really happening? She’d seen people she knew get a divorce, heard stories tittered on the wind, felt sorry for those she knew well. Never had she imagined it might be her. Not for a minute. 

   “What will I do, Russell? I haven’t worked outside the home since we married. Any office skills I once had are sadly out of date. Any resume I might create would look ridiculous.” 

   He shrugged. “You’ve apparently felt happy enough sitting around and doing nothing for the last twenty years since Victoria started school. I guess you can keep sitting around doing nothing if you want to, go to your little clubs and such. Your alimony will be pretty good. Divorce doesn’t need to change your life very much if you don’t want it to.” 

   “That’s a mean and stupid thing to say. Divorce changes everything.” 

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES

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image credit Katie Riley

Lin Stepp is a New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon best-selling international author, A native Tennessean, businesswoman, and former  faculty member at Tusculum College, Lin has twenty-one published books, including her beloved Smoky Mountain and Mountain Home novels, all set in different Tennessee and North Carolina locations, plus a novella A Smoky Mountain Gift in one of Kensington’s Christmas anthologies.

Stepp’s latest novels, set around the Smoky Mountains, are Downsizing (2021) and Happy Valley (2019). Lin also has three novels set on the South Carolina coast in her Edisto Trilogy: Claire at Edisto (2019), Return to Edisto (2020) and Edisto Song (2021). Lin and her husband J.L. also write regional guidebooks, including a Smoky Mountain hiking guide and two state parks guidebooks for Tennessee and South Carolina.

Lin’s title Claire At Edisto was the 2019 Best Books Award Winner in Fiction: Romance, sponsored by American Book Fest, her novel Welcome Back a finalist in the 2017 Selah Awards, and Lin and her husband’s guidebook Discovering Tennessee State Parks a 2019 Best Books Award Finalist in Nonfiction: Travel Guides with American Book Fest.

Lin enjoys hiking and exploring out of doors and she loves speaking for events, festivals, libraries, and book clubs and sharing about her work and interests through her monthly blog and newsletter, both on her website at: www.linstepp.com

CONNECT WITH LIN: Website | Facebook | Twitter

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(1) winner will receive a Tennesee gift pack including a print copy of Downsizing by Lin Stepp, The Afternoon Hiker and Discovering Tennessee State Parks by J.L. & Lin Stepp, and a Great Smoky Mountains National Park pocket guide!

Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 5, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 12, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

JustRead Tours Blog Tour: Downsizing by Lin Stepp

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