Winner and Conclusion (Swell Time Blog Tour)

Good morning, friends! Our swingin' blog tour is coming to a close, but that doesn't mean the fun is over. :) Gather round, and we'll announce the giveaway winner, share some tour highlights, remind you of a freebie you can grab (today only!), and announce Cindy's next blog tour that's right around the corner.

Winner Time

Congratulations to the winner of the Swell Time for a Swing Dance giveaway...

Kim (cheetahthecat)!

She won signed copies of Bad Day for a Bombshell and Swell Time for a Swing Dance, a Glenn Miller Orchestra CD, and a WWII-themed ornament. Woohoo!

Kim, an email has been sent to you. :)

Tour Highlights

This tour came with some terrific and touching posts from the author and our team of bloggers. If you missed any of them, it's not too late to check them out! Here are some handy links...

Articles by Cindy 

• Dancing Through the Pages (how should you dress for a 1940s swing dance?)
• A Forties Fascination (what might you find in Cindy's cool collections?)
• Want to Get a Real Feel for the Forties? (what books and movies should you check out?)
• Honoring Those Who Were Really There (do you have stories of a veteran you can share?)
• Why I Love the 1940s (what are Cindy's top 5 reasons?)
• Dear Diary, It's Me, Tracy Truworth (what's a day in the life like for Cindy's heroine?)

Interviews with Cindy

• On Lisa K's Book Reviews
• On Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen
• On Heidi Reads...
• Bonus interview with the heroine, Tracy Truworth, Apprentice P.I.!

Excerpts from the Novel

• Who killed the dancer?
• Did someone steal something too?
• Young love in wartime
• Will someone set the press straight?

Reviews

• "Swell Time for a Swing Dance was fast-paced and set in an unsettling time for the world. It reminded me a bit of Marvel’s Agent Carter series." | Julie's review

• "The author describes the 1940s and wartime life in America well." | Meagan's review

• "Everyone knows I love a good mystery, so of course, this series is quickly becoming one of my favorites." | Heather's review

• "Tracy is my new favorite 'girl' detective.... This is the first book that I have read by [Cindy], but it will not be my last." | Carissa's review

• "I love the individuality of each of the characters. It really brings them to life." | Katrina's review

• "Once again, Cindy Vincent delivers a wonderfully engrossing 1940s atmosphere in the high-stakes world where Nazis have secretly infiltrated the US—and Tracy and her fella have been framed for the latest crime!" | Jes's review

Personal Blogger Post

• Carissa shares about her interest in WWII

Get the Book...for Free!

Today is the last day of the Kindle freebie promotion for Swell Time for a Swing Dance. If you enjoy reading ebooks, don't miss this chance to snag a FREE Kindle copy of the book in celebration of this blog tour!

Get Ready for Christmas Cheer!

If you enjoyed this tour with Cindy Vincent, we hope you'll return next month for a special tour to kick off the Christmas season! We'll be celebrating Cindy's novella, Yes, Carol, It's Christmas! This little story is a reimagining of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens in modern times, featuring a former party planner who's lost her Christmas spirit.

The tour is scheduled for November 26-30 and will include lots of fun posts featuring reviews, party-planning tips, and more. If you're a blogger, you can learn more about participating in the tour HERE. Sign-ups are still open!

Cindy and I want to offer our sincere gratitude to all the bloggers who participated in the Swell Time for a Swing Dance blog tour, as well as all those who joined the fun by leaving comments, entering the giveaway, and downloading the book! Until next time... :)

Dancing Through the Pages (Swell Time Blog Tour)

The Swell Time for a Swing Dance blog tour continues here today with a fun guest post from the author! With a title that includes the phrase "swing dance," you can bet there's some spinning and fast footwork involved in the pages of Cindy's latest mystery...and maybe in her own life too. :)

In this article, you'll get some insight into Cindy's love of swing dance, while also finding some tips on how to dress for a 1940s-style dance. Maybe you'll walk away with an extra spring in your step...and a new hobby!

* * *

Dancing Through the Pages

By Cindy Vincent

Ever since I was a little girl growing up in the early 60s, I’ve always had a love of dancing. I think it started when I was about five or six, probably after learning how to square dance in kindergarten. As I recall, we were taught the Virginia Reel at a very early age, probably since it was simple enough that even a child could do it. Ha! From there, I had several years of ballet classes, along with the yearly recital, which always involved a satin and sequined tutu.

So naturally, when I was older and the swing dance revival of the 1990s came around, I wanted to be part of it. The only issue? I now had a husband who would rather have a root canal than go out dancing. Even so, with a lot of prodding, (and begging . . . lots and lots of begging,) he finally agreed to learn to swing dance. And while taking classes didn’t appeal to him, I bought a video (yes, an actual VHS tape), and we followed the steps and practiced in the privacy of our living room until we had the basics down pat. Then little by little, we added a few moves here and there until we were good enough to go out dancing for an evening and enjoy ourselves. (And yes, he had fun, too!) Though we weren’t exactly “Fred and Ginger” out on the dance floor, as my husband the engineer often joked, “What we lacked in talent, we made up for in g-forces.” Meaning, we danced very fast and had a lot of fun. But we certainly weren’t good enough to win any dance contests!

However, we did win another contest at a dance. Because many of the dances we went to (and there were many!) were re-creations of the WWII-era dances, dressing the part was a truly fun aspect of the evening. So we went all out. He wore a vintage 1940s tuxedo, and I usually wore an authentic 1940s dress, along with the hat and gloves and all the accessories, thus leading us to win “Best Attire” at a Fabulous Forties hangar dance at the Texas Aviation Hall of Fame. I still have the plaque in my office to this day.

Attending all these dances also led us to absolutely love swing music, especially the music of Glenn Miller. And though he passed away during WWII, a version of the orchestra regrouped in 1956, and it is still touring to this day. (With ever-changing members, of course.) You can find out about their tour schedule at https://glennmillerorchestra.com, and you can even go to one of their concerts, if you’d like to experience this wonderful music from the past. We’ve heard them play “live” many times, and it’s always hard to sit still throughout the whole show! In fact, people often jump up and start swing dancing in the aisles. (Okay, us included . . .)

And if you don’t know how to swing dance yourself, these days you’ll find plenty of swing dance instructional videos on YouTube. Plus, lots of cities have their own swing dance societies, and some cities even have hangar dances, 1940s USO style.

That brings me to a final subject: How do you dress for such a dance? Of course, for women, you’ll need bright red lipstick—Victory Red, as they called it—and you’ll probably want to wear a dress. In those days, the style was generally wider at the shoulders with an A-line skirt, to give a woman an hourglass figure. Here’s a vintage 1940s dress, similar to something Tracy might have worn in my book:

I also recommend that you wear long gloves, a small hat, and plenty of sparkly jewelry. Back then, women wore full jewelry sets at once—necklace, earrings, bracelet, and brooch. And to complete your look, panty hose with seams up the back will definitely put you in that era. Men can wear a double-breasted suit or baggy pleated pants and a sweater vest and bow tie. A fedora (hat) is a nice touch if you can find one.

Now I leave you with a little “incentive” to get out there and swing dance yourself . . . Here’s one of the best swing dance songs ever written, “In the Mood” by Glenn Miller:



Once you go swing dancing, you’ll understand why I included it in my book, Swell Time for a Swing Dance. It’s just so much fun!

* * *

Want more? Find the full schedule (and a giveaway!) for
this "swell" blog tour HERE.

You can also grab a Kindle copy of this book for FREE this week,
October 16-20! 

Enjoy a Swell Time on This 1940s Blog Tour!

Welcome to the Swell Time for a Swing Dance blog tour! It's my pleasure to be the coordinator for this tour on behalf of author Cindy Vincent. :) We hope you'll swing on by and stay a while, as we have lots of fun, informative, and inspiring posts for you this week!

Let's take a peek at the schedule...

Monday, October 15
Tour introduction | Seasons of Humility You are here!
Review | My Favorite Pastime
Spotlight | Heidi Reads…
Author interview + excerpt | Lisa Ks Book Reviews

Tuesday, October 16
Dancing Through the Pages (guest post) | Seasons of Humility
Character interview | Heidi Reads…
Excerpt | My Favorite Pastime

Wednesday, October 17
A Forties Fascination (guest post) | My Favorite Pastime
Want to Get a Real Feel for the Forties? (guest post) | Life with Katie
Personal post | Carissa’s Bookshelf
Review | Meagan Davenport
Excerpt | Heidi Reads…

Thursday, October 18
Honoring Those Who Were Really There (guest post) | Seasons of Humility
Why I Love the Forties (guest post) | Heidi Reads…
Dear Diary (guest post) + review + interview | Encouraging Words from the Tea Queen
Review | Carissa’s Bookshelf
Spotlight | Hannah Gaudette – Author

Friday, October 19
Review | Life with Katie
Review | Pause for Tales
Author interview | Heidi Reads…
Excerpt | Hannah Gaudette – Author

Saturday, October 20
Review | The Power of Words
Tour conclusion (winner announced) | Seasons of Humility

* * *

Each excerpt will give you a unique glimpse into this cozy, swingin', patriotic mystery. Each guest post and interview with the author will give you fresh insight into this era of history. And each review will help you see what fellow readers thought of Cindy's newest release!

Learn more about the book and author below...

Paperback edition | Kindle edition | Goodreads page

About the Book

December 31, 1941. Young Houston socialite Tracy Truworth, Apprentice P.I., can’t imagine a better way to send off the old year and ring in the new than by dancing through the night with her fella, Pete Stalwart. But a swell evening soon takes a terrible turn when a fellow dancer with moves like Fred Astaire ends up dead on the dance floor. And before the hands on the clock can point to midnight, a finger is pointed at Pete, accusing him of murdering the young man.

Then after Pete is hauled away in handcuffs, the night goes from bad to worse . . . and Tracy’s sweet grandmother is accused of stealing an ancient artifact from the museum. Now Tracy must team up with her boss and mentor, Sammy Falcone, in order to find the stolen statuette, unmask the real murderer, and restore the reputations of those she loves the most.

Yet as America becomes embroiled in another world war, the risks and sacrifices intensify—even on the homefront. And Tracy soon finds her own home invaded by a near parade of questionable characters, while unsavory suspects lurk in the shadows, and a ruthless reporter makes her life miserable. With time ticking against her, Tracy must be willing to swing past the setbacks and hop through the hazards if she hopes to solve a mystery that involves a lot of dancing . . . and a lot more danger.

About the Author

CINDY VINCENT, M.A. Ed., was born in Calgary, Alberta, and has lived all around the US and Canada. She is the creator of the Mysteries by Vincent murder mystery party games and the Daisy Diamond Detective Series games for girls. She is also the award-winning author of the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper novels and the Daisy Diamond Detective series. She lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and an assortment of fantastic felines.

Website | Amazon | Goodreads

* * *

Last but not least, this week you'll have the opportunity to enter a nifty giveaway for a chance to win some swell prizes!

Giveaway!

Time to get “in the mood” with a fun 1940s-themed giveaway! Use the Rafflecopter form below to enter for a chance to win a pewter ornament from The National WWII Museum, a Glenn Miller Orchestra CD, and paperback copies of the first two books in the Tracy Truworth series: Bad Day for a Bombshell and Swell Time for a Swing Dance. Due to shipping costs and varying international laws, this giveaway is open to US residents (age 18 or older) only. Void where prohibited. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Mystery Review Opportunity: Swell Time for a Swing Dance

Hello, friends! Today I'm sharing about an autumn blog tour opportunity for a new WWII-era mystery novel from a dear friend and client, Cindy Vincent. :)

Here are some of exciting aspects of this particular tour, which runs October 15-19:

- Paperback review copies available to bloggers with US mailing addresses

- Numerous options for participating (from a simple spotlight post if you're crunched for time to guest posts, interviews, or a book review)

- Tour-wide giveaway includes some awesome WWII-themed prizes

Read on to learn more about the book and find out how you can sign up for the tour...

Swell Time for a Swing Dance 

About the Book

December 31, 1941. Young Houston socialite Tracy Truworth, Apprentice P.I., can’t imagine a better way to send off the old year and ring in the new than by dancing through the night with her fella, Pete Stalwart. But a swell evening soon takes a terrible turn when a fellow dancer with moves like Fred Astaire ends up dead on the dance floor. And before the hands on the clock can point to midnight, a finger is pointed at Pete, accusing him of murdering the young man.

Then after Pete is hauled away in handcuffs, the night goes from bad to worse . . . and Tracy’s sweet grandmother is accused of stealing an ancient artifact from the museum. Now Tracy must team up with her boss and mentor, Sammy Falcone, in order to find the stolen statuette, unmask the real murderer, and restore the reputations of those she loves the most.

Yet as America becomes embroiled in another world war, the risks and sacrifices intensify—even on the homefront. And Tracy soon finds her own home invaded by a near parade of questionable characters, while unsavory suspects lurk in the shadows, and a ruthless reporter makes her life miserable. With time ticking against her, Tracy must be willing to swing past the setbacks and hop through the hazards if she hopes to solve a mystery that involves a lot of dancing . . . and a lot more danger.

Available now from Mysteries by Vincent 

Order on Amazon | Add to Goodreads 

About the Author 

CINDY VINCENT, M.A. Ed., was born in Calgary, Alberta, and has lived all around the US and Canada. She is the creator of the Mysteries by Vincent murder mystery party games and the Daisy Diamond Detective Series games for girls. She is also the award-winning author of the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper novels and the Daisy Diamond Detective series. She lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and an assortment of fantastic felines.

Note to Potential Reviewers

This is a full-length historical mystery novel set at the beginning of World War II. While the book is not specifically Christian fiction, there are some faith elements and the content is clean, with only kissing (no sex scenes) and mild (non-gory) violence. While Swell Time for a Swing Dance is the second book in a series, it can be read and understood on its own.

Want to Read the Book Now?

If you'd like to review the book or participate in the tour in other ways, sign up here:

Sign Up Today!

To learn more about my services as a freelance book editor and marketer, please visit www.amberchristineholcomb.com.

The Cat Detectives Are Back! | Review of The Case of the Clever Secret Code

About the Book

Buckley and Bogey, Cat Detectives, find their next big case with the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Agency to be their most difficult yet.

It all starts one hot summer day, when the boys are sitting in the front window of their Mom’s antique store. That’s when they see a big, black limo crawling up the street and going right through downtown St. Gertrude.

So who is in that long, black car? None other than famous movie star, Steele Bronson! And his surprise arrival sends the entire town into a tizzy! Especially when he announces his plans to shoot his next movie right there at the St. Gertrude Library, housed in a historic four-story mansion. And wouldn’t you know it, but it all happens just when Gracie, the boys’ human sister, is a finalist in the town’s Fourth of July essay contest. Holy Catnip!

But it isn’t long before Buckley and Bogey realize there is something very wrong with the whole picture . . . including the one that Steele Bronson is filming. Because it soon becomes very clear that the guy is after much more than just an Academy Award. And when the drama turns to danger for the boys and their family, that’s when Buckley and Bogey jump into the scene. Because this is one case that has it all—from Fourth of July festivities to tales of the American Revolution, and from a secret code to a hidden key!

Unless Buckley and Bogey want to see this movie turn into a tragedy, it’ll be up to them to crack the case . . . as well as the secret code . . . Holy Mackerel!

Available Now

Purchase on Amazon | Add to Goodreads

My Review

Talk about clever!

The BBCDA (Buckley & Bogey Cat Detective Agency) is back, solving a brand-new mystery and cracking the code. This case takes Buckley, Bogey, and their loved ones through the library, on the hunt, and into some pretty tough moral dilemmas. Yet it's a fun ride with a hint of National Treasure, plenty of patriotism, and a great big dose of warm fuzzies. Once you meet these cat detectives, you'll love getting reacquainted with them with each new read!

Poor Gracie, Buckley and Bogey's human "sister," has a LOT to deal with in this story. What starts out in star-struck excitement quickly breaks down into frustration and sorrow as actor Steele Bronson pushes Gracie and her family into the (unwanted) spotlight. To what end? What does a big-name actor and his team want with the small Texas town of St. Gertrude? And what does Gracie's Fourth of July speech have to do with them?

As hard as it is to see Gracie meet with failure after failure, one of the best things about this story (and the whole series) is seeing the difference it makes in a person's life to have the support of loved ones.

Another thing I loved about The Case of the Clever Secret Code? For fans of this series and its precious characters, let me tell you that it's a treat to see the way Buckley comes into his own as a cat detective. While a lot of the plot revolves around Gracie, Buckley is the main character—and he's finding his purr-fect (couldn't resist!) place in the BBCDA and within his family.

This latest Buckley & Bogey mystery shows that fame has a price and doing the right thing is its own sort of prize. The ending is quite enjoyable, and the case is one for the history books.

Disclaimer: The author is one of my previous clients from my freelance editing and publicity days—and more than that, she's become my honorary aunt and dear, dear friend. So I freely admit to having a special place in my heart for Buckley & Bogey and their Mom/author. :)

*With thanks to the author for providing me with a copy of the book. A review was not required in exchange, but I offer this as my honest opinion.*

Bonus!

Enjoy this exclusive interview with Cat Detective Buckley.

My Review of The Dunn Deal

Here's a description of the book from the author's website:

"Rumors of dirty cops, midnight meetings on Friday the thirteenth, and a forested militia masquerading as a religious cult--these and other peculiar elements complicate the senseless murder of Deputy Sheriff Baxter Dunn, son-in-law of Christine's best friend, Zora Jane Callahan.

The subject may be frightful, but our amateur sleuth tackles it with her characteristic blend of nosiness and tenacity, especially after Molly her beloved border collie is dog napped in retaliation for Christine's intrusion into matters that are clearly none of her business.

National media attention fuels the escalating conflict between Christine and the authorities. Suspicions grow concerning which of the lawmen--if any--can be trusted. When a second murder jolts the tranquil community, Christine gets tagged as the prime suspect. Where is God in this? And who will rescue Molly if Christine ends up behind bars?"

My Rating

Fall/Spring

My Review

The Dunn Deal is like Murder, She Wrote with a Christian emphasis and a dear husband tagging along for the ride. Christine Sterling is in her "golden years," so what can she contribute to a possible murder investigation that has far more dangerous implications the deeper she gets involved? Well, apparently plenty! Although it is difficult to say how much more work she makes for the local law enforcement...

The story is told from Christine's point-of-view (first person), so it's easy to either be highly amused by her antics or to just plain be annoyed. Because of some of her interactions with others (like her husband), I'm not fully on the latter end of the spectrum, but pretty close.

For a book that highly prizes the Truth, Christine doesn't seem to be above evading it in personal matters in order to protect herself from a lecture or to get away with what she wants. One of the discussion questions at the end suggests that the author made Christine to be a flawed character whose every decision should probably not be emulated...but at the same time, there seems to be mixed messages about truth when Christine constantly makes the same mistakes while the case is ultimately solved.

Christine's husband, Jesse, comes across as wishy-washy on occasion, not quite determined enough to really work through some of these issues. However, the romance between this older couple is quite wonderful. It's fun to see the protective nature and the caring ways of a couple whose honeymoon ended many years ago. Jesse is a unique and adorable hero!

As for Molly, the pet modeled on the cover, I'm torn. She is a sweet addition to the story, but her addition sometimes comes across as forced. Perhaps in Payne and Misery (the first book in this series), Molly's role is more established, so readers who then pick up this book know the connection between pet and owner. I'm just not sure. For me, Molly's part kind of gets shuffled in later on after the groundwork has already been established, and I just didn't get to experience much of a connection. That wouldn't be quite so vital if it wasn't for the fact that Christine makes some very poor decisions (in my opinion) in order to help her dog. In a book with such a strong evangelical slant, the instances where a dog's life appears to be valued more than a person's safety bothered me.

All in all, The Dunn Deal is certainly an interesting read, with plenty of discussions to listen in on and even some action to keep the tension high. For those who enjoy a good mystery starring a more mature couple, you might want to give this a try - perhaps keeping in mind the previously mentioned issues that stood out to me.

*With thanks to Ellechor Publishing House for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for my honest opinion.*

Masterpiece Mystery: Miss Marple (The Pale Horse)

It's too bad there's only one episode in this latest season (Series 6) of Miss Marple--because I loved "The Pale Horse," and I'm ready for more!

In 2010 PBS Masterpiece won me over during the Classics season with shows like Jane Austen's Emma, Northanger Abbey, and the action-packed The 39 Steps. And then later that year the new, modern version of Sherlock was an absolute treat for me, and I became intrigued by the Mystery season. I ended up watching a couple of older Miss Marple episodes with my aunt and uncle while visiting some family in Texas over Thanksgiving break, and I really enjoyed them.

When I discovered that JJ Feild was playing a role in this latest episode of Miss Marple, I was even more convinced that I had to see it! JJ Feild was Henry Tilney in Northanger Abbey, and he did a splendid job, in my opinion. ;) Gotta love a hero with a sense of humor and a great smile!

Anyway, overall I found "The Pale Horse" to be a wonderful episode! (And just to clarify, "episodes" for PBS Masterpiece are movie-length--about 90 minutes, generally.) With plenty of interesting suspects, a creepy setting, and the ever-lovable (and quite insightful!) Miss Marple, you get the perfect mix for a "keep-you-guessing" mystery.

When Miss Marple receives a letter with a list of names from a dear friend (Father Gorman), and then later discovers that Gorman has been murdered, she sets off to seek justice for her friend and follow the clue that he gave his life to protect. "Teaming up" with an inspector (who doesn't really appreciate her meddling ways at first), she tracks down leads and eventually ends up at the Pale Horse Inn, where she encounters "witches," secretive guests, and a complex and dangerous scheme.

I like the array of characters, as well as the twists and turns along the way. As for the ending, well, let's just say I didn't see it coming--which is a good thing when it comes to mysteries, right? I loved the surprises, and Miss Marple is a heroine to admire!

I haven't read any of the Miss Marple books, but I've enjoyed the episodes I've seen, and The Pale Horse was a pleasure to watch! My family watched it with me, and they all seemed to really like it, too--from my grandparents, to my parents, to my younger sister (who came in part way through). This episode is a great way to spend the evening if you're a fan of "cozy" mysteries!

• Want to learn more? Visit the episode's page on the PBS Masterpiece website.
  

• Between now and August 10th you can watch "The Pale Horse" for free online!

Discussion:

If you watched "The Pale Horse," I'd love to hear your thoughts! If you haven't yet watched it, feel free to click the link above to watch it online and then come back. Just be sure to watch the episode before you join the discussion because there will be some spoilers!

Here are some questions to get us started:

• Do you admire Miss Marple? If so, what do you admire most about her?
  

• What do you think about the setting of this episode? Do you find The Pale Horse Inn to be intriguing, spooky, disturbing, historically interesting, or something else?

• What are your thoughts on the ending? Did it surprise you?
  

• If you've read or seen other Miss Marple mysteries, how do you feel this one compares?

And don't forget...

Tomorrow we're discussing Death on the Nile (A Hercule Poirot Mystery) by Agatha Christie!

Mystery Review: The Ghostway

Here's a description of the book from HarperCollins Publishers:

"Old Joseph Joe sees it all. Two strangers spill blood at the Shiprock Wash-O-Mat. One dies. The other drives off into the dry lands of the Big Reservation, but not before he shows the old Navajo a photo of the man he seeks.

This is all Tribal Policeman Jim Chee needs to set him off on an odyssey that moves from a trapped ghost in an Indian hogan to the seedy underbelly of L.A. to an ancient healing ceremony where death is the cure, and into the dark heart of murder and revenge."

My Review:

After years of having my dad tell me how amazing Tony Hillerman’s books are, I finally know what all the excitement is about! Tony Hillerman weaves an exceptional story in The Ghostway: intriguing, thrilling, and thought-provoking. And once the end is in sight, it’s difficult to put down!

Navajo Tribal Police Officer Jim Chee is introduced as a character forced to make a personal decision that will determine how he identifies himself and how the rest of his life will play out. With his conflicted love life on his mind, Chee is thrust into a case that will lead him on a physically and emotionally intense journey to discover the truth—both of the identification of the murderer, victims, and other people involved in the series of crimes, as well as the identification of himself.

Hillerman’s descriptions of the western setting are powerful, seen from the eyes of a Native American law officer and the eyes of a paranoid killer. Navajo rituals and beliefs are also woven into the story in a powerful way and make for a wonderfully complex and interesting read. And a Navajo perspective on the “outside” world of the typical white man in America (such as how he treats the elders in his world) gives the story a depth that will make readers take a step back and see a familiar culture with new, and perhaps critical, eyes.

The Ghostway is a story that kept my attention and made me eager for more. There are a few swear words and not-so-pretty scenes, but overall this story is pretty “clean” and yet realistic and engaging. The strength of the main characters, the twists and turns of the plot, and the sensitive way in which the story is told make The Ghostway a must-read!

Disclaimer: This book was assigned reading for my Literature of the American West class, and this review was written and turned in to be graded by my professor. It should also be noted that this is not a Christian fiction book, which is the category of books I generally review on this blog. However, I truly did enjoy reading this, and I'm hoping to borrow some more books by this author when I get home, as my dad has pretty much the whole collection!

Blogoversary Day 4: Remembering Mystery Week

Welcome to the fourth day of my blogoversary extravaganza! Today we're looking back to Mystery Week (from last September). While I may not have another short mystery story for you today, author S. Dionne Moore has a very special and fun treat for ya'll!

For those of you who are visiting or are new to the blog (or if you just want a blast from the past!), here are the links to the posts from Pre-Mystery Week:

• On the Verge of a Mystery
• Finding the Clues: An Author Interview with S. Dionne Moore

And here are the links to the posts from Mystery Week, which included a short story I wrote in five installments:

• Mystery Week: Part One
• Mystery Week: Part Two
• Mystery Week: Part Three
• Mystery Week: Part Four
• My Review of Polly Dent Loses Grip
• Mystery Week: Conclusion!!!

It was so much fun glancing back at these posts and the subsequent comments when adding the links here--I might just have to include another Mystery Week in my second year of blogging! ;) Just out of curiosity, what themed weeks would you like to see make a repeat appearance on "Seasons of Humility"?

And now, the "Mysterious Mrs. S." is back with an awesome interview!

Amber: It’s such a pleasure to host you here at “Seasons of Humility” again! I guess you’re no longer the “Mysterious Mrs. S.” anymore, since we already revealed your name last time. ;)

Sandra: Nope. And I can blame the whole “S” thing on the *other* Sandra. My editor contracted her before me, so asked me if I had some other name I wanted to use to avoid confusion. Since my middle name is unique, that’s what I decided to use.

Amber: I think it makes for a very cool pen name! Could you share with us what you’ve been up to in your writing career since September 2010?

Sandra: Oh dear. Since September 2010? Let’s see. I finished up the edits of my second PA Historical Romance, Promise of Yesterday, which released in December. Finished writing the last book of the series, Promise of Time, which releases in April of 2011, and both started and finished the first book in my Wyoming Historical Romance series titled, A Sheepherder’s Song. Oy! I didn’t realized I’d accomplished so much in such a short time until I had to answer that question.

Amber: Wow! Way to go! I'm definitely looking forward to diving into some more of your work this summer. =) What’s on the agenda for this next year? Any new books we should be on the lookout for?

Sandra: In addition to the first book in my Wyoming series, I’ll be working on the second (April - July) and the third (August - November). I’ll have edits for Recipe for Deceit which allows me to return to the first character whose personality landed my first contract, LaTisha Barnhart. Promise Brides, the 3-in-1, of all the PA historicals will release in November. Recipe for Deceit releases in October.

Mystery lovers might be interested to know that Recipe for Deceit, the third and final book in the cozy mystery series, revisits the town of Maple Gap. We discover just what Mayor Taser, Hardy, and a slew of new characters have all been up to using Your Goose Is Cooked, Maple Gap’s premiere restaurant, which LaTisha now owns, as setting.

Amber: Awesome! I loved the characters from Polly Dent Loses Grip. ;)

Your first interview here was centered on mysteries: ones you’ve solved, ones you write about, and ones my readers could help you solve. Got any new mysteries for my readers to solve?

Sandra: There’s a hidden object game on my Website. For those of you who can find all eight mice, email me with the locations and I’ll enter you for a chance to win the entire collection of my PA Historical Romance (3 books!), autographed to you or the person of your choosing.

Amber: Sounds super fun! (Readers, you better head on over there as soon as you finish reading this interview!)

If we could celebrate this blogoversary in “real life” (as a tangible party and not just a cyber party) and you were asked to help come up with ideas for the party, what would you suggest?

Sandra: Armchairs with ottomans. A librarian-look-alike lady, bun and spectacles in place--her presence will maintain the quiet needed as we read quietly. Hot chocolate, teas, and mochas will be served. Reading glasses must be in place before entering the premises.

You will be handed a mystery and asked what hot drink you would like to accompany your escape into crime-solving. A tuxedoed male will keep the fire roaring in the fireplace. Every 50 minutes there will be a break from reading for a bit of sharing on the likes/dislikes of the book you’re reading.

Is this party rocking it or what?

Oh. I forgot to add an event in my description above--Naptime is a requirement and will occur at three hour intervals.

Amber: Hahaha--love it! Do you have a funny memory you can share with us from a party/celebration that you attended or hosted this past year?

Sandra: Uh. Heart-shaped balloons give a really bad impression as they deflate. I was decorating for a Bridal shower to be held at our church, in the fellowship hall. Every time I caught a glimpse of those balloons, I just wanted to crawl under the table.

Amber: Hehehe! Oh goodness, Sandra--too funny! ;) Thank you so much for joining us today and for putting together that activity for my readers!

The Giveaway

Well, if you've been observant when reading this interview (as any good sleuth would be, right?), you already know what the giveaway is! But just to remind you, here it is:

"There’s a hidden object game on my Website. For those of you who can find all eight mice, email me [Sandra] with the locations and I’ll enter you for a chance to win the entire collection of my PA Historical Romance (3 books!), autographed to you or the person of your choosing."

So head on over to Sandra's website right now! And if you're a proper detective, you should have no problem discovering Sandra's e-mail either. ;) (Hint: Check out her website!)

(The first author I ever interviewed on my blog was Leanna Ellis--and tomorrow she's visiting here again with another fun interview and giveaway! Be sure to stop by!)

More Masterpiece Mystery: Sherlock Holmes (Episode 3)

Noooooooooooo!!! I should have known they would end the season with something like this, but I still can't help feeling frustrated. One thing is for sure, though--this PBS Masterpiece Mystery show has me hooked! How long until Season Two again?!

The third and final episode of the season is entitled "The Great Game," and with good reason! The whole plot was one great, big "game" to Sherlock, and he certainly was challenged and forced to hone his skill. The series of "moves" he had to counter were complex and quite crazy, and while it was almost a pleasure to see Sherlock's mind in action, it was most definitely not a pleasure to see innocent people forced to be pawns in this game.

I think that is what made this episode the least enjoyable of the three, in my opinion--the horror of lives being terrorized and lost. It was dreadful to see the poor people involved in this plot, and to see how callous Sherlock had allowed himself to become. Towards the end I once again got a glimpse of Sherlock's heart, but it was very well hidden seemingly due to the fact that he couldn't let himself become attached. He declares that caring about people doesn't help him save them. And while (in his line of work) he obviously has to keep focused in order to be of any help, I think what makes it hard to watch is the fact that he really does see it all as a game. When speaking of his real arch-enemy, he notes, "I can't be the only person in the world who gets bored." It is very sad that Sherlock has this perspective in regards to crimes (and solving them), not really considering (for the most part) how they truly affect others.

I'm glad I didn't try to watch this episode before the others, because I think the attachment I had already formed to the characters helped me want to keep watching the conclusion of the series. I cared about Sherlock and Watson (guess I wouldn't make a good consulting detective like Sherlock, then!), and I wanted to see them succeed and triumph over evil.

Without giving too much away (hopefully), the reason for my first cry of despair in this post is that the ending is not really conclusive. In fact, it's a terrible, terrible cliff-hanger ending, which I hope will be explained in Season Two coming next year! I have no idea how the final confrontation can safely be resolved, but I guess that's why they call it a mystery...

To end on a happier note, there were a few funny and entertaining references to blogging in this episode that I'd like to share! In this episode, Watson has a blog where he posts about his life (which, if I recall correctly, was introduced or at least foreshadowed in the first episode), now including information about Sherlock. Hope you get a good laugh out of these:

• Sherlock to Watson: "Put that on your blog. Or better yet, stop inflicting your opinions on the world."
  

• Sherlock to Watson (with humor): "I'd be lost without my blogger."

Yay for blogs! No wonder I like Watson so much. ;) Here's one last quote about Watson:

• Sherlock: "How quaint." Watson: "What is?" Sherlock: "You are."

Overall, after watching one episode ("The Blind Banker"), I was very eager to watch more. I was not disappointed with the first episode ("A Study in Pink"), but perhaps a bit disappointed with this last one ("The Great Game"). Again, there is some language (including the "b" word in this episode), as well as some references to homosexuality, but overall this series is not gory and not too scary for a suspense/mystery program (although this last one is borderline, along with being rather depressing).

Ultimately, the new PBS Masterpiece Sherlock Holmes series drew me in and engaged my mind and even my heart. The characters had depth, the plots had a lot of intrigue, and the music was just so fitting for such a mystery series. ;) The series is well-done (particularly the first two episodes), and I think PBS Masterpiece has created another winner!

And don't forget--you can watch all three episodes online through December 7, 2010!

More Masterpiece Mystery: Sherlock Holmes (Episode 1)

Yay! The Internet was back up and running at full speed today (Thursday), so I am delighted to say that I just finished watching the first, wonderful episode of the new PBS Masterpiece version of Sherlock Holmes, titled "A Study in Pink!"

While this one was not quite as "edge-of-my-chair," moment-by-moment suspenseful as the second episode (yes--unfortunately, I did watch them out of order), "A Study in Pink" had me laughing so much, and then once again shouting at my laptop screen for the last part. What an adventure this episode was!

I loved getting to see how Sherlock Holmes and John Watson met, and I was surprised and moved by the background to Watson's story. Watson served in the military and toured in Afghanistan, and he had returned to London having been shot in the shoulder and having acquired a limp. It was a pleasure to see his growth in this episode, both in his self-awareness and in his friendship with Sherlock, and I was happy to see him finding purpose in his life and a desire to truly live it.

As for Sherlock--boy, does he leave an intriguing first impression! And his comments to others--wow! He can be rather cruel, but there is a depth to him that goes beyond his mind. I think he reaches a point at the end of the episode where he has been humbled and perhaps realizes that he isn't completely perfect, which is a good lesson for us all!

As I said before, the last part forced me to become vocal, as if I somehow thought the characters could hear me and follow my orders! ;) I was completely captivated, wondering what on earth was going to happen, how all the "murders" had been committed, and how it was all going to be resolved. There were a lot of great twists throughout the episode, for sure, but that ending was just one tangled, thrilling knot!

And don't even get me started on the dialogue of the movie! Yes, there was a little bit of language (not too bad), but besides that there were just so many funny lines! I wrote down some of the many memorable quotes from the episode, and I'll only share a few with you now (just so you can get a taste before watching it online for yourself!):

• Sherlock's "enemy" to Watson: "You're not haunted by the war, Dr. Watson. You miss it. (pause) Welcome back."

• Watson to Sherlock: "I just met a friend of yours." Sherlock: "A friend?" (incredulous) Watson: "An enemy." Sherlock: "Oh." (complete understanding) "Which one...?"

• Text Message from Sherlock to Watson: "If convenient, come to Baker Street." Several minutes later, another text message from Sherlock: "If inconvenient, come anyway."

• Watson: "Did I just text a murderer?" [How's that for a teaser?!]

This was a fantastic episode, and now I'm off to watch the third one!!!

Masterpiece Mystery Monday

Saturday night I indulged and let myself watch an episode of the the new PBS Masterpiece Mystery version of Sherlock Holmes. I ended up alternately laughing at some funny lines, hiding my eyes (while still peeking through my fingers at times), and expressing my frustration to my laptop screen. I was really drawn into the story, if you couldn't tell!

I've only read a very little bit of the original Sherlock Homes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, and I've only seen a few episodes of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes (I think it was the 1980s version), so I'm certainly no expert on all things Sherlock. However, this new series seems to have only taken the same two main character-types (with the same names), Sherlock Holmes and Watson, while creating entirely different plots in modern times. And I found it a rather enjoyable twist on the famous characters!

Now, I'm the kind of person who can be really bothered by movies. I have a hard time watching anything "disturbing," so I was really glad this episode was pretty "clean" (it certainly could have been a lot worse!). It was kind of intense, so I would caution everyone to be aware of that before watching any of the episodes.

The episode I watched was called The Blind Banker, which is available to watch online (as I did) through December 7, 2010. (As a side note, I love that PBS Masterpiece does that with a lot of their new episodes, so that you don't necessarily have to watch the show at a set time!)

The story started in such a unique way, and it was easy to get drawn into the plot. I found that while Sherlock was rather young (along with Watson), I liked the change. The relationship between Sherlock and Watson is pretty entertaining, and who could blame poor Watson for being upset at always being told what to do by Sherlock? Sherlock's "self-confidence" (putting it nicely) is pretty consistent with the original Sherlock, in my opinion, and I did feel sorry for Watson, especially when he was trying to go on a date with a girl he really liked, and Sherlock tagged along! But I ended up being drawn to Sherlock's character in spite of his pride (he is pretty smart, I have to say!), because he is such a persevering, occasionally clueless, and ultimately intriguing character! He did let his care for others show at times, revealing that he did indeed have a heart, which was nice to see. ;)

As I said before, I ended up covering my eyes off and on, and there was certainly a lot of action to keep me on the edge of my seat! There was one point where something happened to a secondary character that made me really mad (I told them what to do, but they just wouldn't listen to me!). And I didn't know if I completely liked the end, which was a little freaky. (Part of that might have been due to the fact that I didn't realize that my screen had gone blank--for a while I just thought the screen was supposed to be black. My roommate was a little concerned that I was staring intently at a blank screen!) Overall, though, I found it to be a really thrilling and interesting episode with some great music to add to the mystery, and it was certainly a fun way to spend part of my Saturday night. I recommend it for all you mystery-lovers (and yes, there's even a little bit of romance)!

I'll have to see if I have time to watch the next episode. I'm curious about what mystery Sherlock and Watson are going to solve next!