Guest Blog Post: Are Courageous Women in Stories More Interesting To Read About? by Linda Weaver Clark

 

Nayu: It is with great delight I present today's guest post, Linda Weaver Clarke, an author who writes a range of fiction including romance and cozy mysteries. My favourite series by her is the Amelia Moore detective series, I have links to the books I've reviewed in it in the 7th book, Amelia Moore #7 The Lighthouse Secret by Linda Weaver Clarke (Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, 9/10E) 

 You can find out about her romance books at the end of the guest post. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do, and check out her work! Be sure to check out Linda's website too. I've read but not yet reviewed Light At the End of the Tunnel.

Are Courageous Women in Stories More Interesting To Read About? by Linda Weaver Clarke

 Courageous women in stories seem to draw readers’ attention and grab their interest. The bravery and strength of character easily draws them into the story. It takes courage to stick up for one’s rights and defend one’s beliefs. During the 1840s, there were many brave women who fought against injustice and inequality. Many wanted to have a better education. These women made a difference and influenced others to make a better life for themselves.

A fairly new historical romance series was released that has received outstanding reviews on Amazon and Audible Audiobooks. It is called “Women of Courage.” In these novellas, the spunk and courage of these women seem to draw the readers into a world of adventure.

In The Light at the end of the Tunnel, Hannah is a young single mother who has had a few hardships since arriving in America. But the trials in her life only make her stronger. Hannah realizes she can make something of her life by opening a hot chocolate shop. She soon finds that starting her own business isn’t as easy as she thought. But she will not give up. When Thomas learns that she has spirit, he is intrigued with her.

“This romance wrapped around my heart as it took me into the struggles of Hannah, such a brave woman… The characters come to life on the page as Thomas falls for Hannah and adores her child. However, Hannah is caught up in her day-to-day trials and with her independent streak, she only thinks of making a life for her and her daughter. Can Thomas get her attention and change her mind?” ~ Author Gail Pallotta

Hannah isn’t the only one who shows her independent nature. Serenity has just as much courage. Chasing thieves off her property and entering a horse race are just a few things that describe this young Welshwoman’s spunk. In A Lady of Refinement, Serenity teaches an evening class for adults and helps them to read and write and have a better education. Reading is Serenity’s favorite pastime, where she can go on one adventure after another. She wonders if anyone can measure up to the heroes in her books. But the adventures soon become real after arriving in America. When Jonathan meets Serenity, a refined woman from Wales, he wonders how he can win her heart.

“How I enjoy finding a book that will not let me put it down until I'm done!  This was the case with A Lady of Refinement.  Linda Weaver Clarke used a true story of her ancestor’s as a base, and it rang familiar to me, as my ancestors also migrated to America during the same time period. The main character, Serenity, is the refined lady and it was such a delight when she bested a few arrogant males.  My favorite character, however, was Jonathan, who was very taken with Serenity.  Time will tell if he is successful at capturing her attention.” ~ Louise Pledge Reviews

There is one more independent woman in this series. The third novella is about a young woman who stands before an audience and fights against involuntary servitude and slavery. Frederick Douglass, an abolitionist, wrote: “When the true history of the antislavery cause shall be written, women will occupy a large space in its pages; for the cause of the slave has been peculiarly a woman’s cause.”

In A Mississippi Sunset, Laura McBride is a liberated and courageous young lady who is convinced that she can help others in her crusade for equality. She encourages women to fight for their beliefs and be heard. But she soon finds out that women who speak publicly are looked down upon. When Deputy William Davies meets Laura, he admires her spunk and determination to fight against slavery.

“I really enjoyed this sweet and clean historical fiction and romance. A Mississippi Sunset is part of a series of brave women who were not afraid to take a stand in what they believe needed to be changed and you will see some historical figures that appear in this book!  Loved that. This is a very enjoyable book and it is well worth a read!” ~ Sunnie Reviews

Taking true experiences from the author’s ancestors, this series of novellas was created. These young ladies were considered “women of courage.”

Watch 2 book trailers below to peak your interest.

Women of Courage trailer 1

Women of Courage trailer 2

 

About Author: Author Linda Weaver Clarke is the author of 35 books. All her books are family friendly. Linda works at the FamilySearch Center where she helps people find their ancestors. She also teaches a free class at FamilySearch about writing biographies and publishing it.

The Light at the End of the Tunnel is available on Amazon and on Audible narrated by BreAnne Okoren.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B09JHRQYF1

https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Light-at-the-End-of-the-Tunnel-Audiobook/B0B4F65DGY

A Lady of Refinement is available on Amazon and on Audible narrated by BreAnne Okoren.

https://www.amazon.com/Lady-Refinement-Women-Courage-ebook/dp/B09PHZK76M

https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Lady-of-Refinement-Audiobook/B0BFJW9KJX

A Mississippi Sunset is available on Amazon and on Audible narrated by Elizabeth Schmidt.

https://www.amazon.com/Mississippi-Sunset-Women-Courage-ebook/dp/B09SRDBHNX

https://www.audible.com/pd/A-Mississippi-Sunset-Audiobook/B0BMDFDVQJ

Blog Tour: I Have A Hunch by Jeremy Decoursey (Cosy Mystery)

December 2019, Jeremy Decoursey, 296 pages, Paperback, Review copy

Book summary

Summer holidays are for relaxing, spending time with friends and listening to great music. All things that Alice desperately wanted to do. Instead she was sent to London to work with her Uncle Humphrey, a world famous private detective. Things start to get interesting when they’re employed to investigate the mysterious murder of millionaire, Victor Tymm. Together they start to gather clues  before they run out of time, and the killer can strike again.

Nayu's thoughts

Due to a slight hiccup my end I will have to share my review of the book at a later date, apologies for that. Jeremy has kindly written a guest blog post about his favourite detective books - I like Agatha Christie! None of the others though, which is fine as everyone has different tastes in books. See if you like his picks! 

Please excuse the format - Blogger and I are having a few issues.

Author Jeremy DeCoursey’s Top 5 

Detective Books

 

Meet Jeremy!

If you were to have a look through my bookshelves (digital or physical), you would find many genres of books. I stray towards science fiction and fantasy, however, I do have a lot of detective novels scattered across the shelves.

Below are a selection of detective and mystery novels and series which have inspired me to write I Have a Hunch.

Sherlock Holmes series

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Top of the list, of course! Although, I must confess I didn’t read the books until the time of the BBC adaptation of Sherlock. My favourite novel is the Red Headed League. As the story unfolds you realise that it’s a bigger mystery than you’d ever expect…

I was always aware of the stories, with a Sherlock Holmes film seemingly on TV every Sunday afternoon while I was growing up. There have been so many film and TV incarnations of the world-famous detective that I’m often hard-pressed to pick my favourite. I enjoyed Michael Caine’s comedic portrayal of in Without A Clue. But, because it was Benedict Cumberbatch’s Sherlock that, made me pay attention to the books I must choose him. I feel privileged to have worked on the series with him, and to have my name attached to one of the many adaptations of Sherlock Holmes.

The Rivers of London series

Ben Aaronovitch
Magic, police, and mystery, set in London. This series feels like the Harry Potter sequels I hoped for. I was blown away when I read the first book in the series. Aaronovitch is able to conjure a realistic form of magic that blends with the real-world in a truly believable way. Each book expands the world which Aaronovitch has written and that is something which is very inspiring. With the next book just around the corner I can’t wait!

I was recommended the novels by the actor, Kobna Holbrook-Smith, who narrated the audiobooks, and now I often buy the books for my friends. I heard that the series is going to be adapted for TV; I would absolutely love to work on that!

Cormoran Strike series

Robert Galbraith (J. K. Rowling) At their heart, the Harry Potter series is written like a mystery series. Especially Chamber of Secrets where Harry, Ron, and Hermione have to piece together the clues to figure out why the Chamber was being opened. Part of why I love J. K. Rowling’s writing is that she plants clues throughout the novel, and series, so that big reveals don’t come completely unexpected. I have recently reread the entire series and am currently midway through The Deathly Hallows. Revisiting these books means you can see exactly where she’s placing the clues along the way.
As soon as I heard that the Cormoran Strike novels were written by J. K. Rowling, under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith, I had to read them. Once again she has created a world that you can immerse well. There might not be any magic here, but the story keeps you guessing at each point of the plot. One of my favourite parts about the entire series is how there are real-world, recent events which help drive the story.

And Then There Were None

Agatha Christie

The first book of Christie’s I read was the Poirot classic Murder on the Orient Express, which seems to have the most TV adaptations. I enjoyed the book, but I felt I didn’t connect to the lead detective Poirot. This was not because it was poorly written or an uninteresting mystery, but because I think I was expecting too much! It was almost overhyped as a classic murder mystery. I partly blame the shows I’ve watched which parody the story, it kind of ruins it.

However, that didn’t stop me reading more of Christie’s work. The next one I picked up was And Then There Were None. I was blown away. The idea of ten strangers on an island all slowly getting picked off one by one, in the same way described by a poem is so so simple yet extremely clever. From the first death you know that the countdown is on until all the remains is the murderer and the last victim. To try and figure it out as the characters do, and to be mislead again and again is what makes Christie such a great writer.

Lemony Snickett’s A Series of Unfortunate Events This might be a strange choice for a selection of detective novels as it doesn’t necessarily have a detective in the lead. However, it does have a core mystery running throughout the entire series – who are the VFD and how did Baudelaire children’s parents die?
Growing up as a Harry Potter fan, I saw the Series of Unfortunate Events series as a weird copy. (I think this was because on the covers, Klaus wore glasses so they must be similar, right?). So, having seen the film, with Jim Carrey’s brilliant performance of Count Olaf, I decided to read the books. I was probably in my early twenties when I read them. The first few books are very self-contained. But then, in The Ersatz Elevator (the sixth book), the mystery really gets going and the stories start linking together. Because of the cleverly woven narrative, I have put it on this list. I love the way these books are written and they definitely inspired me to write I Have a Hunch.

What are your favourite detective novels? Tweet me at @DeCoursey!

 Bio

Jeremy DeCoursey grew up in Weston-super- Mare. He graduated with a Triple Distinction BTEC in Film Production, before moving to London to work in the film industry. As a Location Manager, he has worked on BBC's Sherlock, Star Wars: Rogue One, Paddington, and Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, to name a few!

Besides reading and writing, Jeremy enjoys watching films, seeing musicals and travelling to far-flung places. He lives in London and has a kitten named Artemis.

I Have a Hunch is Jeremy’s first novel for teenagers. It’s about a teenage girl called Alice who is tasked with solving a murder mystery with her Uncle Humphrey, a world-famous detective in London. I Have a Hunch is available now in paperback and e-book.

Twitter: @DeCoursey

Instagram: jeremy_decoursey

Guest Blog Post from author Linda Weaver Clark

Today's post is from an author whose work I love (especially the cozy mystery series involving the character Amelia Moore. I've reviewed every single book, which can be found in this review of the final book in the series, Amelia Moore #7 The Lighthouse Secret by Linda Weaver Clarke (Audiobook, Cozy Mystery, 9/10E) 

Not all of her historical romances are for me, I tried one but I couldn't get into it, hence this feature, but I did like the first in the series, Melinda and the Wild West by Linda Weaver Clark (Historical romance, Audiobook, 10/10E)

I hope you enjoy what Linda has to say! 

Guest Post by Linda Weaver Clark

Who is Author Linda Weaver Clarke?

I was raised among the Rocky Mountains of southern Idaho and live in Color Country in southern Utah. I am the author of 23 books. I have several genres that I write in—a Historical Romance series: Bear Lake Family Saga, a Mystery Suspense series: The Adventures of John and Julia Evans, a Cozy Mystery series: Amelia Moore Detective Series, and a Period/Adventure Romance: The Rebel Series. I am also a missionary at the Family Search Center. I help people find their ancestors and learn about their heritage.

What draws readers to this historical romance series: Bear Lake Family Saga?

This series has strong female characters who have a destiny to fulfill. Each woman wants to make a difference in someone’s life. No matter the trial that comes her way, she is ready to fight for what she believes. I love the male characters. Even though they are strong and masculine, they have their tender moments that can melt your heart. Bear Lake Family Saga has plenty of adventure along with a tender love story.

What was the inspiration for this series?

My ancestors were my inspiration. I was writing their histories so my children would learn to appreciate their heritage. Their stories were intriguing and full of adventure. When I was done, I decided to write a historical romance series and give these true experiences to my fictional characters.

Give us a brief description of each story in this series

Melinda and the Wild West (Book 1): Melinda is a schoolteacher. She has many challenges but it’s a rugged rancher who challenges Melinda with the one thing for which she was least prepared—love.

Edith and the Mysterious Stranger (Book 2): Edith is a nurse. When a mysterious stranger starts writing to Edith, she gets to know a man's inner soul before making any harsh judgments. Whoever he is, this man is a mystery but is he as wonderful in person as he is in his letters?

Jenny’s Dream (Book 3): Jenny is an aspiring author. She has a dream to fulfill, but the only thing standing in her way is an unpleasant memory, which has haunted her since childhood. She must learn to forgive before she can follow her dream.

Sarah’s Special Gift (Book 4): Sarah is a beautiful and successful dance teacher but she is not an average young woman. Sarah is deaf, but this does not stop her from living life to its fullest. And it does not stop her from falling in love with a man who needs her help.

Elena, Woman of Courage (Book 5): The Roaring Twenties was a time of great change, when women raised their hemlines and bobbed their hair. As Elena fights to prove herself as the town’s first female doctor, the town’s most eligible bachelor finds it a challenge to see if he can win her heart.

Are your books in audiobook form?

Yes. I have a narrator who is narrating them for Audible. I have one narrator for Melinda and the Wild West, and then changed to a different narrator for the next four. Carolyn Kashner actually sings in Edith and the Mysterious Stranger, and she has such a lovely voice.

Who is the most intriguing character in this series?

I love all my female characters, but I feel that Elena from Elena Woman of Courage is the most interesting. She has to endure a lot of prejudice from the town bully who feels that women doctors have no right to practice medicine. But that isn’t all. This story takes place during the roaring twenties, and Elena has decided to be a part of this new generation by bobbing her hair and raising her hemlines. That takes a lot of courage. Of course, the town’s most eligible bachelor finds her most intriguing. He actually admires her tenacity. I admire Elena, as well.

(For history buffs: Bobbed hair caused a lot of commotion. A teacher in Jersey City was ordered to grow her hair back by the school board or she would be fired. Women with bobbed hair were fired from prestigious department stores without any warning. A preacher pounded the pulpit, saying that a “bobbed woman was a disgraced woman.” The raising of hemlines had its problems, as well.)

They developed a new vocabulary during the roaring twenties. What were some of the words you discovered while writing this story?

This was the fun part of writing Elena Woman of Courage. During this time period, they spoke a language foreign to their parents. Here are some examples.

If you were excited about something, you say: Cat’s pajamas!

If you didn’t agree with someone, you say: Ah, horsefeathers!

If you were a feisty woman, you were referred to as: a bearcat.

If you were an attractive woman, you were referred to as: a doll.

Women were also referred to as: a tomato.

When John wanted to “spoon” with Elena, she said: The bank’s closed.

A woman’s body was referred to as a chassis and her legs were gams.

Where can readers find you?

My website has sample chapters to read: www.lindaweaverclarke.com

My Audible Page: https://www.audible.com/author/Linda-Weaver-Clarke/B004P47EWO
My Book Trailer: https://youtu.be/ZA-z2ckme8w