The Band of Hope Pt. 1

The audio version of this artickle was first shared in Episode 53: A Bookchat about A Mark of Grace with Kimberly Woodhouse & a Review of The Debutante’s Code by Erica Vetsch

There is nothing new under the sun. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard my dad say that over the years. I guess I should not have been surprised then when I ran across a temperance association that educated children(!) about the dangers of drugs and alcohol in the 1800s. Like our modern-day D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education.)

It All Started with an Alcoholic Sunday School Teacher

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The Debutante’s Code by Erica Vetsch

The audio version of this review was first shared in Episode 53: A Bookchat about A Mark of Grace with Kimberly Woodhouse & a Review of The Debutante’s Code by Erica Vetsch

THE BOOK

Newly returned from finishing school, Lady Juliette Thorndike is ready to debut in London society. Due to her years away, she hasn’t spent much time with her parents, and sees them only as the flighty, dilettante couple the other nobles love. But when they disappear, she discovers she never really knew them at all. They’ve been living double lives as government spies—and they’re only the latest in a long history of espionage that is the family’s legacy.

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A Bookchat about A Mark of Grace with Kimberly Woodhouse & a Review of The Debutante’s Code by Erica Vetsch

In episode 53: Kimberly Woodhouse joins us for a chat about new year resolutions, One Million Miles with Kim, future writing projects, and her latest release A Mark of Grace. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book!

Kim was on the show last year sharing A Gem of Truth. You can find that episode here

Pinch of the Past: The Band of Hope Park 1. There is nothing new under the sun. I don’t know how many times I’ve heard my dad say that over the years. I guess I should not have been surprised then when I ran across a temperance association that educated children(!) about the dangers of drugs and alcohol in the 1800s. Like our modern-day D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education.) (Full post here.)

Today’s Bookworm Review is bought to you by Angela Bell of the Historical Bookworm Review Team. Here is part of her review of The Debutante’s Code.

 “Erica Vetsch has once again proven herself to be a skilled writer with a flair for capturing the details and atmosphere of a historic setting. Her words bring Regency Era London to life, juxtaposing grimy pubs and glittering ballrooms so vividly that one wonders if Vetsch is in fact a time-traveler recounting her visits to the past.” (Full review here.)

Connect with Kimberly Woodhouse: Book Bub, Newsletter, Amazon, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Instagram.

Episode 52: A Christmas Special & a Bookchat about O Little Town with Janyre Tromp

In today’s episode, we are joined by Janyre Tromp for a chat about our favorite Christmas stories historical and recently released, including the novella set Janyre is a part of, O Little Town

Janyre is a historical novelist who loves spinning tales that, at their core, hunt for beauty, even when it isn’t pretty. She’s also a book editor, published children’s book author, and lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her family, two crazy cats, and a slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog.

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The Mobster’s Daughter by Rachel Scott McDaniel

The audio version of this review was first shared in Episode 51: A Bookchat about His Delightful Lady Delia with Grace Hitchcock & a Review of The Mobster’s Daughter by Rachel Scott McDaniel.

THE BOOK

The one man who could help her, must never know her name.

If Kate Chamberlin can’t reveal her true identity to the world, she must settle for sharing only her talent. Hired as a musician for KDKA radio, Kate plays everything from sponsors’ jingles to complex sonatas. As long as the whispers around the broadcasting room refer to her as “Killjoy Kate” and not “Catarina the crime boss’s daughter,” then her life is safe from danger. Or so she thinks.

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A Brief History of Santa Claus

The audio version of this article was first shared in Episode 51: A Bookchat about His Delightful Lady Delia with Grace Hitchcock & a Review of The Mobster’s Daughter by Rachel Scott McDaniel.

From a legendary Christian bishop to an elf driving flying reindeer across the sky, Saint Nicholas has certainly come a long way. Today we’re taking a look at some of the stops along this wild journey to international fame.

Saint Nicholas, Bishop of Myra

Nicholas of Myra is believed to be the historical source of St. Nicholas, the patron saint of children, sailors, students, teachers, and merchants. PHOTO: Wikimedia Commons

Little is known about the actual man who became the Catholic St. Nicholas. He was the bishop of Myra in what is now Turkey. At the Council of Nicaea, he famously lost his temper and slapped another bishop in the face for arguing that Christ was not equal with God. But most details about his life are fuzzy.

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A Bookchat about His Delightful Lady Delia with Grace Hitchcock & a Review of The Mobster’s Daughter by Rachel Scott McDaniel

Grace Hitchcock joins us for a chat about the Gilded Age, opera phantoms, and her latest release His Delightful Lady Delia. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book!

For today’s Pinch of the Past, we’re looking at a brief history of Santa Claus traditions. Did you know Santa didn’t run his delivery route on Christmas Eve until 1821? (Full post here.)

Today’s Bookworm Review is brought to you by Angela Bell. “The Mobster’s Daughter by Rachel Scott McDaniel distills the atmospheric haze of a Noir film, the heel-kicking excitement of the Jazz Age, and the romantic tension of an almost kiss into a concoction as intoxicating as moonshine.” (Full review here.)

 Connect with Grace: Newsletter, Amazon, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram.

A Bookchat about Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen & a Review of Falling for the Cowgirl by Jody Hedlund

Julie Klassen joins us for a chat about regency England, Jane Austen Easter eggs, and her latest release Sisters of Sea View. Don’t forget to enter to win a copy of this great book!

A Pinch of the Past: What do Mary had a Little Lamb and Thanksgiving have in common? Author, editor, activist, and mother Sarah J. Hale. (Full post here.) 

Today’s Bookworm Review is brought to you by Megan Adams from the bookstagram account Messy Bun, Bookish Fun. “If you enjoy capable cowgirls, romance with a little sizzle, and family sagas, you’ll want to grab a copy of Falling for the Cowgirl by Jody Hedlund.” (Full review here.)

Connect with Julie: Newsletter, Amazon, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, Twitter, and Instagram.

Falling for the Cowgirlby Jody Hedlund

The audio version of this review was first shared in A Bookchat about Sisters of Sea View by Julie Klassen & a Review of Falling for the Cowgirl by Jody Hedlund.

THE BOOK

 Years ago, he shattered her heart. Now she must trust him with her life.

As the only girl in her family, and with four older brothers, Ivy McQuaid can rope and ride with the roughest of ranchers. She’s ready to have what she’s always longed for–a home of her own. She’s set her heart on a parcel of land south of Fairplay and is saving for it with her winnings from the cowhand competitions she sneaks into–but her dream is put in jeopardy when the man she once loved reappears in her life.

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