Tag Archives: Ramona Richards

Top 10 Tuesday — Titles with Names

1 Feb

Happy Tuesday everyone! Who knew there were so many book titles that feature names? That’s the prompt for this week’s TTT. I didn’t have to go far in my reading log to find some great books. I have included a few older titles to go along with new-ish releases. There are lots of genres too — something for everyone.

For more bloggers’ lists, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top Book Titles with Names

Becoming Mrs. Lewis by Patti Callahan

Belinda Blake And The Snake in The Grass by Heather Day Gilbert

Burying Daisy Doe by Ramona Richards

For The Love of Joy by Janet W. Ferguson

Judah’s Wife by Angela Hunt

Keturah by Lisa T. Bergren

Missing Isaac by Valerie Fraser Luesse

My Dearest Dietrich by Amanda Barratt

The Pursuit of Tamsen Littlejohn by Lori Benton

Saving Mrs. Roosevelt by Candice Sue Patterson

Top 10 Tuesday — New-To-Me Authors

25 Jan

I love discovering new authors — it greatly enhances my TBR. LOL! Seriously, I really like a fresh voice. This week’s TTT is all about the new authors we read in 2021. I hope you find a new one to love!

For more new-to-you-and-me authors, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Top New-To-Me Authors

Ashley Clark — The Dress Shop on King Street

Harper Dupree has pinned all her hopes on a future in fashion design. But when it comes crashing down around her, she returns home to Fairhope, Alabama, and to Millie, the woman who first taught her how to sew. As Harper rethinks her own future, long-hidden secrets about Millie’s past are brought to light.

In 1946, Millie Middleton–the daughter of an Italian man and a Black woman–boarded a train and left Charleston to keep half of her heritage hidden. She carried with her two heirloom buttons and the dream of owning a dress store. She never expected to meet a charming train jumper who changed her life forever . . . and led her yet again to a heartbreaking choice about which heritage would define her future.

Now, together, Harper and Millie return to Charleston to find the man who may hold the answers they seek . . . and a chance at the dress shop they’ve both dreamed of. But it’s not until all appears lost that they see the unexpected ways to mend what frayed between the seams.

Amanda Cox — The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery

Present Day. After tragedy plunges her into grief and unresolved anger, Sarah Ashby returns to her childhood home determined to finally follow her long-denied dream of running Old Depot Grocery alongside her mother and grandmother. But when she arrives, her mother, Rosemary, announces to her that the store is closing. Sarah and her grandmother, Glory Ann, make a pact to save the store, but Rosemary has worked her entire life to make sure her daughter never follows in her footsteps. She has her reasons–but she’ll certainly never reveal the real one.

1965. Glory Ann confesses to her family that she’s pregnant with her deceased fiancé’s baby. Pressured into a marriage of convenience with a shopkeeper to preserve the family reputation, Glory Ann vows never to love again. But some promises are not as easily kept as she imagined.

This dual-timeline story from Amanda Cox deftly explores the complexity of a mother-daughter dynamic, the way the secrets we keep shape our lives and the lives of others, and the healing power of telling the truth.

Nicole Deese — Before I Called You Mine

Lauren Bailey may be a romantic at heart, but after a decade of matchmaking schemes gone wrong, there’s only one match she’s committed to now – the one that will make her a mother. Lauren is a dedicated first-grade teacher in Idaho, and her love for children has led her to the path of international adoption. To satisfy her adoption agency’s requirements, she gladly agreed to remain single for the foreseeable future; however, just as her long wait comes to an end, Lauren is blindsided by a complication she never saw coming: Joshua Avery.

Joshua may be a substitute teacher by day, but Lauren finds his passion for creating educational technology as fascinating as his antics in the classroom. Although she does her best to downplay the undeniable connection between them, his relentless pursuit of her heart puts her commitment to stay unattached to the test and causes her once-firm conviction to waver.

Melissa Koslin — Never Miss

Former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle possesses a special set of skills and a rare pedigree. She comes from a family of assassins, and by saving Lyndon Vaile’s life she risks being found by them. Despite the danger, Kadance feels compelled to help Lyndon discover who is after him–and his research that seems to prove that the Ebola virus was manmade and is about to be weaponized.

With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bioattack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there’s no one they can trust–except perhaps each other.

Strap in for a breakneck story that will have you up all night, hurtling toward the last page as the clock ticks and time runs out.

Stephenia McGee — The Cedar Key

Could the key to Casey’s future be hidden in someone else’s past?

Casey Adams unexpectedly inherits an old Victorian house full of other people’s memories. Stuck in a quirky little Mississippi town, Casey’s hope for a fresh start died as soon she had to lay the grandmother she’d just met to rest.

But Grandma Ida carried secrets beyond the grave.

Before her death Ida carefully planned a trail of clues to help Casey unlock the Macintyre family secrets and finally explain why they abandoned her. But each of Ida’s letters will only come from Casey’s handsome—and often frustrating—new neighbor. As Casey pieces together the stories behind the objects filling her grandmother’s house, she embarks on a heart-stirring journey that rattles her foundations, ignites her faith, and leads her to a startling discovery that will reshape her future. But only if she can face the lies that have been slowly tearing her apart.

Ramona Richards — Burying Daisy Doe

No cold case is more important than the one that destroyed her own family

Every small town has one unsolved case that haunts its memory, festering for generations below the surface with the truth of humanity’s darkness. Star Cavanaugh is obsessed with the one that tore her family apart.

Over sixty years ago, Daisy Doe was murdered and discarded outside Pineville, Alabama, buried without a name or anyone to mourn her loss. When Star’s father tried to solve the case, he was also killed. Now a cold-case detective with resources of her own, Star is determined to get to the bottom of both crimes. But she’ll have to face an entire town locked in corruption, silence, and fear–and the same danger that took two other lives. The only people in the town she can trust are her grandmother and the charming Mike Luinetti, and both of them trust a God Star isn’t sure she believes in. Can Christians so focused on the good really help her track down this evil?

With an irresistible combination of sharp suspense, faith, humor, and authentic regional flavor, Burying Daisy Doe will draw fans of Terri Blackstock, Margaret Maron, Jaime Jo Wright, and J.T. Ellison.

Carmen Schober — After She Falls

She’s always had that fire in her. She just needs to find it again.

Strong-willed Adri Rivera nearly achieved her goal of being a professional mixed martial artist, but then she fell in love with a man who knocked all the fight out of her. When their abusive, tumultuous relationship finally comes to a head, Adri flees with their young daughter to her small hometown in the mountains of Pennsylvania. There, she must face the people she left behind and put her broken life back together again. 

A hardened Max Lyons can’t believe Adri is back in town after abruptly cutting him and everyone else off years ago. Despite the distance that grew between them, he feels compelled to help her regain her independence and offers her a job at his gym. But regaining each other’s trust is another matter, made even more complicated by the lingering spark between them. As Adri dares to pursue her dream again, she trains for a big tournament with Max’s help, but they’ll both have to confront their own doubts in order to rise victorious.

Rhona Weaver — Noble Calling

A Southern farm boy who loves God and family, college football and America, rookie FBI agent Win Tyler lives in pursuit of making the world a better place. But when he becomes embroiled in a major political corruption case on the East Coast that takes a bad turn, he is exiled by the Bureau to a do-nothing post in Yellowstone National Park. Dejected by the demotion, and with his heart heavy from the sting of a bad breakup, Win arrives in Yellowstone deeply conflicted as to his true calling in life.

Win quickly finds himself confronting pure evil when anti-government militiamen attempt to violently disrupt the park’s dedication of a Jewish monument. The militia leader, a self-styled prophet, exploits the day’s mayhem to advance an even more sinister agenda. The demands of Win’s job test his courage and faith as he is faced with hazardous river rescues, dangerous wildlife, and hostile terrain. Feeling desperate and alone, he strives to build partnerships with park rangers and with one of the most enigmatic and dangerous militiamen, who may or may not be an ally in the Bureau’s fight against domestic terrorism. But within this increasingly tangled web of deceit, violence, and revenge, everyone’s motives are questioned.

Set amid the stunning landscape of Yellowstone National Park, A Noble Calling is a story of suspense and intrigue about a young man seeking redemption and his true identity. It is the first book in the FBI Yellowstone Adventure series.

Mini Book Review: Burying Daisy Doe

29 Dec

How is it the end of the year already?! It’s been a whirlwind of a year with a lot of ups and a few downs, but overall I have been very blessed. I have had a house full of family the past week and have necessarily neglected the old blog. I’m sure you understand. 😉 But I didn’t want the year to end without one last review. I read Burying Daisy Doe by Ramona Richards last summer, but failed to write a review. I really enjoyed this mystery set in the South. It made my best of 2021 list. Find out more below.

No cold case is more important than the one that destroyed her own family.

Every small town has one unsolved case that haunts its memory, festering for generations below the surface with the truth of humanity’s darkness. Star Cavanaugh is obsessed with the one that tore her family apart.

Over sixty years ago, Daisy Doe was murdered and discarded outside Pineville, Alabama, buried without a name or anyone to mourn her loss. When Star’s father tried to solve the case, he was also killed. Now a cold-case detective with resources of her own, Star is determined to get to the bottom of both crimes. But she’ll have to face an entire town locked in corruption, silence, and fear–and the same danger that took two other lives. The only people in town she can trust are her grandmother and the charming Mike Luinetti, and both of them trust a God Star isn’t sure she believes in. Can Christians so focused on the good really help her track down this evil?

Ramona Richards, in her own words:

I started making stuff up at 3, writing it down at 7, and selling it at 17. I’ve written 12 books. The latest two are Tracking Changes: One Editor’s Advice to Inspirational Fiction Authors, a collection of essays for novelists, and Burying Daisy Doe, a suspense novel set in a small Southern town. In fact, most of my suspense novels are set in small Southern towns. Murder in the Family is the latest already in print. I have six Love Inspired Suspense novels still available in ebook.

I’m also an editor, with more than 500 publications to my credit, and I’m now the associate publisher for Iron Stream Media. My specialty is fiction, although I’ve also worked on CD-ROMs, magazines, non-fiction, children’s books, Bibles, and study guides. Lot of publishers have helped my bottom line, such as Thomas Nelson, Barbour, Howard, Harlequin, Ideals, etc.

And, as I say on Twitter (@RamonaRichards): Music nut. Film buff. Usually a fun person to eat a burger with. 

My Impressions:

Burying Daisy Doe is a mystery novel involving a cold case that is very personal to main character Star Cavanaugh. Her father was murdered trying to discover the truth about Daisy Doe. As a PI, Star takes on the most daunting of cases and this one is no exception. There has to be a connection between the two murders, and Star and the reader are taken on a twisting journey through the underworld of a Southern town. Yes, underworld! Small towns have long held secrets, and Pineville, Alabama is no exception. Richards captures the charm of this small southern town with its quirky and endearing citizens, quaint homes and businesses, as well as a very dark side that kept me turning the pages. I was kept guessing all the way through this book, a big plus! The characters were well-developed, and their stories were intriguing. Star is the perfect sleuth — determined and undaunted by threats. There’s a bit of romance too, that I hope will develop in more books featuring Star.

If you are looking for a great mystery, then Burying Daisy Doe is the perfect pick. I loved it and know you will too.

Highly recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to the publisher for a complimentary copy. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

Top 10 Tuesday — Best Books Read in 2021

28 Dec

I read a lot less books in 2021 than I did in previous years. Some of that was by design, and some was because, well, life. But fewer books did not mean less enjoyment — I had a lot of great reading experiences! Limiting my list to 10 is too hard, so I have split the books into categories: historical, time-split, contemporary and suspense. There should be something for everyone!

For more Best of The Best in 2021, check out That Artsy Reader Girl.

Best Books Read in 2021

Contemporary

Before I Called You Mine by Nicole Deese

Let It Be Me by Becky Wade

When I Close My Eyes by Elizabeth Musser

Historical

The Barrister And The Letter of Marque by Todd M. Johnson

Mountain Laurel by Lori Benton

The Nature of Small Birds by Susie Finkbeiner

A Tapestry of Light by Kimberly Duffy

Under The Bayou Moon by Valerie Fraser Luesse

When Twilight Breaks by Sarah Sundin

Suspense

Burying Daisy Doe by Ramona Richards

Everywhere to Hide by Siri Mitchell

Lights Out by Natalie Walters

Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill

Never Miss by Melissa Koslin

Port of Origin by Lisa Harris and Lynne Gentry

Time-Slip

The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark

The London House by Katherine Reay

Memories of Glass by Melanie Dobson

The Secret Keepers of Old Depot Grocery by Amanda Cox

Book Spotlight: Burying Daisy Doe

9 Dec

Burying Daisy Doe Blog Tour
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Burying Daisy Doe by Ramona Richards, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Burying Daisy DoeTitle: Burying Daisy Doe
Series: Star Cavanaugh Cold Case #1
Author: Ramona Richards
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date:
November 17, 2020
Genre: Christian Suspense

No cold case is more important than the one that destroyed her own family

Every small town has one unsolved case that haunts its memory, festering for generations below the surface with the truth of humanity’s darkness. Star Cavanaugh is obsessed with the one that tore her family apart.

Over sixty years ago, Daisy Doe was murdered and discarded outside Pineville, Alabama, buried without a name or anyone to mourn her loss. When Star’s father tried to solve the case, he was also killed. Now a cold-case detective with resources of her own, Star is determined to get to the bottom of both crimes. But she’ll have to face an entire town locked in corruption, silence, and fear–and the same danger that took two other lives. The only people in the town she can trust are her grandmother and the charming Mike Luinetti, and both of them trust a God Star isn’t sure she believes in. Can Christians so focused on the good really help her track down this evil?

With an irresistible combination of sharp suspense, faith, humor, and authentic regional flavor, Burying Daisy Doe will draw fans of Terri Blackstock, Margaret Maron, Jaime Jo Wright, and J.T. Ellison.

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

 

EXCERPT

I took the saddle of flowers and bent the wires so that it perched securely on top of the headstone. I gave it a few tugs to test it, then stood back to admire my handiwork. The red silk roses, white camellias, and green fern fronds shuddered in the breeze. It was a subtle move, this cleaning of the grave, but it would definitely be noticed. 

“You look like her.” 

I screamed, jerked around, and stumbled backward over the duffel, landing hard on my butt. Gasping for air, I stared up at Roscoe Carver. 

He leaned heavily on his cane, his head tilted to one side, watching me. His slacks and dress shirt hung loose, as if he’d lost a lot of weight, but sweat stained his underarms, chest, and neck. “Am I that scary?” 

I found my voice. “I . . . I didn’t hear a car. Or footsteps.” 

He pointed back toward the church with his cane. “I was already here. Back side of the church. I saw you buy those flowers. Knew you’d come here before Decoration Sunday.” 

I swallowed hard and pushed up off the ground. “You’ve been waiting every day?” 

He braced on the cane again. “Not much else to do. I’m an old man. Waiting is easy. Done a lot of it in my life.” 

“Why?” 

He gestured at the grave. “Her. Took me a bit to figure it out. Your hair’s blond. Didn’t used to be, did it?” 

I shook my head. 

“I knew it. You can dye the hair, but I never forget a face. Especially when I see ’em die.” 

I brushed off the back of my pants. “You found her.” 

“I did.” His lips pursed. Something else was on his mind. 

“You knew her son. You’re the one Daddy found in Vietnam.” 

“Yep.” 

“Did you get to talk to him before . . . before he died?” 

Another nod. “He told me about you. Thought you hung the moon. Couldn’t wait to get this over with and get back to you and your mama. You were, what . . . five?” 

“Two, almost three.” 

“He told me a lot. We had a few good meetings before—” He sniffed, staring at the headstone. “My daddy did that. The headstone. Not right away. Too expensive. But eventually. He felt we owed her that much.” 

“Why?” 

His lips pursed again, and his shoulders hunched as he looked north over the ridge. “Because we didn’t stop it. Daddy thought we should have stopped it. We knew what was going on, what was happening up and down US 11, even then. Knew that she was about to step into a mess she didn’t know was there. If we’d stopped her, maybe it would have stopped everything. But we were too scared. We had to live here. Keep living with those demons.” 

Realization tightened my stomach. I took a step closer. “You saw it? You saw who killed her?” 

He held up a hand. “Not me. But Daddy knew who killed her.” 

“So you knew as well.” 

He grew still. “No proof.” 

“But you told my father. He tried to find the proof.” 

“And it got him killed. It’ll get you killed too.” 

“I’m not my father.” 

“The men what killed them won’t care. They won’t care about that cop you’re sweet on either, if they find out he’s helping you. They don’t care about nothing but green. You get in their business, they’ll kill you too.”


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ramona Richards

Ramona Richards is the award-winning author of 12 books, including 9 novels. She has also worked as an editor in Christian publishing for forty years, and is now the associate publisher for Iron Stream Media. She lives in the Birmingham, Alabama, area.

CONNECT WITH RAMONA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram


TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $20 Visa card and a signed copy of Burying Daisy Doe and Murder in the Family!

Burying Daisy Doe JustRead Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight December 8, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on December 15, 2020. 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!

JustRead Publicity Tours

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Book Review: My Mother’s Quilts + Contest!

17 Jun

61CXCKjXs+L._SX343_BO1,204,203,200_Rich, personal, sometimes heartbreaking, often funny, readers will find
their own lives reflected in the author’s memories and the lessons and
encouragements drawn from the quilters whose legacy lives on in their work.
Woven through it all is the message of God’s grace and faithfulness, as strong
as the bonds of the generations and as comforting as the oldest and softest quilt
that your grandmother ever sewed. Beautiful, four-color photos of each quilt are
included.

Purchase book HERE.

 

 

amona3_for_webRamona Richards is an award-winning editor, speaker, author of nine books, and a frequent contributor to devotional collections. An avid live music fan, Ramona loves Nashville, which she’s called home since she was ten. Sensing her mother was near the end of her life, Ramona documented her mother’s stories and lessons behind each family quilt. These stories form the devotions in My Mother’s Quilts. Find out more about Ramona and her books by visiting her online at ramonarichards.com.

 

My Impressions:

What a great way to start your day! My Mother’s Quilts by Ramona Richards is a devotional book filled with beautiful images of lovely quilts and heart-warming stories of a legacy of love and faith. The author shares personal stories and the lessons of God’s love, provision and faithfulness that can be applied to anyone’s life. Each devotional opens with Scripture. A touching story filled with heart is then presented about an individual quilt. Richards’ connection between the quilt’s story and God’s truth is beautifully woven within the narrative. Prayer Starters conclude each section, setting the reader on a journey of getting closer to God. I really loved this devotional! It is perfect for personal quiet time reflections for you or for someone special in your life.

Highly Recommended.

Audience: adults.

(Thanks to Flyby Promotions for a review copy of this book. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)

 

Contest!

thumbnail_Win This Friendship Quilt!

Win one of the quilts featured in #MyMothersQuilts by Ramona Richards. Also up for grabs: loads of other prizes including quilting hand warmers, coloring books, and 25 signed copies of Ramona’s book. Winners will be emailed after the contest ends on June 30, 2016. Click HERE to get started!