Lyn Reviews Jody Hedlund’s Luther and Katharina

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Luther and Katharina: A Novel of Love and RebellionLuther and Katharina: A Novel of Love and Rebellion by Jody Hedlund

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’ve been curious about the marriage of Martin Luther, a former monk, and Katarina, a former nun so when I saw this book and written by Jody, I downloaded it!
The story did not disappoint as far as getting the straight history about this unusual couple. The characterization of both spouses was excellent–strengths, flaws and fascinating people. I’ve always been impressed by a lowly monk taking on the most powerful man in the world at the time, the pope. And yet Luther’s strength come from his faith in God and the power of his own spirit. He suffered from many ailments that might have sidelined a less faith-filled or intense character. The history of the time was portrayed in all its horror. I think that most 21st century people have no idea what life was like 500+ years ago. Yet the same struggles such as trying to figure out who to marry and why and reconciling with parents who don’t understand the path a child has taken are the same. Well done, Ms. Hedlund.

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NOT ANOTHER COVER MODEL!

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Yes, I need help choosing one more cover model this year. This is for the book you helped me title recently. Here are three choices. Again, I’m looking for the image that catches your attention, the one that makes you want to know more about her and her story. I’m looking for an image that draws you to pick up the book (as if you were browsing in a bookstore–you remember those, don’t you?) Which cover model is evocative, makes you want to take a second look? So here they are:

Cover Model #1

#1

Cover Model #2

#2

Cover Model #3

#3

Do any of these stir an emotion? Make you stop and look? Thanks in advance for your help! I count on it.–Lyn

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Belong to Bookbub? A Great Giveaway!

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Bookbub Giveaway

Bookbub.com is a great service which sends out information about free and bargain ebooks (you choose what you like, such as mysteries or Christian romance) everyday. I use it to find books to read. And to promote my books. Click here iBookbub Giveawayf you’d like to find new authors and perhaps WIN A HUGE NUMBER OF INSPIRATIONAL ROMANCE EBOOKS. Hope one of you wins!–Lyn

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Lyn Asks the September Question

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SUMMER

WINTER

Out My Window-Fall

AUTUMN

These photos are of my front porch view by season. I didn’t include a spring one because we rarely have spring this far north. That season is usually fight between summer and a winter that just doesn’t want to throw in the towel!

Oh, okay here are my daffodils which come up in the midst of the struggle in what should be spring!

Now for the September Question:

We are over halfway through 2021 and I’m wondering: Has your weather this year been the usual? Or is there “a usual” where you live? 🙂 My new book on pre-order, Ellie’s Forever Family, coming out Sept 8th, has a Habitat for Humanity project hampered by weather. Does weather affect your life or can you ignore it? That really interests me! Tell me where you live and how this year has gone weatherwise. Please leave a comment and be entered into a random drawing for a free ebook.–Thanks. Lyn

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Need title help! Please.

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Title Search Continues…

I’m trying to come up with a title for my next book in my Northern Shore Intrigue book, the last one in the series, #6. It takes place in Midsummer and I need a good “dangerous” sounding title. Many of you sent me suggestions but some were “lovely” but not “dangerous!” Here are the three I was most struck by:

Treacherous Midsummer

Sinister Midsummer

Ominous Midsummer

So which one do you favor? Please leave a comment and give your vote for your favorite. Again, I will choose a few to gift ebooks to. Thanks!

NORTHERN SHORE INTRIGUE BOOKS 1-5

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Lyn Reviews Jennifer J Chow’s Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines

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Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines (A Sassy Cat Mystery, #2)Mimi Lee Reads Between the Lines by Jennifer J. Chow
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I often comment on the fact that most 21st century mystery writers (or their publisher’s marketing dept) evidently think mystery readers only want cats, witches, dogs, recipes, and new beginnings in a small town. So get ready for a shocker!

I was visiting my local library and saw this on the new books shelf. I hadn’t read a print library book since Feb 2020 for obvious reasons but this one enticed me and I checked it out! Yay! Anyway I started reading it skeptically. What was the SASSY cat going to do? Well, he wasn’t magical and where he learned how to communicate with our heroine Mimi introduces a whole new mystery. But I like Mimi. I didn’t dislike her cat and the mystery was inventive with many quirky and very unexpected characters.

Also how often is a grade school the scene of a murder and teachers under suspicion? (The question comes: Did Jennifer distrust her elementary school teachers? Or was she just being unique? ‘-) And I like the sweet romance between Mimi and Josh. Awwww….

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Lyn Asks Is Your Summer…Precarious?

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I HOPE NOT! ‘-) HOWEVER, My book Precarious Summer is on sale for 99 cents down from $2.99 until July 12th.

PRECARIOUS SUMMER

This may be the only time it’s on sale for this low price this year. Already read it? Why not gift it to a friend? Just click the gifting option on any retailer.  

Blurb: Faith-filled romantic suspense from a Carol Award–winning author: When an arsonist targets a Lake Superior tourist town, café owner Audra and sheriff Carter team up to uncover the culprit… Book one in a compelling series!

Click here for more info:

https://booksbylyncote.com/SWBS/books-by-lyn/precarious-summer

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Lyn Reviews Charlotte MacLeod’s The Wrong Rite

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The Wrong Rite (Madoc Rhys #5)The Wrong Rite by Alisa Craig
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Since mystery writers think current mystery readers only want cats, dogs (magical or non-magical), witches, heroines who are opening B&B’s, bakeries, cafes and spending a lot of time following and sharing recipes, it’s always a relief to discover a mystery without any of these elements. Charlotte MacCleod wrote mysteries BEFORE all these popular 21st century trends.

(BTW, if a writer wants to write cats, dogs, magical or non-magical, witches, heroines who are opening B&B’s, bakeries, cafes and spending a lot of time following and sharing recipes—she or he is free to do so. But personally I can only take so much!)

Anyway this book is set in of all places, Wales. That’s uncommon. However, it fits with the Madoc and Janet Rhys series. Madoc is a Canadian Mountie and his wife is a woman suited to being married to one. Anyway, the Rhys family gathers in Wales to celebrate the 90th birthday of an uncle, the head of the Rhys family. All would have been well IF they hadn’t included a couple of annoying shirt-tail relations, a brother and sister who were some of the most unique and annoying characters I’d ever read. But so real! We’ve all met variations of them—people who have unique—oh, let’s be honest—odd or outlandish ideas and theories. And they want to share them with everyone all the time. Goodness. I was ready to lock these two in a closet myself.

But their propensity to bore people to distraction isn’t what caused disaster. Many years before a locomotive of circumstances (for which one of them was responsible) had begun and the brother and sister couldn’t stop the train that led to murder. I must say that the whole cast of characters ran true and fascinating in their unique personalities and connections. In an age where families are becoming smaller and smaller and less connected (that’s my take on this), to see the portrayal of a large family of 2nd, 3rd, 5th cousins was definitely interesting. And the mystery elements were consistent, arriving just in time to keep the story rolling along! If you like quirky characters in an interesting locale with an unusual mystery, you might give The Wrong Rite a try.

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Lyn Asks the June Question

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AMY'S FOREVER LOVE

Rosa's Forever Home

First Two Books in My New Neighbor Lane series..

Small town Hope, WI, is happy to welcome Habitat for Humanity volunteers building homes on its newest street, New Neighbor Lane. But each family helping build their new house, needs more than a structure to live in. Past hurts, such as financial hardship, abandonment, loss of family members or painful divorce have left them hurting and doubting God’s love for them. But God isn’t finished with them. He has plans for them, plans to prosper them and not to harm, plans to give them hope and a future.

Come along and face the heart challenges of these families. Triumph with them as they move forward in faith with hope for homes of their own and new love in their hearts. Come visit New Neighbor Lane!

Come share the heart challenges of three families.

Now for the next question:

Have you ever lived through a home improvement project?

Well, right now my dear husband is sanding and staining and sealing the wood around all our windows. Nothing is wrong with our 20 year old windows except that the plastic parts all failed and now we need NEW WINDOWS! I don’t want to tell you what the price is, but my husband doing this work himself (with support from me of course!) is saving us in the 5 figures. Shaking my head! So here’s the link to my blog so you can VENT your home improvements stories and woes. I’ll feel your pain! ‘-) Lyn

PS: Ellie’s Forever Family is on pre-order now! Click Here.

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