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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Aug 4, 2022  
Joining me on my blog today is author Preston Lewis in a fascinating interview about his historical Western series, the Three Rivers Trilogy. You can also read up about the third book in the trilogy, RIO HONDO, and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy of the book - two winners!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2022/08/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-rio-hondo.html

**RIO HONDO SYNOPSIS**
With the embers of the Lincoln County War still burning, rancher Wes Bracken must rebuild his life amid the white-hot animosities lingering from the deadly feud. His vengeful brother-in-law vows to kill him, the county's economic kingpin seeks revenge, and the despicable outlaw Jesse Evans, who violated Bracken's wife, intends to murder Bracken and his young family. Two promises complicate Bracken's survival chances: a pledge not to kill his wife's brother and a commitment to help William H. Bonney earn a governor's pardon for his crimes. To survive and fulfill his dream of a peaceful life in 1880s New Mexico Territory, Bracken must fight a corrupt legal system, a duplicitous governor, a ubiquitous political ring, and the evil Jesse Evans. If Bracken keeps his promises to his wife and Billy the Kid, he risks an early grave in the same soil that holds so many of the Lincoln County War's dead. If he ignores those pledges, he will dishonor the good name he hopes to build his future upon.
     
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Heather Cranmer (2721 KP) created a post

Jul 2, 2022 (Updated Jul 2, 2022)  
On my blog today, I have an excerpt from the first part of the prologue of the Christian historical fiction novel IN HONOR'S DEFENSE by Karen Witemeyer. There's also the tour wide giveaway for a chance to win all three paperback books in the Hanger's Horsemen series!

https://alltheupsandowns.blogspot.com/2022/07/book-blog-tour-and-giveaway-in-honors.html

**BOOK SYNOPSIS**
He's Faced Countless Perils on the Battlefield, but Nothing so Dangerous as Falling in Love.

Luke Davenport has been fighting all his life--for respect, for country, and for those unable to fight for themselves. But now that his Horsemen brothers are domesticated, he's left alone to battle the wildness within. When an opportunity arises to take a job on his own, tracking down a group of rustlers, he jumps at the chance.

Damaris Baxter has mastered the art of invisibility. Plain and quiet, she hides in books and needlework, content to be overlooked. Until her brother dies suddenly, leaving her custody of her nephew. She moves to Texas to care for Nathaniel, determined to create the family for herself that she never thought she'd have and to give him the family he desperately needs.

When Nate finds himself knee-deep in trouble, Luke's attempt to protect him leaves Damaris feeling indebted to the Horseman. But suspicions grow regarding the mysterious death of Damaris's brother. And the more questions they ask, the more danger appears, threatening the family Luke may be unable to live without.
     
Mistaken Identity Crisis
Mistaken Identity Crisis
James J. Cudney | 2021 | Mystery
5
5.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
Can Kellen Identify Another Killer?
This book picks up within days of book three ending. Summer session is about to get started, and Kellan is teaching one class on documentary making. He’s also been the official liaison with the man working on the cable car that unites the two parts of the campus. When he goes to check in one morning, he finds the contractor dead. Quint had been friends with Kellen’s younger brother years before. Still, Kellen vows he isn’t going to investigate. But he can’t help but poke around when his brother starts to become a suspect.

That storyline alone would have been enough for a mystery, but we are also facing some serious developments for the ongoing soap opera storyline, which leads to a book that is overstuffed. While the ending does answer my questions, I felt like it was a bit too convenient. There’s a large cast of characters, and tracking all their relationships takes a lot of concentration and the cast of characters at the beginning. I was glad to see some of the relationships were less contentious here, although one shifted a bit too abruptly for me. The writing keeps us just a little outside the story as well. I do like Kellen and the rest of the core cast, so I will be continuing to see what happens next to them. Fans will want to see how things play out in this book.
  
Despicable Me 3 (2017)
Despicable Me 3 (2017)
2017 | Animation, Comedy
Great story about family and lotalty (0 more)
Bob wasn't in it (0 more)
As good as the others in the series!
Contains spoilers, click to show
Gru gets fired from AVL and Lucy jacks it in to support her hubby, all because an ex Child TV star gets away from them. When at his lowest Gru discovers he has a twin brother, Dru. Dru is soft and giggly and a disappointment to their villain father; Dru wants to make it up to his memory by talking Gru into a heist, taking the world biggest diamond! Hilarity, family, love and a real unicorn make this movie a great continuation from the other two. Pity Bob isn't in it but Mel leads the other minions to mutiny and jail!
  
Dark Places (2015)
Dark Places (2015)
2015 | Drama, Mystery
6
6.4 (5 Ratings)
Movie Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
Mediocre adaptation from a book by Gillian Flynn. I couldn't fathom Theron's character, Libby. Yes she was young when the murders happened but she seems so detached and unemotional about what happened she just didn't seem believable to me. Also, by the end of the film I still didn't understand why she lied about the evidence she gave, why had she never visited her brother in prison when they seemed quite close when they were young, DNA and fingerprint testing was around in 1985 so how come this was not used or further tested in the intervening years re the gun and the neck of the sister? More holes than a sieve!
  
No Such Thing As A Fish
No Such Thing As A Fish
Comedy
10
8.9 (15 Ratings)
Podcast Rating
Highly intellectually stimulating (0 more)
Often doesn't make it clear whether there's any explicit content (0 more)
Absolute favourite podcast
I absolutely love this podcast! It's funny and interesting and makes me think a lot about the world. I regularly listen to it on long trips or even as something to drift off to sleep listening to.

The only possible negative thing I could say is that while the occasional explicit content doesn't bother me, I have a 12 year old brother I'd love to recommend it to, but sometimes I feel some of the content in some episodes isn't appropriate, and it's difficult to tell which ones without listening to it first and making note.
  
The Bob-Whites go with Miss Trask to visit her brother only to learn a legend of a vanishing pirate and that the family inn has become the victim of some vicious sabotage. Can Trixie figure out what is happening?

Another fun book in the series. Trixie and Mart’s fighting is worse than normal, and that does bother me. However, all seven of the Bob-Whites get to go, and the mystery is decent with some fun twists and clues along the way. A definitely must read for fans of the series.

Read my full review at <a href="http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.com/2014/10/book-review-mystery-of-ghostly-galleon.html">Carstairs Considers</a>.