The Journey of Josephine Cain

The latest novel from Nancy Moser in the American Tapestry Series, The Journey of Josephine Cain begins when Josephine Cain accompanies her father, General Cain and her mother to the Ford Theater as he has returned from the war. Only for Josephine, this day will become memorable in a way she never expected when she sees President Lincoln shot in the balcony. This will be a lasting reminder that the war will never truly be over in the hearts of some men.

As General Cain now transitions from being a General in the war to heading up the efforts to join the building of the Transcontinental Railroad  in a competition to see if the East can build their connection faster than the west can. Josephine is tired of spending the last year with her mother and Aunt Beatrice mourning the loss of her brother, Thomas and her cousin in the war. She only wishes she can convince her father to allow her to accompany him while he works on the construction of the railroad, but with the development of unsavory types springing up wherever the railroad stops, her father isn't about to put her welfare at risk.

When Lewis Simmons joins her father before he leaves to begin his work, she suddenly sees her prospects in staying at home becoming a bit more appealing since most the single men have died in the war. However Lewis has other motives in his plans to marry Josephine and gain the approval of her parents in doing so. What he doesn't expect is to head west in his efforts to sway Josephine to fall in love with him, nor does he expect another man to turn her eye, one that does not have the influence of a suitable background and instead is merely an Irish worker on the railroad. Will Josephine learn the true intentions of the man she is slowly falling in love with or is she merely falling in love with the idea of being married?

I received The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Summerside Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed in this review are strictly my own. This is the sixth book in the American Tapestry Series and a truly MUST READ for those of you that love a bit of real life history as the backdrop for your romance novels. In this one the Transcontinental Railroad makes its debut and the author includes a reference for readers of what really happened along the way at the end of the novel along with a great discussion guide that book clubs will LOVE! Once again the strong determined female character is what really keep me glued to this one. Josephine is willing to take the needed risks to do the right thing even if it means stepping on a few toes to get there. I love where Nancy Moser took this story amid the turmoil surrounding the disgruntled Lewis and the chivalrous actions of Hudson Maguire. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and once again another Nancy Moser novel has found its way into my permanent personal library.

For more information about The Journey of Josephine Cain, Nancy Moser or where you can pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser

You can also find Nancy Moser on Facebook to stay up to date on her latest novels.

To read more reviews on The Journey of Josephine Cain from the Litfuse Publicity Book Tour, please click here. 

• Series: An American Tapestry
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Summerside Press, an imprint of Guideposts (September 1, 2013)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 082493427X
• ISBN-13: 978-0824934279
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 1 inches

The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser follows the adventures of a D.C. socialite as she gets involved with the building of the Transcontinental Railroad right after the Civil War. Be sure to check out Nancy's fun Pinterest board for the book!

Enter to win 1 of 5 copies of the book!

  Five winners will receive:

• The Journey of Josephine Cain by Nancy Moser

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 26th. All winners will be announced October 28th at the Litfuse blog.

Don't miss a moment of the fun; enter today and be sure to visit the Litfuse blog on the 28th to see if you won one of the books!

Queens of the Waves

"A wave of fear washed over Jacquie afresh as she tried to absorb the news.

Father dangled the cigar between his fingers. "I'm delighted about Roland's offer, as you can imagine. I do hope you will be as well. This has been a thoughtful undertaking."

"B-but..." She couldn't seem to manage anything else. The lump in her throat wouldn't allow it.

"He's a good man, and a kind one. I can't deny that the arrangement is advantageous for us all, but I do believe you will settle happily.  He will treat you well and give you a good life. And you will never want for anything. Of this, we can be quite sure." Another puff of the cigar followed on her father's end and then a nod. "Roland has a large home in New York and has just purchased the Willingham estate here in Richmond near the Thames."

"Well, that sounds lovely." Jacquie's mother folded her hands in her lap and sat up a bit straighter.

"Yes." Father grinned. "And what a stroke of luck, marrying a man in the automobile industry. Not only will you have an enviable home, but you will also own the best vehicles in the country."

Jacquie swallowed hard as she thought about how to respond. Of course her father found this news to be delightful. He would. But she could not - would not - marry a man she had no feelings for, especially when her heart remained affixed to another. She forced a smile and fought to quiet her racing heart, fearing it might somehow give her away.

As Jacquie's mother quickly whisked her away to her room to begin making wedding plans as her mother's voice lowered to a whisper as she opened the hatbox and pressed several newspaper clippings into Jacquie's hands. " A new ocean liner is leaving Southhampton in five weeks, headed for New York. Arrangements can be made for you to be onboard when she sails, but we must hurry." She pressed the now empty hatbox onto the shelf.

"W-what? You're sending me to America?" Jacquie shook her head as she started down at the newspaper clippings. A photograph of the RMS Titanic stared back at her. "What are you saying, Mother? Have you and Father planned this as some sort of honeymoon gift?"

Mama shook her head. "I've known for weeks that your father was, well...working on a plan with Mr. Palmer, but I'm not talking about sending you two off on a honeymoon. Not at all. Listen to me. I know the pain of a forced union firsthand. My own father, God rest his soul, made sure I was advantageously matched as well." Her expression hardened. "My daughter will not be painted into that same corner. I would soon die that allow it, trust me." (pg 21).

Her mother learned that Jacquie had fallen in love with their gardener, Peter Bowen, but felt she must leave England on the Titanic and stay in New York with her grandmother. Perhaps there she could find the love she was truly searching for. But how could she leave behind the only man she had ever loved? One thing for sure, she knew she could not go through with her father's plans to marry Roland Palmer.

In the latest novel from Janice Thompson in the American Tapestries series, Queen of the Waves, takes the readers back into a historical fictional romance of 1912 as Jacquie Abingdon attempts to runaway aboard the Titanic to escape the arranged marriage to Roland Palmer without her father's knowledge. When she tells Peter of her plan to include taking him on the trip, he turns down the offer telling her that his family depends on his income to support them. He can't leave them. He does offer Jacquie another option, to send his sister Tessa, who is the same age as Jacquie in her place to escape the abuse from their drunken father. Jacquie agrees and they spend the next two weeks preparing Tessa to take her place onboard the Titanic and provide a way for her to escape as well. How can Tessa Bowen attempt to act like a lady of society when all she has ever known is the life of being a pig farmer's daughter?

The two women make arrangements to meet on the dock to make the switch in boarding passes and tickets and Tessa will go by the name of Jacquie Abingdon and head to New York. Jacquie will send a letter to her grandmother in New York explaining that she could not leave because she wanted to marry Peter, someone her parents would never allow her to marry due to his social status. She knew her grandmother would take Tessa in and would send along her lady's maid, Iris to help Tessa as needed. Little did Jacquie know what would later happen and how all their lives would change forever in ways none of them could ever prepare for.

I received Queen of the Waves compliments of Summerside Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. I've been a huge fan of the Titanic when it first came to the big screen and it really interested me to know more about the lives of so many who boarded the fateful ship that day in hopes of a new life in America only to have so many never make it. When the opportunity came up to review this novel, I knew I would instantly want to read it and in the process LOVE the characters that Janice Thompson breathed to life in the pages of her novel. You feel the emotional anguish between Tessa and Jacquie's choices to make their lives their own through choices neither of them felt they could make. In a twist of fate, one would find love and the other pain beyond belief but in the end, healing would come to them all. I rate this novel a 5 out of 5 stars. For those of you that love romantic novels about the Titanic, then this one is a MUST READ for you!

For more information about Queen of the Waves, Janice Thompson, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Queen of the Waves by Janice Thompson

You can find Janice Thompson on Facebook, by clicking here. 

To read more reviews on Queen of the Waves from the Litfuse Book Tour, please click here. 


Celebrate with Janice by entering to win a Kindle Fire!

 

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson
• Queen of the Waves by Janice Thompson

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 17th. Winner will be announced at the American Tapestries Author Chat Facebook Party on 10/18. Connect with authors Janice Thompson and Melanie Dobson for an evening of book chat, trivia and fun! There will also be gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!

So grab your copy of Queen of the Waves and Where the Trail Ends and join Janice Thompson and Melanie Dobson on the evening of the October 18th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the books – don’t let that stop you from coming!)

Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!

+ Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson + The Trouble with Cowboys, Denise Hunter + Women Redeemed Live Webcast 2.0 Event (Kregel Publications)

Where the Trail Ends

I remember reading about the Oregon Trail in my history classes in high school, but I never really gave them much thought outside of knowing what it was, how they arrived and why most people came west along with some relevant dates, but until I read, Melanie Dobson's fictional novel, Where the Trail Ends it really shined a whole new meaning to what life was like to those who made the journey west.

This historical fictional novel introduces us to Samantha Waldron and her family, her father and brother Micah who have become one of many families who are moving west along the Oregon Trail before winter settles in. They had hoped to take her mother as well but she died shortly before the trip. All of the duties of cooking, cleaning and taking care of her younger brother, fall on Samantha's shoulders as they make their way west. They have to endure nights without water when no streams or rivers can be found. If they don't make sure their water barrels are full before leaving, they might not have enough to get them from campsite to campsite. The family has to endure a stampede caused when a families dog spooks the oxen killing several members of the wagon train, damaging several wagon and results in the decision of the leader of group, Captain Lowe to kill the remaining dogs to prevent that from occurring again. This means Samantha's beloved dog Boaz is at risk and she will stand up to anyone who wants to kill her dog. Even if that means it puts her at odds with Jack Doyle, a man she has grown quite fond of along the journey and hopes will marry her when they arrive in the Willamette Valley.

Samatha is a strong female who has to face the odds when her father grows ill and she is left behind as she seeks help for him while the others move ahead in their journey. She faces Indians, wild grizzly bears and extreme weather conditions just to make sure her brother is well cared for. When she has to face off against a fierce Wolverine, she is forced into the icy rivers of the Columbia River as they flees for safety in a canoe. Yet when it overturns, will Samantha be able to save her family just as they are about to make the final leg of the journey?

I received Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson compliments of Summerside Press and Litfuse Publicity for my honest review. Being a huge fan of American History I could really relate to the struggles Samantha had to endure just to bring her family through the Oregon trail. She longs for someone to care for her and hopes that love awaits her on the other end. It is through those struggles with hardship that character is defined and truly makes us stronger than we might have ever thought we could be. Samantha has to grow up faster than she would have liked and she is often reminded that she still has a lot to learn about trust along the way. I rate this one a 5 out of 5 stars and can't wait for more in the American Tapestries series!!!

For more information about Where the Trail Ends, Melanie Dobson, and where to pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson

You can find Melanie Dobson on Facebook by clicking here. 

To read more great reviews from this book tour on Litfuse, please click here. 

Celebrate with Melanie by entering to win a Kindle Fire!

One fortunate winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire


• Where the Trail Ends by Melanie Dobson


• Queen of the Waves by Janice Thompson

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on October 17th. Winner will be announced at the American Tapestries Author Chat Facebook Party on 10/18. Connect with authors Melanie Dobson and Janice Thompson for an evening of book chat, trivia and fun! There will also be gift certificates, books, and a Book Club Prize Pack to be won (10 copies for your book club or small group)!






So grab your copy of Where the Trail Ends and  Queen of the Waves and join Melanie Dobson and Janice Thompson on the evening of the October 18th for a chance to connect with the authors and make some new friends. (If you haven't read the books - don't let that stop you from coming!)




Don't miss a moment of the fun, RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 18th!