I didn't know what I was getting into with Laurie Moore-Moore's Gone to Dallas. As much as I read historical romance, I don't actually read any historical fiction. So, for me to read a historical fiction book about Texas while being a Texan is a bit of a trip!

I can tell you, reader, that Moore-Moore definitely knows her stuff regarding Texas and its history. The story itself is about Sara, an extremely likable character by the way, and her journey to Texas. She ends up in a very different situation than she started off with. I truly enjoyed reading about Sara's journey and the turns life gave her. It was such an interesting juxtaposition for someone like me who isn't used to the historical fiction genre, but is used to having a strong female protagonist (it really is my favorite part of the romance genre). 

I found Moore-Moore's knowledge and ability to write an enthralling story while still teaching me a thing or two (and more) about Texas quite awesome. Above all, Sara's character is really my favorite part of this story because she makes for a strong and lovely character. This western has heart and so I recommend it to anyone who shies away from westerns / historical fiction (ahem, me). This work gives a great blend of having heart and being interesting that will keep any reader captivated until the last page. 

​CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly:
 
10/26/21
Scrapbook Page
Hall Ways Blog

10/26/21
Review
Sydney Young, Stories

10/27/21
Review
Book Fidelity

10/27/21
BONUS Promo
LSBBT Blog

10/28/21
Excerpt
Chapter Break Book Blog

10/28/21
Review
Jennie Reads

10/29/21
Review
Missus Gonzo

10/30/21
Review
Julia Picks 1

10/31/21
Author Interview
The Page Unbound

11/1/21
Character Spotlight
Book Bustle

11/1/21
Review
Reading by Moonlight

11/2/21
Review
StoreyBook Reviews

11/3/21
Review
Forgotten Winds

11/3/21
Guest Post
All the Ups and Downs

11/4/21
Review
The Book's Delight

11/4/21
Review
It's Not All Gravy

 

Holding On Loosely by Dana Knox Wright is one of those books that can hit you just right when you are ready for it. It was a lovely read that took me through a roller coaster of emotions along with the author. There were definitely parts that made me chuckle and others that made me tear up. I was able to truly appreciate what it means to let go of something as I read this book. 

Perhaps this book hit differently because I lost my sister earlier this year. Ever since it happened, I notice that I see things very differently. I found that this book was able to match me in the emotion department. Although I am not a big reader of anything referencing God, I was able to appreciate the reader's point of view. 

It's hard for me to say what I would have gotten from this book if I was not in the place in my life that I am in now. I believe anyone can gather something from learning to let go. We all have things and people we need to (or should) let go of. I believe that this author is able to express that to her reader in the best way possible - by her expressive and captivating writing. 
​

CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly:
 
10/12/21
Excerpt
Chapter Break Book Blog

10/12/21
BONUS Promo
LSBBT Blog

10/13/21
Review
Book Fidelity

10/13/21
Scrapbook Page
Hall Ways Blog

10/14/21
Review
It's Not All Gravy

10/15/21
Guest Post
StoreyBook Reviews

10/15/21
Review
Jennie Reads

10/16/21
Author Interview
All the Ups and Downs

10/17/21
Excerpt
Reading by Moonlight

10/18/21
Review
The Clueless Gent

10/18/21
Top 8 Quotes
Julia Picks 1

10/19/21
Author Interview
The Adventures of a Travelers Wife

10/20/21
Audio Review?
Forgotten Winds

10/20/21
Guest Post
Sybrina's Book Blog

10/21/21
Review
Book Bustle

10/21/21
Review
Missus Gonzo
​

It's amazing how much history a graveyard can hold for the living to see if only we take the time to look! That is the message I received from Cynthia Leal Massey's What Lies Beneath: Texas Pioneer Cemeteries and Graveyards. Through substantial research, Massey is able to provide to us snippets of history in a detailed and very organized way. Any aficionado of cemeteries (yes, I do believe there is such a thing) would do themselves the favor of picking up What Lies Beneath. With its organizational guide of graveyards, cemeteries, forts, etc., Massey gives an extensive and quite informational layout of what to see and what to expect. Each place brimming with history to inspect. 

What Lies Beneath is a great read for anyone interested in combining their love of history, Texas, and the slightly spooky. The stories within these pages are interesting and easy to read through - there was no putting this book down! I also plan on keeping it handy for the next time I travel through our state. I think you should too!

​CLICK TO VISIT THE LONE STAR LITERARY LIFE TOUR PAGE
FOR DIRECT LINKS TO EACH POST ON THIS TOUR, UPDATED DAILY, 
or visit the blogs directly:
10/5/21
Excerpt
StoreyBook Reviews

10/5/21
BONUS Sneak Peek
Hall Ways Blog

10/6/21
Guest Post
The Clueless Gent

10/6/21
BONUS Promo
LSBBT Blog

10/7/21
Review
Jennie Reads

10/8/21
Review
That's What She's Reading

10/9/21
Scrapbook Page
Chapter Break Book Blog

10/10/21
Author Interview
All the Ups and Downs

10/11/21
Review
The Plain-Spoken Pen

10/12/21
BONUS Review
Book Fidelity

10/12/21
Excerpt
Sybrina's Book Blog

10/13/21
Review
Forgotten Winds

10/14/21
Review
The Book's Delight

 

​Finding Feral
A Spacious Reclaiming of Life
By Andrea Pardue
Genre: Memoir
 
Finding Feral will be released on August 20, 2021!
 
Book Description
 
After the death of my mother, I started to take stock of my life.  I was in midlife and it had been a hard, traumatic road.  This is my story of finding hope and myself in the tiny green of a sprout, the soaring austere of an eagle, color dripping from a paintbrush, and the possibility of a loving Creator.  This is a journey into my willfulness to embrace life at its essence and feel very much on purpose in this world.
 
"I love the emotion you have when you speak.  You have such a melodious way of communicating.  It is flowing, calming, and infused with warmth." - Amber Murphy
 
"I love feeling the desire you have to live in immense ways.  You inspire me." - Julianna Ehlert

Some books find you when you need them - even when you made the choice to pick it up. That's how I felt when reading Finding Feral by Andrea Pardue. 

I had lost my sister, and this book hit a very deep spot in my heart when I read about Pardue's experience in losing her mother. We had two very different experiences, but the pain and the loss - well, some things can be universal at their core. 

Pardue's writing was easy to absorb while also being emotive and heart-wrenching. Finding Feral was effortless in pulling me in and kept the pages turning until the last one. Pardue explains her life circumstances while also giving us a look into her feelings surrounding losing her mom and then the state of her life after. If there is one thing I learned about losing someone is that you can distinctly feel and separate the experiences - there is the before the loss and after the loss. Pardue's writing made me feel less alone because her writing was able express some of what I was feeling. And how very loss one can feel when in grief. 

Regardless whether or not someone is going through grief, Pardue's story is set to let the reader in on her life experiences while maintaining the reader's attention through her intricate and emotional writing. 

About the Author
 
Andrea Pardue is a simple soul who has meekly braved each step of her life’s joys and hardships. She discovered the expressive arts as therapy in her darkest moment, studied her guts and soul out to find her way to a liberating, feral freedom to participate in life again. This is her first book.  She lives with her husband and three boys in Texas. A piece of her heart remains on Whidbey Island.  She leads small groups in expressive arts and loves to hear the soul stories of others. You can contact her at andreapardue44@gmail.com.
 
Follow the author for updates on her upcoming release:
 
Website: https://www.strongwhisperer.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/finding_feral
​