About the Book
Book Title: Toby’s Troubles
Author: Carole Brown
Genre: Romantic Mystery, Cozy Mystery
Release date: July 1, 2018
Everyone loves Toby Gibson. A co-owner of Undiscovered Treasures, a unique shop of antiques, collectables and junk, Toby is friendly, generous to a fault, the director of the local plays in Appleton and supports his church’s youth functions. But the minute his sister, Caroline and her new husband, take off for their honeymoon, a “ghost” begins to haunt the shop—or maybe it’s just an intruder. If so, Toby has no idea for what he is looking. To add to his troubles, he suspects Amy, not only is bidding for the property he’s wanted forever, but is in love with him. And he’s not interested.
Amy Sanderson who owns the only flower shop in Appleton—Bloomin’ Life—is drawn into capturing Toby’s “ghost” when her own business is damaged by a destructive intruder. Having loved Toby from childhood, she’s more than willing to join forces with him. But she has no interest in being his best friend or like a sister to him. And if she has to resort to schemes of outbidding him at his frequent auction attendences to get his attention, then so be it. She can be just as stubborn as the man who’s determined to ignore her love.
In between the break-ins, destruction of property, thefts and personal competitions against each other, Amy and Toby work together to find the thief who seems so determined to find a valuable item, he’ll stop at nothing.
Click here to purchase your copy!
About the Author
Besides being a member and active participant of many writing groups, Carole Brown enjoys mentoring beginning writers. An author of ten books, she loves to weave suspense and tough topics into her books, along with a touch of romance and whimsy, and is always on the lookout for outstanding titles and catchy ideas. She and her husband reside in SE Ohio but have ministered and counseled nationally and internationally. Together, they enjoy their grandsons, traveling, gardening, good food, the simple life, and did she mention their grandsons?
Guest Post from Carole Brown
Antique Shops, A Thief, the Community Theater, and Love
Toby’s Troubles, Book Four from the Appleton, West Virginia Romantic Mysteries series
I knew when I wrote this book who Toby was. But capturing Toby’s personality and presenting it in the right way, was a challenge for me. Readers can see his teasing, fun-loving character when he labels the person who’s breaking into his shop as a ghost. But Toby is also serious, smart and successful. The side of him who has had plenty of girl friends, but who’s never gotten serious with any of them, is prominent too. But I didn’t want him to seem frivolous and uncaring, because he isn’t that. With a focus on his interests, love has never—as of yet—been a primary concern, so when Amy Sanderson strolls into his life, she turns out to be his confidant in the time of his troubles. The question is: can she not only have a place in his life as a best friend, but also capture his heart?
Let’s talk about:
Antique Shops
Who doesn’t love a place filled with valuable items, interesting history, and hard-to-find items? Undiscovered Treasures—a shop of antiques, collectibles and junk—could be described as the town gathering place. Everyone loves browsing there. Deciding on such a place for the business of brother and sister, Toby and Caroline Gibson, was a fun choice. From grandfather clocks to unique shaped vases, it’s a shop where treasure hunters could just find what they’re looking for.
A Thief:
There are way too many new people visiting Appleton, West Virginia, so how is someone like Toby suppose to guess what the thief is after? The thief definitely knows what he’s looking for, just not where. He’s tall, thin and a fast runner, especially when escaping across a rooftop. But then, maybe it’s not a new person in town. Maybe the thief is Toby’s part time help, who has a mystery all of his own. It makes things interesting, and a bit terrifying for everyone.
The Community Theater:
One of Toby’s loves is directing and overseeing the community theater. Caroline Gibson writes some of the plays, the actors are usually taken from the West Virginia area, and all proceeds go to charities. But when their main actors, of the current play, elope and leave the play desolate, someone has to step in to fill the gaps. Toby struggles with decisions he doesn’t want to make.
Love:
Toby is smart, funny, and a resourseful man. He’s also busy with his community theater activities and his business. Known as the one man in town who’s not interested, at the current time, in getting married, his reputation of loving and leaving is in danger of being wrecked by one small woman. Can she sabotage his well-laid plans and help him realize it’s now or never? Could it be the time when real love is captured by two people, even when one of them seems doomed to ignore what God’s put in their hearts?
I love creating characters. Developing them into real people with real desires, moods, troubles.
My Review:
Author Carole Brown kept my attention from beginning to end. Quirky characters that seem real, the lovely town of Appleton, intrigue, mystery, romance, and a …ghost? Such a cute read.
The fast-paced action will have you guessing “who dun it” right to the end. You will laugh, and you will want to shake people just a bit to get them to wake up to what or who is right in front of them. Although this is book 4 in the series, I haven’t read the other three and had no trouble following the story line so don’t hesitate to read this one.
If I had any complaints about this story, it’s the overuse of the word “chuckle”. At some point I think every character chuckled. But overlook it and enjoy!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Blog Stops
Vicky Sluiter, August 21
Godly Book Reviews, August 21
The Avid Reader, August 22
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 22
Chas Ray’s Book Nerd Corner, August 23
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, August 23
Kaylee’s Kind Of Writes, August 24
Two Points of Interest, August 24
Connect in Fiction, August 25
Blogging With Carol, August 25
Bibliophile Reviews, August 26
Splashes of Joy, August 27
proud to be an autism mom, August 27
A Baker’s Perspective, August 28
Maureen’s Musing, August 29
Mary Hake, August 29
Janices book reviews, August 30
Pause for Tales, August 31
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 31
Lighthouse Academy, September 1
Texas Book-aholic, September 2
Jeanette’s Thoughts, September 2
Carpe Diem, September 3
Bigreadersite, September 3
Giveaway
To celebrate her tour, Carole is giving away a grand prize that includes winner’s choice of one of the two attached mugs, winner’s choice of a print or kindle copy of Toby’s Troubles and a tote bag!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d1c2/toby-s-troubles-celebration-tour-giveaway
Scavenger Hunt Cover Reveal – Stop Two
The hunt has been completed. Thank you for joining us!
Welcome to the Finally Accepted Cover Reveal Scavenger Hunt. You have arrived at stop #2. The hunt begins at 12:00 pm EDT on August 7, 2018. You may have arrived here before the start which could mean all of the sites aren’t ready quite yet. Once the official start has begun, you can work your way through the sites, gathering clues until you arrive at the final stop which will be on Toni Shiloh’s site, stop #10.
Follow the clues to for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card, and see the full cover of Toni Shiloh’s Finally Accepted, Book 3 in the Freedom Lake series.
The hunt ends on August 8, 2018, at 11:59 pm EDT. You will collect a CLUE IN RED at each stop. Write them down as you go. At the end of the hunt, you will enter the clues into a Rafflecopter form. (The answer will make sense, even if you aren’t familiar with it.) The hunt is open to international entries.
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness. You can find her on her website at http://tonishiloh.wordpress.com.
Follow Toni!
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authortonishiloh
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tonishilohwrite
Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/tonishiloh
Instagram: www.instagram.com/tonishiloh
Goodreads: www.goodreads.com/tonishiloh
BookBub: www.bookbub.com/authors/toni-shiloh
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/cmNFKD
Blogs I’m part of: http://puttingonthenew.com ; http://heartwingsblog.com ; http://diversitybetweenthepages.wordpress.com
Finally Accepted
(due to be released late August or early September)
There’s only one thing Chloe Smith has ever wanted: family. Yet the DNA results she’s received have thrown her life into a tailspin. Her utmost desire has ended up being the catalyst for shaking her faith. She doesn’t even know who she is anymore, and she’s certainly too messed up for her longtime crush to give her more than a second glance.
Darryl Jones is struggling between his past and the grace God so freely offers. His sins feel too big for him to handle, let alone expect the woman of his dreams to accept. Chloe is the only woman he’s ever wanted and the one he doesn’t deserve.
As they form a tentative relationship and examine their faith, Chloe and Darryl ache to know they are finally accepted and fully loved.
Scavenger Hunt!
Thanks so much for stopping by my site and participating in the Finally Accepted Cover Reveal Scavenger Hunt. Before you move on to Stop #3, which is Faithfully Bookish, to pick up your next clue, be sure to write down this Stop #2 clue: will
Did you miss stop one? You can find that here!
**Also, please note: Rafflecopter requires JavaScript to work. If you can’t see the form, please turn JavaScript on in your browser in order to enter. Rafflecopter sometimes doesn’t work on mobile devices. If you are on a mobile device and can’t see the entry form, then you’ll need to find a computer.
Recently author Amy Clipston released her newest book, Room on the Porch Swing.
Read about the book along with my review. Then check out the interview with characters Laura and Allen. Don’t miss the giveaway opportunity!
Ever since her best friend died six months ago, Laura Reihl has vowed to make each day count. And that means she should probably break off her relationship with Rudy. They’ve been together for so many years, and his friendship means the world to her. But she knows friendship doesn’t come close to the fireworks of true love, and she’s not really feeling the fireworks.
So when Savilla’s widower, Allen, asks her to help him take care of the baby Savilla left behind, Laura jumps at the chance. Maybe the change of scenery will help her gain perspective on her relationship with Rudy. And she’d do anything to help Allen out—he’s always been a good friend to her, and he’s Rudy’s best friend as well.
When she arrives at Allen’s house, though, she finds a man she barely recognizes. Allen is distraught over his wife’s death, blaming himself for not taking her to the doctor soon enough.
As Laura helps Allen work through his grief, she remembers just how easy he is to talk to. And she discovers an attraction she’s never felt with Rudy. She can’t be falling for Allen, can she? It would be a betrayal to the two people she’s care most about, Savilla and Rudy. But if she denies her feelings, is she betraying herself?
Just when I think author Amy Clipston can’t write a better book, here comes Room on the Porch Swing. I read it in two days, only because I had to go to work. Seriously, I couldn’t put this book down.
This heartwarming story deals with some of the heavy stuff of life. Loss of a spouse, grief, insecurity; things that aren’t fun but are real. And through it all is God; forgiveness, compassion, and love. Second chances.
The characters are so well written that they come to life as the story plays out. Written with such depth of emotion you’ll probably shed a few tears, gasp, and laugh. I really would love to go visit these people. I’m sure we’d be friends. I highly recommend reading this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was not required to leave a review.
Interview with Laura and Allen:
Laura, did you find it a challenge to fall in love with your best friend’s husband?
I really wasn’t expecting to fall in love with Allen, and I felt guilty when I realized that I had feelings for him. I felt like I was betraying Savilla’s memory. But, thanks to Florence, I soon realized that God chooses the person we’re supposed to spend the rest of our life with. I’m so grateful that Florence made me realize my feelings for Allen weren’t a sin.
You vowed to have everyday count, what did you do specifically to see the day differently?
I make a point tell my family members that I love them every day. I also take a moment to take in God’s beautiful creation – the flowers, the sunset, the birds, and all of the beauty he brings into our lives. I also make a point to pray often and thank God for my family.
How did it feel stepping into the role of instant (step) mother and wife??
At first I found myself doubting my ability to be Mollie’s mother, but Allen encouraged me. I’m so grateful that he always believes in me. I’ll never replace Savilla, but I do the best I can. I’m so thankful to have Allen and Mollie in my life. I thank God for choosing me for Allen and Mollie.
Laura, how do you keep the memory of Savilla alive for Mollie while still letting her know that you are proud and honored to be in her life?
I tell Mollie stories about Savilla every day. When I rock her at night, I tell her about how Savilla loved her before she was born and when she held Mollie in her arms. I also tell her stories about when Savilla and I were children. I’ll always remind Mollie how much her mother loved her and then also tell her that I love her with my whole heart and will always do my best to be a good mother to her.
Okay, this is for you, Allen: What is one of your favorite dishes that Laura cooks?
I always love her chicken potpie. And I think every man loves steak and potatoes, right?
Amy is giving away a copy of Room on the Porch Swing to one reader! Click here to enter.
