​Even though I have a ton of books on my TBR list (and a few not even officially on the list yet but just begging to be added), I am looking forward to three new spring releases—sometimes I really wonder about my tastes in reading—let’s call it “eclectic” and leave it at that.  But I am sure I am not the only one!  So here we go!

​February:  Diablo Mesa by Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child, released just yesterday!  I have read just about all of this duo’s books and I am never disappointed.  Started with Cabinet of Curiosities years ago and haven’t stopped yet!  Diablo Mesa has two of my favorite ‘newish’ characters Nora Kelly and Corrie Swanson.  If you like stories about area 51, this one is for you!

​March:  The Wedding Veil by Kristy Woodson Harvey, releasing on March 29.  I love anything by Kristy Woodson Harvey but this one fascinates me because of its connection to the Vanderbilts and The Biltmore Estate.  It is Harvey’s first historical/contemporary genre and promises to be a wonderful read.  

April:  Dream Town by David Baldacci.  Baldacci is becoming a favorite of mine for the series he creates with fascinating protagonists—usually people damaged by something in their past but don’t they make the best stories?  This is the third in the series with Aloysius Archer—can’t wait!!

​Imagine standing at the top of these cliffs, a sheer drop to the rocks below, no protection, no one to help....when you read "The Legend", this image will come to your mind.....and you will feel the fear...
"The Legend: A Kate Tyler Novel"...coming soon. 

​Tucked away on West Street in Rye England is the home of the great author Henry James. Kate ponders the question of living the life you were meant to live in "The Legend"--and it takes her to unexpected places! (And what kind of bird is that in the tree? Hmm.....)
#thelegend #bookstoread #ryeengland #booklover #fiction #henryjames

   ​If you are like me, your “To Be Read” pile greatly exceeds any human capacity to actually turn them into “Read”.  I just updated my Goodreads “Want to Read” lists recently and it is pretty overwhelming!  But it’s all good!  Depending on my mood, I can pick the right book.  Depending on my need to own a copy I can hold in my hands,  get it from the library, or buy and read it on Kindle—I can dive in any time, be scared, be uplifted or educated, cry, laugh, be in awe of the words on the page—all of those things are possible with books! 
   My favorite books of last year?  I would have to rate “Surviving Savannah” and “Once Upon a Wardrobe” both by Patti Callahan up at the top but there were so many great ones!  

​     What are you reading?? 

Good news!  Things are moving along with my second novel “The Legend”!  I’ll be announcing the publication date soon so that you can plan your spring reading schedule!!  If you have a copy of “Heirloom”, the first in this three-part book series with Kate Tyler, why not read it again before “The Legend” comes out?  A few things to watch for in the coming days and weeks—the cover reveal (it is going to be awesome!), and a few teaser postings.  Here’s one to start you wondering exactly what this book is going to be about! 
I know you will love “The Legend”!

I hope to see you at "The Perfect Piece" on November 6!  It will be a wonderful day to start your Christmas shopping!  #shoplocal

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The Military Writer's Society of America has awarded Heirloom (A Kate Tyler Novel) a gold medal in the Literary Fiction category!  MWSA provides a rigorous review of submitted books for their awards and it is an honor to be given this gold medal!  Thank you to all of Kate Tyler's fans! And a big thanks to the MWSA for their service to veterans through their support of writings and art.  

A bench beckons the weary traveler to sit.
Alone, apart---solitary resting.
Two--intimate, whispering.
Always looking out.
Never looking back.
Wood, stone, curved and rough-hewn like a hurried need.
To know there is a place for rest.
A place of one’s own.
A place for anyone.
Snow covered, petal covered, sun covered, leaf covered.
A year of saying, I am here. Welcome. Sit. Be at peace.
Look out over what the world is.
A view of God’s handiwork.
A blue lake, a snow covered mountain, a rocky river soft with ripples.
Sit and rest as the sun rises, as the sun sets.
Along the path, there is always a bench.
Waiting for the weary traveler.

           I am honored to have received a review for "Heirloom (A Kate Tyler Novel)" from the Military Writers Society of America! The MWSA is a "nationwide association of authors, poets, and artists drawn together by the common bond of military service." Whether the author has a military background or relatives who have served our country, the MWSA is a place for those who love to write and who honor those who defend this nation. Check out their website at https://www.mwsadispatches.com/. Thank you MWSA for this lovely review!

MWSA Review
          How do you continue to live after you experience the perfect storm of job loss, relationship betrayal, and the death of your twin? Any one of those occurrences can lead to heartbreak and confusion, but if all three happen in close proximity, you must learn to adapt to your new circumstances—if you want to survive.
             Kate, who always considered herself the weaker twin after their adoptive parents died, is truly alone now and feels ill-equipped to experience life without the support her sister always seemed to provide. Inheriting property she didn’t know her twin had recently purchased, Kate decides to honor her sister’s memory by at least looking at the house before selling it. She struggles to overcome the debilitating inertia of grief and makes her way to Eden Springs, a small town in North Carolina, only to discover that the house and land have fallen into complete disrepair.
            Kate’s journey of personal growth begins as she entertains the notion that she might not be as weak as she had always assumed. She leans into her grief, accepts life as it is, and grows stronger, while still allowing others to come alongside to support her.
      Beautiful descriptions and emotional scenes are interspersed with action scenes. Quirky characters are added for comic relief, while sinister individuals provide additional conflict to keep the plot moving swiftly to its conclusion.
             I hope the author has more stories to tell. I look forward to her next book.
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Review by Betsy Beard (March 2021)