The Adventure of the Deceased Scholar The Early Case Files of Sherlock Holmes Book 3 by Liese Sherwood-Fabre Genre: Historical Mystery
Award-winning author and recognized Sherlockian scholar Liese Sherwood-Fabre’s third novel in “The Early Case Files of Sherlock Holmes” follows the young detective to London for the spring holiday. This CIBA first-place mystery and mayhem winner has been described by bestselling author Gemma Halliday as “a classic in the making” and Kirkus Reviews as “a multifaceted and convincing addition to Sherlock-ian lore.”
A tragedy during the 1868 Oxford-Cambridge Boat race puts Mycroft Holmes’ reputation on the line.
When Mycroft Holmes identifies a drowning victim, he is drawn into a situation that could destroy not only Lord Surminster’s name, but his own reputation as well. If ruled a suicide, the lord’s assets will be returned to the Crown, leaving his mother and siblings destitute. Should that happen, the victim’s sister has threatened to drag Mycroft’s good name through the mire. Will Sherlock be able determine what happened before more than one family is destroyed?
Liese Sherwood-Fabre has won awards for her thrillers, romance, and literary short stories, and NYT bestselling author Steve Berry describes her writing as “gimmick-free, old-fashioned storytelling.” In the second grade, she knew she was destined to write when she got an A+ for her story about Dick, Jane, and Sally’s ruined picnic. After obtaining her PhD from Indiana University, she joined the federal government and had the opportunity to work and live internationally for more than fifteen years. She draws upon these experiences to endow her characters with deep conflicts and emotions.
Italy, 1937. In a tiny village in rural Lombardy, Graziella Ponti is born into a loving family.
Though they are not rich and life is full of challenges, they are content and safe, surrounded by the tightly-knit community of Pieve Santa Clara.
But when the shadow of World War Two falls across the village with the arrival of Nazi soldiers, nothing in young Graziella’s life will ever be the same again.
Paradiso is Graziella’s story. It charts her loves, losses and triumphs as she grows up in post-war Italy, a country in transformation, freed from the shackles of dictatorship yet still gripped by the restraints of the Catholic church.
Paradiso is inspired by true stories told to Francesca Scanacapra by her Italian family and set in locations where she spent much of her childhood. It is a deeply affecting novel which sheds light on the complexity and trauma of Italy’s past and weaves it into the epic tale of an ordinary woman compelled to live in extraordinary times.
This stunning historical read is perfect for fans of Dinah Jeffries, Rhys Bowen, Victoria Hislop, Angela Petch and Heather Morris.
Author Bio – Francesca Scanacapra was born in Italy to an English mother and Italian father, and her childhood was spent living between England and Italy. Her adult life has been somewhat nomadic and she has pursued an eclectic mixture of career paths, including working as a technical translator between Italian, English, Spanish and French, a gym owner in Spain, an estate agent in France, a property developer in France and Senegal, and a teacher. Francesca lives in Dorset and currently works as a builder with her husband. She has two children.
Inspiration
Many people have asked me where the inspiration for Paradiso and its sequel, Return to Paradiso, came from. There isn’t a linear, logical answer. A blur of ideas was bouncing around in my head for a long time before I typed a single word.
Without a doubt, my Italian family was the starting point. I have vivid, early childhood memories of visiting my grandfather’s maiden aunts, who lived in rural Lombardy in the house on which Paradiso is based. Although my visits were during the 1970s, the way they lived had changed very little since well before World War II. The house was rustic, to say the least. Water was obtained via a manual pump in the back-kitchen; laundry was still done by hand in enormous vats; pasta was made from scratch. There was an inside bathroom which had been installed in the 1950s, but that seemed to be the only modern luxury; apart from a refrigerator, which was in the entrance hall as there was no electric socket in the kitchen.
I began to weave stories based around the old house, some of them imagined, but others constructed around real events. In the first Paradiso novel the story of the ambushed freight train is based on truth. A train carrying tobacco derailed outside my grandfather’s village and men and boys from the surrounding area raced to salvage what they could. The police were called to deal with the looters and my unfortunate grandfather, who was no older than thirteen at the time, was caught leaving the scene with a large sack of tobacco. His father was furious; not because my grandfather had been arrested, but because the police confiscated the tobacco, and he had been looking forward to smoking for free for the next few years.
My great-grandfather has been the source of much inspiration. He was the type of man who people described as ‘a bit of a character’. He was once shot in the backside by an angry, cuckolded husband who caught him leaving his wife’s bedroom via a first floor window. Although his injuries were not serious, the lead shot had to be dug out with a kitchen knife by his sister, and apparently one of his buttocks looked like orange peel until the day he died. How could such an exquisite gift of an anecdote not end up in a book?
Memories of this bygone time, of which I caught the briefest of glimpses before it was lost to modern technologies, mass mechanisation and the passing of my great-grandfather and my grandfather’s maiden aunts, gave me a stage on which to form a cast of characters.
None of the characters in the Paradiso novels are based entirely on a single person. They are composites of imagination and people I encountered, or who were spoken about; created by piecing together little fragments until a recognisable form emerged. The narrator and protagonist, Graziella Ponti, was taking shape in my head long before I began writing about her. The same was true for the character of Gianfrancesco Marchesini and for Graziella’s parents, Teresa and Luigi.
From these main characters, many, many others were born. They clamoured for my attention, demanding to be given a part in the book. I had the population of a whole Lombard village in my head and that made it a noisy, disordered place sometimes. Even fictional Italians can’t form an orderly queue.
I would love to say that once I had a plot and characters in place, I made a plan and stuck to it, but that wasn’t at all the case. I didn’t start writing at the beginning of the story and work my way through to the end. Paradiso and Return to Paradiso grew in an organic way as I tackled whatever I felt inspired to write in the moment, hoping that eventually everything would join up. It probably wasn’t the most efficient way to write, but putting my faith in a bit of serendipity worked out in the end – just like real life.
As the process of writing unfolded, new ideas formed and I found myself dealing with many questions concerning the lives of my characters and the people who inspired them. It wasn’t just a case of recounting farcical anecdotes of stolen tobacco and naked escapes through bedroom windows. My family had lived through dictatorship and the turmoil of two world wars. They had experienced terror, personal tragedies and hunger; as well as moments of laughter, of great joy and of love. All those real experiences became juxtaposed onto the fictional experiences of my characters.
Writing these books has taken me on an emotional journey. It has made me appreciate ordinary and extraordinary things done by ordinary people.
I now have two families – my Italian family and my Paradiso family. I love them both very much.
Title: Aftermath
Author: Terri Blackstock
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: May 11, 2021
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense/Thriller
This gripping new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Terri Blackstock will leave you on the edge of your seat.A devastating explosion.Three best friends are at the venue just to hear their favorite band . . . but only one of them makes it out alive.A trunk full of planted evidence.When police stop Dustin with a warrant to search his trunk, he knows it’s just a mistake. He’s former military and owns a security firm. But he’s horrified when they find explosives, and he can’t fathom how they got there.An attorney who will risk it all for a friend.Criminal attorney Jamie Powell was Dustin’s best friend growing up. They haven’t spoken since he left for basic training, but she’s the first one he thinks of when he’s arrested. Jamie knows she’s putting her career on the line by defending an accused terrorist, but she’d never abandon him. Someone is framing Dustin to take the fall for shocking acts of violence . . . but why?
Terri Blackstock has sold over seven million books worldwide and is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist. She’s the author of If I Run, If I’m Found, and If I Live, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, Moonlighters, and the Restoration series. Visit her website at www.terriblackstock.com.
(3) winners will receive a print copy of Aftermath by Terri Blackstock!
Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 11, 2021 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on May 18, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
Guest Post
What made you decide to write Christian Suspense novels?
I started out writing secular romance novels, and after thirty-two books, I came under intense conviction that I wasn’t really using my gift the way God intended. I had been a Christian for many years, but I had a new spiritual awakening and decided that I couldn’t write another word that didn’t glorify God. That meant buying back some contracts I had with my publishers, and God provided that money because they owed me more than I owed them. I could see that His blessing was on this.
At that time, I enjoyed reading suspense novels more than romance. I went on a cruise during that time, and it seemed that every single person on the cruise had a John Grisham novel. I thought, what if I wrote John Grisham-type books with a faith message? If I was starting over, I might as well write what I loved. At that time, there weren’t many suspense novels in the Christian market, so I got to work on some proposals, and I pretty quickly sold them to Zondervan in a four-book deal. I chose to use my real married name, rather than the names I’d been writing under, because I didn’t want any confusion about which books I wrote when.
I love writing suspense novels because there’s always kind of a ticking bomb and time running out, and my characters, whether they’re Christian or not, are in the middle of life or death situations that make them deal with spiritual things. I don’t have to cram a faith message into the story. It’s organic and is just a natural element when characters are close to dying or suffering in some way. And whenever God puts me through something in my own life, I generally wind up writing about it, because I know that lots of others are going through similar things.
Thank you for the interview!
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This post is in .partnership with Kyle Little and The Children’s Book Review.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Pink
Written by Kyle Little
Illustrated by Andrés Cornejo
Ages 4-12 | 22 Pages
Publisher: Mascot Books | ISBN-13: 978-1645435181
Publisher’s Synopsis:Pink is the story of Arossa, a baby flamingo, and how she saved the birds and their beloved pink feathers. She’ll teach everyone how being different can be a wonderful thing!
Every year, flamingos flock by the millions to the heart of Africa to feed on the algae in the fiery-red Lake Natron. The lake becomes the perfect place for the beautiful birds to hatch and raise their newborn babies, absorbing the crimson color from the water and turning their wings from grey to pink. When the river stops flowing to the lake, what will happen to the flamingos? Who will save their beautiful coats of pink? Will the flamingos ever dance again?
The third title in the Almondine trilogy is once again full of illustrations and funny moments. And this time, the story gets more shocking, with Alma having to face a challenge far beyond her means. But her stubborn and unconditional love for Almondine and her babies make her the star of this new adventure.
The Almondine Book Series follows the life and adventures of a teeny-weeny girl born from an almond tree. Illustrated on nearly every page, the story’s overarching themes of friendship, family relationships and adventure aim to engage mostly with primary school readers. www.almondine.club
About the Almondine Series:
Almondine is a three part book series following the life and adventures of a teeny-weeny girl born from an almond tree. She is discovered by 8-year-old Alma, who takes care of her as a baby and young girl, and with whom she shares many unexpected experiences. Almondine is a very special little girl indeed, with a crazy story to tell and an explosive surprise in store for her dear foster mother and friend Alma.
Illustrated on nearly every page, the story’s overarching themes of friendship, family relationships and adventure aim to engage mostly with primary school readers.
Gabriele Zucchelli is an animation director, whose work includes cartoon characters, realistic animals and fantastical creatures. He has contributed to several hand-drawn productions and blockbuster CGI movies including Harry Potter, Disney’s latest Lion King and the Oscar-winning Jungle Book. The Almondine trilogy is his first series of children’s novels.
Book Details: Book Title: Gus’ Fortunate Misfortune by Susan Pepka Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 62 pages Genre: Children’s Book Publisher: Full Cycle Publications Release date: December 2018 Content Rating: G.
Book Description:
How do you turn a Very Bad Day into a Hopeful New Beginning? Gus, an ordinary mouse, must find a way to do just that. Following a series of unfortunate events, Gus finds himself trapped, separated from his family, and transported far from home. Alone and frightened, the young mouse must confront his deepest fears. Using his wits Gus solves problems and makes discoveries. Adapting to his new surroundings, Gus receives help from an unexpected friend. Each trial brings a new
lesson… but will Gus ultimately succeed? Will Gus find what he’s truly looking for? – Ages 3-7
A native of Detroit and currently living in Atlanta, Susan Pepka has enjoyed great diversity throughout her life. Mother of three and grandmother of four, Susan has experienced life as a preschool teacher, technologist in diagnostic imaging, co-owner of a successful wellness center, meditation teacher, and now a published author with the debut of
her first children’s book, Gus’ Fortunate Misfortune.
One of Susan’s greatest pleasures is reading wonderful stories that stir the imagination and nourish the spirit. Her passion is helping others find ways to healthier, happier, and more meaningful lives. Her wish is that all beings live together in harmony.
When I was a child, we were not allowed to watch television during a school night, only on weekends. My parents were avid readers, and we took frequent trips to the library. I’m 69 years old, so my favorite books will differ from yours, except perhaps for Dr. Seuss, whom I loved, and Goodnight Moon, by Margaret Wise Brown. There are other classics that have survived, like Aesop’s Fables, and fairy tales, which I adored.
I began drawing princesses, in long gowns, and the first book I attempted was my version of Cinderella, which was rejected over and over by publishers. But Miriam Chaikin at Holt Rhinehart & Winston let me show her my portfolio, and although she didn’t hire me to illustrate, she purchased a drawing. It gave me hope that I could be an artist. I was twenty-one.
I lived in London for seven years, and worked as a receptionist at Sotheby’s, the famous auctioneers. Original paintings by Arthur Rackham and Edmond Dulac, and Beatrix Potter came over the counter, to be valued by experts. Potter’s Tales of Peter Rabbit inspired me, and I began painting animals and flowers, which were eventually published as greeting cards. (Beatrix Potter became a sheep farmer, and got tired of painting.)
I loved the Velveteen Rabbit and Winnie the Pooh, but Madeline was my absolute favorite, and is one of my granddaughter’s picks. There is something about a brave little girl who lives in an orphanage to pique your fancy! I was a huge Beezus and Ramona fan, by Beverly Cleary, and Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are made it okay to get mad at your parents. Curious George satisfied my curiosity, and perhaps curiosity is our most important trait. Look. Discover. Create. My imagination continues on its journey, from reader and eventually, to writer and illustrator.
The very first book my granddaughter Milly fell in love with was Z is for Zebra: a Mosaic Menagerie. She was under two, but recognized the letters and the animals, and loved to shout out their names. She is almost three now, and makes up stories, and has imaginary friends. Recently, she found out her mother was having a baby. Guess what book she made us read to her, five times in a row? A book called Babies, published in 1976. I guess it’s still timely.
Book Details: Book Title: Z is for Zebra: A Mosaic Menagerie by Judith Caseley Category: Children’s Fiction (Ages 3-7), 53 pages Genre: ABC Book Publisher: Full Cycle Publications Release date: May 2019 Content Rating: G.
Book Description:
NEW from beloved illustrator/author, Judith Caseley, Z is for Zebra is a delightful reading romp for the very young child.
With vibrant art and quirky rhymes, this sure-to-be-a favorite book uses a child’s innate love of animals to move the reader through the letters of the alphabet. Displaying gorgeous mosaics, rich with colors and details, the book presents the alphabet in an easily accessible and entertaining presentation. Perfect for teaching the child in your life about language and the animals we share the planet with. A delight for the mind and a visual feast for young book lovers and their parents, each page features an alphabet letter and a highly colorful animal mosaic along with quirky, funny memorable phrases.
Using glass tile, pebbles, and found materials instead of her usual paints and brushes, Caseley’s words and pictures celebrate the imagination of every child, weaving her magic for the youngest would-be zoologist. It appeals to a young child’s shorter attention span and innate love for animals and color. From jeweled starfish to bright butterflies, comic giraffes to venomous vipers this book is sure to be one your child will cherish.
Judith Caseley has written and illustrated over forty books for children, including “Dear Annie” and “On the Town: A Community Adventure”. She fell in love with the mosaics that decorated a restaurant in Sea Cliff, New York, and in the unique style of her picture books, began making her own.
One of my favorite quotes is from Geshe Kelsang Gyatso Rinpoche. He says that “Happiness is a state of mind, and its sources are not found outside the mind”. This quote reminds us to seek happiness within our own selves rather than looking for it in external sources. This way when we are happy and have mental peace it remains with us; we never have to go searching for it.
I also love this quote from Marianne Williamson from her book A Return to Love: “Our greatest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our greatest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.”
This reminds us of how important it is to let our own light shine. It can be scary, and we often are not familiar with standing out. But if we let our lights shine think how much benefit we can bring to others!
Another quote that I’m particularly fond of had no author to credit but here it is:
“She is as a bird perched on a frail branch bending beneath her who fearlessly sings knowing she has wings.”
I will gladly give credit if the author comes forward, but these words touch me deeply. I find it hard to express in words the feeling this evokes, but the imagery is so strong perhaps it doesn’t need words. It speaks of confidence, fearlessness, joy and beauty. Whoever wrote it, thank you!
Tour Schedule:
May 3 – Cover Lover Book Review – books spotlight / giveaway
May 4 – Gina Rae Mitchell – books spotlight / giveaway
May 4 – fundinmental – books spotlight / giveaway
May 5 – Stephanie Jane – books spotlight / giveaway
May 6 – Lisa Everyday Reads – books spotlight / author interview with Susan Pepka / giveaway
May 7 – 100 Pages A Day – books spotlight / giveaway
May 10 – Writer with Wanderlust – books spotlight / guest post by Judith Caseley / guest post by Susan Pepka / giveaway
May 11 – Reading is My Passion – books spotlight
May 11 – Lisa’s Reading – books spotlight / guest post by Judith Caseley / guest post by Susan Pepka / giveaway
May 12 – The Bespectacled Mother – books spotlight / guest post by Susan Pepka
May 13 – A Mama’s Corner of the World – books spotlight / giveaway
May 14 – Laura’s Interests – books spotlight / guest post by Susan Pepka / giveaway
May 17 – Splashes of Joy – books spotlight / author interview with Judith Caseley / guest post by Susan Pepka / giveaway
May 18 – Jazzy Book Reviews – books spotlight / guest post by Judith Caseley / author interview with Susan Pepka / giveaway
May 19 – Rockin’ Book Reviews – books spotlight / guest post by Judith Caseley / guest post by Susan Pepka / giveaway
May 20 – Pick a Good Book – books spotlight / author interview with Judith Caseley / author interview with Susan Pepka / giveaway
May 21 – Locks, Hooks and Books – books spotlight / giveaway
Welcome to the Blog Tour for 
Title: Aftermath
Author: Terri Blackstock
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Release Date: May 11, 2021
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense/Thriller
