GloFish Tank Setup - DIY Beginner's Guide

THE ARTIST’S HEALER, GRACE-BY-THE-SEA, Book 3 by Regina Scot

Dorset, England, July 1804

Regina Scott has done it again! She has provided entertaining fun characters with diverse and fully flavored personalities. In England, the town of Dorset Grace-by-the-Sea is small and dependent upon their local spa. It’s now equipped with a doctor, to attract vacationers to boost local business sales. This is a tight community where the residents watch out for one another—definitely not a place to keep secrets. Unless you are French spies who may have infiltrated the area. That’s the mystery, though. In the last book, local artist Abigail Archer was shot in the arm and now has need of the spa doctor. Their foibles and strengths are like oil and water. Could their needs be a possible connection? I can say no more—except if you want to see the plot unravel and entertain, I encourage you to order an eBook or novel of your own.

This is definitely a book about family, friends, romance, and intrigue pulled together with mystery. How do you suppose Doctor Linus Bennett will get along in Grace-by-the-Sea with his young son, Ethan? Napoleon’s spies add tension as well as talk that there are press gangs close at hand. Danger, misunderstandings, and romance will pull you into this tale that is adorned with forgiveness, overcoming spirit, and hope!

I did receive a free copy of this story so that I could write an honest review.  And now, you may discover if this is a valuable tale worthy of your time, which I believe it is. The above comments are my true observations of Regina’s latest novel. The last Grace-by-the-Sea story that I reviewed was on January 18, 2020, and you may look there to see Regina’s answers to her interview and the photo of the area she used to write THE ARTIST’S HEALER in the beautiful town of Grace-by-the-Sea, England!

QUESTIONS FOR REGINA:

Have you read any historical accounts from anyone dealing with those French spies?

Not the spies specifically, but I have read historical accounts of the fear of invasion that swept England during those years. Villagers all along the coast were watchful, expecting to see the French at any moment. So adding some spies into the mix seemed appropriate for the story.

Do you know any artists whom you based Abigail’s character on? (Your descriptions of her thoughts and observations are well written. Insightful!)

When I was researching another of my books, Art and Artifice, I read about Angelica Kauffman and Mary Moser, female painters who helped found England’s famed Royal Academy of Art. So, I knew a bit about what it took to create oil paintings at that time. I also had a dear friend who has since passed, who was a talented artist. I relied on her stories to get the feel of painting.

Are you a big city girl or a country girl? You have this town so realistic!

Small town girl all the way! London was the only large city I have visited where I felt at home. Right now, I live south of Seattle, on the way to Mt. Rainier, and I love seeing her in the distance on the days she is out. I always breathe easier when I am surrounded by fields and trees.

What extra info would you like to say about Ethan?

It was surprisingly difficult to write about an introspective, creative childlike Ethan. Most of the children I know have been remarkably resilient in times of trouble. But Ethan has been through a great deal, so making him a bubbly sort seemed wrong. My youngest son is rather introspective, and creative, though he has had few traumas in his life, for which I am thankful! I used him as Ethan’s model.

What is your next novel called, and can you give us an introduction to the storyline?

My next novel, out in October, is Nothing Short of Wondrous, the second book in my American Wonders collection from Revell. Widowed hotelier Kate Tremaine welcomes the U.S. Cavalry to protect Yellowstone. When her son is kidnapped, she must work with world-weary Lieutenant William Prescott to rescue the boy. Will they find that two wounded hearts can share one powerful love when God is in control?

The next Grace-by-the-Sea story, scheduled for January 2021, will be The Governess’s Earl. Rejected by the man she loved, quick-witted bluestocking Rosemary Denby is determined to win the position of governess to the temperamental Lady Miranda, daughter of the Earl of Howland. But is it the widowed earl who truly needs a lesson, in love?

Where do you wish your readers or potentially new readers to connect with you?

On Regina's website, I enjoyed the historical elements that she posted on her blog page. http://www.reginascott.com/

Regina Scott's bio:
Regina Scott is the author of more than 4550 historical romances set in Regency, England; pioneer Seattle; and the Old West. A stickler for getting it right, she’s sailed on a tall ship, driven four-in-hand, and learned to fence, all in the name of research. She and her husband of more than 30 years live in the South Puget Sound area, on the way to Mt. Rainier.

INTENTIONAL HEIRS, Sunrise Crik, Book One by Rebecca McLafferty

Book One of the Sunrise Crik series is a contemporary suspense novel that includes many of my favorite qualities for story! Like the strong beginning, the first scene puts the main character in the middle of a crisis—and I admired Evah Rois on the first page. I love a novel that pulls me quickly into the character’s lives and concerns and adds a healthy dose of problems and complications that the characters must deal with. This novel isn’t the Die Hard or 007 types of suspense but profoundly grabbed my heart and attention because I could relate to situations and believe that their victories could be mine.

And the location—Montana—is majestic with those gorgeous mountains in the background and a small town nestled alongside. I could almost imagine myself there and feeling small as I gazed up the mountain’s heights. The diverse characters are interestingly challenged or troubled by past hurts. The threaded mystery drew me in, and I just had to know—but I’m not going to tell—why ruin your fun!
​
I know that previously, Rebecca McLafferty and her husband had their own Alpaca ranch, and they worked hard to keep those adorable creatures safe, happy, and well. Any scenes, which included the Alpacas were written from Rebecca’s heart and experience! So, if you love large animals and small ones, I believe that you will enjoy Intentional Heirs. There are so many facets of human emotion, pain, and overcoming woven into the fiber of this story, and that makes this a reread for me. This is a wonderful anytime read. Rebecca McLafferty gave me this story to review, and I’m giving my honest opinion and reaction to her story. Once her novel published, I bought my own paperback and Kindle copies! I highly recommend Intentional Heirs and hope that you will discover the worth of this new writer and her debut novel for yourself! 

QUESTIONS FOR REBECCA:
 
HOW DID YOU CHOOSE A SMALL COUNTRY TOWN IN THE BEAUTIFUL MONTANA AREA FOR YOUR SUSPENSE NOVEL?
 
This is a great question. I have always loved the western U.S and, at a young age, I became a Midwest cowgirl. How many people in Wisconsin own Stetsons and full-length duster coats? (chuckle) Years later, my husband and I visited the Livingston area of Montana. The picturesque mountains were forever etched in my memory. My story takes place in the fictitious town of Woodridge, located between Livingston and Bozeman.
 
I chose a small Montana town because of the western lifestyle and the honest, down-to-earth people from that area. The story also takes the reader to the Bozeman and Livingston areas. Rich Montana history inspired some of the story’s scenes.
 
 
DO YOU WISH TO SHARE ANYTHING ABOUT FORGIVENESS THAT YOU DIDN’T GET TO INCLUDE IN INTENTIONAL HEIRS?
 
Some character traits in Intentional Heirs illustrate that forgiveness is critical to our peace of mind. I feel that when someone is unwilling to forgive, for whatever reason, anger and bitterness steal that person’s joy. It seldom affects the person who did us wrong. It hurts our own mental state, and our actions often hurt the people we care about the most.

One of my favorite scriptures is, “Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” Colossians 3:13 (NIV)

That is so powerful!
 
 
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SCENE TO WRITE? (GETTING TO KNOW A CHARACTER OR SUSPENSEFUL CONFRONTATIONS?)
 
Both types of scenes are satisfying from the writer’s point of view, but I would have to say that I enjoy writing action scenes the best. For example, when Police Chief Nolan Quinn is in the middle of a brawl, I love his karate kicks and take-charge attitude.

And when Jane is heading up a rescue, I’m thinking, “Go get them, Jane!”
 
 
I SEE THAT YOU HAVE RECIPES IN YOUR NOVEL. DO YOU HAVE A STORY TO TELL ABOUT ANY OF THE RECIPES? DID YOU CREATE ANY OF THESE?
 
Within the pages of Intentional Heirs, the heroine, Evah, is a bakery chef. When she bakes at the McCormick ranch, these are three of her recipes. I love to bake, too, and created these recipes years ago. In my own yesteryear, I taught enrichment classes, including Baking Breads, where we experimented with breads and cinnamon rolls.

These days, I have a gluten intolerance and have made the recipes adaptable that way.
 
 
WHAT CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEXT BOOK IN THE SUNRISE CRIK SERIES?
 
I am really excited about book two of the Sunrise Crik Series, Intentional Fires. It takes place in the same Montana area. Toni Lublow is an Iraq-Marine widow running a Christmas tree farm with 10- and 12- year old boys. Park Ranger Sam Duncan is putting out fires ranging from campgrounds to national forests. Some of the characters from Intentional Heirs are involved in the story, too.

Disagreements with neighboring campground owners, Trevor and Dani Riley, are hard to set aside—especially during the Christmas Tree Farm’s Centennial Celebrations. There’s plenty of fire fueling their multi-generational 90-year-feud.
 
 
WHERE DO YOU WANT YOUR READERS TO FIND YOU ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
 
I am most active on Facebook (Author Rebecca McLafferty). I invite readers to my website at www.rebeccamclafferty.com and welcome emails at rebeccamclafferty4353@gmail.com.

Thanks for allowing me to answer these questions. It was great fun!

SMID3352 Judges 8:4-21 Pursuing the Enemy! - 07-05-20

The Napping House, by Audrey Wood Read Aloud