Review – Baby Girl by Bette Lee Crosby @BetteLeeCrosby

Posted on September 20, 2016 by fundinmental

Bette Lee Crosby is an award winning author whose stories are filled with southern charm and Baby Girl is the fourth book in the Memory House series.

Exciting news! Baby Girl is being read by Wind Dancer Films for a film or TV option.
Who would you like to see cast as the lead characters?
CLICK HERE
and leave a comment with your answers.
I’ll pick one random winner to receive a paperback copy of
Baby Girl and Cracks in the Sidewalk.
***US shipping only. Ebook sent to international winner***

Looking at the sweet cover, you would think this is going to be a happy story, but I must tell you, Bette Lee Crosby writes tear jerkers and you WILL want a box of tissues handy.

Amazon / Goodreads

MY REVIEW

I have been reading Bette Lee Crosby’s books for years, so I was very happy to read about some new characters and some familiar characters in her new novel, Baby Girl. Her characters come to life and I feel their pain and their joy. Her writing wrings emotions from me and require tissues, so be prepared.

Baby Girl deals with a young woman’s decision to place her baby up for adoption. She wants the best for her child and there is a couple who wants to give her child the best they have to offer.

Cheryl Ann struggles and I loved watching her grow from a naive girl to a grown woman. Her trials and tribulations ring true and when she met Nick even I swooned and I don’t believe I’ve ever used that word before. Then, I laughed at what came next.

Yeah, I saw that coming, nope didn’t see that. Scumbag…when IT happens I am the kind of person that thinks, “Is he going to pay for that?” Baby Girl shines a dark light on men and their character…or lack thereof.

Cheryl Ann’s journey will take her to Memory House and I know good things happen there.

So many thoughts went through my mind as I read Baby Girl. Things like, people have baggage and sometimes act out instead of sharing and letting it go…A good lesson is don’t be too quick to judge…Funny how our perspective changes from the dreams of youth to grown up reality.

I myself have learned that you never know what a smile or a simple gesture of kindness can do.

The story and characters seem so real and I felt many emotions as I read along. That is not surprising with Bette Lee Crosby’s writing. She has a way with words that make me get so involved with the characters that I want only the best for them…or should I say most of them.

I received a copy of Baby Girl from Bette Lee Crosby in return for an honest review.

4 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB: When young Cheryl Ann leaves home, she thinks her path is straight…until she’s forced to make a choice she could never have imagined. The man in her life makes it clear: either pick your baby or pick me, he says. Suddenly, Cheryl finds herself at a crossroads. She makes a decision that will change her life forever, and that decision causes a chain of events that will lead Cheryl to a completely unexpected place.

Baby Girl is a mother’s story. It’s about the greatest sacrifice a mother can make when she wants only the best for her child. It’s about falling in and out of love, of losing and finding one’s self. It’s about the perilous journey from passionate young love to happy true love and understanding the differences between the two.

Baby Girl is a book that readers won’t want to miss because it’s a story they won’t forget.

From the Author:

This book is based on a true story…a story that is heartbreaking at times but will leave readers with a better understanding of what a woman will do to protect her child. When I first heard this birth mother’s story I was touched by it, so much so that I needed to know more. When I knew more, I knew I needed to write my novel. The result is Baby Girl.

ABOUT BETTE LEE CROSBY

USA Today Bestselling and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby’s books are “Well-crafted storytelling populated by memorable characters caught up in equally memorable circumstances.” – Midwest Book Review

The Seattle Post Intelligencer says Crosby’s writing is, “A quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life and madcap adventures.”

Samantha from Reader’s Favorite raves, “Crosby writes the type of book you can’t stop thinking about long after you put it down.”

“Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.”

It is the wit and wisdom of that Southern Mama Crosby brings to her works of fiction; the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away. Her work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. She has since gone on to win twenty awards for her work; these include: The Royal Palm Literary Award, the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal, Reader’s Favorite Award Gold Medal, and the Reviewer’s Choice Award.

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You can see my Reviews HERE.
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MY REVIEWS OF BETTE LEE CROSBY’S NOVELS

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Bette Lee Crosby’s What The Heart Remembers Review

Posted on March 4, 2016 by fundinmental

Bette Lee Crosby’s What The Heart Remembers is Book III in the Memory House Collection. I have been a fan of Bette Lee’s work since I first began reviewing and blogging in 2012 and remain so, eagerly anticipating each new story.

I love the softness of the cover and will happily travel to Paris with Max. I am excited to learn her story.

Cover: Damonza.com

Add me to Goodreads now

MY REVIEW

I was very excited to hear Bette Lee has another book for the Memory House Collection, What The Heart Remembers. The Memory House Collection is like a warm pair of arms on a cold winter’s night and I look forward to snuggling under my comfy blanket and beginning to read. I am very eager to learn Max’s story.

I feel these books can stand alone, and familiar characters occasionally return, popping in and out of the stories. Many have gifts, so it is no surprise they find each other and become close friends.

Ophelia had expected the memories to stay with the house she had given to Annie, but you know what happens with expectations and assumptions. They don’t always turn out the way you plan. Max Martinelli would find out…and so would I.

Max’s story starts when she returns to the States from Paris, but Julienne never showed up as expected. Here we are with expectations again. Do we all do that? Do you? Do you put your life on hold…waiting? Max did. There is only one thing to do…a trip to Paris is in order.

But…you can never go back. Have you ever been to your school reunion or went to visit the house you lived in thirty years ago? Everything changes and life would be pretty boring if it didn’t, don’t you think?

This is one of those times that my expectations might have bushwhacked me. Maybe they were too high, but Max’s story fell a bit flat for me.

Max…what can I say about Max. I first met her in The Loft and she came across as a strong and confident woman, taking nothing from noone, independent and self sufficient. As I read on, to me, she came across as wussy and in denial, unwilling to see the truth. I know her trip to Paris will not turn out like she plans, but Bette always manages to put in a twist or two that keeps me on my toes, a way of spinning the tale to make me feel there is hope and a happy ever after for all of us.

Her books I’ve read have mostly been 5s with a 4 or two thrown in, but I was disappointed with this one. Maybe my expectations were too high. After all, expectations leave us open to disappointment. This is still a worthy book and one you will want to add to your Memory House Collection.

I never fear, there is always the next book…Baby Girl.

I received a copy of What The Heat Remembers by Bette Lee Crosby in return for an honest review.

3 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

CAN YOU TRULY TRUST THE MEMORIES OF YOUR HEART?

Max Martinelli spent her junior year of college in Paris, and fell in love. Julien was a wickedly handsome young man who was crazy in love with her, or so she thought. He was a free-spirited artist and she an aspiring architect—impressionable, young, and standing on the brink of womanhood.

That was over three years ago but the memory of him still haunts her. Max’s life is stuck on hold because she can’t stop wondering what would have happened if she had gone back. Was Julien simply part of the magic of Paris? Or was he meant to be her destiny?

After a New Year’s Eve party that ends in disaster and bad dreams, Max decides to find out once and for all. She is going to return to Paris and search for Julien. But will her search bring forever after happiness or a truth so ugly it will change her life forever?

ABOUT BETTE LEE CROSBY

The Seattle Post Intelligencer says Crosby’s writing is, “A quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life and madcap adventures.”

Samantha from Reader’s Favorite raves, “Crosby writes the type of book you can’t stop thinking about long after you put it down.”

Crosby’s published works to date are: Blueberry Hill (2014), Previously Loved Treasures (2014), Jubilee’s Journey (2013), What Matters Most (2013), The Twelfth Child (2012), Life in the Land of IS (2012), Cracks in the Sidewalk (2011), Spare Change (2011). A Cupid inspired romance, Wishing for Wonderful, is scheduled for release in November 2014 and Book Three of The Wyattsville Series, Passing through Perfect, will be be available in January 2015.

MY REVEWS OF BETTE LEE CROSBY’S NOVELS

Esther’s Gift

The Loft

Passing Through Perfect

Memory House

Jubilee’s Journey

Blueberry Hill

What Matters Most

Spare Change

Cupid’s Christmas

Cracks In The Sidewalk

The Twelfth Child

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There’s a storm coming – Esther’s Gift by Bette Lee Crosby

Posted on January 20, 2016 by fundinmental

Bette Lee Crosby writes heartwarming stories that will leave you laughing and crying.

The cover portrays the calm before the storm. Isn’t is gorgeous?

MY REVIEW

Esther’s Gift by Bette Lee Crosby is a heartwarming and uplifting novella that shows our ability to rise above our hardships and come out shining. The only thing that is different from her Southern fiction is the Hawaiian locale.

Esther has a gift…visions of what is to come.

She tries to warn the people of the coming hurricane, but most don’t take heed.

Ka’awai and its people are devastated by Iniki.

Life goes on, but not always they way we had planned. Humans have an amazing ability to adjust and adapt to any situation. I believe relationships enrich our lives and we work better as a “team.”

Bravery is having the courage to face your fear.

Bernie and Esther are from very different cultures, but their love grows and makes them wonder why they hesitate to acknowledge it. Should they deny their chance at happiness just because of their differences?

Bette Lee Crosby’s writing is filled with sadness, yet it leaves me with a good feeling, a feeling of hope and happiness.

Esther’s Gift is a wonderful novella that shows humans ability to weather any storm. The story and characters read as if they are real, making Bette Lee Crosby’s writing outstanding, engrossing and riveting, leaving me wanting more.

“Your breakfast rice is better than Mommy’s breakfast rice.”

“Your Mommy makes breakfast rice?”

“Rice Krispies.”

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…we come from the earth and in time we turn to the earth. But if in the tie we are here we can touch other hearts, those memories will live long after we are gone.

I received a copy of Esther’s Gift by Bette Lee Crosby in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

GOODREADS BLURB

In the days before hurricane Iniki hit the island of Kauai the forecasters predicted it would stay south of Hilo. But Esther Ka’awai, a psychic and gifted wise woman of the ancient culture has seen the future. She knows of the devastation that will come to the island. She has warned those she loves; now all she can do is pray.

As she struggles to accept this gift of knowing, Esther discovers that even the most wonderful gift can sometimes break your heart.

A story of love, faith and a belief in the future.

ABOUT BETTE LEE CROSBY

The Seattle Post Intelligencer says Crosby’s writing is, “A quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life and madcap adventures.”

Samantha from Reader’s Favorite raves, “Crosby writes the type of book you can’t stop thinking about long after you put it down.”

MY REVEWS OF BETTE LEE CROSBY’S NOVELS

The Loft

Passing Through Perfect

Memory House

Jubilee’s Journey

Blueberry Hill

What Matters Most

Spare Change

Cupid’s Christmas

Cracks In The Sidewalk

The Twelfth Child

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

I laughed and I cried when I read The Loft by Bette Lee Crosby

Posted on September 29, 2015 by fundinmental

The Loft by Bette Lee Crosby is another heartrending, yet uplifting novel filled with southern charm. It reads as if it is a true story. I laughed and I cried, as I followed Annie’s story.

Add me to Goodreads now.

Cover: damonza.com

MY REVIEW

The Loft by Bette Lee Crosby is Book II in The Memory House Series. I have read all of Bette’s books and her writing blows me away. Her novels read as if all is possible, if we just open our hearts. The characters are real and will tug at your heartstrings, demanding to be heard.

Ethan Allen has come a long way since I first met him as a child. Now, he has a family of his own and it is growing. Annie and Oliver, Ethan’s son, are getting married.

Ophelia had taught Annie about the memories attached to some objects and her ability to be able to connect with them…which brought her to Ethan and Oliver. Do you believe in miracles? In magic? Do you believe if we just open ourselves up to the endless possibilities, that we can all tap into something bigger than us?

The Keeper of the Scale maintains the balance of sorrow and happiness. I LOVE it. Most of the time he uses small, round river rocks to balance the scale, but sometimes there is such a huge discrepancy, he has to toss a boulder on there.

If you look hard enough in the stars at night, maybe you will see it.

“LibraCC” by Till Credner

Geez, Bette, I am only 6% into the story and have pulled out the tissues. I blink to see the words through my tears, my throat tightens and I find myself holding my breath.

Bette Lee Crosby’s characters are so real, they can be YOUR husband, YOUR friend…She takes me from a happy place to deep sorrow and back again. The rollercoaster ride drains me, as if I am going through it too.

When you think you know what’s going to happen, Bette Lee Crosby introduces a new character, a new wrinkle. There is so much happiness, I am waiting for the inevitable. Do the scales have to balance? Good with the bad? Happy with sad?

How many times have you sat, worried, when someone is late? How often have you yelled saying, “Why didn’t you call? For all I know you were lying hurt or dead in a ditch on the side of the road?” I sit…waiting…waiting for something to happen, knowing it is coming.

Bette is not afraid to put here characters to the test. The question is…how bad will it be?

Have your ever commented on how small the world is? How things seem to connect in the oddest way?

The Loft by Bette Lee Crosby is filled with intense emotion and a story that put me through all of them. I soared with the eagles, riding high and feeling free. I sank like a rock thrown into the water, going down further and further, unable to reach the surface. On that note, I can only say, “What comes next, Bette?”

I received The Loft by Bette Lee Crosby in return for an honest and unbiased review.

5 Stars

ABOUT BETTE LEE CROSBY

The Seattle Post Intelligencer says Crosby’s writing is, “A quirky mix of Southern flair, serious thoughts about important things in life and madcap adventures.”

Samantha from Reader’s Favorite raves, “Crosby writes the type of book you can’t stop thinking about long after you put it down.”

MY REVEWS OF BETTE LEE CROSBY’S NOVELS

Passing Through Perfect

Memory House

Jubilee’s Journey

Blueberry Hill

What Matters Most

Spare Change

Cupid’s Christmas

Cracks In The Sidewalk

The Twelfth Child

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.

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Was this review helpful? If so, please consider liking it on GoodReads

Teaser Tuesday #41~ Memory House by @BetteLeeCrosby

Posted on June 2, 2015 by fundinmental

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of adailyrhythm.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read. Open to a random page. Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page. BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

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I have been absent for a while, but…I’m back!

Summer is my favorite time of year and I find it hard to keep myself at home. There is so much so see and do. Photo ops abound and my desire to have an adventure increases, making me want to get in the car and drive.

Enjoy these photos from my latest little jaunt.

Juan Sebastian Elcono at night in Pensacola Florida by Sherry Fundin

Today, I would like to share Memory House by Bette Lee Crosby

She is an amazing author, filling her novels with Southern Charm.

They are not all happy and smiles, but they do leave me feeling as if I have gained a little something from reading her work. I hope you will give her a shot and find her as awesome as I do.

Even though this includes bits from her other novels, they stand alone, but I would highly recommend reading them all!

Add Me to Goodreads now.

MY TEASE

Ophelia never makes me feel like I’ve said something wrong. When I told her about how much I was missing Michael, instead of saying that’s flat out dumb pining after a man who walked out on you, she explained how a man can fill the hole in your life or be the whole of your life. That makes a lot of sense. I used to think Michael was the whole of my life, but now I’m beginning to wonder.

You can read my 5 Star review for Memory House here.

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(37 % on Kindle)

SYNOPSIS (from Amazon)

A magical tale that trips lightly through the hallowed ground of Spare Change and several other reader favorites…from a USA Bestseller and Multi-Award-Winning Author. Is it possible for a memory to outlive its owner? Ophelia Browne knows the answer is yes. She knows because she’s been granted the unique gift of finding and caring for forgotten memories. But now she’s nearing ninety, and Browne women seldom live beyond such an age. Before time runs out Ophelia must find her successor…someone who can carry forth the gift and keep the memories from fading. When broken-hearted Annie Cross shows up on the doorstep of The Memory House Bed and Breakfast, Ophelia knows she is the one. As the two women sip dandelion tea and share stories, Annie begins to uncover new memories. Ugly ones. Ones buried deep enough to hide the scars. Excitement turns to fear when a thread of violence begins to unravel and Ophelia knows they have gone too far.

You can check out other her other novels and my reviews by clicking on the links below:

Passing Through Perfect by Bette Lee Crosby & Giveaway

She Did It Her Way – Review for Blueberry Hill by Bette Lee Crosby

Interview & Review for Bette Lee Crosby’s Jubilee’s Journey

Review of The Twelfth Child by Bette Lee Crosby

Show a little southern hospitality to Louise in What Matters Most by Bette Lee Crosby

Review of Cracks In The Sidewalk by Bette Lee Crosby

Review of Wishing for Wonderful by Bette Lee Crosby

What do you do with your Spare Change?

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

Thanks for visiting fundinmental!

Southern Charm at its finest ~ Memory House by @BetteLeeCrosby

Posted on June 2, 2015 by fundinmental

Time and time again, Bette Lee Crosby captures me with her writing.

In her latest novel, Memory House, the southern charm oozes from the pages, the characters read as if they are my friends and family and the storyline captivates me.

The beautiful cover makes we want to walk up to the door, expecting Ophelia to be there, opening it before I have the opportunity to knock.

Check out the links at the end of the post for more novels by Bette Lee Crosby and my reviews of her books. Happy reading!

Add to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

…books and stories, that’s where the magic is

Bette Lee Crosby is a master storyteller and her latest novel, Memory House follows the path of all the rest of her novels I have read – excellence. Her captivating characters had me eating out of their hands.

Bette’s writing takes us back and forth, between the past and present of Ophelia’s life, since she entered Memory House in Richmond, Virginia. She is such a wonderful person, alone, yet so giving of herself to others. She runs a small apothecary shop that may supply someone with items for beauty, a common cure, or a love potion that a weary traveler may need. Ophelia has many memories, not all of them her own. It is time for the passing of the sword. Could Annie be the one she has been looking for?

Annie will find herself on Ophelia’s doorstep, after a failed relationship.

Michael, her boyfriend is a super jerk, taking advantage of her desire for a relationship and her easy nature. He trots through life as if he is her gift from God and his desires are her desires. Boy is he in for a surprise as she realizes she doesn’t have to have him in her life. Will she leave him? Will such an arrogant personality allow it? He was so sure he could leave and come back whenever he wanted and she would be there waiting for him.

I felt a sense of danger in the writing and the thought that maybe Michael, her ex, would come after her, but Bette Lee Crosby’s dangers are more subtle.

Funny how smells can bring forth powerful memories and here at the Memory House Bed & Breakfast, they were good memories, healing memories, for Annie. Will the magic of Memory House enter her life and soothe her soul, giving her a purpose?

Ophelia and Annie quickly develop a comfortable relationship, as if it is meant to be.

Bette Lee Crosby has a way of giving you comfort when bad things happen. Sometimes I need to be reminded of the simple pleasures in life and her writing does that for me.

As per Bette Lee Crosby’s books I have read in the past, the story ends with tears of happiness swelling in my eyes. Another wonderful heart warming story of love, life, pain and sorrow, and the path her characters must walk through in life.

I received Memory House in return for an honest review.

5 Stars

SYNOPSIS

Ophelia Browne knows the answer is yes. She knows because she’s been granted the unique gift of finding and caring for those forgotten memories. But now she’s nearing ninety, and Browne women seldom live beyond ninety.

Before time runs out Ophelia must find a successor. Someone who can take hold of the gifts and keep the memories from fading.

When broken-hearted Annie Cross shows up on the doorstep of The Memory House Bed and Breakfast, Ophelia knows she is the one. The two women forge a bond of friendship as they sip magical dandelion tea and share stories. When Annie starts to sense the memories Ophelia is delighted, but then a thread of violence begins to unravel and Ophelia fears things have gone too far.

ABOUT BETTE LEE CROSBY

Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby shares the storytelling charm of her Southern Mama in tales that are both heartrending and heartwarming. She is best known for her creation of characters that readers find unforgettable.

Passing through Perfect is Crosby’s tenth novel and the third book in the Wyattsville Series that began with the USA Today Bestseller Spare Change. Her work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. Since then, she has gone on to win another twenty literary awards, including the Royal Palm Literary Award, the Reviewer’s Choice Award, the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal and the 2014 Reader’s Favorite Gold Medal.

Website * Facebook * Twitter

You can check out other her other novels and my reviews by clicking on the links below:

Passing Through Perfect by Bette Lee Crosby & Giveaway

She Did It Her Way – Review for Blueberry Hill by Bette Lee Crosby

Interview & Review for Bette Lee Crosby’s Jubilee’s Journey

Review of The Twelfth Child by Bette Lee Crosby

Show a little southern hospitality to Louise in What Matters Most by Bette Lee Crosby

Review of Cracks In The Sidewalk by Bette Lee Crosby

Review of Wishing for Wonderful by Bette Lee Crosby

What do you do with your Spare Change?

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Was this review helpful? If so, please consider voting for it on Amazon or like it on GoodReads.

Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.

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5 Star Review: Passing Through Perfect by Bette Lee Crosby & Giveaway

Posted on January 29, 2015 by fundinmental

I am so happy to be able to share Bette Lee Crosby’s latest novel, Passing Through Perfect.

I love this beautiful cover.

I am a huge fan of Bette Lee’s and I am eager to continue my Wyattsville journey.

I hope you will join me.

Add Me to Goodreads now.

MY REVIEW

I would like to start with the cover. Bette Lee Crosby’s cover gives you a glimpse of the story inside. Her sweet, southern charm comes through the pages and wraps around me with loving arms. Passing Through Perfect brought forth so many emotions that I kept my tissues at my side. That is not unusual for a Bette Lee novel. With each novel in the Wyattsville series I say it is the best, but the best one is the next one.

The story includes chapters of the characters thoughts and feelings – Benjamin, Delia, Camella, Sidney and Martha’s. We get an up close and personal invitation to share their lives. The characters had me crying for them, yelling for them, wanting to protect and shelter them from all the harsh realities of life.

The story takes place in Grinders Corner, a small town in Alabama.

Benjamin Church came home from war, to see nothing had changed. Benjamin had thought of being a mechanic. He had learned to repair almost anything mechanical during his time in the service. This is a time in history where the shift was from working for yourself to working for someone else. But, he knew he would be a farmer like his father and his father before him. He is a sharecroppers son and the world did not look kindly on blacks in 1946.

The landowner, Sylvester Crane, is a sorry excuse for a human being.

Benjamen’s dad struggles after the loss of his wife. Sometimes when a mate dies, the other person is not far behind. Do they lose their will to live?

Everything in Grinders Corner is the same for Benjamin, until he lays eyes on Delia.

Delia is a preachers daughter. Her father heads the New Unity Church. She has a zest for life and it was love at first sight for Benjamin. I guess we can see where this is going. He courted her in the proper manner, with courtesy and respect. Ben’s love is strong, gentle and true.

The preacher had a holier than thou attitude and looked down his nose at Benjamin. He didn’t think Benjamin was good enough for his Delia. Don’t a lot of parents think that way, even if their child is grown? Our kids are always our kids and we want the best for them. On the other hand, as kids, our parents are our heroes.

“You made your bed, now lie in it.” Have you ever heard those words?

Bette’s descriptions of the simplest things brings the times and people to life, their sorrow and pain, their joy and happiness. I can picture Benjamin standing in front of the deputy with his weather beaten straw hat in hand and his eyes looking down at the floor.

Bette talks about the sun and heat of the south. If you have not experienced it, you will find it hard to feel the intensity of the suns rays as they beat down on you, the thickness of the muggy air as you struggle to draw breath and the fact that you are soaked to the skin shortly after stepping outside. The heat builds during the day and it is not unusual for there to be afternoon rain.

In the 1940s, bigotry and racial hatred was in your face. Go to the back door. For Whites Only. No Coloreds.

I know it’s coming and I ruefully wait for the hammer to fall. And it does. Tragically.

People sometimes find themselves not really living, just getting through. There is heartwrenching sorrow and despair. Overriding guilt. Life isn’t fair! Is the grass greener on the other side?

“It ain’t the preaching that makes a man godly, its the doing.”

I get to page 91 and tears form in my eyes, but I will not let them fall. SO SAD. We all handle grief and loss in our own way. I am reading through teary eyes, but I can’t stop. With Bette’s writing, I knew this would break my heart, but she will not leave me feeling lost. She will help me find my way. She will show me that people are more good than bad. They will give, even when they don’t have much of their own.

“I can’t be thinking of how much I lost, I gotta be thinking of how much I still got.”

Well, what can I say. I am pretty much teary eyed through the rest of the story.

“Sometimes life provided opportunities to reach out and make a difference, and when that happened a man worth his salt had to step up to the challenge.”

“Are we out brother’s keeper’s?”

The saying – It Takes A Village – answers that question.

“Folks don’t live in PERFECT, they just get to pass through every so often.” What a wonderful statement.

Amazing writing and it stuns me that this genre of book can affect me so deeply. I am more of the action, shoot ’em up, creatures chasing me variety.

Even though Bette’s books end happily, with a warm and comfortable feeling, there are bumps and jolts throughout. My feelings for Benjamin were anger and rage, sadness and despair, happiness and . He was a better person than I. He dealt with his responsibilities in an intelligent, loving and gentle way, sacrificing for others and doing the right thing. You can choose which you want to be – bigoted and angry or laughing and loving.

Very thought provoking and the book will stick with me long after reading it.

5 Stars – Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received a copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.

SYNOPSIS

It’s 1946. The war is over. Millions of American soldiers are coming home and Benjamin Church is one of them. After four years of being away he thought things in Alabama would have changed, but they haven’t. Grinder’s Corner is as it’s always been—a hardscrabble burp in the road. It’s not much, but it’s home.

When Benjamin attends a harvest festival in Twin Pines, he catches sight of Delia. Before their first dance ends, he knows for certain she’s the one. They fall madly in love; happily, impatiently, imprudently, in love. It doesn’t matter that her daddy is staunchly opposed to the thought of his daughter marrying a cotton farmer, never mind a poor one.

It’s true Benjamin has little to offer; he’s a sharecropper who will spend his whole life sweating and slaving to do little more than put food on the table. But that’s how things are in Alabama. Benjamin is better off than most; he has a wife, a boy he adores, and a house that doesn’t leak rain. Yes, Benjamin considers himself a lucky man until the fateful night that changes everything.

Author Bette Lee Crosby

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Grab your Amazon* copy below:

GIVEAWAY

Betty is offering an ebook copy of Spare Change, which is book #1 in the series- or Jubilee’s Journey, which is the story that really leads into Passing Through Perfect. International. Please leave your email and answer the question:

Who has been the most influential person in your life?

Giveaway from 1/29 – 2/2/15.

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Passing Through Perfect by Bette Lee Crosby ~ Giveaway

Posted on January 14, 2015 by fundinmental

I am so happy to be able to share Bette Lee Crosby’s latest novel, Passing Through Perfect.

I love this beautiful cover.

I am a huge fan of Bette Lee’s and I am eager to continue my Wyattsville journey.

I hope you will join me.

Passing through Perfect by Bette Lee Crosby

Reviewer Praise

“Passing Through Perfect is not the kind of novel that excels in pat answers, simple characters, and calm progressive events – and this is evident from the first paragraph, which opens with a punch and keeps on emotionally slugging… Southern fiction writing at its best: spiritually infused, warm, and family-oriented…” Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan’s Shelf

“A heartwarming tale that shows both the good and bad found in mankind… Highly Recommended to those who enjoy historical fiction.” Inspired Kathy, I am a Reader

“Author Bette Lee Crosby’s characters take on heartbreak and oppression with dignity, courage, and a shaken but strong faith in a better tomorrow” Indie Reader

An uplifting story of family, love, kindness and hope, despite some people’s less than commendable behavior and attitudes.” Between the Lines

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Excerpt

“When the heart of a man gets pulled loose he starts dying. I started dying a year ago, and I’m still working on it. I ain’t going all at once; I’m going piece by piece.”

“The sheriff recognized Benjamin. He’d done work for Missus Haledon, and he’d done a good job. He painted their back fence and repaired a broken window in the storage shed. He was blacker than most but known for being polite, unlike the smart-mouthed coloreds who lived on the far side of Bakerstown.”

“As he sat at the kitchen table and drank a glass of sweet tea with his daddy, her ghost slid in alongside of them. It was a sadness neither of them wanted to speak of.”

Author Bette Lee Crosby

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$50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 2/6/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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To see all my Reviews, go HERE.

To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.

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Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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5 Star Review & Giveaway for Jubilee’s Journey by Bette Lee Crosby

Posted on September 11, 2014 by fundinmental

Jubilee’s Journey by Bette Lee Crosby is an amazing story with characters that come to life on the pages.

Bette Lee writes stories that ooze southern charm.

So, I would like to extend some southern hospitality to all my readers.

Come on in and sit a spell..

Jubilee’s Journey by Bette Lee Crosby

JUBILEE’S JOURNEY…FPA PRESIDENT’S BOOK AWARD GOLD MEDAL WINNER

When tragedy strikes a West Virginia coal mining family, two children start out on a trek that they hope will lead them to a new life. Before a day passes, the children are separated and the boy is caught up in a robbery not of his making. If his sister can find him, she may be able to save him. The problem is she’s only seven years old, and who’s going to believe a kid?

MY REVIEW OF JUBILEE’S JOURNEY

“We’ll name her Jubilee, because this child is a celebration of our love.”

Thus, Jubilee’s story began and you will not want to miss it.

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Jubilee’s Journey is the sequel to Spare Change. Spare Change was the first book of Bette Lee’s that I read and it is still my favorite. I have been an avid fan of hers ever since.

The southern charm and giving nature of the characters captivate me. It makes me think of Hillary Clinton’s book, It Takes A Village. This book drives home the point that a community can accomplish so much more than a single individual. We can definitely learn some lessons from the loving and giving characters in Bette Lee’s novels.

I love her covers and this one speaks to me as strongly as all the others. They are some of the most touching and emotional covers in their simplicity. The cover design for Jubilee’s Journey was done by Kathleen Valentine of valentinedesign.com. Bette Lee will also occasionally incorporate a friend or fan’s name into her novels.

Living in coal country is never easy, but for Paul and Jubilee it became impossible.

Their mother died and my tears began. Paul did his best to be there for Jubilee – he never returned to school, so he did all he could think of to make Jubilee’s life better and took care of the house. After his father’s death, they were evicted from the only home they had ever known. How would Paul keep his promise to his mother to take care of Jubilee and his promise to his father to never work in the mine?

He knew of an aunt in Wyattsville, Virginia. He only had a name, Anita, but off they went.

Into the clouds – (c) Sherry J Fundin

Hurt McAdams dad had abused him and raised him with fear. As a defense, he took the offensive line and became a bully, then a murderer. He ended up in Wyattsville on his search to find his father and make him pay for his miserable life.

Oh no, Paul is in the store looking for work and here comes Hurt. I am very fearful, my heart is heavy with dread. I knew it. Bette!!!! But, what’s this? Who should arrive but Ethan Allen and I breathe a sigh of relief. No way will he allow anything bad to happen to Jubilee.

“Grandma Olivia’s nice. She helps kids in trouble.”

That being said, I knew things would be okay. Somehow.

Bette Lee Crosby writes stories as if they are biographies. They are full of the cruelties and unfairness of life, but also the beauty and wonder. The worlds and dialogue are so real, I feel as if I am there and I feel frustrated because I do not know what to do to help. She packs so much life and realism into her novels, sometimes a BOX of tissues is not enough. I laugh and cry with the characters. I go through their highs and lows, their ups and downs, all the while trying to figure out how Bette is going to make this end with a happy ever after.

The ending left me begging for more. I was sitting on the edge of my seat as if my happiness was on the line.

5 STARS Would Buy It For Them (lol)

I received this book from the author in return for an honest and unbiased review. I can hardly wait to see what she has in store for us next.

Stop in and read an Interview with Bette Lee Crosby as she shares her thoughts on Jubilee’s Journey.

REVIEWER PRAISE

An uplifting story of hope, love and the kindness of strangers. Rainy Day Ramblings

I was drawn in from the first page and held captive to the end. Jubilee’s Journey makes you believe in the power of the human spirit and the kindness of strangers. The Caffeinated Reviewer

Real both in circumstances and dialogue Jubilee’s Journey is a book that will have you up late to finish. It will make you believe that you can triumph over tragedy. Mrs. Mommy Booknerd

Crosby’s novels touch my heart big time, and Jubilee’s Journey is no exception. Even the Grinch would be hard-pressed to scowl at the Wyattsville Series books. They’ve got tension and suspense in their mysteries, Southern charm and lessons aplenty. Popcorn Reads

Purchase Your Copy

Amazon * Barnes & Noble * iTunes * Kobo

EXCERPTS – POPULAR HIGHLIGHTS

” His death came as no surprise to anyone. He was one of the countless men forever lost to the mine. They were men loved and mourned by their families, but to the world they were faceless, nameless people, not worthy of mention in the Charleston Times.”

“When Jubilee said she was scared going to a place she didn’t know, I told her not to worry. I said it was a good thing ‘cause we was going to see an aunt we never even knew we had. Then she started smiling. The whole time I was telling her how good everything was gonna be, I was wishing I had someone to tell me the same thing.”

“I guess God looks past what you claim to want and gives you what you need.”

“We can plan ahead until we’re blue in the face, but regardless of what we do events will happen as they will. The truth is we don’t have a bean of say in the matter.”

ABOUT BETTE LEE CROSBY

Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction—the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.

Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. Since then, she has gone on to win another fifteen literary awards, including the Royal Palm Literary Award, The Reviewer’s Choice Award, and the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal.

A third book in her Wyattsville Series is scheduled for release in January 2015 and the third book in the Serendipity Series will follow in the Spring of 2015.

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You can get your Amazon copy of Jubilee’s Journey by clicking on the cover below.

BookBlast Giveaway

$100 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 10/3/14

ENTER THE RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?

Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.

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She Did It Her Way – Review for Blueberry Hill by Bette Lee Crosby

Posted on August 9, 2014 by fundinmental

Blueberry Hill was Donna’s favorite song.

I hope you enjoy Fats Domino singing Blueberry Hill as you discover Bette Lee Crosby’s new novel, Blueberry Hill, A Sister’s Story.

I have read all of Bette Lee Crosby’s fantastic novels. They are filled with southern charm and characters that sound so familiar, you feel as if you know them.

SYNOPSIS

CAN LOVE SAVE A SISTER FROM SELF-DESTRUCTION?

From the USA Today Bestselling Author of Spare Change comes the heartwarming story Blueberry Hill, a Sister’s Story.

Based on the realities of her own family, Crosby calls this a memoir of sorts. Traveling back to a time when the sisters were young enough to feel invincible and foolish enough to believe it would last forever, Crosby has bared her soul in a story of regrettable decisions and inevitable outcomes.

MY REVIEW

Cover – Valentine Design

The covers Bette Lee Crosby chooses for her novels always make me wonder what will be between the pages. I feel there will be some laughs and some tears as we travel down the road of life with her realistic characters.

I never even looked at the synopsis, just picked up Blueberry Hill and started reading. After all, it’s Bette Lee, so I know it will be good. Oh man……this hits very close to home.

Donna killed herself. She didn’t do it by popping pills or slitting her wrists, but by her lifestyle choices.

Donna was carefree. She lived for the moment. She was popular, cool, and believed anything is possible. She would then proceed to make it happen. She was very generous; spent the money she earned, while Bette would save. Donna has attitude with a capital A. I am loving her.

The female version of Fonzi from Happy Days.

Mama said Bette was the oldest, so it was her responsibility to keep her two sisters out of trouble. I can see where that could lead to guilt for not doing more to save Donna from herself. I, too, have dealt with the issue of enabling. When is the time to step in? Do we have the right to tell someone how to live, even if they have chosen a destructive lifestyle?

Bette felt they were a normal family, until Donna ran away. Even after she came back, they were never the same. Donna fell in love with a loser, who divorced her and left her after she had a baby. She married him again and had another child, but the marriage didn’t stick. We don’t choose who we fall in love with. She never quit loving him, even until her death. She was a great mother, full of love. The real loss was when the nest was EMPTY.

“Having a sister is like having a thumb, you simply believe it will always be there, because how could you possible get along without it.”

I have tears in my eyes as I read this. I recently lost one of my sisters and this almost sounds like her biography. She used to call me tag-a-long when we were kids, because I followed her everywhere. It is still hard to believe she is really gone. We do become involved in our daily lives and think tomorrow I’ll….call her…get with her….take the time to stop in……At least I can take consolation in the fact that she lived her life the way she wanted ( like Donna).

Bette Lee Crosby left out the horrid details that would rip our hearts out, but I felt the pain, as she relived the memories. With the loss of my sister, I can relate to the story on a very personal level. When do you step in, especially when you know it will do no good? We must remember, it is their life. They are a grown up. We can lie to ourselves and live in denial, but what will be, will be. My sister and Donna chose their exit from this world. Won’t we do the same?

Bette’s books can be thought provoking, heart wrenching and uplifting all at the same time. She can make me sob like a baby, when my heart is broken and laugh like a happy child, when a delightful surprise comes my way. Bette Lee’s books don’t always end with a happy ever after, but they do cover a lot of life’s trials and tribulations that we are familiar with.

I received Blueberry Hill from Bette Lee in return for an honest, unbiased review.

“Wouldn’t you love to go there?”

“Go where?”

“Blueberry Hill.”

“Blueberry Hill isn’t a real place. It’s just a title somebody made up for the song.”

“Believe what you want, but I know it’s real.”

To give a lot when you have a lot is easy, but to give a lot when you have so little is indeed a gift of love.

“You can love her or hate her, but you will never control her.” My sister to a T.

Animated Animals. Pictures, Images and Photos 4 Stars – Would Highly Recommend To Others

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

USA Today Bestselling and Award-winning novelist Bette Lee Crosby brings the wit and wisdom of her Southern Mama to works of fiction–the result is a delightful blend of humor, mystery and romance along with a cast of quirky charters who will steal your heart away.

Born in Detroit and raised in a plethora of states scattered across the South and Northeast, Crosby originally studied art and began her career as a packaging designer. When asked to write a few lines of copy for the back of a pantyhose package, she discovered a love for words that was irrepressible. After years of writing for business, she turned to works of fiction and never looked back. “Storytelling is in my blood,” Crosby laughingly admits, “My mom was not a writer, but she was a captivating storyteller, so I find myself using bits and pieces of her voice in most everything I write.”

Crosby’s work was first recognized in 2006 when she received The National League of American Pen Women Award for a then unpublished manuscript. Since that, she has gone on to win several more awards, including another NLAPW award, Royal Palm Literary Awards, the FPA President’s Book Award Gold Medal and Reviewer’s Choice Award and Reader’s View Southeast Fiction Literary Award.

Her published works to date are: Jubilee’s Journey (2013), What Matters Most (2013), The Twelfth Child (2012), Cupid’s Christmas (2012), Cracks in the Sidewalk (2011), Spare Change (2011), and Life in the Land of IS (2012). Life in the Land of IS is a memoir written for Lani Deauville, a woman the Guinness Book of Records lists as the world’s longest living quadriplegic.

Blueberry Hill is a tale of family relationships, love and tragedy. It is a story that will touch your heart and stay with you long after you have closed the book.

Click on the cover below to get your Amazon copy of Blueberry Hill by Bette Lee Crosby.