Southern Comfort Boxed Set by Bette Lee Crosby

Southern Comfort

Southern Comfort by Bette Lee Crosby
Kindle e-book, 681 pages 
Published June 24, 2017 by Bent Pine Publishing

From a USA Today Bestselling Author of Women’s Fiction comes a value-packed box set of three Award-Winning Novels

There’s plenty to enjoy in this trio of heartwarming Southern sagas… they are family dramas that will have you reading long past bedtime as you discover characters that take up residence in your heart and small towns that make you want to live there.

In these full-length novels you’ll meet three amazing women; women who rise up to meet life’s challenges and stand ready to defend those they love. As Abigail, Olivia and Ophelia know, bad things can sometimes happen to good people, but faith, friendship, and love have a way of righting the world’s wrongs.

Southern Comfort…fiction with a down home flavor.

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This boxed set of some of Bette’s best books would be a wonderful addition to anyone’s library. All three of these are the first in three of her series. They are all wonderful, magical, thought-provoking stories that will not only give the reader a taste of her work, but they will draw you in and make you want more. Bette creates such memorable characters and writes with such wisdom. Each book could serve as a life lesson for us all.

The Twelfth Child is the story of a beautiful relationship between an older woman and young women who befriends her. And the greedy people who want to get their hands on what doesn't belong to them.

Memory House is a story about memories and being able to find someone to carry on those memories so they don’t get lost. Bette poses an interesting idea; that memories are stored, but sometimes are forgotten, and that there is a memory keeper who finds and cares for those memories.

Spare Change is actually the first book of Bette’s that I read. She has been one of my must-read authors ever since. It is a delightful, homey story, with murder and mayhem thrown in, told with a little southern flavor that put a smile on my face as I was reading.

The Twelfth Child

Book One of The Serendipity Series

To escape an arranged marriage, Abigail leaves the Shenandoah Valley of the early 1900’s behind and discovers a world of untruthful lovers, joblessness and speakeasy’s. Now that she is at the end of her years, her best friend is accused of a crime and Abigail is helpless to save her. She knows the truth of what happened, but will never have the chance to tell.

Read my thoughts here

Spare Change

Book One of The Wyattsville Series

In this USA Today Bestseller a widow comes to grips with her loss and makes room in her heart for a young boy who is running for his life. Alone she can’t save him, but when a detective and the neighbors step in to help, miracles happen. A heartwarming tale of love, loss and unexpected gifts, featuring a woman you'd like to call friend, a boy you will ache to hug, and a town you wish you could call home.

Read my thoughts here

Memory House

Book One of The Memory House Series

A magical love story set in a place where friendship turns to love, love lasts forever, and memories outlive their owner. Ophelia Browne is the keeper of those forgotten memories, but now she's nearing ninety and needs to find a successor - soon. When Annie Cross shows up on the doorstep of The Memory House Bed and Breakfast, Ophelia knows she is the one.

Read my thoughts here

About the author

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 nineteen 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.

Connect with Bette
Website | Facebook |Twitter | Goodreads

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Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!

Previously Loved Treasures by Bette Lee Crosby and a Related Giveaway!

Previously Loved Treasures

The Serendipity Series Book Two

Previously Loved Treasures by Bette Lee Crosby

The Serendipity Series Book 2

Paperback and e-book, 280 pages

Published May 5th 2014 by Bent Pine Publishing

In Previously Loved Treasures recently widowed Ida Sweetwater and her granddaughter come together in a heartwarming mystery rich with imagination and magic.

Struggling to make ends meet, Ida turns her home into a boarding house and goes in search of used furniture. This quest leads to the Previously Loved Treasures shop and Peter Pennington, a delightfully strange proprietor who anticipates people’s needs. In addition to bargains, Peter hands out sage advice. When a pocket watch belonging to one of the residents goes missing for a second time he warns of danger - but will Ida’s granddaughter listen and will she heed his advice?

This is a story that resonates with Crosby’s heartwarming albeit quirky characters and the joy of a pay-it-forward philosophy.

My thoughts about Previously Loved Treasures ~~

Okay, right off the bat, I have to say that I absolutely love this cover! It is so beautiful and it draws me in to find out what those previously loved treasures might be.

And then, secondly, I absolutely love Bette and her wonderful books. She writes such beautiful, gentle, and magical stories.

Previously Loved Treasures is just that, a treasure. Ida takes people into her home as a way to keep her house after her husband dies. She had no idea these people would become so important to her and become her family. 

'You just never know how much you're going to miss someone until they're gone. And thenit's too damn late to do a thing about it.'

She also finds out that she has a grown granddaughter that she didn't know about. As they become acquainted, tragedy strikes. What is going to become of the family that bonded under Ida's roof?

I loved the idea of the Previously Loved Treasures shop where Peter knew just what you were looking for, even if you didn't know yourself. And what a wise man he was!

'Ida looked forward to returning to the shop. Although she had only been there once it held a strange fascination, a kind of magic calling her back. It wasn't a fancy store, but stepping inside was like losing yourself in a dream.'

'"What exactly are previously loved treasures?" Peter Pennington pushed the heavy glasses back onto the bridge of his nose. "They're the things you need, things other people no longer need. ... You've got to understand, when people sell previously loved treasures it's not about the money. It's about finding the right home for something they've spent years loving.'"

And then there is the fact that Bette likes to incorporate people shes know into her stories. I am so honored that she wrote me into this wonderful adventure. It was so awesome to see my name in print in a real live book!!

'This wasn't something Ida was jumping into blindly. Five different people had said the same thing. Susan Schleicher was ethical. Susan Schleicher was reliable. If you needed a lawyer, Susan Schleicher was the person you wanted.'

I loved this book even before I got to that part in the book. That was just frosting on the cake!

There are so many great lines in this book and I love to highlight them as I am reading. I want to share a few with you here so you can get an idea of Bette's wonderful writing.

'A whole lot of life falls between good and bad.'

'One day at a time. She would simply have to take it a single day at a time.'

'The thing about love is, the person or thing doesn't have to be perfect for you to love it. It only has to be perfect for you.'

OMG, I could go on and on with amazing words from this book. But I will stop now and you will just have to read it yourself.

Okay, one last great line. And then you really have to get this book and savor all the wonderful lines!

'Love turns strangers into family.'

The first book in the Serendipity Series is The Twelfth Child. I posted my thoughts a few days ago. You can see that post here. These two books can be read as standalones but there is a thread that connects the two of them which makes the stories even more special.

I have a giveaway going on right now for a print copy of The Twelfth Child. Enter via the Rafflecopter below.

Twelfth Child

The Seredipity Series Book One

Trust, love and friendship - Abigail Anne Lannigan searched for these things all her life; now, when she is at the tail end of her years she teams up with a free-spirited young woman, a nobody from nowhere, who suddenly moves in across the street. It’s an unlikely friendship which comes under suspicion when a distant relative, claims embezzlement. One million dollars is missing and only Abigail knows the truth of what happened – but, she’ll never get the chance to tell.

The Twelfth Child, a novel rich with emotion, humor and tenderness, explores the splintered relationships of a Shenandoah Valley family and their willful daughter’s struggle to survive America’s Great Depression and overcome the past.

Read my thoughts about this wonderful book here.

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.

Connect with Bette

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!

The Twelfth Child by Bette Lee Crosby and a Giveaway!

The Twelfth Child

The Twelfth Child by Better Lee Crosby
Series: The Serendipity Series, Book 1
Paperback and e-book, 252 pages
Published May 17th 2012 by Bent Pine Publishing

Trust, love and friendship - Abigail Anne Lannigan searched for these things all her life; now, when she is at the tail end of her years she teams up with a free-spirited young woman, a nobody from nowhere, who suddenly moves in across the street. It’s an unlikely friendship which comes under suspicion when a distant relative, claims embezzlement. One million dollars is missing and only Abigail knows the truth of what happened – but, she’ll never get the chance to tell.

The Twelfth Child, a novel rich with emotion, humor and tenderness, explores the splintered relationships of a Shenandoah Valley family and their willful daughter’s struggle to survive America’s Great Depression and overcome the past.

Purchase links - click here

My thoughts about The Twelfth Child ~~

Bette's books are always so beautifully written with such great characters that I know when I start one I am going to go on a wonderful journey. The Twelfth Child was no exception. Bette's writes such gentle, flowing words and thoughts that the reader can just sit back, relax and get lost in whatever world she takes us to.

Abigail was born in 1912 and she was thirteen when her mother died. She adored her mother but her father didn't give 'two hoots' about girl babies. As a matter of fact, his world revolved around Abigail's twin brother, William. Abigail's life got a whole lot tougher after their mother dies.

'Courage; it came from the heart of a she-wolf.'

Fast forward seventy years after Abigail and William were born. Destiny comes into Abigail's life and they form an immediate, strong, and loving bond. The Twelfth Child is the story of this beautiful relationship. And the greedy people who want to get their hands on what doesn't belong to them.

'"We've all had special relationships in our life," he said, "relationships that are not according to bloodline, but born of the heart."'

'Mostly we did silly things - like opening three different bottles of wine so we could decide which went better with Frito Lays..'

I love Bette's stories because there is always some magical, mystical, beautiful aspect to the story that just warms my heart. I truly want to believe that these things can happen and that the world is full of good, beautiful people.

'Magic happens inside our heads, people can't see magic.'

And she writes such amazing lines that I highlight half the book as I'm reading. Let me share with you some of the great lines I marked. Sorry for borrowing so many of your words, Bette. These are all just wonderful!

'..but it don't matter how old you get - your mama's always gonna be your mama.'

'"Whoooo,' Gloria clowned, 'that'll be us, two ghosts, sitting on our tombstones worrying about where we're gonna find jobs."'

'..if a person wasn't going to be a writer, the next best thing was to spend every day in a building filled with wonderful stories.'

And now I'll leave you with one final great line. This one made me LOL since I am a librarian!

'"No man can love a woman like me,' she shouted, "I'm a librarian."

About the author

USA Today Bestselling and Award-winning author Bette Lee Crosby is originally from New Jersey, but now makes her home in Southern Florida where she lives with her husband Richard and a feisty Bichon Frise. A highly entertaining public speaker, Bette makes frequent appearances to support the various charities of women’s groups, and schedule permitting, she will join book talks and book club discussion groups.

In 1997 Bette abandoned the fast-paced world of advertising and embarked on a career as a novelist. Her books, often written in a Southern voice, cover a wide spectrum of locales and personalities as they tell tales of courageous women overcoming life’s obstacles. Her novels were first recognized in 2006, when she won the National League of American Pen Women Award for unpublished fiction with What Matters Most. In 2007 she won the National League of American Pen Women’s First Place Fiction Award for her novel Girl Child; and in 2009 her latest novel Cracks in the Sidewalk received the prestigious Royal Palm Literary Award from the Florida Writers Association; and in 2011 it won the FPA President's Book Award Gold Medal. Bette has recently completed a biography of Lani Verner Deauville, the amazing woman listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the world’s longest living quadriplegic. The book is titled "Life in the Land of IS...the Amazing Story of Lani Deauville, the World's Longest Living Quadriplegic."

Before redirecting her talents to works of fiction, Bette enjoyed a noteworthy career in advertising and marketing working in a diversity of industries ranging from financial services to collectibles. She served as Editor-in-Chief for Innovations, a new product development publication, and as Contributing Editor for numerous trade publications including Giftware News, Supermarket News and Packaging Digest.

As the U.S. Marketing Director for the distributor of world famous M.I. Hummel figurines, Bette served as a company spokeswoman and public relations figurehead. Much of her career, however, was spent in the challenging environment of advertising agencies—including a five-year stint as co-owner and Creative Director of the award-winning OTK Advertising Agency.

Connect with Bette

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!

WWW Wednesdays April 30, 2014

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Should Be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Clicking on the book covers will take you to Goodreads for more information about the books listed below.

What are you currently reading?

Spun by Catherine McKenzie

One of my fav authors - my stop on the Spun book tour is May 5th.

The Debt Collector by Susan Kaye Quinn (audiobook)

I've read a few of the episodes and I love listening to it. The narrator is perfect! 

Texasville by Larry McMurtry
Hoping to get back to this one soon.

What did you recently finish reading?

The Twelfth Child by Bette Lee Crosby

Another favorite author - another wonderful story!

Destination Wedding by Deanna Lynn Sletten

Another one of my must read authors - loved this story! 

A Perfect Fit by Heather Tullis (audio-book)
Liked the story - not so much the narrator. Not sure if I want to continue listening to the series.

Momnesia by Lori Verni-Fogarsi
This was read for my book club. I really liked it. Some of the members didn't. To each her own, right?

What do you think you will read next?

Breaking the Rules and Bending the Rules by L.K. Lewis

My stop on the Bending the Rules book tour is May 8th.

What's on your WWW this week?

Leave me a comment and

I'll stop by to check out your reads.

Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!

WWW Wednesdays April 2, 2014

WWW Wednesdays is hosted by Should Be Reading

To play along, just answer the following three questions…

• What are you currently reading?

• What did you recently finish reading?

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Clicking on the book covers will take you to Goodreads for more information about the books listed below.

What are you currently reading?

True Blend by Joanne DeMaio
One of my favorite authors - lovin' it!

A Perfect Fit by Heather Tullis (audio-book)

Texasville by Larry McMurtry
To keep my hubby happy, I am reading one of his fav authors.

What did you recently finish reading?

A Questionable Friendship by Samantha March

My stop on the tour will be April 11th.

Just Destiny by Theresa Rizzo

Another fabulous story from Theresa!

My stop on the tour will be April 7th.

What do you think you will read next?

I can't decide!
Either Hidden by Catherine McKenzie
or The Twelfth Child by Bette Lee Crosby

So many great books! So little time!

I am loving my reading world right now!

What's on your WWW this week?

Leave me a comment and

I'll stop by to check out your reads.

Be sure to check the sidebar for my current giveaways!