The Songstress (2021) — A Celebrate Lit Tour: A Guest Post, My Thoughts, and a Giveaway

About the Book

Book: The Songstress

Author: Lori Bates Wright

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release date: April 16, 2021

Rising opera star, Juliana Chamberlain, still has nightmares of the night she witnessed the assassination of the President of the United States from her spot on stage at Ford Theater. Recruited by The Pinkerton Detective Agency, Juliana was instrumental in bringing those responsible to justice.

Now, two years later, the Pinkertons ask her once again to join forces in exposing a corrupt political organization terrorizing her home in Texas.

Texas Ranger, Cade Matlock, has a job to do. He needs no help from a meddlesome diva with big ideas. However, he is a man of his word. He’s committed to partner with the lovely songstress to smoke out the mastermind of a dangerous clan who has proven he will stop at nothing to satisfy his thirst for vengeance.

Cade and Juliana soon discover their greatest strength is in working together until shadows of the past threaten to destroy their future.

Click HERE to purchase your copy!

About the Author

Lori Bates Wright is an award winning author with a love for history.

Raised in New Mexico, Lori now lives in Texas with her husband of 38 years. She has two grown kids and four adorable grand boys (who leap tall buildings in a single bound!) When she’s not writing, she’s heading up small group ministries with her husband. She enjoys speaking and interacting with women of all ages.

More from Lori

Growing up, my family loved to laugh.

Some of my favorite childhood memories are centered around my grandmother’s dining room table listening in while my parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles told amazing stories. Sometimes I laughed until I’d lose my breath. Sometimes I sat quietly, taking in the bravery and perseverance shown by those who’d gone before me.

History has been a passion ever since. Couple that with an insatiable love for story and there you have the heart of what inspires me to write.

So, when it came time to brain-storm for this brand new series, I decided to take a known historical event and think about it from every angle. Beyond the recognized players, to the “what if” characters that might have played a role. And, ultimately, how such an event would have changed the course of their lives.

Thus, a star was born.

In THE SONGSTRESS, Juliana Chamberlain witnessed the assassination from her place on the stage. Because I love a little mystery and intrigue, I decided that the leading detective agency of the day would have enlisted her help in identifying the accomplices. Allen Pinkerton had been known to hire a lady detective or two, so she would be trained by the best. Her investigative skills proved helpful in bringing a quick resolution to the case.

Fast forward four years and she’s still haunted by what she saw that night. When Pinkerton again approaches her about a case involving her family in Texas, she accepts.

Being from Texas, I was so happy she did. I’ve wanted to write a story based in the Lone Star State for quite awhile. I loved visiting Georgia and the shores of England in my last series, but I have to say it was good to bring this one home. With all the rugged charm of the post-Civil War era, this book has a little more local flavor than my last three. Al-in-all, I believe my readers are in for a treat. A new cast of fun, quirky characters as we revisit a significant time in our nation.

So, here’s to new beginnings! Or as we say in Texas, “Hang on, y’all are in for a wild ride!”

Happy reading!
Lori

My Thoughts

Reading The Songstress was the first time I’ve read a book by Lori Bates Wright. I didn’t really know what to expect from this author, but after reading the premise and seeing the beautiful cover, I knew I needed to be part of this blog tour. This story is all the things it promises to be: adventurous and romantic. I liked the way the author utilized the Lincoln assassination as the catalyst for getting her heroine, Juliana, to become a Pinkerton spy. I’ve never really studied the Pinkertons before, so to learn that females played a small, but integral, part in the organization was pretty cool. I also thought it clever to use Lincoln-assassination conspirators who got away the night Lincoln was shot as the bad guys for this storyline. The main characters did feel a tad too caricature for me, but they are wholesome and sweet overall. The author did a great job with the villains. The bad guys are pretty vile. They are the reason I kept turning pages — I needed to know how they were going to be defeated. The pacing of the story, for the most part, is good, but I did feel that the middle got a little slow. I did like several of the themes that were discussed throughout the story. My favorite topic is brought up by Dandy when he says, “See? He was broke” … “Broke critters just do the best they can to get by.” Truer words have never been spoken. Broken people do the best they can. Overall, I appreciated reading this story and feel like the audience who would love The Songstress best are those readers who love a good Hallmark-style Western.

I received a review copy of this novel in eBook form from the author, Lori Bates Wright, via Celebrate Lit. I also purchased a copy of this novel in eBook form from Amazon.com on April 27, 2021, in order to review. In no way has this influenced my review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Lori is giving away the grand prize package of a Texas Gift basket including a signed copy of THE SONGSTRESS and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway!

Click the link below to enter.