Welcome to the Blog Tour for Tales from the Matthewsburg Manse by Kate Tompkins, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: Tales from the Matthewsburg Manse
Author: Kate Tompkins
Publisher: The Matthewsburg Manse
Release Date: October 26, 2023
Genre: Short stories/Poetry, Christian fiction, general fiction, rural fiction, wholesome fiction
When city girl Viv’s husband Mark accepts his first pastoral charge in rural Matthewsburg, she wonders what to expect, and what will be expected of her. This collection of connected fiction stories, some humorous, some suspenseful, some even romantic, explores Viv’s new life as she tries to find her place in the community while dealing with local gossip, old rivalries, suspected murder, sabotaged car shows, and more. Who says life in a small town is boring?
“This book entertains us with our own humanity, we laugh at human foibles, nod our heads in the mutual pains of life’s adventures. Interspersed are poems expressing poignant moments. These provide a place to rest, ponder and even smile before we are once again taken on the life journey of being a spouse in a small town parish. I found myself laughing out loud on occasion. This book is a wonderful read and leaves us with the feeling that life is good.” – Nita Kotiuga, retired pastor, Director of Spiritual Formation at Bakke Graduate University.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub
Tales from the Matthewsburg Manse is a treat. In today’s crazy world, where it seems like everything is going wrong, everyone hates each other, and life will never be quite right again, it was a delight to read a book that reminded me that we’re all in this together and that yes, there is good in life if we just remember to look for it.
Viv’s husband Mark has accepted a pastoral position in the rural town of Matthewsburg. Viv, a city girl, is soon informed that the previous pastor’s wife was a paragon of virtue, a chef beyond compare, good at everything Viv is not. She wonders whether she’ll ever fit in and whether she’s really cut out to be a pastor’s wife in a small town.
The stories are all connected, giving the reader insight into both Viv and Mark growing into their new roles and new home and into the relationships that make up the life of a small town. From car shows to forgiving and offering a helping hand, from fishing to mending a relationship, each story is like a shimmering bead on a necklace. Poems and anecdotes serve as connectors between the stories, and I think the poems may have been my most favorite part of the book. They find the beauty in the mundane and ponder the questions of life, and they made me smile!
If you want a book that will warm your heart as the weather turns to fall, I highly recommend Tales from the Matthewsburg Manse.
Disclaimer: I received a review copy from JustRead Publicity Tours. All opinions here are mine, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.
Keep scrolling to enter the giveaway!
About the Author
Kate Tompkins lives in Montreal’s West Island, where she shares a small house and a big backyard with her husband and the latest in a series of very spoiled cats. She writes short stories, poetry (yes, the non-literary, rhyming kind), and the occasional essay. When not hanging out with her church’s writing group or getting lost down an internet rabbit hole, she can be found trying out recipes from old cookbooks for her cooking blog, Kate’s Virtual Kitchen, or outside keeping the flowerbeds in order.
Connect with Kate by visiting katetompkinsbooks.ca to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will receive a $20 Amazon gift card!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 11, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 18, 2024. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
This looks really interesting. Thanks for sharing and hosting this tour.
Sounds like a great quick read
what a lovely review, Lisa! Thanks for being on the tour & sharing your thoughts 🙂
Thanks for your review.
Kate Tompkins here. Thanks so much for your review, Lisa! It feels so good to know that people are getting out of the book what I hoped I’d put into it. Really, really appreciate it.
Thanks also to the commenters for the feedback. Much appreciated!