Tales from the Matthewsburg Manse: Read an Excerpt + Enter to Win

 

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

Book Excerpt

Something crashed in the kitchen. I heard women’s voices, and from the tone it sounded like hostilities were about to break out.

“Why are my pies priced a dollar less than yours?” The quiet but determined voice belonged to Selma Best, a regular church attendee and one of the active women’s guild members.

“I should have thought that was obvious.” Ruby Dorfman’s gravelly voice filled the hall. She was a great cook, and a hard worker, but, like her son Percy, tried to run everything she was involved in.

“Not to me, it isn’t.”

“They’re made with inferior ingredients.”

“I beg your pardon!”

“Surely you must see that a sugar pie isn’t worth as much as a deep dish apple pie.”

Jillian and I reached the kitchen door. One of the cutlery drawers was lying on the floor, forks spilling out of it. That explained the crash. Ruby and Selma were standing over it, hands on hips, glaring at each other.

“Deep dish. That?” Selma said, pointing to a golden-brown pie resting on the counter. “Looks more like a wild apple pie to me.”

“Wild? I’ll have you know I picked those apples from my very own tree.”

“And half of them escaped before you put the crust on. I’ve seen more apples in a dumpling.”

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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.

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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.

Enter Giveaway

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