A Cowboy for Keeps - A Review

Series: Colorado Cowboys Book 1

Author: Jody Hedlund

Title: A Cowboy for Keeps

Published: Bethany House, January 2021

Format: ebook, paper

About the book:

Greta Nilsson agreed to be a mail-order bride in the west in order to save her ailing sister’s life. Well her trip couldn’t have gone more wrong. First, the stage is held up by bandits. Then once she arrives in Fairplay, Colorado, she learns that her betrothed is dead. Now homeless, penniless, and jobless, Greta’s worse off then when she started. Wyatt McQuaid is a rancher struggling to get his spread up and running. He’s in town only for the purchase of some cattle. When the mayor of Fairplay agrees to invest in his ranch if he’ll marry Greta, Wyatt’s mind is torn. But seeing that she’s a woman alone in a rough town, Wyatt agrees. But will this marriage of convenience become something lasting?

My Thoughts:

I don’t know of another author as versatile as Jody Hedlund! She’s got several historical fiction novels, some true historicals, young adult fantasy novels, and soon a time-travel series. And she ventures into the westerns with this new series. True, this is much shorter than some of her others, but I found it to be delightful. I started it late one night, and then much to my chagrin, finished it a few hours later, in the early morning, no less. I loved Wyatt and Greta, Astrid, and Wyatt’s hired hand Judd. I am really looking forward to the next in the series.  

I received a copy of this book from the publisher to help promote while providing my thoughts and opinions. I was not required to like the book, only to share my opinions.

Recommended to fans of: Jody Hedlund, Mary Connealy, Karen Whitmeyer, cowboys

Rating: 5 stars

Tidewater Bride - A Review

 Author: Laura Frantz

Title: Tidewater Bride

Published: January 2021, Revell Books

Format: ebook, paper

About the book:

Selah Hopewell has no wish to marry. That’s a little unusual in the Virginia colony where men outnumber women 10-1. Yet, she’s content working in her father’s shop and assisting her mother. Her nearest neighbor, Xander Renick, is a successful tobacco farmer in the settlement. Xander has been a friend of Selah’s family for years. To everyone around, he’s still grieving the loss of his Powhatan wife. Yet his heart holds Selah in high affection. Can these two figure out a way to find happiness together?

My Thoughts:

Anytime I am able to pick up a Laura Frantz book, I know I’m in for a book that is rich in history, has well-developed characters, and will take me a while to read. That was certainly the case with this book! It’s so rich in history that I found myself reading a little bit here, and a little there in order to truly savor the book. It’s interesting to see a book delve into the early, early days of Virginia’s colonization. This one was set after Roanoke was lost while Jamestown was still new. I kept having songs from Disney’s Pocahontas in my mind as the backdrop for this beautiful novel. This was truly a delight to read and a history lesson at the same time.

I think that this would be a good book for a book club.

I received a copy from the publisher in order to share my thoughts and opinions. I was not required to like the book, but only to be honest with my thoughts.

Recommended for fans of: early American history, Laura Frantz, Jody Hedlund, Lori Benton

Rating: 5 stars

Active Defense - A Review

 

Series: Danger Never Sleeps Book 3

Author: Lynette Eason

Title: Active Defense

Published: Revell Books, January 2021

Format: ebook, paper, audio

About the book:

Dr. Heather Fontaine is a surgeon who is used to life-or-death situations having been a field surgeon in Afghanistan. She expected to settle back into her life after her enlistment is over. Yet there’s a stalker after her. Travis Walker has been watching Heather’s back for weeks. When he learns she’s in danger, he will do anything to see she’s safe. Working together and in a race against time, they seek to learn who is after Heather and who wants her dead.

My Thoughts:

I really enjoyed this book. It was fast-paced and actually fit the mood I was in while reading it. It’s been a while since I read one of Ms. Eason’s books, and I wasn’t disappointed in this one. This book was a page-turner from start to finish. I had an idea as to who wanted Heather dead, and I wasn’t wrong. What was interesting though was the why behind it. I also enjoyed catching up with some of the other characters.

I received an advanced e-book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my opinion of the book. I was not required to like the book, only share my honest opinion of it.

Recommended to fans of: Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, Dani Pettery, romantic suspense

Rating: 4 stars

The Land Beneath Us - A Review

Published: February 2020, Revell

Series: Sunrise at Normandy Book 3

Author: Sarah Sundin

Title: The Land Beneath Us

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About the book:

The Paxton brothers haven’t spoken to each other in years. In 1943, Private Clay Paxton is training with the Army Rangers in Tennessee. He’s determined to do his part to assist the Allied forces in France. Clay feels he has only one thing left to live for – fulfilling the dream of his death – especially since he blames his brothers for his future having been stolen. Civilian Leah Jones is working as a librarian at Camp Forrest when she meets Clay. She longs to rise above her upbringing as an orphan and belong to a community. When she’s brutally attacked, Clay saves her life and then marries her to save her reputation. When he ships out to Europe, the pair write each other and soon find themselves bound together over the distance. But is love between them possible?

My thoughts:

Oh how I loved this book! I literally read it in 2 and a half hours! It’s a great conclusion to the Normandy series. I loved how Clay and Leah both grew through the book. I also loved being able to catch up with the other Paxton brothers. This book had a story of hope in it. And a story of love overcoming. Every book I’ve read by this author has been a delight. They are well researched and full of complex characters. I look forward to seeing where the author takes us next with her next book.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to share my honest opinion of it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of WWII, Sarah Sundin, Laura Frantz, Jody Hedlund

Rating: 5 stars

Collision of Lies - A Review

Published: February 2020, Revell

Author: Tom Threadgill

Title: Collision of Lies

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About the book:

An accident between a school bus and a fast moving train left a community reeling for years. Now a fresh clue causes San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to question all that happened in the accident. One of the children from the accident may be alive. Now Amara must convince others that despite everything the case needs to be looked into again and hopefully bring the child home alive.

My thoughts:

This book was a page turner. There are so many layers to it that I did get a little lost, but it was well worth the ride the author took me on. I kept trying to figure out who was involved and what would happen. I can’t wait to read the next book that this author has in store.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in order to share my honest opinion of it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Robert Whitlow, Tom Clancy

Rating: 4 stars

End Game - A Review

Published: January 2020, Bethany House

Series: Capital Intrigue Book 1

Author: Rachel Dylan

Title: End Game

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About the book:

One murder is one thing. A second with the same MO is something else. Especially when the second murder is of a Navy SEAL. Now both NCIS and the FBI are working together to catch a killer before the body count rises. FBI Special Agent Bailey Ryan and NCIS Special Agent Marco Agostini must follow the evidence even though they feel that the accused isn’t guilty. As they untangle the evidence and connect the victims, they discover a conspiracy and a cover up leading to top areas of government. When they get too close, will they make it out alive?

My thoughts:

I’m a huge fan of NCIS. This was a cross between NCIS and FBI Most Wanted. I was kept turning pages all the way through the end. I’m looking forward to the other books in this series.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to assist in promoting this book. I was not required to like the book, only give my honest opinion of it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of NCIS, FBI Most Wanted, Dee Henderson, Irene Hannon, Lisa Harris

Rating: 4 stars

Words Between Us - A Review

Published - September 2019, Revell Books
Author - Erin Bartels
Title - The Words Between Us
Format - ebook, paper
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About the book:
Robin Windsor has spent most of her life under an assumed name, running from her family's ignominious past. She thought she'd finally found sanctuary in her rather unremarkable used bookstore just up the street from the marina in River City, Michigan. But the store is struggling and the past is hot on her heels.

When she receives an eerily familiar book in the mail on the morning of her father's scheduled execution, Robin is thrown back to the long-lost summer she met Peter Flynt, the perfect boy who ruined everything. That book--a first edition Catcher in the Rye--is soon followed by the other books she shared with Peter nearly twenty years ago, with one arriving in the mail each day. But why would Peter be making contact after all these years? And why does she have a sinking feeling that she's about to be exposed all over again?

My Thoughts:
I was excited to hear about Bartels's newest book after loving her debut. This one did not disappoint. Well, ok, maybe a little. 

Seriously though, this one was still a pretty awesome read. I love dual timeline books and this one had one. I love how the main character is trying to connect the pieces of the past with the novels she's getting. Sure, it's a little slow-moving. But it didn't really feel that way. I agree with what others have said - the ending was rushed. I felt that the author had spent all this time developing the plot only to rush the ending. Maybe she had to hit a certain word count or was on a deadline. To be honest, I felt cheated. Cheated because there wasn't the development to the end that I was hoping for. 

I received a copy of this book from Revell for the purpose of sharing my honest opinion. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of women's fiction, Rachel Hauck

Rating - 4 stars

Finding Lady Enderly - A Reivew

Published - August 2019, Revell
Author - Joanna Davidson Politano
Title - Finding Lady Enderly
Format - ebook, paper
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About the Book:
Raina Bretton is a rag woman in London's east end when a handsome stranger appears in a dank alley and offers her a glittering smile and a chance for adventure. Rothburne Abbey has a unique position for her, one that will take her away from her hardscrabble life and give her a chance to be a lady. Things she could only dream of might be coming true. But some dreams turn out to be nightmares.

Though Raina has traded squalor for silk and satin, something about the abbey is deeply unsettling. As she wrestles with her true identity, the ruin, decay, and secrets she finds at the heart of the old mansion tear at her confidence and threaten to reveal her for who she really is. Only one man stands between her and the danger that lurks within--and only if he decides to keep her biggest secret hidden.

My Thoughts:
Let me start by saying that this book was not for me. I'm in a minority here if the reviews on Amazon are any indication. 

I was intrigued by the back cover and the actual book cover. The way the book is described had me expecting a sort-of My Fair Lady type story. And it sort of is. 

Yet, I couldn't get into this book. I tried. I really did try. Perhaps this author's style isn't for me. I didn't connect to the characters. I was bored while reading it. In fact, I kept looking for reasons NOT to read the book. 

Obviously, I'm in a minority. Others LOVE the book. Others whose opinions I respect have raved about this book. And to be perfectly honest, I kept wondering "What are they seeing that I'm missing?" Followed by "when will it get better?" 

I know that not every book I pick up is going to be one that I love. Just like I know that not every author is for every reader. But I still don't like giving a negative review because I know how hard authors work on their book babies. 

This one, it's not for me. I plan on donating my copy to my local library though, so that others CAN enjoy the book.

I received a copy from the publishers in order to share my honest opinion of it. That is what I've done. I was not required to like the book, only share my honest opinion. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Rating - 1 star

Vow of Justice - A Review

Published - August 2019, Revell Books
Author - Lynette Eason
Series - Blue Justice Book 4
Title - Vow of Justice
Format - ebook, paper
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About the book:
FBI Special Agent Lincoln St. John is living his own personal nightmare. When the woman he loves, Allison Radcliffe, is killed, he devotes his life to tracking down the killers and making them pay for their crimes. He expected it to be a challenge. What he never expected was to find Allison very much alive shortly after her "murder." As his anger and hurt mix with relief, Linc isn't sure how he's supposed to feel. One thing he does know for sure: he and Allison will have to work together to stop a killer before she dies a second time--this time for good.

My Thoughts:
I have been looking forward to this book for a long time. I really like the St. John family. Yet this one fell short for me. Yes I enjoyed it, but I really just feel blah about it. It was ok. I've found other books by this author to be better. I figured out by like the 3rd chapter who was the inside person, and I wasn't wrong. So, for me, there wasn't much suspense. I also wish that there had been more interaction with the St. John family. That's what I enjoyed most about the previous books. Will I read her next one? Yes! She's a great author. This one particular book just wasn't the best one for me.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to share my honest opinion on it. I was not required to like the book, only share my honest opinion of it.

Recommended to fans of Irene Hannon, Dani Pettrey, Lynette Eason

Rating 3 stars

Deadly Intentions - A Review

Published - August 2019, Revell Books
Author - Lisa Harris
Title - Deadly Intentions
Format - ebook, paper
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About the book:
Research scientist Caitlyn Lindsey is convinced that someone is taking out her team one by one. First, a friend and research partner was killed in a home invasion. Three months ago, her boss died in a suspicious car accident. Four days ago, another partner supposedly committed suicide. And now Caitlyn herself has miraculously survived a hit-and-run. Afraid for her life with nowhere to turn, she reaches out to one of the victim's husbands, Detective Josh Solomon.

Though initially skeptical about Caitlyn's theory, Josh soon realizes that the attack that took his wife's life was anything but random. Now the two of them must discover the truth about who is after Caitlyn's team--and what their end game is--before it's too late.

My Thoughts:
This book had me captivated from the beginning. I was enthralled with it. Caitlyn wants answers. Josh feels that there's more to his wife's death than what was official. As the two kept finding more and more clues that point to murder, the book kept getting better and better. I didn't have any suspicions as to who was the master mind, so it came as a complete shock when I found out. I look forward to more by this author.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to share my honest opinion of the book. I was not required to like it only to give an honest opinion. 

Recommended to fans of Lynette Eason, Irene Hannon

Rating - 4 stars 

Th String - A Review

Published - July 2019, Revell Books
Author - Caleb Breakey
Series - Deadly Games Book 1
Title - The String
Format - ebook, paper
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About the book:
Welcome to the string, a game of impossible decisions and deadly consequences. Let's go over the ground rules.

Rule #1: Participation is mandatory.
Rule #2: If anyone refuses to play, all threats will come to pass.
Game on.

Get ready for a deadly social experiment as a sociopath known as The Conductor delivers disturbing threats and twisted moral dilemmas to unsuspecting students and staff.

As a powerful instinct for self-preservation sweeps through the campus, one man has a grave decision to make. Will university cop Markus Haas play the game to protect those he loves? Or will he break the string and incite massive chaos--and even death?

My Thoughts:
This wasn't what I expected. I expected more of an adventure almost like DaVinci Code, but this one was way more than that. There were twists and turns that had me staying up way to late reading this book. This is one book that I'd classify as a thriller. Fans of Dekker, Peretti, and Steven James will enjoy the thrill ride that this book takes the reader on before it comes to a conclusion. This is a debut author that will certainly be on my radar again!

I received a copy of this book via the publisher and NetGalley in order to share my honest opinion on it. I was not required to like the book, only share my honest opinion of it. 

Recommended to fans of Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti, Steven James, thrillers

Rating - 4 stars

Number of Love - A Review

Published - June 2019, Bethany House
Series - Codebreakers Book 1
Author - Roseanna M. White
Title - Number of Love
Format - ebook, paper, audio
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About the Book:
Three years into the Great War, England's greatest asset is their intelligence network--field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren't enough.

Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy who just won't give up. He's smitten quickly by the intelligent Margot, but how can he convince a girl who lives entirely in her mind that sometimes life's answers lie in the heart?

Amid biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save themselves from the very secrets that brought them together.

My Thoughts: 
When I met Margot in one of the author's other books, I never dreamed that she'd get her own book. Here she is all grown up and she gets her own book! Watching Margot come into her own as a major character, was a delight. I loved how her mind worked. The connections she made were amazing. I can't say what it was about him, but I honestly didn't care much for Drake. I truly don't know why. He was a fun character, there was just something that I personally didn't care for. 

 I am looking forward to the next one in the series. 

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to share my honest opinion about it. I was not required to like the book, only give my honest opinion about it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of WWI, Jody Hedlund, Roseanna M White

Rating - 4 stars

Yours Truly, Thomas: A Review

Published - July 2019 Revell Books
Author - Rachel Fordham
Title - Yours Truly, Thomas
Format - ebook, paper
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About the book -
Penny works in the dead letter office. When a letter from "Thomas" to "Clara" comes across her desk, she's determined to locate Clara to get Thomas's letters to her. When she reaches a dead end, Penny anonymously sends Thomas a letter telling he she tried and that she is praying for him. Thomas left a world of business and traveled west. When he ends up in Azure Springs, Iowa, he decides it's a good place to stay. His letters to Clara have been unanswered and he doesn't know who the dead letter office clerk was. When circumstances bring Penny and Thomas together, they soon develop a friendship. Can that friendship blossom into something else?

My Thoughts:
I really enjoyed the trip back to Azure Springs. It was fun to catch up on some of the residents. I loved Penny's determination. I loved Thomas's heart. There were a couple of places where I felt that the book dragged a little, but those were far between. I never knew that there was such a thing as a dead letter office, so learning about that was very interesting. I hope to see more from this author set in Azure Springs.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher via NetGalley for the purpose of sharing my honest opinion of the book. I was not required to like the book, only to give my honest opinion of it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of historical fiction, Rachel Fordham, Janette Oke

Rating - 4 stars

Whose Waves These Are - A Review

Published - April 2019, Bethany House
Author - Amanda Dykes
Title - Whose Waves These Are
Format - ebook, paper
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About the Book:
In the wake of WWII, a grieving fisherman submits a poem to a local newspaper: a rallying cry for hope, purpose . . . and rocks. Send me a rock for the person you lost, and I will build something life-giving. When the poem spreads farther than he ever intended, Robert Bliss's humble words change the tide of a nation. Boxes of rocks inundate the tiny, coastal Maine town, and he sets his calloused hands to work, but the building halts when tragedy strikes.

Decades later, Annie Bliss is summoned back to Ansel-by-the-Sea when she learns her Great-Uncle Robert, the man who became her refuge during the hardest summer of her youth, is now the one in need of help. What she didn't anticipate was finding a wall of heavy boxes hiding in his home. Long-ago memories of stone ruins on a nearby island trigger her curiosity, igniting a fire in her anthropologist soul to uncover answers.

She joins forces with the handsome and mysterious harbor postman, and all her hopes of mending the decades-old chasm in her family seem to point back to the ruins. But with Robert failing fast, her search for answers battles against time, a foe as relentless as the ever-crashing waves upon the sea.  

My Thoughts:
This was a beautiful book. I've never read anything by this author before, and if I'm not mistaken, this is her debut novel. The two timelines are seamlessly woven together to make a story that I couldn't put down. I loved Annie's search answers and the story behind the rocks. I also loved how it was so much more than I expected when those answers were found. 

This is a book that tells of grief and hope. It tells of forgiveness and love. 

After reading this book, I found myself dwelling on it a bit longer. I didn't want to say goodbye to the characters. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in order to help promote it. I was not required to like the book, only to give my honest opinion of it. My thoughts and my opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Kristy Cambron, Rachel Hauck

Rating - 5 stars

Reluctant Bride - A Review

Published - June 2019, Bethany House
Series - Bride Ships Book 1
Author - Jody Hedlund
Title - A Reluctant Bride
Format - ebook, paper, audio
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About the book:
Mercy Wilkins is poor. She is one of the oldest children in her family, and in order to keep her parents from sending one of the little boys to the docks, she agrees to leave home. She doesn't want to go to the workhouses, so when she hears of an opportunity to take a ship to British Columbia, she signs up. She doesn't realize that she's going to be part of a group of women who are to be brides for the settlers. Ship surgeon, Joseph Colville, is a titled peer of the realm. He doesn't have to work for a living. But he's not ready to take on all of the duties his title requires. As the ship's surgeon, the health and welfare of the crew and passengers, including the sixty brides, fall to his care. When he takes Mercy on as his assistant, both must fight the attraction they have for each other. Will they take a chance on love or not?

My Thoughts:
I don't know how Jody Hedlund does it, but each book seems to get better and better. I loved both Mercy and Joseph. I loved how their characters developed and the perceptions the had changed over the course of the book. I also loved the way that the history of the ships was portrayed. I've read other mail-order-bride type books in the past and enjoyed them. I think that this is the first one I've read where the brides aren't coming to America but to Canada, and by ship instead of wagon train or train.

I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this series.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to help promote it. I was not required to like the book, only to give an honest opinion of it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Jody Hedlund, historical fiction, Laura Frantz

Rating - 4 stars

Far Side of the Sea - A Review

Published - March 2019, Bethany House
Author - Kate Breslin
Title - Far Side of the Sea
Format - ebook, paper, audio
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About the Book:
In spring 1918, Lieutenant Colin Mabry, a British soldier working with MI8 after suffering injuries on the front, receives a message by carrier pigeon. It is from Jewel Reyer, the woman he once loved and who saved his life--a woman he believed to be dead. Traveling to France to answer her urgent summons, he desperately hopes this mission will ease his guilt and restore the courage he lost on the battlefield. 

Colin is stunned, however, to discover the message came from Jewel's half sister, Johanna. Johanna, who works at a dovecote for French Army Intelligence, found Jewel's diary and believes her sister is alive in the custody of a German agent. With spies everywhere, Colin is skeptical of Johanna, but as they travel across France and Spain, a tentative trust begins to grow between them.

When their pursuit leads them straight into the midst of a treacherous plot, danger and deception turn their search for answers into a battle for their lives.

My Thoughts:
Ever since I read Breslin's debut novel, For Such a Time, I have devoured every book that has come out that she has written. This book has a connection to the one Not By Sight, but I didn't even realize that until I was almost finished with the book when it hit me that some of the characters are in both books. 

Johanna and Colin's character development is probably part of what made me love this book. I think the author's writing style also made me love this book. I really couldn't put it down, though I had to. Life had to go on with things like work and sleep. But it's such a wonderful book. 

I received a copy of the book from the publisher on behalf of the author to help promote it. And while I'll admit that I did forget to talk about it and promote it until now, I wasn't asked to like the book. In fact, all I was asked to do was to help promote it. I certainly didn't expect to love the book. My thoughts are my own.

Recommended to fans of Jody Hedlund, Laura Frantz

Rating - 5 stars

Between Two Shores - A Review

Published - February 2019, Bethany House
Author - Jocelyn Green
Title - Between Two Shores
Format - ebook, paper, audio
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About the Book:
The daughter of a Mohawk mother and French father in 1759 Montreal, Catherine Duval finds it is easier to remain neutral in a world that is tearing itself apart. Content to trade with both the French and the British, Catherine is pulled into the fray against her wishes when her British ex-
fiance, Samuel Crane, is taken prisoner by her father. Samuel asks her to help him escape, claiming he has information that could help end the war. 

Peace appeals to Catherine, but helping the man who broke her heart does not. She delays . . . until attempts on Samuel's life convince her he's in mortal danger. Against her better judgment she helps him flee by river, using knowledge of the landscape to creep ever closer to freedom. Their time together rekindles feelings she thought long buried, and danger seems to hound their every mile. She's risked becoming a traitor by choosing a side, but will the decision cost her even more than she anticipated?

My Thoughts:
I've read a couple of books by Jocelyn Green and I'm always amazed by the depths of the books. The settings just seem to spring to life. This one was no exception. Honestly, I wasn't in the mood to read something deep when I received it. But, I was soon drawn into the author's world. I was remind a lot of Laura Frantz's books while reading it because of how beautifully written it was. 

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to share my thoughts and opinions. I was not asked to like the book, only to give an honest opinion of it. My thoughts and opinions are my own.

Recommended to fans of Laura Frantz, Jody Hedlund

Rating - 4 stars

Living Lies - A Review

Published - May 2019, Revell Books
Series - Harbored Secrets Book 1
Author - Natalie Walters
Title - Living Lies
Format - ebook, paper, audio
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About the book:
In the little town of Walton, Georgia, everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret. At least that's what Lane Kent is counting on when she returns to her hometown with her five-year-old son. Dangerously depressed after the death of her husband, Lane is looking for hope. What she finds instead is a dead body.

Lane must work with Walton's newest deputy, Charlie Lynch, to uncover the truth behind the murder. But when that truth hits too close to home, she'll have to decide if saving the life of another is worth the cost of revealing her darkest secret.


My Thoughts:
This book kept my interest from the first page. I'm always a little unsure as to what to expect from an author's first book. Do I hope I'll find a new must read author? Will I be bitterly disappointed? This book fell in the first category for me. 

I felt bad for Lane, being the person who literally stumbles upon a dead body. But the way that those outside of her family tried to protect her made me want to just give her a hug. Her family, I didn't care for them. But I kept turning the pages in this book. I think it's the mark of a good author when writing suspense that the reader doesn't figure out who is the mastermind until the author reveals it. I kept trying to figure out how to put the pieces together, but I was missing something. Once it was revealed, I realized that it was obvious and I should have seen it all along. 

I am eagerly waiting for the next book by this author. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in order to share my honest opinion of it. I was not required to like the book, only to give an honest opinion of it. My thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Recommended to fans of Irene Hannon, Lynette Eason, Terri Blackstock

Rating - 4 stars

Rise of the Mystics - A Review

Published - May 2019, Revell Books
Series - Beyond the Circle Book 2
Author - Ted Dekker
Title - Rise of the Mystics
Format - ebook, paper, audio
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About the book:
Some say the great mystery of how one can live in two worlds at once died with Thomas Hunter many years ago. Still others that the gateway to that greater reality was and is only the stuff of dreams. They are all wrong. 

Rachelle Matthews, who grew up in the small town of Eden, Utah, discovered just how wrong when she dreamed and awoke in another world. There she learned that she was the 49th Mystic, the prophesied one, tasked with finding five ancient seals before powerful enemies destroy her. If Rachelle succeeds in her quest, peace will reign. If she fails, the world will forever be locked in darkness.

In The 49th Mystic, Rachelle found the first three of those five seals through great peril and mind-altering adventure. But two seals remain hidden and the fate of both worlds hangs in their balance.

As Rachelle Matthews sits deep in a dungeon, Vlad Smith is just getting started. Thomas Hunter's world is about to be turned inside out. The mystics say that there is no defense against the Fifth Seal--but finding it will cost Rachelle everything.

So begins the final volume of high stakes in one girl's quest to find an ancient path that will save humanity. The clock is ticking; the end rushes forward.

Ready? Set?

Dream.

My Thoughts:
I was so glad that this book was in my hand when I finished the first one. Book one ends with a cliffhanger, and this one picks up immediately where it left off. 

Rachelle's journey to find the last two seals is dangerous for both worlds. But her journey in itself is page-turning.

I was glad to read this book. It kept me up well past my bedtime. It was one of those that I'll probably reread again once this series has sunk into my brain.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in order to share my honest opinion of it. My thoughts and opinions are my own. 

Recommended to fans of Ted Dekker, thrillers

Rating - 4 stars

49th Mystic - A Review

Published - May 2018, Revell
Series - Beyond the Circle Book 1
Author - Ted Dekker
Format - ebook, paper, audio
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About the book:
Some say the great mystery of how one can live in two worlds at once died with Thomas Hunter many years ago. Still others that the gateway to that greater reality was and is only the stuff of dreams.

They are wrong. In the small town of Eden, Utah, a blind girl named Rachelle Matthews is about to find out just how wrong.

When a procedure meant to restore Rachelle's sight goes awry, she begins to dream of another world so real that she wonders if Earth might only be a dream experienced when she falls asleep in that reality. Who is a simple blind girl to have such strange and fantastic dreams?

She's the prophesied one who must find and recover five ancient seals--in both worlds--before powerful enemies destroy her. If Rachelle succeeds in her quest, peace will reign. If she fails, both worlds will forever be locked in darkness.

So begins a two-volume saga of high stakes and a mind-bending quest to find an ancient path that will save humanity. The clock is ticking; the end rushes forward.

Ready? Set?

Dream.

My Thoughts:
It's been a while since I picked up one of Ted Dekker's books. He never fails to disappoint. His books are action packed and can be classified as thrillers. This one follows the Circle series. It would be helpful to read that series first, but it's not necessary. 

This one is set in two worlds - the current one, and the one of dreams. Rachelle has to find the ancient seals, and with enemies after her, it won't be easy. 

I was drawn in from the first. I really couldn't put it down.

I received a copy from the publisher in order to promote it. I was not required to like it, only give my honest opinion. 

Recommended to fans of thrillers, Ted Dekker, Frank Peretti

Rating - 4 stars