A Trick of Fate ~ Review

A Trick of Fate

Agents of the Convent #4

By Rebecca Connolly

Lucy Allred is returning home for the holidays. This is her first visit to her father's home since he retrenched. The carriage takes her into an area of London Lucy is unfamiliar with. Her father has sunk lower than she imagined if the condition of the streets were to indicate the society they would be keeping. When she is suddenly left adrift on the streets of London at night, she finds herself in a precarious situation. 

Trick (aka Hunter Mortimer) never expected to rescue a young woman while waiting for a meeting with a fellow operative. Clearly a lady of refinement, Lucy is ill-suited for the streets of London's underbelly. Trick has no choice but to be her protector until her father can be found.

Lucy is introduced to a whole new world, one not so far away from the one she has spent most of her life in. A world filled with danger, false names, and independently thinking women. Lucy has never seen herself and the life she had lived quite so clearly. How can she return to it if and when her father's new lodgings are located.

This is the fourth book in the Agents of the Convent series, but it can be read as a standalone title. The reader would truly experience Lucy's situation without any foreknowledge of previous cases. That being said, reading the previous books is recommended just to enjoy it. 

For those who want to know about the content, there are scenes with kissing, kidnapping attempts, suggestions of violence, some mild language, and drinking, all of which are to be expected given the setting and storyline. None of which would make my grandma blush or burn the book. (Yes, she did burn books she felt were garbage and unfit to be read ever again)

I was provided an ARC of the book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

If secrets lead a fool to love...

Hunter Mortimer, known in the operative world as Trick, is only doing his duty when he steps in to save a young woman in the streets of London. Thinking she is a fellow spy, what else could he do? But when the victim proves to be just an ordinary young woman in dire straits, everything in his world grows more complicated. To add to that complication, she is beautiful and fiery and makes him smile far too easily.

Lucy Allred did not intend to be a problem for the man who saved her but being lost in London left her helpless. When her father's new lodgings prove difficult for Trick to find, she must remain in his care and company for her safety. The more time she spends with him, the more her eyes open to a world that she had never imagined. And her heart opens to all new possibilities. 

The Color of Home ~ Review

The Color of Home

By Kit Tosello

Audrey Needham is counting on getting a promotion, but on the day of her big presentation, Murphy's Law struck, and she didn't even see it coming. With her past and present about to meet, she's dealing with all the pain that she's tried to leave behind. Her great-aunt Daisy needs her help, and from what Audrey can see, she's needed it for some time as great-uncle Dean's Alzheimer's becomes too much to handle alone anymore.

But Charity Falls, Oregon, is more than Daisy's home; it is also where her father lost his life in a tragic fire. A fire that chases Audrey in her sleep, hiding her happy memories. Could this be just what she needs to confront the pain of the past and find her true place?

Change is never easy and when it involves the past, pain, and family it is doubly hard. But sometimes all you need is to hear or share another part of the story.  Different perspectives can change the colors we view our life through.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Audrey Needham, Bay Area interior designer to the rich and pretentious, is down to her last nerve. Her boss is impossible to please, her future is in jeopardy, and her great-aunt Daisy needs support as her husband descends into Alzheimer's.

When Daisy enlists Audrey's help preparing for a move to assisted living, Audrey risks her career to return to the idyllic small town of Charity Falls, Oregon, the summer stomping grounds of her childhood. But Charity Falls was also the place that broke her heart when her father was killed in a tragic fire at the Sugar Pine Inn thirteen years ago.

Despite Audrey's intent to avoid emotional entanglement, the pull of home is hard to resist. Something should be done about the deteriorating inn. A local girl with an incarcerated father needs a friend. And handsome local do-gooder Cade Carter is coloring Audrey all shades of uncertain.

Join award-winning writer and debut novelist Kit Tosello in this lyrical and often humorous exploration of how God redeems brokenness and draws us to the life we're meant to find.

Cornered ~ Review

Cornered

  By Lynette Eason, 

          Lynn H. Blackburn,

              and Natalie Walters

This is a fun and engaging chance to explore the writings of three different authors. They have created three stories for this collection that are set in their established series. However, reading their previous works is not required to enjoy these new offerings. This is a great way to introduce yourself or a friend to a new author (or two or three).

In the Dark is by Lynette Eason, and gracious tension runs high as Steph Cross deals with the fallout of her coworker's death when she cleans out her desk and finds a hidden notebook. If you see DANGER flashing bright red, you are there. On the plus side, she meets Detective Tate Cooper, who seems interested in her. First, she'll have to survive the person or persons intent on keeping what she found hidden. The question is why and who. Time to cue the Jaws theme. (No sharks were involved in this story, but that music is so dramatic!)

In Lynn H. Blackburn's Downfall, a long-held family feud comes into play when Cassie Quinn fills in for the local mountain resort. The other family owns the resort, and Cassie is dealing with a lot of baggage when someone suddenly decides to make it personal. With the kitchen trashed, the police are called in, and of course, the lead detective is the ex-boyfriend who broke her heart. Ugh!!! Donovan Bledsoe knew he was in trouble. Yes, he broke up with Cassie but never kicked her out of his heart. Keeping her safe is now the only between him and asking for a second chance. If they can figure out why she's become a target, they may discover who is determined to shorten her life. The feud between the Quinns and the ??? has never been violent before. Could something have changed? A pulse-pounding climax is coming your way with this one! 

Natalie Walter's Perilous Obsession is more than a little scary for Lahela Young. Lahela finds herself getting empty phone calls (the scary kind that you know someone is there, but they say nothing). She asks for help from Briggs Turner. As a former police officer, she knows he can help her and offer advice. But things get worse as whoever is watching her ratchets it up. Soon, it is no longer a nuisance but a danger. Lahela doesn't want to leave Texas and her new friends behind, but would returning home to Hawaii be safer, or will she just bring the danger with her?  This story links to The SNAP Agency series. (Must read!!!)

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations, but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Prepare for three times the thrills with these nail-biting page-turners from your favorite romantic suspense authors!

In In the Dark by Lynette Eason, accountant Steph Cross is cleaning out a coworker's desk after her untimely death when she finds cryptic notes that lead her to believe her friend's car accident was no accident at all. Detective Tate Cooper is determined to help her crack the case before someone else gets hurt. But can he protect the woman who has so quickly laid claim to his heart?

In Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn, chef Cassie Quinn gets an offer she can't refuse: to fill in as chef at an exclusive mountain resort. But when the kitchen is destroyed and it becomes clear Cassie is in danger, she's forced to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend, Detective Donovan Bledsoe, to find the culprit and keep her safe.

In Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters, teacher Lahela Young becomes the target of someone with a twisted obsession 

of righting a wrong. The first person she turns to is her good friend Briggs Turner. Briggs may have left his career as a 

police officer, but he still has the instinct to protect--especially for Lahela.

Across the Star-Kissed Sea ~ Review

Across the Star-Kissed Sea

(Proper Romance ~ Regency)

By Arlem Hawks

This book is a sequel/companion to Georgana's Secret. But if you haven't read it, that is not a problem, as this book is told from the perspectives of May Byam and Elias Doswell, who were not in the previous book. That being said, this was another lovely Regency read with a naval theme. 

May Byam needs a job, and respectable employment for ladies is difficult to come by. She makes haste to apply when she sees an advertisement for a lady's maid/companion on a naval ship. There is a wee misunderstanding of her purpose for boarding the ship. This misunderstanding results in a less-than-favorable first impression of Elias Doswell, who happens to be the ship chaplain.

Life in the navy is not Elias Doswell's ideal, but he is fleeing a broken heart—not his first. When some off-hand remarks are made, Elias fears for May and her need for any employment available. His embarrassment could not be any worse, and now he's made an enemy out of the young lady the captain's wife just hired.

May hopes to fulfill her late cousin's dream of serving, though she will never be the seafarer he or her uncle was. However, when she learns who her employer is, she begins to regret her decision, but she's given her word and refuses to break it. Her knowledge has prepared her, but her experience is all from the stories she was told, not firsthand.

This was an excellent read set in the Regency era. It is a book of new beginnings, second chances, and facing fears, all within the confines of a ship. The path before May and Elias is uncertain, much like the sea they sail. With the threat of sea battles with the French, danger draws ever closer. But the greatest danger may be to their hearts if they can't get beyond their pasts.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own. 

About the Book:

When May becomes a lady’s maid at sea, she’s hoping for an innocent adventure 

but instead must navigate rough waters, deadly combat, and unexpected love.

Mediterranean Sea, 1811

May Byam grew up following her father to his work at the ropemaking factory and listening to her uncle’s tales of life aboard a Royal Navy ship. After tragedy and scandal shatter her family, May is desperate to escape the shame that follows her. Despite her mother’s pleadings against it, May signs on as a lady’s maid to the young wife of a naval captain. If she’s going to run, she may as well do it in honor of her late uncle and cousin and where there is food, shelter, and perhaps even adventure. But the frosty reception she receives from the ship’s clergyman makes her feel far from welcome.

Heartbroken young Chaplain Elias Doswell returns to a harsh life at sea, but preaching to disinterested sailors isn’t the escape he’d hoped for—until a captivating young woman boards the ship. However, a case of mistaken identity ensures that he starts off on the wrong foot with the newly hired lady’s maid, who clearly wants nothing to do with him. But the close quarters of the ship forces the pair together, and May begins to see a side of the handsome clergyman she didn’t expect. As they struggle to navigate their deepening feelings, the danger of war with the French looms on the horizon, threatening their lives—and their love.

Terminal Danger ~ Review with Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Terminal Danger by Jerusha Agen, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Terminal Danger 

Terminal Danger

Guardians Unleashed #5

By Jerusha Agen

Phoenix Gray has spent most of her life on this cold case. She is going to be sure justice is served on the serial killer she has long sought. She has set the perfect trap for him, and she's the bait. 

What Phoenix didn't anticipate was Callum Ross, an FBI agent called in to help with tracking down the killer's latest target. He somehow gets how Phoenix thinks; because he understands her, he could be a distraction and a danger to her plans.

In Terminal Danger, we finally get Phoenix's story—a story that no one knows. It is not pretty and has shaped her into the unreadable woman she is today—disconnected from her emotions. She has turned her back on God. He wasn't there when she needed Him, so why should she believe? Callum should understand where she's coming from, but what he's seen and experienced hasn't turned him from God. 

This time, Phoenix may need the women she has employed with Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency more than she ever expected. The time for secrets has ended, or this case could destroy her. More than anything else, Phoenix needs to find her way to God. And learn that forgiveness is more for the person wronged than anything else.

This book can be read as a standalone title, but since it concludes the series, it is best read and enjoyed in order. If you enjoy suspense and books that examine the human spirit, you will want to delve into this book and series. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book

Title: Terminal Danger

Series: Guardians Unleashed #5
Author: Jerusha Agen
Publisher: SDG Words, LLC
Release Date: October 24, 2024
Genre: Christian romantic suspense

This woman and her K-9 are being hunted.  

Exactly as she planned. 

When a busload of schoolchildren disappears, Phoenix Gray knows the kidnapper is the unidentified serial killer she’s spent her life trying to catch. This time, she’ll find the killer and bring him to justice no matter what it takes. She and her Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency join the search for the hostages, but they aren’t the only ones who want the criminal captured. 

Callum Ross, an FBI agent who specializes in catching serial criminals, is about to resign. But not until he finds one last culprit, the killer behind a famous twenty-year-old crime Callum vowed to solve. 

Despite the FBI agent’s uncanny understanding of her psyche, Phoenix refuses to be distracted from her goal. When the serial killer turns into the cat instead of the mouse, Phoenix thinks she’s ready. But will she need the God she rejected to achieve the justice she’s given her life to obtain?  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy Directly From the Author | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More Books in This Series

     

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About the Author

Jerusha Agen imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes romantic suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats, often while reading or watching movies.

Connect with Jerusha by visiting jerushaagen.com to find more of her thrilling, fear-fighting stories, follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of Terminal Danger, a Terminal Danger mug, $25 Barnes and Noble gift card, Terminal Danger magnet, plus more swag!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 28, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 4, 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 only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Hometown Vendetta ~ Review

Hometown Vendetta
Luke Steele #1
By Traci Hunter Abrahamson

Luke Steele left Pine Falls, Virginia, and its memories behind when he joined the Marines. He never planned to return, ever, but when a domestic terrorist attack is linked to his hometown, everything changed. Luke's past and present are about to meet, and he's caught in the middle.

Amberlyn McDowell is one of several FBI Special Agents seeking to stop a domestic terrorist group before they strike again. When Luke Stelle, military aide to the president, identifies a ring on one of the suspected bombers, he is pulled into the investigation. Luke's upcoming high school reunion is the perfect cover story, allowing Amberlyn to pose as Luke's girlfriend. 

With the former champion football team about to be honored, Luke would rather be anywhere but Pine Falls. His high school tormentors are all on the suspect list, and helping Amberlyn get an "in" with them is not going to be pleasant. And the banes of his high school existence aren't about to let him forget the hierarchy established all those years ago.

Hometown Vendetta is the first book in the Luke Steele series. It is an excellent read, high in intensity, and definitely builds until the climax. Different issues are touched on, including bullying, grief, loss, and betrayal. I really liked Luke's character and watched how Amberlyn's interactions with Luke changed as she got to know and understand him. I look forward to additional books featuring these characters. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Marine Captain Luke Steele and FBI Special Agent Amberlyn McDowell must work together to unravel a deadly conspiracy before times runs out while also navigating their undercover fake relationship that is becoming all too real.

When a terrorist attack grips the nation, Luke Steele, a military aide to the president of the United States, is reassigned to track down the suspect because the alleged bomber was spotted wearing a state championship ring from Luke’s hometown. Luke has desperately tried to forget his high school years, but he can’t run from them now. Instead, he must face his most formidable assignment yet: leave his post by the president’s side, return to Pine Falls, Virginia, and face every demon from his childhood—including every person and every thought that told him he wasn’t worth anything.

FBI Special Agent Amberlyn Reiner has spent years tracking domestic terrorism. When she catches a break that could pinpoint the key player in the antigovernment group responsible for dozens of needless deaths, she’s willing to do whatever it takes to get the information she seeks—even if it means going undercover as Luke Steele’s plus-one at his high school reunion. Though Amberlyn found Luke arrogant and aloof during their time together at Quantico, it doesn’t take long for her to discover that there’s much more to him than she realized. But even as the line between fact and fiction in their relationship blurs, the countdown to danger accelerates. Time is running out, and with the threat of another terrorist attack looming, the stakes are higher than ever.

Murder in Highbury ~ Review

Murder in Highbury

A Emma Knightly Mystery#1

By Vanessa Kelly

Emma Woodhouse is no more, rather she is Emma Knightley, newly married, and enjoying life in Highbury. But in an instant everything is disrupted when she and Harriet (Smith) Martin find a body in the church. If finding a body wasn't shocking enough the identity is even more so, Mrs. Elton is dead! And Emma is convinced she was murdered even before anyone else has been summoned or the inquest is held. Highbury's idealic charm is shattered with fears that a murderer is now in their midst.  

Fearing that justice won't find the true killer, Emma flaunts expectations and takes it upon herself to find the killer. With the skills she formerly employed as a matchmaker she turns to sluething. 

Murder in Highbury is the next chapter in the life of Emma Woodhouse and all the characters who called Highbury home. This was a fun read mostly, excepting for Mrs, Elton. There is a familiarity with the characters. The writing makes this feel like this the next logical step in the lives of the people one got to know while enjoying Jame Austen's original work Emma. An enjoyable read for fans of Jane Ausen or Regency who-dunits. This easily a potential reread, in my opinion. I look forward to the second book in this series.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

First in a captivating new series, Jane Austen’s Emma Knightley entertains a different role in Highbury—going from clever matchmaker to Regency England’s shrewdest sleuth.

Less than one year into her marriage to respected magistrate George Knightley, Emma has grown unusually content in her newfound partnership and refreshed sense of independence. The height of summer sees the former Miss Woodhouse gracefully balancing the meticulous management of her elegant family estate and a flurry of social engagements, with few worries apart from her beloved father’s health . . .  

But cheery circumstances change in an instant when Emma and Harriet Martin, now the wife of one of Mr. Knightley’s tenant farmers, discover a hideous shock at the local church. The corpse of Mrs. Augusta Elton, the vicar’s wife, has been discarded on the altar steps—the ornate necklace she often wore stripped from her neck . . .  

As a chilling murder mystery blooms and chaos descends upon the tranquil village of Highbury, the question isn’t simply who committed the crime, but who wasn’t secretly wishing for the unpleasant woman’s demise. When suspicions suddenly fall on a harmless local, Emma—armed with wit, unwavering determination, and extensive social connections—realizes she must discreetly navigate an investigation of her own to protect the innocent and expose the ruthless culprit hiding in plain sight.

ADVANCE PRAISE

• “Brimming with all the wit and charm one can expect from a visit to Jane Austen’s world, Murder in Highbury presents Austen’s beloved and interfering character Emma with a murder. When Emma puts her clever wits to use to discover the murderer who hides among them, danger and humor mingle to provide us with mystery, delight, and a clever new sleuth. Author Vanessa Kelly writes with an experienced touch and clear fondness for her well-beloved characters, giving us the sequel we formerly could merely long for and imagine.”— Christina Dodd, New York Times bestselling author.

About the Author:

Vanessa Kelly is a bestselling author of historical mystery and historical romance. She has won multiple awards, including the prestigious Maggie Medallion for best historical romance. She is a USA Today, Barnes & Noble, BookScan, and Amazon bestseller several times over. To date, her books have been published in eleven languages. After receiving her MA in English literature from Rutgers University, Vanessa spent several years in the Ph. D program at the University of Toronto, studying women authors of the 18th Century. She worked as a researcher for many years, and currently resides in Ottawa, Canada, with her husband.