Lake Season ~ Review

Lake Season
Bluebell Inn #1
By Denise Hunter

Molly Bennett has a crush on bestselling author Nathaniel Quinn, his true identity is a mystery, but his words speak to her, give words to her feelings.  And since her parents' death, Molly has been living with the guilt of not making time for their last conversation. She along with her older brother Levi and her younger sister Grace has taken on their parents' dream of turning their home into a Bed-and-Breakfast.  Putting their plans on hold they plan on making a name for the Bluebell Inn located in Bluebell, North Carolina.

Adam Bradford is sure once his identity gets out all his fans will be disappointed in him, after all, he isn't athletic like his dad, uncles, and cousins. Writing isn't a manly occupation and his father was more than a little disappointed in his chosen career as a writer of fiction. He is nothing like his heroes and he just can't let his identity get out. And his fears of inferiority are starting to have an effect on him in the form of writer's block. But when he seeks lodging at the Bluebell Inn he thinks Molly's vitality just might be the inspiration he needs.

Thinking that their new guest might help determine where to start her search for the writer and intended recipient of a long lost letter, Molly approaches Adam with her find. Adam is drawn to the letter and the story that it hints at. A love lost, a misunderstanding, did Lizzie and Benjamin get their happily-ever-after or were they forever parted with words of anger?

This is a book that is told in two eras - the present and the past (the 1960s). As these two stories work closer together the reader won't see what is coming. Not to give anything away but it is an ending that will appeal to those who hope for a satisfying conclusion. The threads that tie this book together are family, trust, honesty, and hope. This is the first book in the Bluebell Inn series that follows the Bennett siblings as they navigate their world following their parents' death and their opening of the inn. This promises to be a delightful series for those looking for a few hours of bookish escape.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher via Amazon's Vine Program with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

When their parents die in a tragic accident, Molly Bennett and her siblings pull together to fulfill their parents’ dream: turning their historic Bluebell, North Carolina home back into an inn. The situation would just be temporary—three years at the most—then they would sell the inn and Molly could get back to chasing her own dreams.

Adam Bradford (a.k.a. bestselling author Nathaniel Quinn) is a reclusive novelist with a bad case of writer’s block. Desperate for inspiration as his deadline approaches, he travels to the setting of his next book, a North Carolina lake town. There he immediately meets his muse, a young innkeeper who fancies herself in love with his alter ego.

Molly and Adam strike up an instant friendship. When Molly finds a long-lost letter in the walls of her inn she embarks on a mission with Adam to find the star-crossed lovers and bring them the closure they deserve. But Adam has secrets of his own. Past and present collide as truths are revealed, and Molly and Adam will have to decide if love is worth trusting.

Smoke Screen ~ Review

Smoke Screen
By Terri Blackstock

Fourteen years ago their lives were shattered. Brenna Strickland and Nate Beckett weren't supposed to fall in love. Brenna was a PK and Nate the son of the town drunk and when Brenna's father confronted Nate's that night everything changed. Pastor Strickland's murder resulted in Roy Beckett going to jail.

But now Roy Beckett has been pardoned and Nate finds himself heading home for the first time in years. He had no intention of returning home to the rumors and innuendo, but an injury has put his fire-fighting on hold until he recovers. And when he learns that Brenna is back in town he has to see her, to know how she is handling the news of his father's release.

Brenna Strickland's life moved past her first love and she is now Brenna Hertzog, divorced and caught in a custody battle for her young children. And she is not handling the separation from her children well - turning to alcohol to numb the pain. Nate sees how Brenna has changed and the pain she's living with is pulling her further down. Nate wants to help Brenna but he knows that unless she admits that she needs help nothing he does will be enough. And more than anything he sees that she needs to return to the faith she shared with him when they were teens.

Roy Beckett has never stopped claiming he never killed Pastor Strickland and he wants his sons Drew and Nate to look over the evidence to help him prove his innocence. What they never expected was that their father may have been telling the truth. But can they prove who may have been behind the murder or will their evidence go up in smoke?

Smoke Screen is a contemporary read that is a well-blended mix of mystery, suspense, and romance fiction. The who-dun-it doesn't reveal too much too soon so the reader's attention is well engaged as Brenna deals with what life has recently sent her way as she struggles to keep her children in her life while dealing with her own weaknesses and insecurities. Nate is dealing with his feelings concerning his father and the distrust that drove him from home. Overall a good read that will keep the pages turning.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book through Amazon's Vine Program with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion ~ all thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

One father was murdered. 

Another was convicted of his death. 

All because their children fell in love.

Nate Beckett has spent his life-fighting wildfires instead of the lies and rumors that drove him from his Colorado hometown. His mother begs him to come back now that his father has been released from prison, but it isn’t until he’s sidelined by an injury that he’s forced to return and face his past. But that means facing Brenna too.

Fourteen years ago, Nate was in love with the preacher’s daughter. When Pastor Strickland discovered Brenna defied him to sneak out with Nate, the fight between Strickland and Nate’s drunken dad was loud—and very public. Strickland was found murdered later that night, and everyone accused Roy Beckett. When the church burned down not long after, people assumed Nate set the fire to get even for his father’s conviction. He let the rumors fly and left town without looking back.

Brenna is stunned to learn that the man convicted of murdering her father has been pardoned. The events of that night set her life on a bad course, and now she’s fighting a brutal custody battle with her ex and his new wife where he’s using lies and his family’s money to sway the judge. Brenna is barely hanging on, and she’s turned to alcohol to cope. Shame and fear consume her.

As Nate and Brenna deal with the present—including new information about that fateful night and a wildfire that’s threatening their town—the past keeps igniting. Nate is the steady force Brenna has so desperately needed. But she’ll have to learn to trust him again first.

Tracking Game ~ Review

Tracking Game
Timber Creek K-9 Mystery #5
By Margaret Mizushima

First I'll say when I got this book I did not know that it was the fifth in a series but I did not have any trouble getting into the book. Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo are about to have a case on their hands (or paws) that is about to shake up the community of Timber Creek. The Summer of Romance dance is interrupted by an explosion - and explosion that critically injures a friend, leaves behind a murder victim, and attempts to destroy evidence of another crime. 

Every potential witness or associate of the victim leaves Mattie and Timber Creek police force with more questions than answers. But when one of their potential suspects turns up dead Mattie quickly realizes they have a bigger, deadlier problem than a killer in their midst. 

Tracking Game, for the most part, was fairly good. I'm not a fan of the ending or all the personal life stuff that was going on in Mattie's life. I think this is okay as a standalone read and to be honest I did not get attached to any of the characters or hints at what had previously happened to want to read any other books in the series. I like mysteries but I got clogged down over the personal life stuff so I actually found it to be a distraction. The mystery part was good and I did enjoy it and the who-dun-it was well concealed.

I received a complimentary copy of this book through Amazon's Vine Program with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:
Two brutal murders, a menacing band of poachers, and a fearsome creature on the loose in the mountains plunge Mattie Cobb and her K-9 partner Robo into a sinister vortex.

An explosion outside a community dance sends Mattie Cobb and Cole Walker reeling into the night, where they discover a burning van and beside it the body of outfitter Nate Fletcher. But the explosion didn't kill Nate--it was two gunshots to the heart.

The investigation leads them to the home of rancher Doyle Redman, whose daughter is Nate's widow, and the object of one of their suspect's affection. But before they can make an arrest, they receive an emergency call from a man who's been shot in the mountains. Mattie and Robo rush to the scene, only to be confronted by the ominous growl of a wild predator.

As new players emerge on the scene, Mattie begins to understand the true danger that's enveloping Timber Creek. They journey into the cold, misty mountains to track the animal--but discover something even more deadly in Tracking Game, the fifth installment in Margaret Mizushima's Timber Creek K-9 mysteries.

Ruby Jane ~ Review

Ruby Jane
Montana Marshalls #5
By Sasan May Warren

Ruby Jane is the conclusion to the 5-book Marshall family saga. The previous book Ford left us with York Newgate being taken away by the CIA and her missing boss murdered. Everyone believes that York died in a fiery car crash but RJ can't accept that the man she loved is dead - she alone believes that he is still alive. But why he hasn't reached out to her has her worried. And even more troubling why was her boss Sophia Randall murdered and just how does it tie into RJ's nearly fatal trip to Russia?

Mack Jones has no idea where he came from or how he ended up in the rough shape he is in. He just knows he needs to stay under the radar of the local PD. He feels that something in his past isn't all it should be and that he may not be a good person. His new employer offers him a place to start over and hope that a new beginning is possible. But Mack has something lurking in the back of his mind something that scares him. But when Mack becomes a hero he is about to come face-to-face with his past and if he doesn't remember who he is the danger that has been hunting him may find him yet again.

Ruby Jane is surprised when she catches an interview of some she is sure is York. Determined to discover what happened she is more than a little surprised when the man she was sure was York doesn't seem to recognize her and in fact, seems to be well established in the small town she finds herself in. Is this lumberjack like man York or is it the twin everyone is supposed to have? And if this is York does she have the right to destroy his chance at a fresh start - a life without the guilt and pain of the past?

As all the storylines from the series begin to come together it soon becomes apparent that someone may not survive - the question is whether or not one of the Marshall siblings will be among the fallen. Now if you have not yet read the previous 4 Montana Marshall books it is an absolute must as they must be read in order before taking on Ruby Jane. Each builds upon the previous title. An assassination attempt. A bombing. An attack. Election meddling. The Russian mafia. A fire. A kidnapping. A traitor. And a family smack dab in the middle of everything.

The trip to the climax will leave you on the edge of your seat as it unfolds. And be prepared for anything it may be the only way that you'll survive.

I received a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

She loved...and lost.

Ruby Jane never thought she'd meet the man of her dreams while running from the police in Russia. That he'd steal her heart on a train to Siberia. But loving a former CIA officer comes with a price...a life of danger. A life of high stakes.

A life where he simply disappears...

He has no memory of the man he was.

Mack Jones has no memory of his past...just the dark sense that he is hiding. And, he wants to stay that way. Mack likes the life he's built in a small tourist town, tucked away beyond the mountains, and has no desire to dig around in the gray areas of his memory.

When his place of business catches fire and Mack rescues the owner, he makes the news, which of course alerts the past he's hoping to outrun.

The only person who can help him is a mysterious woman he doesn't remember.

But a woman he desperately needs.

The surprising, thrilling conclusion to the Montana Marshall series.

Seconds to Live ~ Review

Seconds to Live
Homeland Heroes #1
By Susan Sleeman

A cybercriminal has compromised the U.S. Marshals database of persons who are in their Witness Protection Program (WITSEC) and the data is available for purchase. With time running against them RED Team is assigned the lead in this case. FBI Agent Sean Nichols is the led agent in this multi-agency team and they need to move fast to stop the individual they believe responsible for this breach - Phantom is known for not only incredible hacking skills but a deadly ruthlessness.

First stop is Portland, Oregon, to connect with U.S. Marshal Taylor Mills, with whom RED Team had previous dealings. Taylor's charge in WITSEC is of particular interest as she has the hacking skills needed to pull this off and she has had previous dealings with Phantom. Dealings that have her life in danger and on Phantom's radar.

There is just one little problem though they have never met in person Sean and Taylor have a relationship that is about to put a serious dose of awkward into their face-to-face dealings. Working with someone who knows some of your deepest feelings is never easy and Sean and Taylor are about to find out just how hard it is very quickly. Can you say stepping on toes when they each try to do their job with no compromise?

With the threat that someone inside the U.S. Marshal office is involved Taylor is effectively cut off from her normal support team with need to know severely limited. Phantom is always seemingly two steps ahead of them and every lead soon becomes a dead-end.

Tick-tock is the refrain that must be running through the minds of this group as the threat to protected witnesses begins to become reality. Trust is what is needed to get them to their goal - Phatom's capture and the recovery of the stolen database and trust is the one thing that both Sean and Taylor have in short supply.

Seconds to Live is the first book in Susan Sleeman's new Homeland Heroes series and it has a wide cast of characters whom one is more than willing to get to know in future books. One would assume that the RED Team will continue to work on a seemingly cold case that they haven't solved - the Montgomery Three has haunted all of them (we are given little about this case other than that the team sees this as a failure). I like that little hints are offered throughout about the other team members but nothing to truly flesh them out so that they become a friend rather they are like the neighbor you only pass on the way to and from work. The book works well as a series staring point but also works well as a standalone book.

This book is classified as Romantic Suspense and falls well into that genre - those who have read Susan Sleeman's work with Love Inspired Suspense will not be disappointed in this offering from Bethany House. Great way to pass the late-night hours when you should probably be sleeping but what can I say I was hooked and could not stop reading.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via the publisher with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion - all thoughts expressed are my own.


About the Book:

The Seconds Are Ticking Down before Someone Dies

When cybercriminals hack into the U.S. Marshals' Witness Protection database and auction off witnesses' personal details to the highest bidders, the RED Team, led by FBI Agent Sean Nichols, begins a high-stakes chase to find the hacker. But before he can even get started, the first witness is targeted and barely escapes with her life. Sean believes Phantom, an obsessed hacker who previously outwitted the top minds in the field, is behind the attack, and Sean needs this witness's help, as she's the person who has come closest to discovering Phantom's identity.

Trouble is, she's under the care of U.S. Marshal Taylor Mills, and Sean is reluctant to work with the captivating Marshal who knows his deepest secrets. But Phantom seems to be one step ahead at every turn and will stop at nothing to kill the witness. To stop the hacker, Sean and Taylor must learn to trust each other as danger draws ever closer.

The Painted Castle ~ Review

The Painted Castle
The Lost Castle #3
By Kristy Cambron

Keira Foley finds herself working in her family's Dublin pub rather than making use of her skills as an art authenticator. But when Emory Scott starts making a nuisance of himself hanging out in the pub Keira finds herself running interference with American and her overprotective brother Cormac. But Emory has a proposition for Keira that requires her art knowledge. But it will take her to East Suffolk and Parham Hill Estate.

Parham Hill has a history that has a bearing on the mysterious painting that Keira has been hired to authenticate.

1843 finds Elizabeth Meade in search of her father's killer. Ten years have passed since he died before her eyes and she is determined to find the man she thinks responsible. When a possible match with Viscount Huxley brings her to Parham Hill she becomes acquainted with portrait artist Franz Winterhalter and the man she believes she has been searching for. But what Elizabeth thinks she knows is far from the truth she never knew.

1944 finds Parham Hill caught up in the midst of a world at war. Amelia Woods has lost her husband to the war and grieves the life she will never have. Parham has been turned into a boarding school for refugee children when most unexpectedly they are ordered to offering housing American pilots who have no room on the nearby base.

What ties these three women together is Parham Hill, a painting of Queen Victoria, and hearts that are hurting from loss. As with the previous Lost Castle novels, this book is a delightful blending of three stories into one. As the story progresses every third chapter focuses on a different character/timeline in a seamless fashion. One knows that the story is changing but it is not a sudden and abrupt departure that leaves the reader wondering what happened. This is the perfect read for those who love contemporary and historical fiction with a generous pinch of mystery and romance. I highly recommend this book if you are looking for a book-getaway that ends well.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via the publisher through Amazon's Vine Program with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion.

About the Book:

A lost painting of Queen Victoria... 

A centuries-old English estate with a library bricked off from the world...

And three women, separated by time, whose lives are irrevocably changed.

When art historian Keira Foley is hired to authenticate a painting at a centuries-old East Suffolk manor, she hopes this is just the thing to get her career and life back on track. But from the time she arrives at Parham Hill Estate and begins working alongside rumored art thief Emory Scott, she’s left with far more questions than answers. Could this lost painting of Queen Victoria be a duplicate of the original Winterhalter masterpiece, and if so, who is the artist?

As Keira begins to unravel the mystery behind the portrait of the queen, two women emerge from the estate’s forgotten past. In Victorian England, talented sketch artist Elizabeth Meade is engaged to Viscount Huxley, then owner of Parham Hill. While there, master portrait artist Franz Winterhalter takes her under his wing, but Elizabeth’s real motive for being at Parham Hill has nothing to do with art. She’s determined to avenge her father’s brutal murder—even if it means feigning an engagement to the very man she believes committed the crime.

A century later, Amelia Woods—a WWII widow who has turned Parham Hill Estate and its beloved library into a boarding school for refugee children—receives military orders to house a troop of American pilots. She is determined that the children in her care remain untouched by the war, but it’s proving difficult with officers taking up every square inch of their world… and one in particular vying for a space in her long shut up heart.

Set in three time periods—the rapid change of Victorian England, the peak of England’s home front tensions at the end of World War II, and modern day—The Painted Castle unfolds a story of heartache and hope and unlocks secrets lost for generations, just waiting to be found.

The Painted Castle is a sweet romance, the third in the Lost Castle series. It can be read as a stand-alone but is better if read with The Lost Castle and Castle on the Rise.

North by Northanger ~ Review

North by Northanger
By Rebecca H. Jamison

It was just supposed to be a blind date with her brother's roommate but when a stranger accidentally mixes up phones with Eva Morland she is drawn into something she'd never imagined. There was something about Grant Tilney that just made for an almost instantaneous connection so when Eva discovers the phone mix-up she rushes off to switch the phones back. What could go wrong with a good deed?

But instead of Grant, Eva finds herself being kidnapped and taken to a remote location. When Eva manages to escape no one believes her. In fact, Eva finds herself instead on the wrong side of the law and her life in danger. What's a girl to do???

When Eva manages to find Grant and get her phone back she soon needs his help to again get away from her kidnappers. But can she trust a stranger who just happens to know things that he shouldn't? Who is Grant and is he truly trying to help her? Or will he be the one to bring her down? But they are on the run and she needs to trust someone.

North by Northanger is a fun read that keeps the reader wondering just what is truly going on. Who can Eva trust and will she ever get home to her family? Or will she just be an unexplained disappearance?

Overall an enjoyable clean mystery that won't keep you up at night unless you can't stop turning the pages. My takeaway from this is don't chase after a stranger to return a phone if you don't know exactly where they went you might end up on the wrong side of a gun. This could be a cute movie but just as fun reading and imagining the characters for yourself.

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:

While Eva Morland waits for her first-ever blind date to arrive, she meets Grant Tilney. Not only does flirting come easily with Grant, but he also shares her appreciation for black-and-white movies and vintage diners. After he leaves, she notices that he left his phone behind. Setting out to find his office and return the phone, she knocks on a warehouse door. The man who answers mistakes Eva for a government spy, who’s come to investigate his crime ring. He and his partner force Eva into a car and drive her to a secluded trailer in the country.

Eva’s kidnapping sets her down a path of suspense and romance, as she uses all her wits to escape from the bad guys and prove her true identity. Grant comes to her rescue, hiding her in the cab of his semi-truck, but it seems that the criminals are always a step ahead.

Grant is the only one who believes Eva, but as they journey North, Eva starts to question Grant’s identity and motives. She must discover for herself if Grant is one of the good guys or bad guys. Only then will she know whether he’s worth the risk of her own life.

Fans of Hitchcock and Jane Austen will enjoy this modern mash-up of North by Northwest with Northanger Abbey.

Kaya: The Journey Begins

The Journey Begins
Kaya #1
By Janet Shaw

Kaya is constantly being told boasting is wrong, but she can't help it if the truths she tells sound like boasting. After all her Appaloosa mare is the most beautiful and the fastest horse in the herd. But when Kaya's boasting leads her to neglect her assigned task of watching her younger brothers all the children suffer as a result of her boasting and disobedience.  Worse her actions have earned her a nickname she would rather not have.

When her sister Brown Deer is hurt, Kaya's quick thinking and Steps High speed are the only things that prevent a tragedy from occurring. But Kaya still bears the nickname that she despises.

When enemies raid their camp during the night Kaya fears that Steps High will be stolen away and she leads her sister Speaking Rain into danger. Worse both girls are captured and taken for from their family and friends. When they arrive in the raiders camp Kaya and Speaking Rain are put to work as slaves - is there any hope of rescue or escape? And with Speaking Rain's blindness is there any way the two girls could escape together? Or will Kaya be forced to leave her sister behind?

This book is set in 1764 and focuses on Kaya's way of life with the Nimiipuu, today we know them as the Nez Perce. The importance of following instructions is stressed as is the need to avoid boasting (which as Kaya proved leads to actions one later regrets). The story is well-paced and the characters well developed. The illustrations work well to help bring the story to life. There are 6 pages after the story portion of the book that focuses on what Kaya's world was like giving historical facts that will help the reader further understand the context of the story.

I received this book via Amazon's Vine Program with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion.




About the Book:

Kaya and her horse are in the lead...

Kaya knows in her heart that her beautiful Appaloosa mare, Steps High, is the fastest horse in the herd. But when boasting leads to a daring bareback race, Kaya pushes Steps High too hard. She puts herself and the horse in danger and earns a terrible nickname for being untrustworthy. Kaya vows to be a girl her horse and her people can trust. When enemy raiders storm Kaya's village, she tries to save Steps High but gets taken captive herself, along with her sister. All Kaya can think of is escape, but how?

Saving Jemima ~ Review

Saving Jemima
Life and Love with a Hard-Luck Jay
By Julie Zickefoose

It all started with noticing something where it should not be. While gardening the author found a newly-laid Blue Jay egg on the ground. She replaced it in its nest and then worried about it and its 2 potential siblings. Her fears were confirmed when prey got to 2 of the eggs. She determined to handle its incubation and deal with its raising when it hatched. But the egg died just under 1/2 through the process.

Julie Zickefoose was crushed in a sense after anticipating the drawings she would capture as her little jay grew and developed. When a year later she learned of a nestling jay in dire need she offered to give it immediate temporary care.  But temporary soon grew into something more. This book is the journey that took Jemima from sickly nestling to a wild Blue Jay. The journey was filled with setbacks both for Jemima and Julie. But it is also a journey of discovery and triumph.
I once read the book That Quail, Robert and this book reminded me of it though it has been years since I read it.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Amazon's Vine Program with no expectations but that provide my honest opinion.

About the Book:
For fans of Wesley the Owl and The Soul of an Octopus, the story of a sick baby bird nursed back to health and into the wild by renowned writer/artist Julie Zickefoose.

When Jemima, a young orphaned blue jay, is brought to wildlife rehabilitator Julie Zickefoose, she is a virtually tailless, palm-sized bundle of gray-blue fluff. But she is starved and very sick. Julie’s constant care brings her around, and as Jemima is raised for eventual release, she takes over the house and the rest of the author's summer.
 
Shortly after release, Jemima turns up with a deadly disease. But medicating a free-flying wild bird is a challenge. When the PBS show Nature expresses interest in filming Jemima, Julie must train her to behave on camera, as the bird gets ever wilder. Jemima bonds with a wild jay, stretching her ties with the family. Throughout, Julie grapples with the fallout of Jemima’s illness, studies molt and migration, and does her best to keep Jemima strong and wild. She falls hard for this engaging, feisty and funny bird, a creative muse and source of strength through the author’s own heartbreaking changes.

Emotional and honest, Saving Jemima is a universal story of the communion between a wild creature and the human chosen to raise it.

Brand of Light - Spotlight with Giveaway

Welcome to the Brand of Light Takeover Tour hosted by 

Just Read Publicity Tours

Book Name Brand of Light    

Author Ronie Kendig

Publisher Enclave Publishing

Purchase Link https://amzn.to/2EftV1U

About the Book: 

There’s a price on her head, and it has everything to do with the brand on her arm.

Tertian Space Coalition has blessed every planet in the quadrants with high technology, save one: Drosero. But in spite of their tenuous treaty with the ruling clans, TSC has plans for the backward planet. And they’re not alone.

After a catastrophic explosion, Kersei Dragoumis awakens in a derelict shuttle, alone, injured, and ignorant of the forbidden technology that has swept her into a nightmare. The brand she’s borne since childhood burns mysteriously, but the pain is nothing to that when she learns her family is dead and she is accused of their murders.

Across the quadrants, Marco Dusan responds to the call of a holy order—not to join them, but to seek a bounty. Gifted—or cursed—with abilities that mark him a Kynigos, a tracker sworn to bring interplanetary fugitives to justice, Marco discovers this particular bounty has nothing to do with justice and everything to do with prophecy. One that involves the hunter as much as the hunted.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Giveaway (1) winner will receive an Exclusive Signed Hardcover of BRAND OF LIGHT, Custom Dio “Kersei” Candle, Handmade Snowflake Galaxy Ornament, Handmade Galaxy Mug Rug, Character Cards of Marco, Kersei, and Tigo, and Maps of the Planets and of Drosero! 

(Giveaway not affiliated with Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter. US only.)

Enter giveaway via @justreadtours profile link 

The End of the Magi ~ Review

The End of the Magi
By Patrick W. Carr

This book is one you won't want to put down once you start reading. So just block off some time, get out a don't disturb sign, and pull out your largest mug filled with your favorite hot beverage (in my case tea). And just read away.

The End of the Magi opens on Daniel in 537 BC Babylon just as those captive Israelites able and willing to return to the Land of Promise are given the choice. But returning to the home of his fathers' is not an option for him. Daniel feels led to make sure that the prophecy of the coming Messiah is not lost to the people of Israel when they once again fall away. To do this he must remain in Babylon directing the future of the Magi.

More than 530 years have passed since Daniel gave the Magi the task of searching the skies. Myrad, a young Persian man who has been taken in by Gershom a Hebrew Magi, has a dream. This dream will forever change his life - a star that isn't a star forever holds its place in the heavens. Hearing of Myrad's dream, Gershom knows that his son by choice is to be counted among the Magi. But the Magi are about to be betrayed by the very king they advise and Myrad will be left with no choice but to flee all his knows and fulfill the last request of his father.

In his escape, Myrad took something of great value to those who betrayed the Magi. And this something has him being hunted and he will need to gain allies who will help him understand his dream and fulfill Daniel's mission for the Magi - to make known the coming of the Messiah.

The End of the Magi doesn't conclude with the birth of Yeshua (Jesus) but rather another 30 years pass and the child they found has become a man. And this man has come under the wrath of the leaders of the very people who claim to be awaiting him. But Yeshua isn't what they wanted - rather than a kingdom born of the sword to overthrow those in control he has come to fall to the sword.

At less than 400 pages this book seems more than that just because it is so moving. In no way does the story drag or lag - it is just that there is so much to it that one can't believe that it fits into such a few pages. In no way does the telling fill crimped as if something was cut to make it fir but rather it is a well-rounded reading that is perfect for the Christmas and Easter seasons.

Having read Patrick Carr's previous fantasy series I was delighted that this book that is not fantasy was just as excellent. This book falls into the Biblical fiction genre and it is excellent. This one doesn't feel like a little of this is borrowed from here or there to make the story work. This book is complete and most definitely a standalone title.  Excellent reading that I would highly recommend.

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

About the Book:

Centuries before the magi arrived in Bethlehem,

a prophecy sets a young magus on his path . . .

Following his vision of the coming Messiah, the prophet Daniel calls forth a select group of men who will count down the calendar until the arrival of Israel's promised king. Centuries later, as the day draws near, Myrad, a young magi acolyte, flees for his life when his adoptive father and others are slain by a ruthless Parthian queen.

Equipped with very little, in haste Myrad escapes the city and, searching for a way to hide from the soldiers scouring the trade routes, tries to join the caravan of the merchant Walagash. The merchant senses that Myrad is keeping secrets, but when the young man proves himself a valuable asset, an epic journey filled with peril, near captures, and dangerous battles begin.

With every day that passes, the calendar creeps closer to the coming Messiah. And over everything shines the dream of a star that Myrad can't forget, and the promise that the world will never be the same.

Deadly Commitment ~ Review

Deadly Commitment
The Deadly Secrets series #1
By Kathy Harris

Danni Kemp has never totally gotten over her mother's abandonment all those years ago. The memories have lingered and made her doubt herself over the years. But the one thing she's never doubted is her managerial talents at Amore's. But the time has come to break up with Rob Evans, her boyfriend of over 3 years.

In the last few weeks, Caleb Samuels has been keeping the building Danni calls home under surveillance  - not that she's a suspect but she is dating someone who is...

When a late-night visitor ruins Danni's night she learns that Rob is under suspicion of being a distributor. But she can't, she won't believe a word against him. Suddenly the woman who has problems with commitment finds herself committed to a man she was about to break up with and it could get her killed.

Deadly Commitment is written in a style that will keep the reader's attention. Fans of Love Inspired Suspense will enjoy this contemporary suspense offering. The reader sees the story from the viewpoint of Danni, Rob, and Caleb so the story is well laid out and the characters as equally fleshed out.

If you love suspense that keeps building to a climactic ending you don't want to miss Deadly Commitment. It will keep you turning the pages until you get to the last page. Can you say late-night???

I received 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:
Publisher: New Hope Publishers Genre: Contemporary Christian Suspense Release Date: October 14, 2019 As Danielle Kemp walks out of her downtown Nashville condominium, she gets the eerie feeling someone is watching her. As days go by, she becomes convinced the homeless man outside her building is stalking her. But after learning the real identity of the intimidating stranger, she faces something even more threatening―the truth about her fiancé. Deadly Secrets is a new fiction series with southern charm and big-city twists. Set in the author’s hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, it is filled not only with intrigue and suspense but subtle glimpses into how God is at work in the lives of ordinary people doing ordinary jobs . . . or maybe they aren’t so ordinary after all Goodreads

Stay ~ Review with Giveaway

Stay
By Catherine Ryan Hyde

The Summer of 1969 is one in which Lucas Painter's life is marked by change. First, his older brother Roy has been sent to Vietnam and through highly redacted letters it sounds like it is really rough. Then all his parents do fight - not just shouting but yelling and throwing things rivaling the war Roy is experiencing. And his best friend Connor seems more down than normal and his parents too seem to be the root of it. Lucas wants to help but he just doesn't know how he can.

When he happens upon a cabin hidden away in the woods he is more than a little startled to come face-to-face with 2 large dogs. Acting against his better judgment Lucas takes flight through the woods and the dogs are on him in an instant. Realizing that the dogs aren't chasing him but rather running with him Lucas soon makes a daily trek into the woods to run and release some of the stress that is tightening around him.

Stay is more than the title of this book as it also the overriding theme - stay is Lucas's way of asking those around him to find a reason to keep living, to not give up, to not succumb to despair. To fight for what is important and to be there for those who need you.

The majority of this book takes place during the summer of 1969 and the last few chapters take the reader to 2019 with Lucas looking back on the years just following that summer and his own decision in regard to serving in Vietnam and how it affected him for the rest of his life. Life is all about choices - some choices are right for you but not for someone else. The question one must when faced with a choice is are you willing to pay the price that your choice will exact.

I have not previously read Catherine Ryan Hyde's work and found it to be more than a little intriguing - she made me what to know what came next. I really liked Lucas and found his compassion, concern, and loyalty to be admirable. This is a book about the power of true friendship and how it can change everything when it focused on what is best for the other person and not self-serving.  Would make for an excellent book club selection.

I received 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:

An unforgettable novel about the power of friendship and kindness by the New York Times bestselling author of Pay It Forward.

In the summer of 1969, fourteen-year-old Lucas Painter carries a huge weight on his shoulders. His brother is fighting in Vietnam. His embattled parents are locked in a never-ending war. And his best friend, Connor, is struggling with his own family issues. To find relief from the chaos, Lucas takes long, meandering walks, and one day he veers into the woods.

There he discovers an isolated cabin and two huge dogs. Frightened, he runs. And the dogs run with him. Lucas finds unusual peace in running with the dogs, and eventually, he meets their owner, Zoe Dinsmore. Closed off and haunted by a tragic past, Zoe has given up. She doesn’t want to be saved. She wants out. But Lucas doesn’t want her to go, and he sees an opportunity to bring more than one friend back into the light. It’s either the best or worst idea he’s ever had, but Lucas isn’t giving up on Zoe or Connor.

Their unexpected connection might be the saving grace that Zoe thought she’d lost, that Connor needs, and that Lucas has been running toward.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

About the Author:

Catherine Ryan Hyde is the author of more than thirty published and forthcoming books. An avid hiker, traveler, equestrian, and amateur photographer, she has released her first book of photos, 365 Days of Gratitude: Photos from a Beautiful World.

Her novel Pay It Forward was adapted into a major motion picture, chosen by the American Library Association (ALA) for its Best Book for Young Adults list, and translated into more than twenty-three languages for distribution in over thirty countries. Both Becoming Chloe and Jumpstart the World were included on the ALA’s Rainbow List, and Jumpstart the World was a finalist for two Lambda Literary Awards. Where We Belong won two Rainbow Awards in 2013, and The Language of Hoofbeats won a Rainbow Award in 2015.

More than fifty of her short stories have been published in the Antioch Review, Michigan Quarterly Review, Virginia Quarterly Review, Ploughshares, Glimmer Train, and many other journals, and in the anthologies Santa Barbara Stories and California Shorts and the bestselling anthology Dog Is My Co-Pilot. Her stories have been honored in the Raymond Carver Short Story Contest and the Tobias Wolff Award and nominated for the O. Henry Award and the Pushcart Prize. Three have been cited in The Best American Short Stories.

She is founder and former president (2000–2009) of the Pay It Forward Foundation and still serves on its board of directors. As a professional public speaker, she has addressed the National Conference on Education, twice spoken at Cornell University, met with AmeriCorps members at the White House, and shared a dais with Bill Clinton.

Connect with Catherine

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Instagram tour:

Monday, December 2nd: @simplykelina

Monday, December 2nd: @wellreadtraveler

Tuesday, December 3rd: @theliteraryheroine

Tuesday, December 3rd: @books_with_bethany

Wednesday, December 4th: @beauty_andthebook

Wednesday, December 4th: @one_more_paige

Thursday, December 5th: @thebookend.diner

Friday, December 6th: @beritaudiokilledthebookmark

Saturday, December 7th: @thats_what_she_read

Sunday, December 8th: @novelgossip

Monday, December 9th: @bluntscissorsbookreviews

Review tour:

Monday, December 2nd: Wellreadtraveler

Tuesday, December 3rd: Helen’s Book Blog

Wednesday, December 4th: Book by Book

Thursday, December 5th: The Bookend Diner

Friday, December 6th: Audio Killed the Bookmark

Friday, December 6th: View from the Birdhouse

Monday, December 9th: Christian Chick’s Thoughts

Monday, December 9th: Blooming With Books

Tuesday, December 10th: Girl Who Reads

Wednesday, December 11th: Run Wright

Thursday, December 12th: I’d Rather Be Reading at the Beach

Thursday, December 12th: From the TBR Pile

Friday, December 13th: Not in Jersey and @notinjersey

Monday, December 16th: @readingmama_reviews

Monday, December 16th: A Chick Who Reads

Tuesday, December 17th: Write Read Life

Wednesday, December 18th: The Sketchy Reader and @thesketchyreader

Thursday, December 19th: Thoughts on This ‘n That

Friday, December 20th: Palmer’s Page Turners

Friday, December 20th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Monday, December 23rd: Patricia’s Wisdom

Giveaway:

Enter for a chance to win one (1) copy of Catherine Ryan Hyde's STAY

Open to those with a US mailing address

Must be 18 or older.

Runs December 9 - 15, 2019.

Winner must respond with US Postal Address within 48 hours or an alternate will be selected.

The address will be forwarded to the tour coordinator so that your book can be mailed to you.

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