A Noble Scheme ~ Review

A Noble Scheme

The Imposters #2

By Roseanna M. White

It's been a nearly a year since Graham Wharton broke her heart, and Gemma Parks will never forgive him. His arrogance cost her dearly and she avoids him whenever and however possible. Which isn't the easiest thing to do as they are two members of the Imposters. 

But a case involving a missing boy and a cold-hearted uncle bring them together at the worst possible time. And as they are working the case undercover Gemma can't exactly snub Graham as she'd normally do, as she has been doing for the last year.

Graham's life was shattered Gemma walked away leaving him grieving and isolated. And combined with her unforgiveness he has given up on God. Because God could have prevented everything. And when a father comes to the Imposters seeking assistance in saving his son from kidnappers, Graham can't say no, even if the father can't pay for their services. 

Can two angry hurting people find a way back to the friendship and love they once had? Or will they allow the anger and grief to destroy and consume everything they once had? And when the case they are working on takes another turn the stakes and cost become even deadlier. To solve this case they will need to understand the people involved and the motivations. Because it is obvious that those with wealth and power have no qualms about threatening a young boy's life to gain what they want. And no one and nothing will stop them. But they haven't taken on the Imposters before.

But the more Gemma, Graham, and the rest of the Imposters discover the more questions they are left with. What is the motivation behind the kidnapping? And can they find Sidney before time runs out and something worse happens?

I have to say I was shocked at just what was the wedge between Gemma and Graham. I know that there were hints of trouble between them in the first book A Beautiful Deception but I hadn't expected this. And to say more would be to reveal way too much. I now feel the need to reread the first book to see if I blinked and missed a vital clue that would have prepared me for the incident that changed everything for them.

This book delves into broken hearts and the powerful influence grief can play in and on a person's life. How we deal with grief is indeed unique to an individual. Everyone deals with it differently as we see played out in this excellent addition to The Imposters series. There was a particular line that stood out to me as I read this book, "Faithless is faithless," and when it was used, it was interesting as it pertained to two different instances and was true to both. 

Though this is the second book in the series, it can be read and enjoyed as a standalone title. There are references to incidents in the previous book, but nothing that would detract from the enjoyment of this book. I highly recommend this book if you are a fan of well-written, fully-developed characters, second chances, and historical fiction.        

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:

 

In the opulent and perilous world of high society's most elite—and most dangerous—families, two investigators must set aside their broken hearts to uncover the truth.

Gemma Parks is known to the London elite as G. M. Parker, a columnist renowned for her commentary on the cream of society. Behind the scenes, she uses her talents to aid the Imposters in their investigations by gathering intel at events and providing alibis for the firm's members through her columns. Yet her clandestine work would be more exhilarating if it weren't for the constant presence of the gentleman who broke her heart.

Graham Wharton has never had eyes for anyone but Gemma, and she left his heart in tatters when she walked away from him. When the Imposters take on a new job to recover a kidnapped boy mistaken for his aristocratic cousin, Graham is determined to use the time with Gemma to not only restore the missing boy, but to also win back the only woman he's ever loved. As they trace the clues laid out before them, Graham and Gemma must devise a noble scheme to save the boy's life and heal their hearts.

 

AUTHOR BIO

 

Roseanna M. White (roseannamwhite.com) is a bestselling, Christy Award-winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she's homeschooling, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books. . .to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. 

Children of the Shadows ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 

Children of the Shadows by Erica Vetsch, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Children of the Shadows
Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries #3
By Erica Vetsch

Detective Daniel Swann has to fight for his inheritance, which should have been his all along. But he must be silent so as to not upset the aristocracy, this includes not making public his intentions to ask for Juliette Thorndike's hand in marriage. 

With her parents again called away on a mission, Juliette is told to consider her future. Does she truly want to be an agent for the Crown? Or has she succumbed to the excitement and thrill of doing something daring? With orders from her parents her immediate future is looking rather boring. Until rumors of missing street urchins are heard. Could Juliette do something to get to the answers of these whispered concerns? And could this provide her with an excuse to spend time with Daniel?

As with the previous two books in the series, there is an abundance of mystery. The issues involving Daniel's past and his claims to his rightful inheritance add  new complications to the lives of those closest to Juliette. As Daniel's past, present, and future all come to a point, he finds himself being pulled in different directions, even as he faced the possibility of breaking not only his heart but Juliette's. My only complaint with this book is that it is the conclusion to the series. I highly recommend this book and the series. If you love a good Regency era whodunit look no furthet.

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: Children of the Shadows
Series: Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries #3
Author: Erica Vetsch
Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: October 23, 2023
Genre: Christian Regency Mystery

Detective Daniel Swann and debutante Juliette Thorndike once again team up to solve a dangerous mystery--while trying to keep their growing romance secret. 

Someone is preying upon the street children of Regency London. They seem to think no one will notice when urchins go missing--and even if they are noticed, who will care? 

Daniel needs to do something about the missing children. But with recent revelations about his past and an unexpected, somewhat unwelcome inheritance to deal with, this is a terrible time to dive back into the seedy underbelly of the crime world. Nevertheless, he's still a Bow Street runner, and his partner Lady Juliette is sensitive to the plight of these wayward youngsters. They're on the case, searching shadowed alleys and coal-drenched streets to find the missing. 

But the tangle of expectation and the dynamics of power cannot be easily ignored, even if there are children in danger. When Daniel's past threatens to overwhelm his future, he will need a miracle and the help of his friends to both apprehend the villain and unravel his tangled family web. And it may be that his new responsibilities demand that he leave the children of the shadows to their terrible fate--or lose everything. 

Erica Vetsch's popular Regency mystery series concludes with a bang, sure to satisfy readers who have hung on every page since book one.

PURCHASE LINKS: 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series

 

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About the Author

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner, and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She loves Jesus, history, romance, and watching sports. This transplanted Kansan now makes her home in Rochester, Minnesota.

Connect with Erica by visiting ericavetsch.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a complete paperback set of the Thorndike and Swann series, and a $10 amazon gift card

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 23, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 30, 2023. Winner 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!

Ned ~ Review

Ned

Minnesota Marshalls #3

By Susan May Warren

Have you ever watched one of those movies where one disaster after another keeps happening? Well, Ned Marshall has to feel as if he is living in one right now. Yes, things are that bad.

But to fully appreciate the full picture you need to have read the previous book Jonas, in which Ned's proposal/engagement to his longtime girlfriend Shae Johnson doesn't go according to plan. Okay it goes wrong, like major bigtime wrong. So big that they have disagreement, break-up, Ned gets called up for a mission, and Shae disappears. See, disaster movie with trouble just piling up.

But Ned is a Marshall and Marshalls have each other's backs. Soon big brother Fraser who is helping to protect a princess (book #1 in the series Fraser) is volunteering to help Ned find Shae. And then through a twist of fate or just Marshall luck, their sister Iris, who is a football ref in Europe gets caught up in everything. (Setting the stage for book #4 Iris).

So if you want high suspense romance, with plot twists that will keep you guessing, you will want to read Ned, along with the two previous books in the series. And anyone who has read Susan May Warren's previous books knows that characters from her previous books have a way of popping up when least expected, so don't be surprised by who may play a part in this whole shebang. And there may be treason involved somewhere along the way. So, yeah good read that will most definitely make you tell yourself repeatedly, "Just one more chapter."  Experience speaking here!

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:

After four years of training to become a Navy SEAL, Ned Marshall is finally ready to marry the woman of his dreams, Shae Johnson. And Shae’s been uber patient, waiting, building a life as a free-lance graphic artist, moving around the globe to be with him. So, when she said yes to his proposal in Geneva, he fully expected to live happily-ever-after.

At the very least, he expected her to be waiting at the hotel for him three days after an emergency call-out. And maybe it was unreasonable to expect her to be sitting in the hotel, working on her watercolors—Shae, after all grew up in Montana, and she has adventure in her blood. So of course, she’s going to go climb the beautiful Swiss mountains. Even make a friend.

But Ned isn’t thrilled with her new friend, and something about him doesn’t feel safe…

So she’s made some friends while waiting for Ned to return? Shae can’t believe that after years of sacrifice, Ned is actually angry at her—what did he expect, that she’d sit by the window? Dana and his friends are harmless, right?

Not so much. Because when Shae finds herself kidnapped, and brought to Russia, she fears the worst—she’s been swept up in a human trafficking ring. And when she’s sent to, of all places, Siberia how will Ned ever find her?

But Ned isn’t going to lose her—not after everything they’ve been through, and he’ll stop at nothing to rescue her. But when he discovers the real reason she’s been taken, he will have to become a traitor to his country if he wants her back.

Join the epic race to rescue Shae in the high-adrenaline book three in the Minnesota Marshalls series.

Tracking the Tiny Target ~ Review

Tracking the Tiny Target

Bring the Children Home

By Connie Queen

Bristol Delaney hasn't stayed anyplace long, not since she left her ex-husband Rex behind. When her son is kidnapped, Bristol knows who is behind it. There is no doubt in her mind that the three years she's kept her son hidden away from her husband weren't enough. But she'll do anything within her power to get her son back, even if it puts her in the direct path of danger.

Deputy Sheriff Chandler Murphy is determined to bring Spencer home, and he will do his best to keep Bristol safe. But Chandler has more on his mind as he feels that Bristol's ex had something to do with his father's disappearance. But when the case takes an unexpected turn, Bristol and Chandler are left with more questions than answers as they search for clues as to Spencer's whereabouts.

Tracking the Tiny Target jumps right into the action, which sets the scene for everything that is to come. Now I understand Bristol's desire to find her son, but I also think she was a bit reckless in how she did it. If something happened to her, Spencer would have been in even more trouble.

Overall, this was a fairly good read, I will admit I preferred the second half of the book as the action seemed to be more productive and less random wheel-spinning. If you are at all familiar with Love Inspired Suspense, you know what to expect in general terms. But if this is new to you, let's just say there are no loose ends, and you are guaranteed a satisfying ending.

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:

Catching a kidnapper takes teamwork

…and a K-9’s help.

When a three-year-old boy is kidnapped, deputy sheriff Chandler Murphy and his search-and-rescue K-9 partner are on the case. And when the child’s mother, Bristol Delaney, insists on helping, he can’t turn her away. But someone is dead set on stopping the investigation. Can Chandler guarantee Bristol’s safety and rescue the missing child before the trail goes cold?"  

Detecting Secrets ~ Review with extras

Welcome to the Blog Tour for

Detecting Secrets by Sami A. Abrams, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Detecting Secrets 

Deputies of Anderson County #3 

By Sami A. Abrams 

Charlotte Bradley is a therapist who has made helping pregnant teens a priority, she wants to be there for the ones who have no one. But when one of the girls she's been helping disappears, something more sinister is revealed. But the question is, what.

Sheriff Dennis Monroe wants answers too, and he's convinced Charlotte and her SAR K-9 partner Theo can help him find them. Hopefully before it is too late and before more girls go missing.

Detecting Secrets opens with the suspense already in full action, and it doesn't let up as the story progresses. Sheriff Monroe is busy fulfilling his duties as both sheriff and dad, and now he has to keep Charlotte safe too. Charlotte is doing her best to hold it all together, but this case is bringing back old memories. Memories that are more than a little uncomfortable as they are from a low point in her life. 

Overall this is a fairly good read. Charlotte and Dennis have a few issues that they seem to get hung up on, and until they can work their way through them, they'll be obstacles getting in their way. So in some ways, this book has two aspects - a mental one and the case. And the conclusion is definitely unexpected, so whatever you do, don't skip ahead to the end!

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

About the Book

Title: Detecting Secrets 

Series: Deputies of Anderson County #3 

Author: Sami A. Abrams 

Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense 

Release Date: February 21, 2023 

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

 

Tracking the scents of the missing might 
be the only way to save them. 

Partnered with her air-scent dog and Sheriff Dennis Monroe, marriage and family therapist Charlotte Bradley is desperate to put an end to a black-market baby smuggling ring in Anderson County. Who is kidnapping the pregnant girls she counsels and taking their babies? As Charlotte searches for answers, she and Dennis must dodge gunfire and deadly attacks. But the sinister agenda they uncover just might include her. 

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith. 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | BookDepository | Christianbook | IndieBound | BookBub

Other Books In Series

  

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About the Author

Award-winning, bestselling author Sami Abrams grew up hating to read. It wasn’t until her 30’s that she found authors that captured her attention. Now, most evenings, you can find her engrossed in a Romantic Suspense. In her opinion, a crime and a little romance is the recipe for a great story.

She lives in Northern California, but she will always be a Kansas girl at heart. She has a love of sports, family, and travel. However, a cabin at Lake Tahoe writing her next story is definitely at the top of her list. Connect with Sami by visiting samiaabrams.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

 

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will receive a copy of Detecting Secrets 

(print US only, ebook international) 

and a $10 Amazon gift card!

The full tour schedule is linked below. 

The giveaway begins at midnight on February 14, 2023, 

and will last through 11:59 PM EST on February 21, 2023. 

The winner will be notified within 2 weeks of the close of the giveaway 

and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of the prize. 

US only print. 

Ebook international. 

Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

The 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!

 

Kidnapped in Texas ~ Review

Kidnapped in Texas

Cowboy Protectors #1

By Virginia Vaughan

When Abby Mitchell left behind the man she loved, she took with her a secret that she had no right to keep. But now Abby and Luke Harmon are both back in their hometown, and Abby's secret is about to be revealed when her niece is kidnapped in front of them.  

Years ago, Abby gave up her daughter, and she never let Luke know that he was going to be a father. And when Kenzie is kidnapped in broad daylight, he may never get the chance to get to know his daughter. Worse, Abby's betrayal is compounded because she never gave him a choice in regard to the baby he didn't know she was expecting. He's lost fourteen years that he'll never get back.

Soon the case takes an unexpected turn when someone targets Abby and her nephew. With her life in danger, Luke has to step up his game, calling on his FBI resources. Can he stop whoever took his daughter before they kill the woman he could love if he can forgive her? 

Kidnapped in Texas is the first book in Virginia Vaughan's new series Cowboy Protectors, and as a series debut, it is most definitely suspense-filled reading. There are a few twists that will keep you guessing. Abby and Luke both have some growing to do as they both cling to the past and their somewhat destructive tendencies - Luke his anger and Abby her reckless impulses and secrecy. 

As a Love-Inspired Suspense book, this is a clean read and has an ending that won't disappoint (surprise, maybe). 

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:

A kidnapping case

reveals a secret that changes everything…

After witnessing an abduction, FBI agent Luke Harmon vows to return the teenage victim safely to her aunt, his ex, Abby Mitchell. But Abby has a secret—the girl is their daughter. To rescue his child from a human trafficking ring, he’ll partner with the woman who deceived him. But can he forgive the past before Abby becomes the next target…and his family is lost forever?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Cowboy Protectors

Book 1: Kidnapped in Texas
Book 2: Texas Ranch Target