To Defy the Dream ~ Review

To Defy the Dream

A Sleeping Beauty Retelling

By Mary Mecham

To save her kingdom, her people she must willing enter the Eternal Slumber, a plague that has slowly decimated her kingdom and stolen her brother, the rightful heir to the throne. Her fairy godmother has given her this one chance to enter the nightmare realm controlled by a djinni. 

Aurelia has the means to return with one other person trapped within the nightmare. But she never expected to have to choose who she'd free - her brother Waylon or Everett, the man who broke her heart. Hoping to find a way to break the djinni's power, Aurelia must do all she can to defeat it. But how do you defeat a powerful being who draws strength from those it holds in this nightmare world? 

To Defy a Dream is a unique twist on Sleeping Beauty. Yes, there is a spindle with a sharp tip. But Princess Aurelia isn't hidden away. She hasn't been cursed at birth knowing sleep was her fate. She is days away from taking the throne. No this is an altogether new take on this fairytale and one well worth reading. This is truly a Shattered Tale. 

If you like ladies in peril who decide to take charge. Second chances at love. Impossible choices. Potential chaos. And daring deeds. Look no further because this book will check off all of these and more.

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

About the Book:

What if Sleeping Beauty pricked her finger on purpose?

Princess Aurelia’s kingdom is plagued by the Eternal Slumber, a disease progressively ensnaring the minds of her subjects. After Aurelia wishes for the means to revive her brother, her sinister fairy godmother presents an ominous option Aurelia must stab herself with a poisoned spindle.

Accepting this fate plunges Aurelia into a nightmare where victims of the Eternal Slumber are being held hostage by a dark djinni. However, Aurelia’s brother isn’t the only familiar face she finds herself reunited with; Everett, the love of her life who mysteriously disappeared years ago, is there as well. As the djinni’s power grows, Aurelia must decide who to save before the djinni escapes and enters the waking world.

Failing on her quest could trap her in the dream world forever. Will she forgo her chance at a happily ever after and protect her brother, or will she choose to rescue herself and the man she loves?

No matter who she chooses, someone will be doomed to remain in the nightmare that never ends.

To Defy a Dream is a retelling of Sleeping Beauty. It is one of twelve novellas in The Shattered Tales, a collection of twelve fractured retellings of your favorite fairy tales. They can be enjoyed in any order, so fall in love with the swoony sweet romance, magical adventures, and tale-shattering twists one happily-ever-after at a time!

Expired Vows ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog + Review Blitz for Expired Vows by Laura Conaway and Lisa Phillips, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Expired Vows
Last Chance Fire and Rescue #4
By Laura Conaway 

    and  Lisa Phillips

Trace Bentley thought moving to Last Chance was the answer, he could put the past with all its pain and failings behind him. And he was doing a fairly decent job of it too, until he was called on a call to a domestic disturbance. Suddenly his past walked it his life.

Kelsey Scott was called into hostage situation when one of her clients had an incident occur. But when the already too-tense situation goes off Kelsey's desired outcoming, her life goes even more off path. So now she finds herself dealing with her late BFF's husband and threats against her.

Expired Vows is the fourth book in the Last Chance Fire and Rescue series, and it doesn't hold back at all bringing the reader into non-stop action. This book in no way lets the tone of the last story down. The story, settings, and characters keep it moving, which kept this reader's attention from page one. I highly recommend this book that could be read as a standalone if you haven't read the previous titles in the series. Perfect for the upcoming weekend! Rest, Relaxation, and Reading - three Rs to make for a perfect conclusion!

I was provided a complimentary copy with no expectations but to offer my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book

Title: Expired Vows
Series: Last Chance Fire and Rescue #4
Author: Laura Conaway & Lisa Phillips
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: September 12, 2023
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Fire. Family. Faith.
Last Chance Fire and Rescue  

She sees the promise of freedom. He vowed to always be the hero. 

EMT Trace Bently came back to Last Chance County to escape his past. After the loss of his wife, he gave up a promising career as a police officer for the chance to save lives every day as part of the Fire Department. When a hostage situation demands the help of a local counselor, Trace realizes the past he left behind has found him. He’s being given a second chance to save the life of someone he cares about.  

If he can face the grief he buried. 

 Family Counselor Kelsey Scott has to secure this grant or admit failure. She can’t afford to lose any more pieces of the life she wants because of her own choices. When Kelsey becomes the target of a series of dangerous attacks, Trace steps in determined to protect his wife’s best friend. This hero breaks down all her resistance, but Kelsey can’t risk her own heart.  

Even if it’s what will set them both free.  

Another thrilling installment in the Last Chance Fire and Rescue series.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

 | BookBub

More in This Series

   

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About the Author

Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over 50 books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.

Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). As a worship leader for Calvary Chapel churches in her local area, Lisa has discovered a love for mentoring new ministry members and youth worship musicians. 

Connect with Lisa by visiting authorlisaphillips.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates. Discover the world of Last Chance County at www.lastchancecounty.com.

 

Laura Conaway grew up in the suburbs of Pennsylvania as an avid reader and writer while making every adventure a mystery to solve like Nancy Drew. As a former school librarian, she’s always on the hunt for the next best read but now spends her time creating stories that leave readers on the edge of their seat with a healthy dose of suspense and happily ever afters. When she’s not typing away or inhaling sweet potato fries to motivate writing, Laura spends her time playing violin and guitar and sharing about the Greatest Story ever written.

Connect with Laura by visiting lauraconawayauthor.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

The (1) winner will receive a print copy of Expired Vows and a $10 gift card to the Sunrise Shop

The full tour schedule is linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight on September 13, 2023, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 20, 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. 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!

Clutter Free ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Clutter Free by Jackie Layton, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Clutter Free

An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery #1
By Jackie Layton

This is the first book in a new series. A cozy Mystery series - the kind that is the perfect before-bed read that won't keep you up all night with over-the-top violence or craziness.

Kate Sloan is returning home for a fresh start as well as a second chance to connect to her roots. She's starting a new business with her lifelong BFF, and everything seems to be going along perfectly until... There is always an until when perfectly is happening.

Soon Kate is caught up trying to clear her brother of accusations that he's having an affair. Even worse the accuser ends up dead shortly after making her claims. Top of the suspect list is Kate, her brother Paul, and her sister-in-law Susie! 

With help from her brother's best friend (and her secret teenage crush), Reid Kate is determined to uncover the truth and point the police and the press in the right direction. There is just one little, itty, bitty problem she may have attracted the killer's attention, WHOOPS! And against everyone's advice, she just can't help herself; she has to keep looking for answers.

This is a fun, mostly light read that is entertaining and engaging. It's a book that one can put down if need be (like for work or bed), but fully anticipating the next reading session. This is a perfect read if you just want to unwind and relax and not get wound up in an intense mystery. This book has all the charm one would expect from a small Southern city but just enough intrigue to keep it interesting.

So sit back, curl into your favorite cozy spot and escape to Fox Island. You'll enjoy the visit and be left looking forward to your next visit!

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: Clutter Free
Series: An Organized Crime Cozy Mystery #1
Author: Jackie Layton
Publisher: Level Best Books
Release Date: August 29, 2023
Genre: Clean Cozy Mystery

Returning to Fox Island where she grew up, Kate Sloan begins her career as a professional organizer. When a woman accuses Kate’s police chief brother of having an affair, Kate’s priority shifts from organizing to proving her brother’s innocence. Kate visits the woman, hoping for a confession. The woman won’t admit she lied, and to make the situation worse, the accuser is found dead the next day by Kate and her business partner. 

Kate has an eye for seeing what’s out of place, and she knows how to fix problems. Can she utilize her organizational skills to toss red herrings and focus on legitimate clues? Kate’s business is at risk as well as her brother’s career. The clock is ticking, and this could be the deadliest deadline of Kate’s life. She must discover the truth behind the victim’s vicious lies, but most of all, she needs to solve the murder before she becomes the next victim.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

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About the Author

Jackie Layton is the author of cozy mysteries with Spunky Southern Sleuths. Her stories are set in Texas, Georgia, and South Carolina. She lives on the coast of South Carolina, where she enjoys walks on the beach and golf cart rides around the marsh. Reading, gardening, and traveling are some of her favorite hobbies. She always keeps a notebook handy to write down ideas for future stories. Be careful what you say around her, because it might end up in a book.

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

 

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Tour Giveaway

 The (1) winner will win a paperback copy of Clutter Free and Weeding Out Lies, 

a $10 Starbucks gift card, and a polka dot shopping bag!

One (1) additional winner will win a paperback copy of Clutter Free!

The full tour schedule is linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight on September 11, 2023, and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 18, 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. 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!

Summer in the Spotlight ~ Review

Summer in the Spotlight

Prince Edward Island Shores #3

By Liz Johnson

In the final book of the Prince Edward Island Shores series, a hurricane is about to destroy Kelsey Ahern's plans for the future when it hits the island. The greatest damage is to the Victoria Playhouse, the playhouse where she shared the stage with her late grandmother. With the very real possibility that the playhouse will never be reopened, Kelsey is looking at unemployment and the loss of her best memories of her grandmother. 

But Kelsey isn't about to let the playhouse go so easily. It draws visitors to Victoria and is a center point of the community. Determined to do all she can to save the playhouse, she seeks out Levi Ross for help.

Levi has hardly spoken since he was fifteen years old when his father left, but not before breaking something inside him. Levi is willing to do whatever he can to help Kelsey. Something about her makes him want to do more, be more than what his father's words shaped him into. But to save the playhouse could cost him his dream. Or it could very well give him a new dream to pursue.

A Summer in the Spotlight is a book about discovery - who or what determines our worth? Kelsey and Levi have let the past shape them into who they are today. They've both developed strengths, but there is always that niggling fear, that voice that whispers that all the efforts they make will never allow them to be enough. This is a summer to silence the voices, to remold what the past has shaped, and a chance at finding love if they are brave enough to accept it. 

This is the third book in the series but can easily be read as a standalone. This is an engaging book from the first page as a hurricane bears down on them. From there, it never lets up, slowly revealing the layers that make Kelsey and Levi who they are. I have to admit, I really connected with Levi's character as he struggled to make his voice be heard, not just to others but to his own self. I highly recommend this book - it would make an excellent choice for a book club selection.

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 hurricane may have destroyed her livelihood on Prince Edward Island, but she's determined to save her community

Kelsey Ahern has performed at the Victoria Playhouse on Prince Edward Island every summer since she was seven. But when a hurricane destroys the building, it's not just her memories that are in jeopardy. Her future as a teacher and drama coach are too. She teams up with Levi Ross, the facilities director at the high school, to produce a benefit show to raise money to rebuild the theater. He has a reputation for being able to fix anything, and Kelsey is sure there's more to the quiet man than meets the eye.

For his part, Levi has admired Kelsey for years, but he can't seem to find the words to tell her. When a popular weatherman arrives in towlln to cover the aftermath of the hurricane and takes an interest in Kelsey and her show, Levi realizes that the time has come to speak up--or lose the heart of the woman he longs for.

Join New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson for a season of rebuilding, restoration, and romance with this final book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series.

Ranch Showdown ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 

Ranch Showdown by Tina Wheeler, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

 Ranch Showdown

 By Tina Wheeler

 Sierra Lowery comes home to an intruder, an intruder determined to take her young nephew. Worse, the intruder is her sister's ex, and he wants the information her sister took - information implicating him. And she has 48 hours to find and deliver the documents or he'll make his threats a reality.

 Detective Cole Walker is the man who comes when the police are called. But Cole is the last person Sierra wants on her case because she broke his heart years ago when she left him. But he is also the one person she totally trusts to keep her and Danny safe.

As danger follows her, Sierra is given a second chance to rethink her excuse for not staying with Cole - the danger of his job. When danger comes so close to her because of ill-advised decisions on her sister's part, her reasoning just may have been off.  

Ranch Showdown is another late-night page-turner from the Love Inspired Suspense series that keeps you awake because you need to know what comes next and not because the book is filled with graphic imagery that haunts your dreams. The suspense of wondering just what happened to Sierra's sister and her menacing ex-boyfriend kicks this one off into action right from the beginning, so if you are a fan of instant peril, this is a book for your TBR pile!

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

About the Book

Title: Ranch Showdown
Author: Tina Wheeler
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: July 25, 2023
Genre: Christian, Romantic Suspense

Seeking refuge at a ranch… 
Has fiery consequences 

After being threatened by her sister’s ex, Sierra Lowery has forty-eight hours to surrender documents linking him to a bombing before he kills her and kidnaps her nephew. With the evidence missing and anyone who helps, becoming a target, hiding out with Detective Cole Walker, her college sweetheart, might be her only chance for survival. But as explosives detonate in the wake of their search, their ranch safe haven could become a dangerous trap.  

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

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About the Author

Tina Wheeler is a Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author and retired teacher. Although she grew up on the edge of the desert in Arizona, her favorite place to plot a new story is on a balcony overlooking the ocean. She enjoys spending time with her large extended family, brainstorming with writing friends, discovering new restaurants, and traveling with her husband.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will win a signed, print copy of Ranch Showdown and a $15 dollar Amazon egift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight July 31, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 7, 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!

How Sweet It Is ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for 

How Sweet It Is by Andrea Christenson, 

hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

How Sweet It Is

Fox Family #1

By Andrea Christenson

Return to Deep Haven, Minnesota, and meet a new cast of characters who call the place home. And some long-time favorites will let you know you're where you want to be.

Robin Fox is living the life - working in a gourmet bakery in Paris until she realizes just what a lousy boss she has. She knows it's temporary when a call from home brings her back to Deep Haven to temporarily fill in at her grandparents' bakery.  In a few weeks, she'll return to Paris to recapture her dream after she finds a new job. But she's got talent and is not worried.

She wasn't worried until she was left in charge of the Fox Bakery with strict instructions from her grandmother to not change anything! What's a girl to do when things start breaking, and there aren't funds to cover the repairs? Um, there is just one option make changes and have cake! Or, in Robin's case, make the cake. And a little help from her former classmate Sammy Johnson is more than a little appreciated. She just needs to be sure her heart remembers she is heading back to Paris in six weeks.

When he comes across his former friend needing a helping hand, Sammy is more than willing to help. Since the accident two years ago that altered his life, he's been just picking up odd jobs here and there. And reconnecting with Robin is an added bonus, as are the cupcakes he's getting paid with.

How Sweet It Is is a sweet read. Sammy and Robin were never a couple in high school though they were good friends. Now 10 years later, with their lives not quite how they envisioned them, they have a chance at something more. But will long-held dreams stand in the way of a chance at happily ever after? This is a book about second chances. But how do you know what is the chance that you should pursue? This is the question both Robin and Sammy must answer for themselves. And when you have options that take you in opposite directions, which one do you pursue? I love how we are offered another visit to Deep Haven with this new series and a new cast of main characters. Welcome to a warm Midwest town, even though the setting is in winter. I mean, who doesn't want to live someplace where if not everyone, a vast majority of the residents know your name and are glad to stop and say, "Hey!" 

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: How Sweet It Is 
Series: Fox Bakery #1
Author: Andrea Christenson
Publisher: Sunrise Publishing
Release Date: July 18, 2023
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

Sometimes the sweetest moments in life are made from the most familiar and ordinary ingredients. 

Robin Fox is living out her dreams of working in a gourmet bakery in Paris. She thought she’d live there forever, but when her relationship with her boss sours, those dreams crumble. She finds herself back home in Deep Haven, Minnesota, caring for her grandparents’ rundown bakery while they’re away. But she vows that when they return in six weeks, she’ll trade this ordinary life for the one she left behind. 

Sammy Johnson has never gotten traction in any area of his life. This hasn’t improved in the almost two years since the accident which nearly killed him. Although his heart is still beating, it contains little passion for the life he’s living in Deep Haven. But that begins to change when he offers to help his former high school friend, Robin. 

Working together to keep Fox Bakery from going under, they find more than friendship is simmering between them. But when the six weeks are up, will Robin follow her old dreams back to the glamor of Paris or will she discover how sweet it is to be loved in Deep Haven? 

Return to Deep Haven with the Fox Family, where Robin and Sammy find that small town life isn’t ordinary after all.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

Also Available

     

     

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About the Author

Andrea Christenson lives in the Midwest with her husband and two daughters. When she is not busy homeschooling her girls, she loves to read anything she can get her hands on, bake bread, eat cheese, and watch Netflix—though not usually all at the same time. Andrea’s prayer is to write stories revealing God’s love.

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

 

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a paperback copy of How Sweet It Is and a $10 Gift Card to the Sunrise Shop!

The full tour schedule is linked below. 

The giveaway begins at midnight on July 17, 2023, and 

will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 24, 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. 

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!

The Best Summer Of Our Lives ~ Review

The Best Summer Of Our Lives 

By Rachel Hauck

1977 was supposed to be the best summer of her life, but everything started going wrong before it even started. And by the end of summer, Summer Wilde's life was no longer on the long charted course that she and her three Best Friends - Spring, Snow, and Autumn had planned together for years.

1997 finds Summer's life once again not where she wants it. Music is the life she wants, but nothing has really worked out for her since her one big hit. At loose ends, Summer heads back to the place where everything went off course.

A decision was made to have "fun," and let's just say it wasn't the best choice to make, and as a result, the Four Seasons have their summer plans decided for them by a judge. Their bad decision leads to the four of them being shipped off to another state and "sentenced" to be camp counselors. 

The four girls never thought they could ever drift apart, but this summer is about to strain their bonds. Especially when secrets are brought to light. 

When offered a choice, would Summer choose love or fame? Summer is about to discover just where her heart truly lies. Can she make peace with the secrets and hurts of the past and move on to a future she never believed was possible? Sometimes we need to step back and reexamine what we thought we knew with what we now know. (Yeah, just a little cryptic, but it will make sense when you read the book.)

I really enjoyed this book. It was a bit different from what I normally read, but it was still the same excellent writing/storytelling one has come to expect from Rachel Hauck. Highly recommend it as a beach read, a cozy corner read, or a late into-the-night 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.

Be sure to learn more about Rachel Hauck at www.rachelhauck.com

About the Book:

The summer of '77 was supposed to be the best of Summer Wilde's life. But those plans never had a chance when a teenage prank went awry. Now thirty-something, after her music career crumbles, she returns to the place where everything changed and must face a reckoning with her past and the friends she lost to gain the closure she needs to move forward.

Twenty years ago, the summer of '77 was supposed to be the best summer of Summer Wilde's life. She and her best friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow--the Four Seasons--had big plans.

But those plans never had a chance. After a teenage prank gone awry, the Seasons found themselves on a bus to Tumbleweed, "Nowhere," Oklahoma, to spend eight weeks as camp counselors. All four of them arrived with hidden secrets and buried fears, and the events that unfolded in those two months forever altered their friendships, their lives, and their futures.

Now, thirtysomething, Summer is at a crossroads. When her latest girl band leaves her in a motel outside Tulsa, she is forced to face the shadows of her past. Returning to the place where everything changed, she soon learns Tumbleweed is more than a town she never wanted to see again. It's a place for healing, for reconciling the past with the present, and for finally listening to love's voice.

The Words We Lost ~ Review

The Words We Lost

Fog Harbor Romance #1

By Nicole Deese

Ingrid Erikson has lost her way. Since the death of her best friend Cecelia (Cece) Campbell she just been surviving. She can't concentrate and her work has been suffering since, of course her work was also directly tied to Cece who was an international bestselling author. But with Cece's death she just can't do her job as an acquisitions editor for a struggling publisher. And she's been given an ultimatum find Cece's final book or lose your job. Ouch and totally unsympathetic. 

But finding Cece's final work means returning home and facing the man she thought she'd have a future with. Joel Campbell never wanted to lose Ingrid, but trying to protect her did just that. Now they will have to work together and revisit the past and its painful memories. But the search to discover Cece's final work, if it was ever written, will change everything, forcing Ingrid and Joel to work together.

This book is an emotional one as Ingrid deals with her losses, yes more than one. But Cece's was the one that affected her so unexpectedly because it highlighted just how much she had lost. This is a book it is hard to review because of the emotional aspect of it. One needs to read it to fully experience just what Ingrid was feeling. But she was also disconnected from fully experiencing life because of the trauma she was still dealing with. This book speaks to one on a personal level, but how much depends on the losses one has experienced in one's own life. This is a story that each reader must experience for oneself. The Words We Lost showcases the author's craft with words as she moves one in unexpected ways as the story unfolds. In my opinion this would make an excellent book club or community read selection.

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

About the Book:

Three friends. 

Two broken promises. 

One missing manuscript.

As a senior acquisitions editor for Fog Harbor Books in San Francisco, Ingrid Erikson has rejected many a manuscript for lack of defined conflict and dramatic irony--two elements her current life possesses in spades. In the months following the death of her childhood best friend and international bestselling author Cecelia Campbell, Ingrid has not only lost her ability to escape into fiction due to a rare trauma response, but she's also desperate to find the closure she's convinced will come with Cecelia's missing final manuscript.

After Ingrid jeopardizes her career, she fears her future will remain irrevocably broken. But then Joel Campbell--the man who shattered her belief in happily-ever-afters--offers her a sealed envelope from his late cousin, Cecelia, asking Joel and Ingrid to put their differences aside and retrieve a mysterious package in their coastal Washington hometown.

Honoring Cecelia's last request will challenge their convictions and test their loyalties, but through it all, will Ingrid and Joel be brave enough to uncover a twice-in-a-lifetime love?

The Swindler's Daughter ~ Review

The Swindler's Daughter

By Stephenia H. McGee

All her life Lillian Doyle thought her father was dead, that is until she was informed by a lawyer that her father had just recently passed away. Worse, her mother may have exaggerated the marital ties between them. Soon Lillian finds herself on her own for the first time in her life to settle her father's estate before returning to Atlanta.

But nothing is ever easy, and the house that her father left to her has been claimed by another. A widowed mother tells Lillian that the property was promised to her son. What's a young lady to do but stay in the middle of nowhere and try to unravel the mess that her life has now become. 

As Lillian works through everything, she is pleased to discover she has family and that she and her mother are no longer alone in the world. But as everything unfolds, Lillian has to wonder whether the family she just discovered is as genuine as they seem or if they are like the society women she's known her whole life, manipulated and back-stabbing. Only time will tell.

Working to discover who her father was, Lillian makes a friend in Jonah, the young man to whom her father's home had been promised. But secrets threaten not only her understanding of her father but all she is hoping to achieve in this new life that is hers for the taking if only she is willing to step into the unknown and the freedom, the friendships, and the love it offers.

The Swindler's Daughter is a lovely book with several interesting threads running throughout it. This is as much Lillian's story as it is Jonah's. Both are seeking a new beginning, a chance at something more. It is a story of courage and determination. Embracing the unknown is always frightening, but it is often the only way to become our true selves, and this is their chance!

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 surprise inheritance. 

A cache of family secrets. 

A choice that will change her life forever.

Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away--in jail--Lillian is startled to find that the man has left a business and all of his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.

When she goes to take possession of her father's house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by another woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye--and has put a target on her back.

To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she's always dreamed of, she'll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers--especially Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.

Expired Promise ~ Review

Expired Promise
Last Chance Fire and Rescue #3
by Emilie Haney 

   and Lisa Phillips

What will it cost him to save her from the flames?

If you love Christian Romantic Suspense, you won't want to miss this read. Andi Crawford is always striving to be the best. Wanting to best her brothers has blinded her to her true gift. As an EMT, she can save lives in a meaningful way, but Andi doesn't see it that way. Focusing her energies on becoming a firefighter, is she denying her God-given talents? Andi doesn't see it that way, no matter how many doubters question her.

Jude Brooks is back in Last Chance County, the one place he never planned to return to. But his job as an ATF agent has him looking for answers. Specifically, why has the Crawford family attracted to attention of a cartel drug lord?

Coming home has him realizing that he never got over Andi Crawford, and if this assignment doesn't end soon, his heart may never again be his. And if he can't keep her safe, he may never recover.


There are secrets long hidden that need to be uncovered if Jude has any hope of getting the answers he seeks. But how do you force the people you most care about to reveal the truth that could save them or doom them?


This was an excellent and can't-put-it-down, I'm-reading-all-night type of book. It is part of a series but can be enjoyed as a standalone book. Highly recommend it to fans of Romantic Suspense.


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

About the Book:

She won’t stop until she’s proven her worth.

He promised to always protect her.

EMT Andi Crawford is close to achieving her goal. She’s reached probationary status as a firefighter with the Eastside Firehouse and only needs show her older twin brothers—and herself—that she’s cut out for the job. Facing the daily challenges of a female firefighter fades to the background when her family becomes the target of a dangerous drug cartel with ties to a client Andi’s mother represented as a defense attorney. Andi will stop at nothing to protect her family.


Even if that means accepting help she doesn’t think she needs.


ATF Agent Jude Brooks is back in Last Chance County tasked with uncovering information on the family that took him in during his summers as a teen. It seems impossible the Crawfords are connected to a dangerous cartel leader, but Jude’s by-the-book attitude won’t let him approach his job any other way. As he wades through a web of false information, the feelings he tries so hard to avoid resurface. Andi’s as headstrong as she was as a teen, but her acceptance of him is a balm to the hurts from his childhood. He’s determined to uncover the truth—for her and himself.

If the secrets of the past don’t tear them apart.

The Secret to Happiness ~ Review

The Secret to Happiness

Cape Cod Creamery #2

By Suzanne Woods Fisher

Callie Dixon has always been a thorn in her cousin Dawn's side, and now she is coming to Cape Cod. Dawn is less than pleased to have her cousin staying with them at the Creamery. But her mother, Marnie, won't hear any differently. She knows Callie needs her family, and they'll welcome her as long as she needs them.

Dawn knows something is wrong with Callie and is determined to fix her, despite Marnie and Kevin's advice to let her be. But all of Dawn's efforts seem useless. Callie just doesn't appreciate her efforts. 

Concern is weighing on Callie, and the pressure from her Dad to get another job is just adding to it. But Callie refuses to let anyone see the cracks in her life. But when Dawn drags her to a happiness class, Callie is challenged by the teacher, Bruno Bianco. How do you find happiness in the everyday, every single day? 

The Secret to Happiness is a journey of self-discovery as Callie learns to let the pressures and grief of the past go. But it is more than that as she learns the simple things in life can give the greatest joy. I really liked Callie from the first. What I found interesting was that Dawn, who had improved as the first book went along, seemed to reverse when Callie came to the Creamery. So this book is as much Callie's story as it is a continuation of Dawn's. Overall this is a good read and provides a satisfying continuation of what started with The Sweet Life. I mean, who wouldn't find reviving an old ice cream shop interesting? Especially when you combine it with finding a new focus in life. This is a lovely series and should be enjoyed in order, but this book can be read as a standalone title.

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:

Escape to Cape Cod--where you just might find the secret to happiness

Callie Dixon had the world by the tail . . . until it all slipped away. Fired from her dream job after making a colossal mistake, she's escaped to her aunt's home on Cape Cod for time to bounce back. Except it isn't a home, it's an ice cream shop. And time isn't going to help, because Callie's bounce has up and left. There's a reason she made that mistake at work, and she's struggling to come to terms with it.

Things go from bad to worse when Callie's cousin Dawn drags her to a community class about the secret to happiness. Happiness is the last thing Callie wants to think about right now, but instructor Bruno Bianco--a curiously gloomy fellow--is relentless. He has a way of turning Callie's thoughts upside down. Her feelings, too.

Bruno insists that hitting rock bottom is the very best place to be. But if that's true, how is it supposed to help her figure out what--or who--has been missing from her life all along?

Safeguarding the Witness ~ Review with Excerpt

Safeguarding the Witness
The Protectors
By Laurie Winter

Kayla Swartz’s return to Snowberry, Montana, was a last-minute trip after a call from her estranged father. Her little sister is in need of someplace to stay. And Kayla answered the call, but when she arrives, her father has been murdered. 

Worse, the killer was looking for something - stolen jewels. Could her father's old ways have again gotten him into trouble? Trouble that he couldn't get out of this time. 

But Nicholas Galanis, Kayla's high school boyfriend, claims that her father had changed. But after years of living under the shadow of her father's ill reputation, she has a hard time believing he could have changed. And when someone makes a threat against Kayla and Olive, Kayla turns to Nicholas for help. Their lives depend on staying one step ahead of the killer. And this killer isn't going to back off until he gets what he thinks Trevor Swartz gave to his daughters. 

In Safeguarding the Witness, Nicholas and Kayla have to deal with their shared past - one that resulted in their plans for the future going completely off-track, and Kayla was the one everyone blamed. 

This book is part of the Love Inspired Suspense series, and as such, you know that you will get a clean read without getting the story lost in a lot of graphic details. The story opens by jumping right into the action. Something was very wrong. How could this not draw you in? What was wrong? And not only was it wrong, but it was very wrong. And from here, it just ups the tension and builds to the climax. This is not to be missed if you are a fan of Love Inspired Suspense or Christian Romantic Suspense.

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: Safeguarding the Witness
Series: The Protectors
Author: Laurie Winter
Publisher: ‎ Inspirational The Protectors Collection (Love Inspired Suspense)
Release Date: April 25, 2023
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

 

A treasure worth killing for…  

 

Unless the bodyguard can protect them 

 

Kayla Swartz’s return to Snowberry, Montana, has been a living nightmare. She found her estranged father murdered, and unless she retrieves some missing jewels, Kayla and her three-year-old sister could be next. With nowhere else to turn, Kayla entrusts their lives to bodyguard Nicholas Galanis. But is hiding at a remote cabin in the mountains their best chance to survive…or the perfect opportunity for an ambush?

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop/IndieBound | BookBub

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About the Author

Multiple award-winning author Laurie Winter is a true warrior of the heart. Inspired by her dreams, she creates authentic characters who overcome the odds and find true love. She keeps her life balanced with jogging and binge-watching true-crime shows. When not pounding the pavement or the keyboard, she's enjoying time with her family, who are scattered between Wisconsin and Michigan. Laurie has three kids and one fantastic husband, all who inspire her to chase her dreams.

Connect with Laurie by visiting lauriewinter.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Excerpt

Kayla raced outside after Nicolas but couldn’t react quickly enough. The blast caught her off guard, knocking her off the front stoop. She tumbled down the stairs and landed on a patch of brown grass. Her ears rang, and she pressed her hands over them to muffle the sound. She blinked, trying to soothe the sting of tears.

Nicolas! her mind screamed. He’d been close, too close. If he was hurt—or worse… Kayla halted her anxiety-producing theories. She pushed herself back onto her feet. Her vision narrowed in on Nicolas’s large form sprawled on the front lawn. He’d always seemed indestructible to her. Please let him be okay.

The front door swung out, and Detective Reimer sprinted out, barking orders into her cell
phone. She skidded to a stop by Kayla. “Are you hurt?”

Kayla shook her head. “No. Nicolas was near the blast.” 

“Emergency services are on their way. Stay here.” Detective Reimer left Kayla with firm instructions before heading to Nicolas.

Nicolas would be all right. He had to be. The alternative clawed inside her.

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The Weight of Air ~ Review

The Weight of Air

By Kimberly Duffy

Mabel MacGinnis has become the daughter her father trained her to be  - Europe's strongest woman. But when he died, her confidence died with him. On her own, she is lost and not enough. Worse, she's lost her place in the Manzo Brothers Circus unless she can reinvent herself. But her friend Jake Cummingham sees more to her than an act in her father's performance and goes with her when the secrets of the past come to light. The mother, she thought, long dead, has been living and performing in America.

Isabella Moreau has a life in America, one that her husband held her back from, questioning her strength and endurance. But claiming her it has cost her the life she could have had. But her skills as an aerialist are faltering as her body begins betraying her. Is the life she has fought for so hard about to be lost to her? 

What neither Mabel nor Isabella realizes is just how entwined their lives are. With Jake an unknown link between them soon, they will become part of one another lives. But as the three work out just who they are and what they want from life, they will have to put the past and its fears and pain behind them.

First of all, I have to say circuses are not really something I've ever been into, so this was a fairly new world for me. I found the back story of the circus to be an interesting one. The rivalry to be the top performer. Older performers were hidden in the crowd of performers, their faces behind veils to mask their age from the public. And then there was Mabel, who was expected to put her body on display because of her size and strength; her wishes for privacy and modesty were ignored. Yet there were codes of conduct the performers were expected to follow, which seemed at odds with the marketing employed. 

I feel that Mabel's father and Isabella's husband did both a disservice with his "protective" nature. Isabella wasn't allowed to move past her issues and felt rejected. While Mabel felt she couldn't work without her father at her side. And then there is Jake, who allowed tragedy to define him. It warped his view of his current situation and caused him to hurt those around him. I feel many of the problems that were faced could have been avoided if each could have listened and not just heard the words being spoken to them. 

This is a story of healing and moving on. But most importantly, learning in whom one should put their trust - God. I think the following verse was one that needed to be heeded, "I can do all things through God, who strengthens me."  Overall this was an excellent book and one I think would make a perfect choice for those who are into early Twentieth Century historical fiction or circuses. 

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:

Two women

--bound by blood, torn apart by circumstance--

find together that true strength comes in many forms.

In 1911, Mabel MacGinnis is Europe's strongest woman and has performed beside her father in the Manzo Brothers Circus her entire life. When he dies unexpectedly, she loses everything she's ever known and sets off in the company of acrobat Jake Cunningham in hope of finding the mother she thought was dead.

Isabella Moreau, America's most feted aerialist, has given everything to the circus. But age and injury now threaten her security, and Isabella, stalked by old fears, makes a choice that risks everything. Then her daughter Mabel appears alongside the man who never wanted to see Isabella again, and she is forced to face the truth of where, and in what, she derives her worth.

As Mabel and Isabella's lives become entangled beneath the glittering lights and flying trapeze of Madison Square Garden, their resiliency and resolve are tested as they learn the truth of what it means to be strong.

Tactical Force ~ Review

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Tactical Force by Lynn Shannon,

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Tactical Force

Triumph Over Adversity #6
By Lynn Shannon

While she was still in High School, Hayley Barlow was abducted and held by a killer until she escaped. After graduation, Hayley left town and never looked back. But the tragic death of her mother has brought her home, and her abductor knows she's back. Knowing she needs help if she is to survive, Hayley seeks out Walker Montgomery, her HS boyfriend.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   

Walker Montgomery never thought he'd see Hayley again. And he certainly never expected to hear that the man who abducted her and killed his sister was back. Not only back but toying with them, taunting them with another woman's life at stake.

Tactical Force is the sixth book in the Triumph Over Adversity series, but it can easily be read as a standalone title, which I might add, I did. The killer is obsessive, toying with them and taunting them all while seemingly fixating on Hayley, the one who got away. 

There are many potential suspects but nothing concrete, and it remains this way up until the climax. This book has a bit more attention to descriptive detailing than the Love Inspired Suspense while still on the mild side of graphic detailing. Fans of Romantic Suspense and second chances will enjoy Tactical Force by Lynn Shannon. Just be prepared to lose sleep because you won't want to put this one down. 

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: Tactical Force
Series: Triumph Over Adversity #6

Author: Lynn Shannon 
Publisher: Creative Thoughts, LLC
Release Date: February 28, 2023
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Some wounds never heal.

As a former Navy SEAL, Walker Montgomery faces danger without flinching. But not even a combat zone halfway around the world was far enough to escape the trauma of his teen years. His younger sister was murdered, and the killer was never caught. Since returning home, he’s been quietly working the case, unable to move on with his life until justice is served.  

She’s a survivor. 

Hayley Barlow has her own tragic childhood. Abducted and held captive, she barely escaped the clutches of the same killer that murdered Walker’s sister. The invisible scars on her heart and the brand on her shoulder are souvenirs she can’t get rid of. When Hayley receives a taunting phone call from her attacker, she turns to Walker for help.  

A race to stop a killer. 

Walker is committed to safeguarding Hayley, but their closeness fractures the walls surrounding his heart. As the killer draws them into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, nothing is as it seems. Walker is used to taking the fight to the enemy, but this time, with Hayley’s life on the line, it may cost him more than he’s willing to lose.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

More Books in this Series

   

 

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About the Author

It took an international move from Texas to Greece before Lynn Shannon turned her love of reading into a passion for writing. Now she spends her days penning fast-paced inspirational romantic suspense. Her novels combine intriguing mysteries with heartfelt romance.

Lynn lives with her husband, two children, an extremely spoiled dog, and a turtle who hibernates half of the year. The experience of a different country has provided amazing new foods—like Yemista and Kourabiedes—to accompany pecans and Blue Bell ice cream on her favorites list. She also never passes up coffee, chocolate, or the chance to watch cute animal videos. 

Connect with Lynn by visiting lynnshannon.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletters.

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