Code of Courage ~ Review

Code of Courage

By Janice Cantore

Detective Danni Grace has given fifteen years of her life to being the best police officer she can be. But everything changed in an instant when a misleading video goes viral - riots in LA County have spilled over into neighboring La Rosa, and Danni gets caught in the violence targetting the local police. 

After sustaining an injury that could have been deadly, Danni is rethinking her life. Why should she continue to serve and protect the very people who are now attacking her physically, verbally, and emotionally? Could she just walk away from who she was and reinvent herself in a distant paradise? 

But soon, Danni finds herself drawn into a murder case - is a young officer she trained responsible for the death of a community activist? Or is the La Rosa Police Department the victim of a well-planned setup? To get the answers that will determine not only her fate but that of every officer in the department, Danni will have to do the one thing she never thought she'd do. She'll have to reach out to her ex-husband and work with him to determine what is happening and discover who is ready to destroy her hometown.

Code of Courage could be ripped from the headlines with this storyline. How do you handle unrest that threatens the lives and possessions of everyday citizens, all in the name of allowing citizens to have a voice with no consequences? Will politics allow protestors to go unchecked as they riot, loot, and stir up general discontent, all while throwing any and all consequences out the window? When is enough, enough? This is an interesting read as one gets into the mind of a police officer dealing with the new fraught atmosphere that is the world we now find ourselves living in or at least observing through the eye of the media. I personally don't know how I'd react to such hate and vitriol being directed at me just for doing my job. I know from experience in my own job that angry people can be scary, and I have never faced a group of angry people. So yeah, good book but also an unsettling one. Where do you stand? is what you'll come away with after reading this newest offering from Janice Cantore.                  

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:

Detective Danni Grace has never met a police officer who wants to face a scenario where pulling the trigger on another person is the only option. When the worst does occur and there's a police-involved shooting, it leads to riots and calls to disband the entire police force in La Rosa, Danni's hometown.

After fifteen years on the force, Danni has had enough. Injured in the line of duty when a protester throws a chunk of concrete at her and shaken by the vitriol being shown to the police, Danni realizes for the first time that she's lost her passion for the job.

While she's on a leave of absence, though, a community activist in La Rosa is shot and a fellow officer is blamed for his murder. Taking on this case means stepping back into a job Danni's not sure she can do anymore . . . and working closely with her ex-husband, Gabriel Fox, an investigator for the city prosecutor's office. Danni will need to tap into her code of courage to uncover the truth, prevent another injustice, and uphold her oath to serve and protect.

Dark Angel ~ Review

Dark Angel

The Shepherds #2

By Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson

Narrated by MacLeod Andrews

Dark Angel finds Jedidiah Johnson continuing his association with the Shepherds. Jed has returned to Nashville, where he is undertaking specialized training so that he might be a warrior with the Shepherds. The training, similar to what he is familiar with, is also very different. Everything is state-of-the-art, and there is a spiritual aspect to it that is totally new.

An old enemy who in the past betrayed the Shepherds is about to make his presence known. And he is taking orders from Victor. Yep, the ultra scary guy from Dark Inception is back, and he has a plan that involves Jed facing off with Nicholas Woland.

And Jed is going to need all the help he can get. He's having visions again, and the enemy has targeted him. Jed will need his God-given gifts and for his team to have his back, both physically and spiritually, if The Shepherds have any hope of stopping a world-encompassing religious war.

Dark Angel combines modern warfare with spiritual for a Suspense-filled Speculative Thriller that you won't want to put down. This is an intense read with plenty of military action as Jed, and the Shepherds do what they do best. Whether you enjoy your books, reading or listening, you will enjoy this if you are a fan of Frank Peretti, James Rupert, or Joel C. Rosenberg. 

I received a complimentary paperback copy of this book with no expectations - all thoughts expressed are my own.

Giveaway:

Be sure to enter the giveaway for Dark Angel/Dark Intercept on Instagram! Click here for all the info

About the Book:

Former Navy SEAL Jedidiah Johnson returns to Nashville ready to begin his training with the elite warriors known as the Shepherds. He thinks he knows what to expect when he arrives on the sprawling, state-of-the-art facility but quickly realizes he’ll have to find his place as the rookie leader of a new team. Then he starts having visions of an imminent attack overseas, and with the clock ticking, Jed and his team are dispatched to neutralize the threat. All the while, Jed hears whispers of another threat . . . a name that raises unexplained fear and anger throughout the Shepherds organization.

Once a military man, Nicholas Woland betrayed the Shepherds and all they stood for when he joined their enemies. After years in prison, Woland is eager to get back in action spreading chaos and death. And he has been freed for a purpose: a sinister plot that will result in hundreds of casualties and incite worldwide religious warfare for years to come.

As Woland and the Shepherds race toward a collision, Jed must rely on his gifts, his training, and his untested team to make critical decisions on a global stage—never realizing that a secret servant of the enemy is growing closer and closer to him.

Dark Intercept ~ Review

Dark Intercept

Shepherds #1

By Brian Andrews and Jeffrey Wilson

Jedidiah Johnson has been running from his past, from a moment in his teen years in which he felt God had let him down. But when the past demands that he return home he has no choice but to do what he can to save an innocent young life. What he didn't expect was a spiritual battle in which souls and lives will depend on the choices he makes. 

He abandoned his faith, his friends, and his dreams years ago. He saw something he has spent years denying and now he is about to be confronted by it all when he gets a desperate plea for help.

Dark Intercept takes the reader on a journey into the world that lies beyond the human eye. A world in which the spiritual realm battles for the human soul and world dominance. This book clearly falls into the Speculative Fiction genre and it does it well. 

I enjoyed this book in both the paperback and the Audio version. The audio version was narrated by MacLeod Andrews and the narration was good - I did speed it up to 1.4x to get it in line with my normal reading speed. Both versions are excellent and well worth adding to your home library.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the text version of the book with no expectations but that I provide my honest ~ all thoughts expressed are my own.

Publisher Tyndale

Purchase Link – Amazon

Book Blurb

When dark forces rise, are faith and firepower enough?

On the eve of his medical retirement, Navy SEAL Jedidiah Johnson receives a frantic call from his estranged childhood best friend David Yarnell. David’s daughter has been kidnapped off the streets of Nashville in broad daylight. The police have no suspects and no leads. The only clue: the body of a dead priest left behind at the scene. With the clock ticking, David is growing desperate, as is his wife, Rachel . . . Jed’s first love.

Despite his painful history with David and Rachel, Jed agrees to help. But he’s spent his career as a door-kicking Navy SEAL, not an investigator. His presence immediately draws unwanted attention, creates friction with the local police, and triggers a mysterious attempt on his life. Just when he thinks things can’t get worse, it starts to happen again—the voices in his head, the nightmares, the visions. Dark memories and strange abilities, things he believed he’d left behind when he fled Nashville for the Navy at eighteen, begin to resurface.

Jed realizes that to save the missing girl, he must take a leap of faith and embrace the gifts he’s denied for all these years. To foil this dark intercept, he’ll need more than just his years as a SEAL operator, because he has no choice now but to take up arms and join the battle in the unseen spiritual warfare raging all around him. And there is far more at stake than just a missing girl: the world is not the place he thought it was—and he is not alone.

Follow the military heroes of The Shepherds series as they bring the power of light into the dark mystery of Sara Beth’s abduction.

Be sure to enter the Book Giveaway on Instagram - click here. 

Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe ~ Review with Interview and Giveaway

Brunch at Bittersweet Cafe
A Supper Club Novel #2
By Carla Laureano

When a snowstorm leaves Justin Keller stranded he has to make an early morning stop at the only place he can find which just happens to be the bakery where Melody Johansson is working a twelve-hour shift through the early morning hours. Melody is more than a little leery of this stranger who needs to use her phone but she never expected to be so attracted to him, well maybe a little, but she so doesn't want to be especially with her history.

Justin doesn't mind a little flirtation but a long-term relationship not a possibility with his schedule and he's not about to give up his first love flying just to make his work schedule more compatible. And he's seen first hand that a pilot's life does not a good marriage make - his parents are proof positive in his opinion. But for some reason Melody makes a place for herself in his thoughts. But he knows nothing will come of it as other than her place of employment he has no way to contact her.

But when he gets a request of help for the favor he owes her Justin agrees, after all, he is all but certain he will soon be calling someplace other than Colorado home. But he needs to let Melody know before any feelings develop between them and with a built-in time of expiration they will both be sure to keep this a friendship and nothing more.

With their respective pasts, Justin and Melody want to keep the heartbreak that always looms on the horizon away. But one can't keep the heart from caring no matter what the head says. And for two people who don't want to commit to one another Justin and Melody do a fair amount of kissing, which if you want to avoid commitment and complications should be avoided.

While Melody is dealing with her non-relationship with Justin she and her BFF Rachel are about to open a Cafe/Bakery of their own. A task that seems daunting but they have the support and help of their friend Ana and Rachel's boyfriend Alex. So just a word of warning if you are on a diet trying to avoid sweets, fat, carbs, and almost anything else you should be aware that there is a whole lot of baking going on. Melody bakes when she needs to relax, when she needs to forget her troubles, and to create the perfect menu for her soon-to-be-dream-come-true bakery.

This is the second book in the Supper Club series (the first has just been longlisted for the 2019 INSPYs). I haven't read the first book and for the most part, I believe this book can be read on its own - there are a few references to the previous book (which I believe may focus on Rachel and Alex). Overall this is a book that will appeal to those who are fans of Women's Fiction and Contemporary Romance Fiction. The characters are dealing with real day-to-day issues of the heart, work, and family in a way that is believable and not over the top. Book Clubs will want to give this one a look as a future possibility.

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


About the Book:

From the RITA Award–winning author of Five Days in Skye comes a sweet, romantic treat that will leave you hungry for more.

Baker and pastry chef Melody Johansson has always believed in finding the positive in every situation, but seven years after she moved to Denver, she can’t deny that she’s stuck in a rut. One relationship after another has ended in disaster, and her classical French training is being wasted on her night job in a mediocre chain bakery. Then the charming and handsome private pilot Justin Keller lands on the doorstep of her workplace in a snowstorm, and Melody feels like it’s a sign that her luck is finally turning around.

Justin is intrigued by the lively bohemian baker, but the last thing he’s looking for is a relationship. His own romantic failures have proven that the demands of his job are incompatible with meaningful connections, and he’s already pledged his life savings to a new business venture across the country?an island air charter in Florida with his sister and brother-in-law.

Against their better judgment, Melody and Justin find themselves drawn together by their unconventional career choices and shared love of adventure. But when an unexpected windfall provides Melody with the chance to open her dream bakery-café in Denver with her best friend, chef Rachel Bishop, she’s faced with an impossible choice: stay and put down roots with the people and place she’s come to call home . . . or give it all up for the man she loves.

Purchase Links

Tyndale | Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes and Noble 

Author Q and A:

1) Who is your favorite comfort read author?

This is a tricky one because I read widely and have a lot of favorites! If I’m just looking for a book that I know will hit the spot and leave me with a good feeling at the end, I’d pick Charles Martin. That said, Tamara Leigh’s Stealing Adda is a book that I reach for whenever I’m sick in bed. There’s just something about this fun, chick-lit romance that makes me feel better.


2) What one author past or present would you like to mentor you?

Without question, Francine Rivers. Which is probably a good thing, because I recently got to meet her! In fact, I was able to ask her many of my burning career questions onstage at the Christy Awards ceremony, in front of an audience of authors. Because who wouldn’t want Francine Rivers as a mentor?


3) How do develop your setting (a photo, a trip, a random comment)?

I set my latest book series in my hometown of Denver, partly because I’ve seen a lot of Colorado mountain settings but very little of the city, and partly because it was an excuse to do in-person research. And when you’re writing a series that has to do with food, you can guess what kind of research that turned out to be… Yum!


5) Who is your favorite character in your book?

That would be like choosing a favorite child. I loved Melody because she’s fun and optimistic and surprisingly deep—she’s partially based on a real-life friend of mine. However, I relate much more to Justin’s steady nature and single-mindedness.


6) Coffee, tea, or cocoa ~ Which is your favorite?

Another hard choice! I normally drink a cup of coffee in the morning in the car, either coffee or tea at my desk during the day, and a cup of vanilla rooibos tea before bedtime. So I suppose I’m evenly split between the two. I would sooner give up coffee than I would tea, however. I do like cocoa, but that’s just an occasional treat. Too much sugar for me!


7) What one question do you wish you would be asked and how would you answer it?

“If you could write like any one author, who would it be?”

When I started out, I had a lot of writing heroes whom I wished I could emulate. The further I get in my career, the more I realize that what makes their writing so unique is what makes them unique as people… and the same with me. So I’ve gotten to the point where I’m very satisfied to be myself. I think it’s important that we celebrate other people’s successes and talent, while still appreciating what we have to offer as individuals. In anything we do, not just writing. Just because someone is awesome doesn’t mean that you can’t also be awesome in your own way.

About Carla:

Carla Laureano is the RITA Award-winning author of contemporary inspirational romance and Celtic fantasy (as C.E. Laureano). A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and marketing executive for nearly a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write fiction full-time. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and two sons, where she writes during the day and cooks things at night.

Connect with Carla

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Carla Laureano’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, January 7th: Books and Bindings

Tuesday, January 8th: From the TBR Pile

Wednesday, January 9th: @createexploreread

Thursday, January 10th: Book Fidelity

Friday, January 11th: View from the Birdhouse

Monday, January 14th: Broken Teepee

Tuesday, January 15th: Amy’s Book-et List

Wednesday, January 16th: Faery Tales Are Real

Thursday, January 17th: Girl Who Reads

Friday, January 18th: @hollyslittlebookreviews

Tuesday, January 22nd: Read Eat Repeat

Tuesday, January 22nd: @_ebl_inc_

Wednesday, January 23rd: Cheryl’s Book Nook

Thursday, January 24th: Midwest Ladies Who Lit and @mwladieswholit

Friday, January 25th: Kritter’s Ramblings

Monday, January 28th: Write Read Life

Tuesday, January 29th: Running Through the Storms

Wednesday, January 30th: Books a la Mode

Thursday, January 31st: The Sketchy Reader

Friday, February 1st: @thecaffeinated_bibliophile

Friday, February 1st: Blooming with Books

Monday, February 4th: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Wednesday, February 6th: What is That Book About

How the Light Gets In ~ Review with Trailer and Excerpt

How the Light Gets In
By Jolina Petersheim

Ruth Neufeld's life is in tatters. Helping to care for her father before he succumbs to cancer added a strain to her already strained marriage, especially when Chandler again put his humanitarian work ahead of his family. But when she receives word that Chandler and his father were both killed in the Afganistan hospital in which they were working her life is forever altered. Traveling from her parents home in Ireland to Wisconsin for the funeral of her husband is not something she anticipated doing anytime some or ever.

When Chandler's cousin offers to allow Ruth, her daughters (Sofie and Vivienne), and mother-in-law Mabel stay in his home during their time of grief they agree. The Mennonite community Elam calls home is so foreign to what Ruth has known that it gives her a chance to heal and reflect on her marriage. But can you truly heal from a broken heart and crushed dreams? 

Elam has dreams of his own - he dreams of a family and having children in his life. But Elam's life has been marked by the ill health of his mother during his childhood and his speech issues. Elam is a quiet person whose gentle demeanor and offer of help are just what Ruth and her girls need at this difficult time. And friendship is something Ruth needs more than anything someone who will listen and understand what she is saying.

With Mabel's encouragement, Ruth and Elam soon have something more than friendship. But with her husband so recently killed Ruth has reservations about a relationship at this time. But Elam is so different from Chandler caring about her dreams and helping her to rediscover what she lost in the chaos that her life had become.

But when a chance to reclaim what she thought was lost comes Ruth is left with a most difficult choice. Does she choose the love of her youth or the love found in the midst of her grief? Does she settle for what was or will she fight for what could be?

How the Light Gets In is a moving story that will at various points affect the reader as Ruth and her daughters deal with the various losses that seemingly come within a short period of time. And when joy and grief become a tangle how one deals with it is seems an almost impossible task - yet Jolina Petersheim has her cast of character do just that. And the unexpected twists that come throughout keep the reader from becoming complacent and assuming just what the conclusion will be.

I have to admit this is the first book by Jolina Petersheim I have read so I went into this one with no expectations and was more than pleasantly surprised by this offering. A series of letters and memories between Ruth and Chandler are scattered throughout the book, adding another layer of depth by creating a backstory that is slowing unfolded as their life together is shared from their differing perspectives. When faced with a life-changing choice do we pick what we want and desire or do we pick the more difficult path the one that serves the greater good? How do we know what is the will of God? Does easier mean better? Love cannot be separated from pain, they are the counterparts to one another and necessary to grow and appreciate what is.

If you are looking for a book club selection this is one that will keep your conversation going. Highly recommended for your 2019 TBR (to-be-read) list. This one is releasing in March so get it on your list.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations but that I offer my honest opinion - all opinions expressed are my own


About the Book:

“Compellingly woven by Jolina Petersheim’s capable pen, How the Light Gets In follows a trail of grief toward healing, leading to an impossible choice–what is best when every path will hurt someone?” –Lisa Wingate, New York Times bestselling author of Before We Were Yours

From the highly acclaimed author of The Outcast and The Alliance comes an engrossing novel about marriage and motherhood, loss and moving on.

When Ruth Neufeld’s husband and father-in-law are killed working for a relief organization overseas, she travels to Wisconsin with her young daughters and mother-in-law Mabel to bury her husband. She hopes the Mennonite community will be a quiet place to grieve and piece together next steps.

Ruth and her family are welcomed by Elam, her husband’s cousin, who invites them to stay at his cranberry farm through the harvest. Sifting through fields of berries and memories of a marriage that was broken long before her husband died, Ruth finds solace in the beauty of the land and healing through hard work and budding friendship. She also encounters the possibility of new love with Elam, whose gentle encouragement awakens hopes and dreams she thought she’d lost forever.

But an unexpected twist threatens to unseat the happy ending Ruth is about to write for herself. On the precipice of a fresh start and a new marriage, Ruth must make an impossible decision: which path to choose if her husband isn’t dead after all.

Want to learn more? Click here

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes and Noble

Connect with Jolina

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Want to get a glimpse into the book? click here

Check-out the book trailer

Check-out the rest of the TLC tour

About Jolina Petersheim:

Jolina Petersheim and her husband share the same unique Amish and Mennonite heritage that originated in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, but they now live in the mountains of Tennessee with their three young daughters. Jolina’s fifth novel, How the Light Gets In, a modern retelling of Ruth set in a cranberry bog in Wisconsin, releases March 2019.

Connect with Jolina

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Lethal Target ~ Review

Lethal Target
Line of Duty #2
By Janice Cantore

Tess O'Rourke thought the past of Long Beach was behind her now that she has become a part of the community of Rogue's Hollow. The police department is facing a new crisis with the death of an 18-year-old young man that appears to have been due to a drug overdose. But when the evidence doesn't prove conclusive Tess is left with more questions than answers. Is it related to the new pot farms setting up around the area or is it something more sinister? Especially when the bane of her existence in Long Beach shows up ready to start a new smear campaign against her in Rogue's Hollow.

Tess has definitely crossed someone and once again her career is on the line but she's not about to back down and fade into the shadows when she has a job to do. And she does have a job to do when an unexplained death and potential missing persons on her watch. What Tess doesn't know is just how large a target she has on her back and whether she'll survive the threats that seem to be surrounding her.

Through it all, those who know and believe in her stand firm in their support. But with a contention ballot measure and the mayor's race just days away, Rogue's Hollow may soon erupt under the building tension. And Tess is under her own personal turmoil as the anniversary of her father's death comes around yet again - can she let go of the anger and allow her heart to heal? Or will her anger end her friendship with Pastor Oliver Macpherson, who seemingly overcame his own personal loss? Only time will tell and it is quickly running down.

This is the second book in the Line of Duty series and it takes place a few months after the events of Crisis Shot with Tess well-situated in her new home. Her relationship with Sergeant Steve Logan has come and gone in the time between, her choice. Tess's determination and drive make her a compelling character. And then there is Oliver who through his interactions is a caring person who tries to help others see that all sin is sin and all are guilty but redemption is possible and it is never too late to change. Rogue's Hollow is like many smaller communities with issues that seem larger than they truly need to be just because everyone knows everyone and it becomes more personal. Altogether a well-written and engaging book that is perfect for a long chilly weekend.


About the Book:
Police Chief Tess O’Rourke thought she’d taken care of her small town’s drug problem last year. But now Rogue’s Hollow residents are up in arms over a contentious vote on legalizing the sale of marijuana within city limits. And when an eighteen-year-old is found dead of a possible overdose, Tess wonders if the local pot farms might be involved and begins to fear that a new, deadlier drug supply chain has cropped up. As tempers flare and emotions boil over, Tess faces the possibility of losing the town’s support.

With her relationship to Sergeant Steve Logan on shaky ground, Tess could really use a friend, and she feels drawn to Pastor Oliver Macpherson’s quiet presence. But the anger she holds over her father’s death prevents her from embracing his faith and finding peace.

Battling storms within and without, Tess is shocked when a familiar face from her past shows up in town to stir up more trouble. And his threats against Tess may prove lethal.

Lady of a Thousand Treasures ~ Review with Giveaway

Lady of a Thousand Treasures
The Victorian Ladies Series #1
By Sandra Byrd

Miss Eleanor Sheffield has been tasked with determining to whom Baron Lydney's collection of treasures will be given. The collection is vast and grand and highly sought after. But Eleanor must keep her personal feelings out of her decision making. And she does have personal feelings - she not too long ago thought that she and the late Baron's son would be wed. But when Harry tarried overlong on the Continent with no word Eleanor's hopes faded.

As Eleanor works through the estate's inventory she must determine who is worthy of the treasures her late father help Baron Lydney amass. Does it belong in the South Kensington Museum where all might enjoy it or does it belong with Harry and Watchfield House? With rumors that Harry is not worthy of holding such treasures, Eleanor must observe and test.

But more than the final ownership of the late Baron's possessions is at stake - Eleanor is also trying to keep her family's antiquities business going which following the death of her father and the decline of her Uncle Lewis is a nearly insurmountable task for a single woman in 1860s England. As business declines, Eleanor feels that her final decision will determine the fate of Sheffield Brothers. But can her business survive until a decision is reached or will she find her future in lies in debtor's prison?

This is a delightful and intriguing glimpse into a seldom-explored aspect of English history. Who knew that the upper class had such an interest in collecting rare pieces and antiquities that it could support a whole industry. I found the need for procurers and evaluators of pieces to be wholly unexpected. Also that even at that time the ability of those to produce forgeries was a real concern is something I did not expect. Get ready to enter a world of prejudice and betrayal with the ultimate treasure at stake.

The author's notes about the historical elements and real people that she included to bring this book together are well worth reading. Some of these facts a person may have heard briefly in history class but most likely never made it into the books - I know they didn't mine (I have the books on the shelf to look through). The efforts that Sandra Byrd goes to in added historic detail to her books is evident in the past that she brings to life.  I would highly recommend this book to fans of historical Victorian era fiction - this is not dry or tired and will leave you with a better understanding of this world.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher through TLC Book Tours with no expectations except that I offer my honest opinion. - All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:
Miss Eleanor Sheffield is a talented evaluator of antiquities, trained to know the difference between a genuine artifact and a fraud. But with her father’s passing and her uncle’s decline into dementia, the family business is at risk. In the Victorian era, unmarried Eleanor cannot run Sheffield Brothers alone.

The death of a longtime client, Baron Lydney, offers an unexpected complication when Eleanor is appointed the temporary trustee of the baron’s legendary collection. She must choose whether to donate the priceless treasures to a museum or allow them to pass to the baron’s only living son, Harry—the man who broke Eleanor’s heart.

Eleanor distrusts the baron’s motives and her own ability to be unbiased regarding Harry’s future. Harry claims to still love her and Eleanor yearns to believe him, but his mysterious comments and actions fuel her doubts. When she learns an Italian beauty accompanied him on his return to England, her lingering hope for a future with Harry dims.

With the threat of debtor’s prison closing in, Eleanor knows that donating the baron’s collection would win her favor among potential clients, saving Sheffield Brothers. But the more time she spends with Harry, the more her faith in him grows. Might Harry be worthy of his inheritance, and her heart, after all? As pressures mount and time runs out, Eleanor must decide whom she can trust—who in her life is false or true, brass or gold—and what is meant to be treasured.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Books-A-Million | Barnes & Noble

Connect with Sandra

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

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Hidden Among the Stars ~ Review

Hidden Among the Stars
By Melanie Dobson

Austria has lost itself to the annexation of Nazi Germany and the lives of its people are about to be changed forever. Max Dornbach has lived the life of privilege but the hate that has taken hold of his country shocks him. Never able to stand suffering Max offers what help he can to his friends who are Jewish, hiding their valuables on his family's summer estate. But Max's greatest desire is the help the young woman that he cares for and her family to escape from Austria. But already the grip of Hitler's regime has made leaving the country nearly impossible.

When the unthinkable happens Max must rely on the friendships that he formed as a child with those living near the family's estate in Hallstatt. Annika Knopf has always cared for Max and would do anything to aid him. But as the daughter of the estate's caretaker, she has little hope of him seeing her as anything but the little girl he met years ago. But when Max brings Luzia Weiss to hide her away from the Nazis Annika's heart is tried.

When Callie Randall comes across an old come of Bambi she is determined to see if she can find the original owner Annika Knopf to whom the book is inscribed with a loving message from her mother. But finding any information about Annika Knopf is almost impossible. But Callie's inquiries do get noticed by Dr. Josh Nemeth who is on his own search for Annika because of an uncle who was stationed in Austria's lake country in 1945.

When Callie and Josh's search turns up another name - Luzia Weiss, a name that has ties to someone dear in Callie's life, the search becomes even more important to Callie. Important enough that she is willing to leave her safe world behind.

Hidden Among the Stars is a moving and at time heart-wrenching read. It is a powerful message about standing up in the face of evil and doing your own small part to thwart its destructive force. This story is one that spans 80 years one that has a mystery at its heart and seven people are at the center of it.

For those who have read Catching the Wind, this book is equally well-written perhaps a bit more brutal as there are more scenes dealing with the Nazi aggression. I like the following quote that was in the book "Anyone who saves a life is as if he saved an entire world." I feel as if this quote from The Talmud sums up this book. When the world is falling down around you will you give your all to save another's life? 

Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations except that I give my honest opinion ~ all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:

A gripping time-slip mystery about hidden treasure, 

a castle, and ordinary people who 

resisted evil in their own extraordinary way.

The year is 1938, and as Hitler’s troops sweep into Vienna, Austrian Max Dornbach promises to help his Jewish friends hide their most valuable possessions from the Nazis, smuggling them to his family’s summer estate near the picturesque village of Hallstatt. He enlists the help of Annika Knopf, his childhood friend and the caretaker’s daughter, who is eager to help the man she’s loved her entire life. But when Max also brings Luzia Weiss, a young Jewish woman, to hide at the castle, it complicates Annika’s feelings and puts their entire plan—even their very lives—in jeopardy. Especially when the Nazis come to scour the estate and find both Luzia and the treasure gone.

Eighty years later, Callie Randall is mostly content with her quiet life, running a bookstore with her sister and reaching out into the world through her blog. Then she finds a cryptic list in an old edition of Bambi that connects her to Annika’s story . . . and maybe to the long-buried story of a dear friend. As she digs into the past, Callie must risk venturing outside the safe world she’s built for a chance at answers, adventure, and maybe even new love.

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The Crescent Stone ~ Review

The Crescent Stone
The Sunlit Lands #1
By Matt Mikalatos

Madeline Oliver is dying - each breath is a struggle, each minute takes that much closer to the end. At seventeen she is not ready to die but there is nothing more that can be done. A year ago she had everything until her lungs stopped working. Still, she struggles to have as normal a life as she can, going to school when she is able - though making it to graduation is unlikely.

On that fateful day when she collapses in chemistry, it seems her life has come to an end but her lab partner Jason Wu along with her ex-boyfriend Darius Walker rushes her to the hospital. Madeline is dying she knows it but in the midst of everything something happens and she is given a chance. A year of service in an unknown land in exchange for her life healed from her disease.

Madeline makes the decision and soon she and Jason are making their way to the Sunlit Lands and the Elenil and one year of service. The Sunlit Lands upon first appearance seem idyllic but looks are but the surface and soon Madeline and Jason are peering beyond. The Elenil are at war with the Scim, a beastly warlike people bent upon the destruction of all. Madeline with her new health has a few concerns but the Elenil have been so good to her offering her the chance at life. Jason being Jason isn't content to just be told what is what and has to poke and prod and look beneath everything. And soon he is wondering just how the Elenil magic works.

Every action has a price and when the truth of the cost is revealed, Madeline and Jason have a choice before them. A choice that will bring life and death...

The Crescent Stone is the first book in the Sunlit Lands series and a most intriguing start it is. A world that once was whole and now torn by war. Treachery, betrayals, deceit or truth, kindness, loyalty? Can they determine the truth before it is too late?  Madeline and Jason are an interesting pair. Madeline is lost in her own pain and fears while Jason is hurting from a decision made out of love that cost him dearly - for both the Sunlit Lands is chance at a new beginning to right what is wrong in their lives. And those who call the Sunlit Lands home are a mix of humans who have come in service and the various peoples who come from this world. I think the following quote can sum up this book quite nicely "To change the world, change first a heart." This is my takeaway from this book.

And as a fun added bonus there is an appendix that shares "history" of this world through their stories which adds an interesting thread. And bonus there is an excerpt from the second book (DON'T READ AHEAD - you will totally ruin what is this book if you do!!!)

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers with no expectations of a positive review - all opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:
A girl with a deadly lung disease . . .
A boy with a tragic past . . .
A land where the sun never sets but darkness still creeps in . . . 

Madeline Oliver has never wanted for anything, but now she would give anything just to breathe. Jason Wu skates through life on jokes, but when a tragedy leaves him guilt-stricken, he promises to tell only the truth, no matter the price. When a mysterious stranger name Hanali appears to Madeline and offers to heal her in exchange for one year of service to his people, Madeline and Jason are swept into a strange land where they don’t know the rules and where their decisions carry consequences that reach farther than they could ever guess.

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The Kremlin Conspiracy ~ Review

The Kremlin Conspiracy
By Joel C. Rosenberg

In 1999 a series of attacks on civilian apartments left Russia and her citizens in a panic. From this crisis, Aleksandr Luganov arose as the champion of the people taking leadership against these attacks and smoothing his path to leadership of the nation. It was during this time that Oleg Kraskin began his own rise within the Russian government because of his engagement with Luganov's daughter Marina.

Meanwhile in the United States Marcus Ryker was moving up in his own life after a few life-changing incidents. Military service, Secret Service, marriage to his childhood sweetheart Elena Garcia. When an attack by terrorist comes to the White House Marcus makes a name for himself that gains him national and international attention.

As the years pass the respective jobs both men have takes a toll on them both. As tensions mount, choices will have to be made - ones that could have far-ranging ramifications both personally, nationally, and globally.

As one of the characters says, quoting Solzhenitsyn, "In keeping silent about evil, in burying it so deep within us that no sign of it appears on the surface, we are implanting it, and it will rise up a thousandfold in the future. When we neither punish nor reproach evildoers, we are not simply protecting their trivial old age, we are ripping the foundations of justice from beneath new generations." This is a bold statement that quite aptly describes the entirety of this book.

Can a good man or woman stand by when evil is being done and take no action to stop or right what is being done? This is the question that both Oleg and Marcus must decide for themselves. And what they decide will change everything for them both.

I really enjoyed this book once I was able to get into it. The early pages of the story just seemed to drag for me. But getting past the character introductions the action and the story seemed to read quicker. The author takes creative liberties with current events and creates a believable and entirely plausible story. 

I was provided a complimentary review copy of this book by Tyndale House Publishers with no expectations of a positive review ~ All opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

Everything he learned to protect our president, he must use to take out theirs.

With an American president distracted by growing tensions in North Korea and Iran, an ominous new threat is emerging in Moscow. A czar is rising in the Kremlin, a Russian president feverishly consolidating power, silencing his opposition, and plotting a brazen and lightning-fast military strike that could rupture the NATO alliance and bring Washington and Moscow to the brink of nuclear war. But in his blind spot is the former U.S. Secret Service agent, Marcus Ryker, trained to protect but ready to kill to save his country.

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