Every Bride Has Her Day ~ Review

Every Bride Has Her Day
Brides with Style #3
by Janice Thompson

Katie Fisher has her dream dress and she finally has the groom-to-be of her dreams. All she has left is her trip down the aisle with Brady James - what could possibly go wrong?

Everyone has plans for Katie's special day and she's not sure how to tell them all what her plans are. Between Dallas and Fairfield her options are endless.

As Katie plans her day she celebrates the loves and joys that are coming into the lives of her friends and family.  But trouble is coming in a way Katie never anticipated.

Every Bride Has Her Day is the third book in the Brides with Style series and it is a delightful conclusion to the series.  The entire Fisher clan is a total hoot! They are the family one would be scared to claim and yet loath to be without. And this family has grown through the series and this book is no exception.  Lori-Lou is expecting baby number four any day. Her brothers are finding love.  And then there is Aunt Alva who still can't figure out Bluetooth technology with some very amusing phone conversations taking place

This book will make for an amusing reading escape over a long hot summer week-end.  Weddings have never been quite so numerous and Fairfield, Texas, may never be the same.  This is one series you really need to read in order to fully enjoy and appreciate.  Would be an excellent book club selection.

I was provided a copy of this book by Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Katie's determined to make it down the aisle this time--but it may be easier said than done

Katie Fisher is ecstatic. Pro basketball star Brady James has proposed, and she can't wait to start planning their life together. But it's hard to focus on her own happily ever after when her calendar is filling up with celebrations for friends and family. Beyond that, it seems everyone around her has an opinion--and a strong one at that--on what Katie's special day should look like. Will she ever manage to settle all of the details for her storybook wedding? Or will her overzealous friends and relations make a mess of everything?

Murder Comes By Mail ~ Review

Murder Comes by Mail
A Hidden Springs Mystery #2
By A. H. Gabhart

Welcome back to Hidden Springs a quiet small town where nothing exciting every happens - unless you count murder.

A trip into Eagleton seemed innocent enough. What Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane didn't expect was a jumper on the bridge of the Eagle River. Saving the jumper catapults Michael to hero status within the Hidden Springs community.  But saving this stranger may become one good deed Michael may live to regret.

A killer has made his presence known in Hidden Springs, taunting Michael, the sheriff's office and Hank Leland editor of the Gazette. As each victim gets closer to Michael personally it is obvious the killer has made Hidden Springs and Michael a target.  Can they stop the killer before he strikes again?

If you're looking for small town charm and mystery you've found it in in Murder Comes by Mail. This is the second book in the Hidden Springs Mystery series and it is every bit as entertaining as the first book Murder at the Courthouse.  This who-dunit will keep you guessing as to the killer's ultimate goal and wondering who will be next. If you haven't read the first book don't worry you can easily follow this book without scratching your head wondering what you are missing.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Doing a good deed never felt so bad

Deputy Sheriff Michael Keane doesn't particularly enjoy being touted as the hero of Hidden Springs after pulling a suicidal man back from the edge of the Eagle River bridge in front of dozens of witnesses--a few of whom caught the breathtaking moments with their cameras. But the media hype doesn't last long as a new story pushes its way into the public consciousness of Hidden Springs' concerned citizens. 

Photos of a dead girl arrive in the mail, and Michael becomes convinced she was murdered by the man he saved. With a killer one step ahead, things in Hidden Springs begin to unravel. Now Michael must protect the people he loves--because the killer could be targeting one of them next.

Born to Treason ~ Review

Born to Treason
By E.B. Wheeler

Joan Pryce has lost her father, been turned out of her childhood home, and sent to live with her godparents. Living in the late 16th century is a dangerous if you are a Catholic in English ruled Wales.  And Joan is both Catholic and Welsh. Determined to live her life so that it will mean something, Joan is about to get caught up in something she never dreamed possible - treason against the Queen of England. But treason comes with a price and sometimes the innocent pay it.

Years ago Joan was promised to Nicholas Bowen, but for years silence has been all that has been between them.  Does the young man who once held the title of friend have a place in her life now or has too much come between them?

As Joan rebuilds her life, she fights to stay true to her beliefs while not endangering those who have offered her a home. But how does one stay true when the very thought could bring about the loss of all she holds dear.

Born to Treason explores the plight of the Welsh as they seek the freedom to worship God as Catholics amongest the Protestant leanings of English rule.  One doesn't often have an opportunity to read a book that is based in Wales and I found this to be an interesting change.

Joan was an interesting and intriguing person and I enjoyed getting to know her.  I would love to read more about Nicholas and learn more about his story before Joan came back into his life.  This is an excellent choice if you are looking for clean reading historical fiction,  This book is appropriate for most readers 12 and up in my opinion.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for my honest review and tour participation.

About the Book:
Joan Pryce is not only a Catholic during the English Reformation but also Welsh, and comes from a family of proud revolutionaries. But when a small act of defiance entangles her in a deadly conspiracy, a single misstep could lead her straight to the gallows! Joan must decide between fighting for freedom and finding love.

About the Author:
E.B. Wheeler grew up in Georgia and California. She earned her BA in history from BYU and has graduate degrees in history and landscape architecture from Utah State University. With Welsh ancestors on one side of her family and crypto-Catholics on the other, she’s been fascinated by the story of Welsh Catholics since writing about them in her master’s thesis. She’s the award-winning author of  The Haunting of Springett Hall and lives in northern Utah with her family.

Anchor in the Storm ~ Review

Anchor in the Storm
Waves of Freedom #2
By Sarah Sundin

America is at war and everyone is expected to do their part.  With so many men enlisting there are openings for pharmacists and Lillian Avery finally is given a chance to prove herself.  She has never allowed anything to stop her - not being a woman in a man's world, nor the loss of her leg years ago.

Working in Boston allows her the opportunity to see her brothers Jim and Dan, and unfortunately her brother's best friend Archer Vandenberg.  And Lillian doesn't have time for men, especially wealthy ones who are likely snobs.

Arch has always attracted women - his family's wealth an instant draw.  Lillian's avoidance of him leaves him puzzled, but he has bigger problems.  Arch has been suffering since his previous ship was sunk.  But admitting to his condition would be a quick way out of the Navy - something Arch doesn't want.  The Navy was his way out of the life his parents envisioned for him, one away from the gold-diggers.

But when Arch and Lillian both suspect something is amiss with their work environments - they may have discovered a link between the two.  But uncovering the answers they seek may place them and their new-found friendship in danger.

Can two people who have been hurt by the past discover a future of healing together? Or will the hurts of the past keep a firm grip on their present and keep them from a future?

Anchor in the Storm was a another lovely reading experience from Sarah Sundin.  The characters one came to know in Through Waters Deep are secondary characters in this book but it was fun to see how their lives have progressed since the sabotage that Mary Sterling uncovered.

Fans of historical fiction and specifically World War II fiction will enjoy  this second book in the Waves of Freedom series.  The characters are believable and one can be both in sympathy and annoyance at them at the same time.  Life wasn't simpler just less technically encumbered though there were definite drawbacks, as far as communication was concerned.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Revell in exchange for my honest review.

About the Book:

In a time of sacrifice, what price can one put on true love?

Nothing slows Lillian Avery down--not her personal challenges and certainly not America's entry into World War II. She finally has a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The demands of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg's attentions only annoy--even if he is her brother's best friend.

During the darkest days of the war, Arch's destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves--and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions Lillian has been filling? 

As the danger rises on both land and sea, the two must work together to answer that question. But can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection?

The Florentine Deception ~ Spotlight with Giveaway

The Florentine Deception:

A seemingly mundane computer clean-up leads to an electrifying quest for an enigmatic—and deadly—treasure in this gripping techno-thriller.

After selling his dorm-room startup for millions and effectively retiring at the age of twenty-five, Alex Fife is eager for a new challenge. When he agrees to clean up an old PC as a favor, he never expects to find the adventure of a lifetime waiting for him inside the machine. But as he rummages through old emails, Alex stumbles upon a startling discovery: The previous owner, a shady antiques smuggler, had been trying to unload a mysterious object known as the Florentine on the black market. And with the dealer’s untimely passing, the Florentine is now unaccounted for and ripe for the taking. Alex dives headfirst into a hunt for the priceless object.

​What starts out as a seemingly innocuous pursuit quickly devolves into a nightmare when Alex discovers the true technological nature of the Florentine. Not just a lost treasure, it’s something far more insidious: a weapon that could bring the developed world to its knees. Alex races through subterranean grottos, freezing morgues, and hidden cellars in the dark underbelly of Los Angeles, desperate to find the Florentine before it falls into the wrong hands. Because if nefarious forces find it first, there’ll be nothing Alex—or anyone else—can do to prevent a catastrophic attack.

The author is donating all of his proceeds from sales of The Florentine Deception to charities to help underprivileged and low-income students.

1,620 books sold,  $8,173.00 donated as of December 31st (with $182 pending)!

Let's help him reach his goal of selling 2,000 books and donating $10,000!

Visit http://florentinedeception.weebly.com/charities.html to see the list of charities.

​Buy the audiobook:  Amazon  ~  Audible

Buy the book:   Amazon  ~  Barnes and Noble

Author's Bio:

Carey Nachenberg is Symantec Corporation's Chief Engineer and is considered one of the inventors of Norton AntiVirus. As Chief Engineer, Carey drives the technical strategy for all of Symantec's core security technologies and security content. He has led the design and development of Symantec's core antivirus, intrusion prevention and reputation-based security technologies; his work in these areas have garnered over eighty-five United States patents.

In addition to his work in the cyber-security field, Carey has also recently published his first novel, a cyber-security thriller entitled “The Florentine Deception,” and is donating all proceeds from sales of the novel to charities supporting under-served students and veterans. Carey holds BS and MS degrees in Computer Science and Engineering from University of California at Los Angeles, where he continues to serve as Adjunct Professor of Computer Science.

Connect with the author:   Website   Twitter   Facebook

Book Trailer:

Giveaway:​

Prizes: ​

Win 1 of 5 copies of The Florentine Deception, 

winners can choose between print, ebook or audiobook 

(open internationally)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Roots of Irish Wisdom ~ Review

The Roots of Irish Wisdom
Learning from Ancient Voices
By Cindy Thomson

The Roots of Irish Wisdom explores not only the influence that Christianity had upon Ireland and her development as a nation, but the Christian influence that Ireland shared with the rest of the world - especially Western Europe.

The Irish fascination with the triad made the idea of the Trinity a well received truth.  This also resulted in many facets of Christianity being presented within the aspect of the triad.  Due to the isolated nature of Ireland as an island state Christianity flourished there while in the majority of Europe  it was stifled during the Dark Ages.  This was the Golden Age of Christianity as it was presented directly to the Irish people.

Roots takes a close look at both the saints of Ireland and the traditions that not only promoted the spread of Christianity across the island but helped return it to the people of Europe after the Roman Empire fell to its own instability.  Patrick's influence is well known - born in the 4th century he never embraced his Christian upbringing until he was taken as a slave to Ireland.  There having lost everything he opened his heart, his, mind and his eyes to all that Christ offered him.  But it wasn't until he returned to the land that enslaved him that he shared the message of God to a land ready to hear and embrace the gift of salvation. Patrick's return brought a time of upheaval and chaos as the old pagan ways struggled against this Christian God - a God who was a Trinity.  Patrick's influence on the whole of Ireland is honored and celebrated by both Catholics and Protestants.

The second saint Roots looks at is Brigid who lived in the late 5th / early 6th century.  Brigid, a woman shrouded in mystery, was known for her giving to the poor.  She cared for the refuges who came to Ireland from the instability that was consuming both the Roman Empire and Western Europe - no small feat at the time in which she lived.  This giving spirit came from the belief the that the Lord resided within all who were poor.  A good deed is never forgotten and this is the legacy of Brigid's life.

Some lesser known saints and their lives and influences as missionaries from Ireland to the rest of Europe are explored. Irish monasteries nurtured the Christian faith - these centers housed and trained thousands who helped spread Christianity from Ireland into the darkened regions of Europe who had fallen under pagan influences with the collapse of Rome.  Learning Scripture was of vital importance and these centers were where Scripture was recorded and preserved - the most noted being The Book of Kells.  The monasteries were also known for their high crosses - stone crosses which were carved to share the Biblical story with the common person who could not read. 

This is a book that packs a great deal of information into a few pages.  For those who are interested in either Irish history or Church history this is a fount of information that you'll want to turn to again and again.  I was especially intrigued with the accounts of the Book of Kells, the high crosses and prayer.  It is amazing how the very isolation that first kept Christianity from Ireland was the very thing that kept its message safe while the rest of Europe fell into the Dark Ages.

I was provided with a copy of this book by the author in exchange for my honest review.
            

The God Wave ~ Review

The God Wave
The God Wave Trilogy #1
By Patrick Hemstreet

It started as a study of the human brain.  An exercise to study EEG's and stimulate the brain during different activities.  But where it took them was something no one could have anticipated.
Chuck Brenton has always been fascinated by the inner workings of the human mind - now he's about to help bring it to the next level.  And the next level is unbelievable - the ability to manipulate the world around us with the mind.  Is this merely a result of Chuck's experimentation or is it the next stage that our minds were waiting to enter with the proper stimuli?

Chuck and his team (an assortment of people with a wide ranging area of expertise - scientists, coders, artists, engineers) are going to explore this breakthrough and offer it to the world.  There is just one problem—someone has taken an interest in their accomplishment and they are willing to do whatever it takes to control it.  But how do you control the greatest discovery ever when it resides within the human mind?

But when you discover something that could change the world as we know it, who do trust with your discovery?  Answering this question could very well determine the fate of the world... if they have the time to get to the truth.

The God Wave is an exciting and intriguing book that will take you on a journey that won't be ending anytime soon.  Suspenseful doesn't begin to describe what you are about to experience when you open the cover of this book.  A powerful mix of conspiracy, manipulation, and scientific discovery will lead to an explosive conclusion in this, the first book of Patrick Hemstreet's trilogy.

I was provided a copy of this book through PUYB in exchange for my honest review and tour participation.

   

 ~ About the Book ~
Release Date: May 17, 2016
Title: The God Wave
Author: Patrick Hemstreet
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Genre: Thriller/Suspense
Format: Ebook/Paperback/Hardcover/Audio

A team of neuroscientists uncover amazing new capabilities in the brain that may steer human evolution toward miraculous and deadly frontiers in this spectacular debut work of speculative science fiction—Limitless meets James Rollins—that combines spirituality and science in an inventive, mind-blowing fashion.

For decades, scientists have speculated about the untapped potential of the human brain. Now, neuroscientist Chuck Brenton has made an astonishing breakthrough. He has discovered the key—the crucial combination of practice and conditioning—to access the incredible power dormant in ninety percent of our brains. Applying his methods to test subjects, he has stimulated abilities that elevate brain function to seemingly “godlike” levels.

These extraordinary abilities can transform the world, replacing fear and suffering with tranquility and stability. But in an age of increasing militarization, corporate exploitation, and explosive technological discovery, a group of influential power brokers are determined to control Brenton’s new superbeings for their own manipulative ends—and their motives may be far from peaceful.

About the Author:
Patrick Hemstreet is a novelist, neuroengineer, entrepreneur, patent-pending inventor, special-warfare- trained Navy medic, stand-up comic, and actor. He lives in Houston, Texas, with his wife and sons. The God Wave is his first novel.