Beneath the Surface ~ Character Profiles

Title: Beneath the Surface
Series: Dive Team Investigations, Book 1

Author: Lynn H. Blackburn

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: March 6, 2018

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Links*: Goodreads l Amazon l ChristianBook l BookDepository l Itunes

Publisher: Revell

Release Date: March 6, 2018

Genre: Contemporary Romantic Suspense

Links*: Goodreads l Amazon l ChristianBook l BookDepository l Itunes

What Lies Beneath the Surface Could Be Deadly

Ada, Mich.—Dive into the depths of fear with an exciting new romantic suspense novel, Beneath the Surface. This gripping tale from award-winning author Lynn H. Blackburn will capture readers from the first page and won’t let them go until the final, heart-pounding scene.

After a harrowing experience with an obsessed patient, oncology nurse practitioner Leigh Weston moves home to Carrington, North Carolina, to leave behind her troubled past. But when someone tampers with her brakes, she fears the past has chased her into the present.

Homicide investigator Ryan Parker finds fulfillment in his career, but his favorite way to use his skills is as a volunteer underwater investigator with the Carrington County Sheriff’s Office dive team. When the body of a wealthy businessman is discovered in Lake Porter, the investigation uncovers a possible serial killer—one with a terrifying connection to Leigh Weston and deadly implications for them all. 

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lynn H. Blackburn is the author of Hidden Legacy (Love Inspired, June 2017) and Covert Justice, winner of the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. She’s passionate about CrossFit, coffee, and chocolate (don’t make her choose) and experimenting with recipes that feed both body and soul. She lives in Simpsonville, South Carolina, with her true love, Brian, and their three children.

Character Profiles

You can check out my earlier review of this book here

GIVEAWAY

(3) Winners will win: 

• (1) Print copy of Beneath the Surface by Lynn H. Blackburn
• Surprised Bookish Treat

(US/Canada Mailing Addresses Only) Full terms and conditions noted on Rafflecopter form.

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JustRead Publicity Tour Landing Page

Just Commonly

April 23

Create Explore Read - Author Interview

A Baker's Perspective - A Day with Special Agent ___

April 24 

Savings in Seconds - Quote Hightlight

Grace in Our Moments - Guest Post from Author 

April 25

Christen Krumm - Guest Post from Author

Among the Reads - Beneath the Surface & the Power of Prayer

April 26

Blooming with Books - Character Profile

Fiction Aficionado - Did you know this about diving investigators?

April 27

Remembrancy - Photo Tour of Carrington

Stories by Gina - Quote Highlight

April 30

The Christian Fiction Girl - Quote Hightlight

Daysong Reflections - Underwater Investigations and Evidence

May 1 

Worthy 2 Read - Quote Hightlight

Kat's Corner Books - Beneath the Surface with International Adoption

May 2

All of a Kind Mom - A Character Like Me

Robin's Nest - Quote Hightlight

Edits & Reviews by Leslie - Food Beneath the Surface 

May 3

By the Book - Quote Hightlight

Cafinated Reads - Quote Highlight

May 4

Book by Book - Playlist

Pacific Northwest Bookworm - Cookies Beneath the Surface

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Road to Rosewood ~ Review with Author Interview

Road to Rosewood
By Ashtyn Newbold

Ashtyn Newbold has done it again. Creating a story that draws the reader in from the first word. The Road to Rosewood finds the reader alternating between Lucy Abbot's recollections of her summers spent in Dover, specifically Rosewood and her current day-to-day life in the coastal village of Craster.

Six years have passed since Lucy last visited Rosewood and the time has laid heavy on her heart as the one boy to ever capture her fancy - Nicholas Bancroft called the next manor home. But when her parents put a sudden end to the yearly visits Lucy's heart has slowly withered.

But when Lucy determines to take her own happiness into her own hands she finds herself on a journey she never expected to make. Highwaymen, a threat to her life, and her reputation on the line - all before reaching Dover. But Rosewood isn't how she remembered it. And there are secrets that when revealed will make a difference in the lives of those involved.

Lucy's personality is one that is both quick and amusing and it is interesting to watch the interactions between her and Nicholas both in the past and the present. Lucy Abbot is someone one would love to sit down and spend the afternoon with!

Those who have read Ashytn's previous books will be as enchanted as before. And those who read Lies and Letters will recognize certain characters who play a bigger role in this book. Fans of clean Regency romance will delight to read and share this book.

I was provided a review copy of this book by the publisher with no expectation of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.



About the Book:

Lucy Abbot longs to return to the country estate where she spent the best days of her childhood with her cousins and their charming neighbor Nicholas. Her protective parents, however, have other plans for her. When she finally dares to escape, her carriage is besieged by highwaymen with a familiar man leading them. Could this mysterious outlaw be exactly the person Lucy has been searching for?

~*~ Interview with Author Ashtyn Newbold ~*~

1) Did you always want to write or did you see a different future for yourself?  

I’ve always loved stories--reading, storytelling, and movies. I didn’t always want to be a writer, but as a kid I think I already was a writer without realizing it. I made up little stories, and any creative writing assignment I was given I took above and beyond (in 2nd grade I wrote a 20 page story when the teacher only asked for 2). It wasn’t until high school when I realized how much I really loved writing, wanting to finish a novel and pursue publication.

2) What is your go-to genre for your personal reading?

I’m a pretty diverse reader. I like any story that will keep me turning the pages, whether its a fantasy, thriller, historical, YA contemporary, or romance. I’d say Regency romance is still my go-to because that’s the genre I’ve written in for the last few years, but I’m hoping to branch out and write some middle grade or young adult in the near future.

3)  Do you wish you were more like a certain character that you have brought to life? And if so what traits do you most admire in this character?

When I wrote my first novel, Mischief and Manors, I was fifteen and still really insecure. In writing that book I created my main character, Annette, as an example of someone I wanted to be. She was bold, brave, and selfless, speaking out without being afraid. I loved that about her character.

4) What do you most love about the Regency time period when related to your story's setting?

I love SO much about the Regency period, and wish I could go back in time to experience it myself. One of the things I love most about it is the conversation. People talked. Face to face. They had intelligent, witty conversations and enjoyed each other’s company without distraction. In my books I love experimenting with fun, witty dialogue. My generation is especially obsessed with their phones, and it drives me crazy sometimes.

5) What is the one question you wish was asked during an interview and how would you answer it?

I’m not sure … I could talk about my hobbies (besides writing :)). I love baking, and hope to open a bakery someday. I love singing and playing the guitar, watching movies, sewing, celebrating holidays (I go all out, especially at Halloween), and doing hair and makeup. I also love dogs, and my puppy Charlie is the sweetest!

Refuge of the Heart ~ Spotlight and Giveaway link

Photo by Just Commonly

Refuge of the Heart

By Ruth Logan Herne

District Attorney Mitchell Sanderson wanted for nothing and lost everything in a tragic accident. A dogged worker, Mitch’s conviction rate earned him respect and trust. Now up for re-election, Mitch’s law-and-order persona makes him a shoo-in candidate. But when faith, conscience and love of a troubled refugee ripple the smooth waters of his existence, can Mitch risk everything for love?

Magdalena Serida fought her way out of the terrors of a government-quelled insurgent uprising in Chechnya. The church-sponsored refugee knows the horrors of war first-hand. Now in America with her five-year-old sister, Lena is uncertain who to trust. Her Christian faith has maintained her through the loss of her family, but when Mitch Sanderson shows interest, Lena longs to take a chance. Should she open herself up to this man of law and order, a man who imprisons women like her? Or slip quietly back into the shadowed fringe of anonymity?

But choices slip away when Mitch’s friend spews half-truths about Lena, rumors that cost Mitch his new love and possibly the election. Can he find his way to a faith deep enough to love again, and to offer Lena the refuge of his heart?

( One U.S. winner will win a prize pack from the author!)

Tour Landing Page

#RuthLoganHerne #RefugeoftheHeart #justreadtours

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Available for purchase at  https://amzn.to/2J8uKdZ

How Democracies Die ~ Review

How Democracies Die 
by Steven Levitsky 
   and Daniel Ziblatt

This book explores the state of our democracy in today's current political unrest. Our democracy is teetering on the edge but this wasn't a sudden situation but rather one that has been building over the last couple decades. But how did we get to this point? And can we pull back from the edge before it is too late?

How Democracies Die looks at other countries who have found themselves in a similar state. Efforts to restore democratic leadership only works if the rules of law are followed. Attempts to wrest government controls by other means paint those behind it as anti-democratic rather than defenders of democracy. Lines of communication must be opened between the partisan camps to reverse our further descent into the political circus that is becoming the norm. Is any one side more to blame than the other? Or is it a collaborative effort of those who are more focused on self rather than the whole?  

This book is an interesting and thoughtful work. Those who have a love of political science and want to delve into the current situations both here and abroad will want to have this book in their personal library. Those who are homeschooling will want this book when studying government in high school. This book doesn't descend into rumor and innuendo but rather looks at facts and historical records. 

I was provided a copy of this book by Blogging for Books for this review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:
Donald Trump’s presidency has raised a question that many of us never thought we’d be asking: Is our democracy in danger? Harvard professors Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt have spent more than twenty years studying the breakdown of democracies in Europe and Latin America, and they believe the answer is yes. Democracy no longer ends with a bang—in a revolution or military coup—but with a whimper: the slow, steady weakening of critical institutions, such as the judiciary and the press, and the gradual erosion of long-standing political norms. The good news is that there are several exit ramps on the road to authoritarianism. The bad news is that, by electing Trump, we have already passed the first one.

Drawing on decades of research and a wide range of historical and global examples, from 1930s Europe to contemporary Hungary, Turkey, and Venezuela, to the American South during Jim Crow, Levitsky and Ziblatt show how democracies die—and how ours can be saved.

I Can Only Imagine ~ Review

I Can Only Imagine (Picture Book)

A Friendship with Jesus Now and Forever
By Bart Millard with Laura Neutzling
Illustrated by Sumiti Collina 

What is Heaven like? What does God do? Have you ever wondered this? With natural curiosity, most have at one time or another wondered about that which cannot be seen.  I Can Only Imagine is just such a wondering. 

 

I Can Only Imagine has a wonderful flowing rhythm that paired with the illustrations offers the reader a soothing and peaceful story that allows the message of the book to be absorbed more fully. 

When reading this book I was reminded of the passage from John 14, specifically verse 3, "I go to prepare a place for you..." And this wondering and imagining of just what this place in Heaven is like is expressed here. This book is the perfect read for bedtime or just a snuggle time together in a favorite chair. 

There are 21 pages of text with a few additional pages that are just illustrations so it is a good length for shorter attention spans and yet not too short. The illustrations are colorful and cover an array of settings both indoors and out, day and night. I Can Only Imagine is one book you will want to share with all the young readers in your life opening up their minds to their own imaginings.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book through BookLook Bloggers with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Encourage your children’s sense of wonder and faith with I Can Only Imagine, inspired by the hit song by MercyMe. This beautiful picture book will capture your family’s childlike faith and imagination.

I Can Only Imagine asks questions a child might ask and invites families to wonder together: What is heaven like? What does God do? What would it be like to spend a day with Jesus? Children will see that although experiencing the glory of heaven may be far off, we can enjoy a friendship with Jesus every day - right here on earth. Whimsical, playful illustrations and thought-provoking questions make this a book that families will cherish.

Fun and vibrant illustrations offer a vivid visual and will help your children see that God can be found everywhere, every day.

I think about heaven as I look up at the sky

And watch the fluffy clouds roll by.

The more I imagine, the more I wish I knew.

I wonder, would God like pancakes with extra syrup too?

And if God and I spent the day together, what exactly would we do?

The Christian worship song “I Can Only Imagine” touched countless lives with its glorious representation of being in the presence of God, and this beautifully illustrated picture book invites you and your children to imagine those same wonders. Share the joy of a personal relationship with the Lord with your family today through the creative, faith-filled book I Can Only Imagine.

A Refuge Assured ~ Review

A Refuge Assured
By Jocelyn Green

Vivienne Rivard's profession has marked her. Her skill in lacemaking has linked her to the France Monarchy. And at this time of revolution and unrest, this very skill could see her before the guillotine. But with familial ties keeping her in Paris, each day could very well be the one that sees her life ending. But when her ties are cut, Vivienne must flee the land of her birth. Joining the exodus of French refugees she finds herself in America, a land known for its own revolution just years before.

But this land in which she seeks peace and refuge is suffering its own pains. Freedom hasn't come to mean the same thing to all who call America home. Some have found themselves facing yet again unfair taxation - taxation that is proving oppressive. Having served with Washington and Hamilton during the War for Independence Liam Delaney can see both sides of the issue but with his family being worn down by the Whiskey Tax he has sympathies with their plight. And the useless French nobility that has descended upon the country tries him and he groups Vivienne in with them. But soon he realizes that Vivienne is more than he first assumed.

A Refugee Assured introduces the reader to a lesser known period of American history when liberty was experiencing some bumps in the road. The needs of the nation were at times at odds with the people who helped bring it into being. The Whiskey Rebellion which is explored here sees taxation upon goods that have been made but not yet sold or traded. It is interesting to see that the issues that were at the heart of conflict here are often the same issues that play a part in today's world.

There is a touch of a mystery surrounding a young boy whom Vivienne assumes responsibility for. Is he or isn't he the young prince Louis-Charles? This very intrigue places the life of Vivienne and those around her in danger as those who support the Revolution take an interest in her and her young charge. Those who read The Lacemaker by Laura Frantz will enjoy this book that focuses on a young woman who is skilled in the art of making lace whose very world is shaken to its core.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher Bethany House through their blogger program with no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

Fleeing One Revolution to the Aftermath of Another, 

She Seeks and Dreams of Peace

Lacemaker Vivienne Rivard never imagined her craft could threaten her life. Yet in revolutionary France, it is a death sentence when the nobility, and those associated with them, are forced to the guillotine. Vivienne flees to Philadelphia, but danger lurks in the French Quarter, as revolutionary sympathizers begin to suspect a young boy left in her care might be the Dauphin. Can the French settlement Asylum offer permanent refuge?

Militiaman Liam Delaney proudly served in the American Revolution, but now that the new government has imposed an oppressive tax that impacts his family, he barely recognizes the democracy he fought for. He wants only to cultivate his hard-won farm near Asylum, but he soon finds himself drawn into the escalating tension of the Whiskey Rebellion. When he meets a beautiful young Frenchwoman recently arrived from Paris, they are drawn together in surprising ways to fight for the peace and safety for which they long.

Hurricane Season ~ Review

Hurricane Season
By Lauren K. Denton

Betsy and Jenna are as different as their lives are. The bond that they had had as children has somehow loosened over time. Betsy has always been the steady dependable one and Jenna has been the free-spirit whose intentions are good but always go awry.

Betsy and her husband Ty have taken over his family's dairy farm in Alabama and life to most appears pretty good, but a secret pain haunts their marriage - their lack of children. And this pain is placing a strain on their marriage.

Jenna finds herself working in a Nashville coffee shop working to make a life for herself and her two young daughters. Filling coffee orders was never her goal rather her passion tended to art and moments captured by the camera lens. But her passion has taken a backseat to real life.

But this summer everything is about to change when Jenna is offered a once in a lifetime opportunity - an exclusive artist retreat in Florida. With no one else to turn to Jenna reaches out to Betsy. But the two weeks that Betsy and Ty would be watching Jenna's girls grows further into the summer. Addie and Walsh though delightful add an additional strain to Betsy and Ty's marriage. And their presence further spotlights Betsy's deficiencies in the maternal factor - at least in her self-estimation, it does.

This summer is a chance for Betsy and Jenna to discover who they truly are and just what price they are willing to pay to achieve their dreams. And they just may learn that sometimes dreams must change to fit the life one has. The title Hurricane Season well suits this story as the possibility of a hurricane is an ever-present tension and it even in a sense describes the lives of those who grace these pages.

This is a book that explores the bonds of family, friendship, and love and holds them together over the years or lets them fall away. This is an enjoyable read that those who love to read fiction with a true-to-life feel to it will readily be drawn into. As the story progresses the reader is allowed glimpses into the past thus gaining insights into how Jenna, Betsy, and Ty have come to where we now find them. The book ends on a positive note for the future and leaves it to the reader's own imaginings. This would be an excellent bookclub choice for the upcoming summer months.

I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher through TLC Book Tours with the no expectations of a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own

About the Book:

From the author of the USA Today bestseller The Hideaway 

comes another story of families and mending the past.

Betsy and Ty Franklin, owners of Franklin Dairy Farm in southern Alabama, have long since buried their desire for children of their own. While Ty manages their herd of dairy cows, Betsy busies herself with the farm’s day-to-day operations and tries to forget her dream of motherhood. But when her free-spirited sister, Jenna, drops off her two young daughters for “just two weeks,” Betsy’s carefully constructed wall of self-protection begins to crumble.

As the two weeks stretch deeper into the Alabama summer, Betsy and Ty learn to navigate the new additions in their world—and revel in the laughter that now fills their home. Meanwhile, record temperatures promise to usher in the most active hurricane season in decades.

Attending an art retreat four hundred miles away, Jenna is fighting her own battles. She finally has time and energy to focus on her photography, a lifelong ambition. But she wonders how her rediscovered passion can fit in with the life she’s made back home as a single mom.

When Hurricane Ingrid aims a steady eye at the Alabama coast, Jenna must make a decision that will change her family’s future, even as Betsy and Ty try to protect their beloved farm and their hearts. Hurricane Season is the story of one family’s unconventional journey to healing—and the relationships that must be mended along the way.

Purchase Links:

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

Connect with Lauren

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Lauren K. Denton’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:
Instagram Tour:
Monday, April 2nd: @createexploreread
Tuesday, April 3rd: @prose_and_palate
Wednesday, April 4th: @mrs.literarylovely
Thursday, April 5th: @read.write.coffee
Friday, April 6th: @bookishconnoisseur
Saturday, April 7th: @booknerdnative
Sunday, April 8th: @thecaffeinatedbibliophile

Review Tour:
Monday, April 2nd: Diary of a Stay at Home Mom
Tuesday, April 3rd: Write Read Life
Wednesday, April 4th: Just One More Chapter
Thursday, April 5th: A Chick Who Reads
Friday, April 6th: Openly Bookish
Monday, April 9th: Bewitched Bookworms
Tuesday, April 10th: By the Book
Wednesday, April 11th: Blooming with Books
Thursday, April 12th: Empowermoms
Thursday, April 12th: Laura’s Reviews
Friday, April 13th: 5 Minutes for Books
Monday, April 16th: Books & Bindings
Tuesday, April 17th: Kahakai Kitchen
Wednesday, April 18th: Kritter’s Ramblings
Thursday, April 19th: Midwest Ladies Who Lit
Friday, April 20th: Reviews from the Heart
Monday, April 23rd: The Sketchy Reader
Tuesday, April 24th: Palmer’s Page Turners
Wednesday, April 25th: Eliot’s Eats
Wednesday, April 25th: Splashes of Joy
Thursday, April 26th: Girl Who Reads
Friday, April 27th: View from the Birdhouse
Monday, April 3oth: What is That Book About