An Unlikely Alliance ~ Review

An Unlikely Alliance

K-9 Companions #7

By Toni Shiloh

Jalissa Tucker wants NOTHING to do with firefighters and when she is forced to work with Jeremy Rider she can't think of a worse fate. But to save the city programs that are about to lose their funding she'll make an effort.

Jeremy Rider uses humor to cope with situations, and as a kid who was bullied he needed to laugh off the pain he felt. Having to work with Jalissa isn't high on his list of things to do but to save the program that gave him a safe place as a teen he'll do it.

It is interesting to see how both Jalissa and Jeremy have misconceptions about the other and how this translates into their present day interactions. I think of the two Jalissa seems the least likely to make a change as the story progresses. But having to work together and getting to understand the importance of the programs that mean something to others allow each to see the other in a new light. 

Can pains of the past be overcome by working together? And when a long-held secret comes to light, everything they have been working towards could be destroyed. The greatest lesson that they need to learn is that forgiveness is a two-way street, and without it everyone suffers.

Now this book is part of the K-9 Companions series and this time we meet Flo. Flo is a Golden Retriever who is Jalissa's emotional support dog. Following her father's death, Jalissa suffered from panic attacks, and having Flo allowed her to move out of her mother's home and live an independent life. This gave Jalissa a career in that she worked at the local animal shelter. Her appreciation of all Flo gave to her made her want to help other animals find homes in which they could help others too.

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:

To save her animal shelter,

She’ll have to work with her biggest foe…

With her emotional support dog at her side, Jalissa Tucker will do whatever it takes to ensure the survival of the local animal rescue—even ally herself with her nemesis, firefighter Jeremy Rider. As working together dredges up old hurts, putting the past aside could be the key to their future joy. But can Jalissa resist falling for the man she’s always considered the enemy?

From Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

K-9 Companions

Book 1: Their Unbreakable Bond by Deb Kastner
Book 2: Finding Her Way Back by Lisa Carter
Book 3: The Veteran’s Vow by Jill Lynn
Book 4: Her Easter Prayer by Lee Tobin McClain
Book 5: Earning Her Trust by Brenda Minton
Book 6: Guarding His Secret by Jill Kemerer
Book 7: An Unlikely Alliance by Toni Shiloh
Book 8: The Cowboy’s Journey Home by Linda Goodnight
Book 9: A Reason to Stay by Deb Kastner

Purchase: Harlequin | Amazon | B&N | ChristianBook | Others

Three Days to Forever ~ Review with Giveaway

Three Days to Forever

A Mac Faraday Mystery #9

By Lauren Carr

You are cordially invited to the 

social event of the year...

New Year's Eve at the Spencer Inn

and the wedding of 

Mac Faraday to Archie Monday

Mac Faraday and Archie Monday's wedding is just days away when everything goes oh, so very wrong. Someone from Mac's past makes a threat that Mac takes to Spenser Police Chief David O'Callahan. What David finds puts Mac as suspect number one in a murder case. But before Mac can be questioned a team of assassins attacks Spenser Manor which sends Mac, Gnarly, Joshua Thornton, and Archie's mother on the run. 

All too soon everyone connected with the wedding is in a race against time as even more lives are threatened. As the wedding comes ever nearer - wedded bliss for Archie and Mac is seriously in doubt. Can they determine who did what to who? And why were Spenser Manor and its occupants the target of a professional hit team? And Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton have their first meeting which is more than a little memorable.

If you want a fast-paced mystery that finds everyone is in danger (well maybe not Monique - Tristan's pet tarantula). Is the wedding party caught up in several cases or are they all somehow related? This is one book you will want to pay very close attention to so as to not miss out on any clues as to how everything will all unfold. Let's just say this year is about to go out with a bang. 

Now I enjoyed this book in the audio format, which was narrated by C.J. McAllister. I found the narration to be well done, though I did play it back 1.4 times its normal playback speed. I listened to it at the pace I would have been reading it in print. At the default speed, this book comes in at just under 11-1/4 hours of listening - perfect for a week of commuting, exercise, or chores. 

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

About the Book:

In one of the most critically-acclaimed Mac Faraday Mysteries from best-selling mystery author Lauren Carr, readers embark on a rollercoaster adventure with old friends (including the Lovers in Crime team of Prosecutor Joshua Thornton and Homicide Detective Cameron Gates), but also meet new ones as Mac Faraday’s daughter Jessica Faraday and Joshua Thornton’s son Murphy Thornton join the team in the race to get the lovebirds to the altar!*

With three days left to the year, Deep Creek Lake is hopping with holiday vacationers and wedding guests pouring into the Spencer Inn for Mac Faraday and Archie Monday’s huge wedding ceremony which is being touted as the social event of the year.

But droopy flowers and guests who failed to RSVP are the least of Mac’s and Archie’s problems when a professional hit squad hits Spencer Manor to send the groom, Joshua Thornton, Archie’s mother, and Gnarly running for their lives.

With time running out to the big day, Mac Faraday and Spencer’s small police force have to sort through the clues to figure out not only who has been targeted for assassination, but also who is determined to stop everything … FOREVER!

* Three Days to Forever introduces readers to Jessica Faraday and Murphy Thornton, the detectives featured in The Thorny Rose Mysteries.

"Three Days to Forever is a fast-paced thriller that solidifies Carr's standing as a major force in American fiction." - review by David Kinchen, HuntingtonNews.net

"I am, bottom line, amazed at the giant step that places Carr comparable to significant authors whose name slips off our tongues like, for instance, Nora Roberts. Watch this author--she's moving quickly to where her goals are headed... Three Days to Forever has to be, in my opinion, the best of her best! Get it!" - review by Glenda Bixler, Book Readers Heaven

Giveaway

Prizes: ​ $50 PayPal Gift Card courtesy of 

Lauren Carr, author of SHADOW OF MURDER

(ends July 1)

SHADOW OF MURDER (Mac Faraday Mysteries) Tour Giveaway

Book Details:

Book Title: Three Days to Forever by Lauren Carr
Series:  A Mac Faraday Mystery (Volume 9)
Category:  Adult fiction (18+), 366 pages
Genre:  Murder Mystery
Publisher:  Acorn Book Services
Release date:  January 19, 2015
Content Rating: PG-13 - Lauren Carr's mysteries are murder mysteries. Sometimes, the murder does happen on stage. There is no graphic violence or explicit sex. There is some very mild language. No F-Bombs

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Buy the Book:   
  Audible ~ Amazon
B&N ~ BookBub
Add to Goodreads

Meet the Author:

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, Thorny Rose, Chris Matheson Cold Case Mysteries, and Nikki Bryant Cozy Mysteries—over twenty-five titles across five fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, crime fiction, police procedurals, romance, and humor. 

The owner of Acorn Book Services, Lauren is also a publishing manager, consultant, and virtual book tour coordinator for independent authors. Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, and two spoiled rotten German shepherds on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV. 

connect with the author: website  ~  facebook  ~  instagram ~ pinterest ~ bookbub ~ goodreads

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Tour Schedule can be found here

Midnight's Budding Morrow ~ Review with Excerpt and Giveaway

Midnight's Budding Morrow

Regency Wallflowers #2

By Carolyn Miller

Midnight's Budding Morrow is the second book in Carolyn Miller's Regency Wallflowers series. Now if you haven't read the first book in the series that will in no way affect or reading or enjoyment of this book. And if you love your Regency fiction with a touch of Gothic intrigue you will want to move this one up to the top of your Summer TBR list - yes, it is that good. I have read all of Carolyn Miller's Regency fiction from Kregel and have never been disappointed and, in my opinion, each has been better than the previous book.

But I'm sure you want to learn more about the story that this delightful cover adorned. First off, we meet Sarah Drayton, who is an orphan from a good family, just not one of wealth or title. At the urging of her dearest friend Beatrice Langley, Sarah is about to visit the Langley home in Northumberland. There is just one little problem with her visit with Beatrice. Bea's brother James, with whom Sarah recently had a most uncomfortable public encounter, has come home, begging funds from his father. But to get the funds for his accumulating debts James must marry a woman of his father's choosing. Unfortunately, for James and Sarah, Sarah is the chosen bride. 

Sarah is determined to make the best of the situation she finds herself in. She is going to make a place for herself on the Langley estate but the staff and neighbors see her as a less than desirable addition to the family, the home, and the community. How can she improve the home she has been given if she is given little to no respect. And when her husband returns from war will he still hold her in disdain? 

James knows his father blames him for the loss of his mother. And then there is the drinking and gambling that find him causing public disgrace, as his first meeting with Sarah aptly proves. Is it possible to repair the damage he has caused or will he stay trapped in this endless cycle of dependence?

Not to give away anything that will detract from your enjoyment of the book but there are a couple of secondary characters that are just Uggggggghhhh! Superior attitude, cruel streak, and just overall unlikeable.

Overall this was a highly enjoyable book, but I will admit I did need tissue for a scene or two. So I would recommend this for home reading and not your lunch break at work. 

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:

Can real love grow between a wallflower and an unrepentant rogue?

Sarah Drayton is eager to spend time with her best friend at her crumbling Northumberland castle estate. Matrimony is the last thing on her mind and the last thing she expects to be faced with on a holiday. Yet she finds herself being inveigled into a marriage of convenience with her friend's rakish brother.

When James Langley returns to his family's estate, he can't be bothered to pay attention to his responsibilities as the heir. War is raging and he wants only distraction, not serious tethers. But his roguish ways have backed him into a corner, and he has little choice but to obey his father's stunning decree: marry before returning to war, or else. Suddenly he finds himself wedded to a clever and capable woman he does not love.

Sarah craves love and a place to belong, neither of which James offered before returning to the battlefront. Now everyone around her thinks she married above her station, and they have no intention of rewarding her for such impertinence. It isn't until her husband returns from war seemingly changed that she begins to hope they may find real happiness. But can she trust that this rake has truly reformed?

When tragedy strikes, this pair must learn to trust God and his plans. Will they be destroyed . . . or will they discover that even in the darkest depths of night, the morning still holds hope?

Click here to read an excerpt.

About the Series:

While most stories set in Regency England focus on the rich, the young, and the beautiful, award-winning author Carolyn Miller decided she wanted to give readers something different for a change. Her new Regency Wallflowers series follows the commoners, away from the hustle and bustle of 1810s London, out in the Lake District of England. She tells the stories of women who are slightly older and have few prospects for marriage, women who might be considered “wallflowers.”

Midnight’s Budding Morrow is the second book in the Regency Wallflowers series. The first book in the series is Dusk’s Darkest Shores.

About the Author:

Carolyn Miller is an inspirational romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children.
 
A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English literature and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. She enjoys music, films, gardens, art, travel, and food.

Miller’s novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. 
 
Learn more about Carolyn at www.carolynmillerauthor.com, or find her on Facebook (Carolyn Miller Author), Instagram (@CarolynMillerAuthor), and Twitter (@CarolynMAuthor). 

Giveaway:

https://www.audrajennings.com/2022/05/win-copy-of-midnights-budding-morrow.html

Ensnared ~ Review

Ensnared

Knights of Brethren #3

By Jody Hedlund

Mikaela has been a bondservant all her life, having been born into it as were her parents and grandparents. Her days are spent caring for the young daughters of the Earl of Likness. But life isn't easy with little food and even less to share with her family. The Earl is a cruel, harsh taskmaster whose only pleasure seems to be in enacting unjust punishments on his servants for crimes he falsely lays at their feet. 

Due to the Earl's indifference to his daughters, Mikaela has managed to go undetected in his household. But her growing desire to seek justice for the suffering of her friends and family is sure to bring her to his attention. 

Gunnar has had to hide his feelings for Mikaela. His brother would surely use her to bring him under his control. But in so doing he broke the heart of the only woman he has ever loved. Coming home to search for the sacred chalice that could potentially save the life of the Queen will come with both a blessing and a curse - allowing him an excuse to see Mikaela. 

When rumors point to a dangerous and foreboding forest, Gunnar knows that there must be more to the whispers than mere stories based on unfounded fears. But can he find what he seeks while avoiding the danger that could cost him his life and keeping Miaela safe from his brother's manipulations? 

This is the third book in the Knights of Brethren series and it picks up the story that finds the kingdom on the verge of war with the queen's future and very life in danger because of a curse that is passed from mother to first-born daughter. Time is short in a search for a cure to save the queen and the kingdom from those who would seek to take the throne by force. I have to be honest I was so disappointed when the book ended because I wanted more. And there is a teaser for book four that fortunately will release very soon. 

This is one series that you absolutely have to read in order. So be sure to get Ensnared and Entwined before reading Ensnared. You need the backstory to fully understand what is going on and the urgency of the Knights of Brethren's quests.

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

About the Book:

During a time when legends were born . . .

A poor maidservant struggling to survive, a brave knight who secretly loves her, and a chalice that has the power to unite them.

Nursemaid to the Earl of Likness’s two young daughters, Mikaela despises the earl for his cruelty to his subjects, and she longs for the day when she can make a difference in the lives of her suffering friends and family.

As one of the Knights of Brethren, Gunnar is on a mission to find the sacred chalice for the queen, convinced it’s the cure for her deadly bleeding disease. His quest takes him home, and he soon learns his brother, the earl, may know more about the chalice than he lets on.

As Gunnar reunites with Mikaela, the maiden he’s always loved, he tries to keep his feelings for her a secret, desperate to protect her from his brother. But as they venture into the perilous Hardanger Forest and battle to survive, will Gunnar realize her love is worth fighting for?

The real story of the Holy Grail . . . 

Wildfire Threat ~ Review with Giveaway

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Wildfire Threat by Cathy McDavid, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

Wildfire Threat 

Mountain Rescue Collection 

By Cathy McDavid 

Rayna Karstetter has never forgiven Aden Whitley and she's not about to accept help from him now. But with a wildfire threatening everything she holds dear she has no choice but to when an evacuation order is given.

Aden has lived with the guilt of what happened to Rayna's grandfather, not because he attacked him, but because there was a family connection that Aden couldn't escape. Aden has turned to the forestry service not only for the job it offered him but so that he could escape those who judged him for every wrong his family committed. A family that has washed their hands of him because he refuses to be a part of the life they have chosen. 

But the wildfire that is cutting them off is about to give him a chance to prove to Rayna that he's not the man she seems to believe him to be. 

You know with a Love Inspired title that there is always a satisfactory, happily-ever-after potential, but it is the getting there that is the meat (sorry fellow vegetarians) of the story. How do Rayna and Aden get past the past and reach for a new future? And I will say that the future seems to be very much in doubt as danger burns ever closer with every minute.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but to give my honest opinion ~ all thoughts expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Wildfire Threat 

Series: Mountain Rescue Collection 

Author: Cathy McDavid 

Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense 

Release Date: May 24, 2022 

Genre: Romantic Suspense, Christian 

As flames race toward her ranch 

She must rely on an old enemy… 

An out-of-control blaze has single mom Rayna Karstetter scrambling to protect her little boy, grandparents and their cattle. Forest ranger Aden Whitley offers his help, but Rayna doesn’t want to accept. Her feelings for Aden haven’t gone away…and neither has the sting of his betrayal. But when the wildfire forces an evacuation order, can they work together in order to survive? 

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

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

In the third grade, NY Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestselling author Cathy McDavid made it her goal to read every Black Stallion book ever written. Who knew such an illustrious ambition would eventually lead to a lifelong love of all things western, owning a stagecoach pulled by six mules, and a career writing contemporary romances for Harlequin? With over 55 titles in print and 1.6 million books sold, This “almost” Arizona native and mother of grown twins is married to her own real-life sweetheart. After leaving the corporate world eight years ago, she now spends her days penning stories about handsome cowboys riding the range, busting broncs, and sweeping gals off their feet — oops, no. Make that winning the hearts of feisty, independent women who give the cowboys a run for their money.

CONNECT WITH CATHY: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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TOUR GIVEAWAY

(2) winners will receive a print copy of A Secret Christmas Wish and Her Cowboy Sweetheart, a cowboy coffee mug, a $5 Starbucks gift card, and author bling!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 31, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 7, 2022. US only. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Sea Glass Cottage ~ Review

Sea Glass Cottage

Hope Harbor #8

By Irene Hannon

Christi Reece never thought she'd track down the man whose heart she so cruelly broke more than a decade ago and beg for his help. Well, maybe not beg but ask until she has no hope of a positive reply. But Christi owes a debt she wants and needs to repay. But Jack Colby isn't about to be taken in by Christi's manipulative ways again. He's determined to say NO but waivers when she's standing just in front of him.

When Christi is offered a chance to make Hope Harbor her new home she can't say yes, or can she? Is this the answer to her prayers? Soon Christi has much to offer Hope Harbor and its residents. Now if only she can get Jack to see that she's not the same selfish, self-serving, spoiled, little-rich-girl who played him false. 

Soon Jack is faced with a situation he never expected and he is literally clueless about how to handle the situation. And when it goes from bad to worse, somehow Christi manages to be just where she needs to be to help him out. Which opens the door to be of further assistance to Jack when he most needs it. Could this be the chance Christi needs to show Jack that change for the better is possible? 

Sea Glass Cottage is the eighth Hope Harbor book that once again adds even more charm to this Oregon coastal town. Each new book includes scenes with Charley, Floyd, and Gladys, who I might add are my favorite Hope Harbor residents! And this time each imparts valuable advice (or examples in the case of Floyd and Gladys) to others in this coastal town - lessons that were badly needed. This is a small town (by some standards) that is filled with people who make mistakes and grow from the experience. No one is perfect, though some would love to present that facade to the world. This is a place you will enjoy visiting again and again. So sit back and spend some quality time in a place you wouldn't mind calling home.

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:

When painful pasts collide, 

Can love overcome heartache

 and triumph despite the odds?

Christi Reece is desperate. The one-time golden girl's life has tarnished, and a cascade of setbacks has left her reeling. She needs help, and she's certain Jack Colby is in a position to provide it.

When she shows up in Hope Harbor, however, Jack wants nothing to do with the woman who betrayed him. He's built a new life on the Oregon coast--and there's no room in it for Christi, even after she takes refuge in a charming but mysterious cottage nearby. Yet it soon becomes apparent his opinion of her may need revising . . . especially when he ends up needing her help.

Can these two hurting souls make peace with their past and open their hearts to a new beginning?

Come home to Hope Harbor--

Where hearts heal . . . and love blooms.

The Paramedic's Forever Family ~ Review

The Paramedic's Forever Family

Smokey Mountain First Responders #2

By Tanya Agler

Lindsay Hudson lost her husband to a work-related incident and has not been interested in dating anyone since then.  And if she ever were it most certainly would never be with a first responder like her husband or her best friend/next-door neighbor Mason Ruddick. 

Mason Ruddick has no plans to marry, he can't handle another loss in his life. And with his little sister battling cancer, Mason is even more determined to keep from losing his heart to his late best friend's widow, who has become an important part of his life. Now if he can just get his heart to agree with his head.

I have to be honest, I wonder if there would have even been a chance for Lindsay and Mason to even possibly have a chance to maybe have a romance if not for her late husband. Lindsay seems rather hard at times on Mason. I mean they aren't dating, she repeatedly states she refuses to even think about dating someone in the same profession as her late husband due to the dangers. She's rather quick to judge others without looking at all the facts. I get it she's a single mother with lots of stress on the job, but she seems to have a hard time giving others the same respect and consideration she wants. And Mason seems to thrive on living on the edge of extreme. He also seems to be leery of commitment on a personal level beyond his family. And he is almost anti-gardening, while botanical pursuits are what drive Lindsay.

I have to admit I liked Mason's Grandpa Joe and Grandma Betty (for the little bit she was in) the best. They seemed to have good heads on their shoulders and they had wisdom to impart if only Mason and Lindsay would listen. Everyone should be so fortunate in their grandparents both in the care they show and the love they share. 

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:

Sometimes “good friends”

Just isn't enough…

Bachelor paramedic Mason Ruddick doesn't know what he'd do without Lindsay Hudson. The widowed mom is his sounding board, his neighbor, and, since the death of her husband and his best friend, his lifeline. Only lately, Mason can't stop noticing just how beautiful and special Lindsay is. Or how often he thinks about her. Now Mason's heart is caught between the best friend he lost…and the one he's falling for.

Smoky Mountain First Responders

Book 1: The Single Dad's Holiday Match

Book 2: The Paramedic's Forever Family