Golden Lotus - Full Hardcover Wrap Revealed

 I have the full cover wrap for the Golden Lotus 

Hardcover Special Edition to share.

The Special Edition is publishing on Saturday, May 10, 2025.

Extra chapters and more in this book.

If you are a digital fan the ebook is still available at a reduced preorder price.

The eBook releases on Friday, May 9, 2025.

Preorder and start reading on Friday.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DQM5K88W?

Two Seconds Too Late ~ Review

Two Seconds Too Late 

Jeopardy Falls #2

By Dani Pettrey

Riley MacLeod and her brothers have worked hard to put their past behind them. She works as a skip tracer for the family's investigation business and is good at what she does. However, at times, her actions drive fellow investigator Greyson Chadwick to distraction. He worries she could get herself killed. 

When a key is delivered to Riley, things start happening. She and Greyson are asked to discreetly investigate the disappearance of a woman from a couple's retreat. But what they uncover is more than they were expecting. Now, someone wants to ensure they don't have a chance to uncover the truth. But to expose it, Riley must revisit her past, something she never wanted to do.

Now, Riley and Greyson are racing against time to stop a killer before he finds them first. Then, there are those feelings they have developed for each other that must be dealt with. Unless her brothers get in the way, being older and protective of her. And then there is that whole not getting killed business.

Fans of Dani Pettrey's previous works will not be disappointed. The suspense will keep you reading way too late, so plan to take a vacation day soon. Once you start reading, you won't want to put this one down. Did I mention romance? Because there is that. Two Seconds Too Late can be read and fully enjoyed even if you have not read the first book, One Wrong Move. 

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

About the Book:

A missing woman. Two hit men. When every second counts, who will survive?

In the stark but beautiful wilds of northern New Mexico, a luxury spa and couple’s retreat turns into a chilling nightmare when a woman vanishes without a trace, just hours after a public fight with her boyfriend. Worried something sinister has happened, her friends reach out to investigator Riley MacLeod, an expert skip tracer, for help. The assignment means going undercover at the retreat, which means pairing up with private investigator Greyson Chadwick. Their partnership ignites a tumultuous mix of attraction and distrust as Riley’s unorthodox methods clash with Greyson’s meticulous approach.

As they delve deeper into the case and a ruthless hitman is unleashed upon them, Riley and Greyson find themselves fighting not only for justice but for their very survival. Staying one step ahead of danger, the pair discovers a hidden truth that rocks them to the core. In their race against the clock, they can only hope that they’re not too late.

With her signature pulse-pounding twists, Dani Pettrey weaves a gripping tale of love and survival in the face of unimaginable danger.

Find online at Baker Publishing Group or  Goodreads 

Arbor Day bookish recommendations

 Wishing everyone a Happy Arbor Day.

Thinking about books with trees,

I had several come to mind.

The first being

The Lord of the Rings,

specifically The Fellowship of the Ring.

I am referring to the Party Tree and Bilbo's birthday celebration.

The second was from

George MacDonald's Phantastes,

which had the first sentient trees

from which Tolkien was inspired to create the Ents.

Also part of Lord of the Rings,

but from the Two Towers 

and Return of the King.

If you have never read MacDonald's works of fantasy,

this is an interesting introduction to him.

But I would recommend At the Back of the North Wind

as your first introduction to George MacDonald.

It is my favorite of his novel length fantasies.

Novel Threat ~ review

Novel Threat

Pen and Dagger #1 

by Traci Hunter Abramson

Kimber Seidel works on the financial aspects of cases for the CIA. She dreams of someday being an author, but for now, she is content with being a writer who dreams of someday. But now her dreams are about to become part of a CIA operation. Kimber never expected to discover the guy she sat next to on a plane, working at the publisher the CIA is investigating. Yikes!

Brandon Hale was ready to quit the CIA and start using his college education in publishing. But when his last meeting with an informant goes wrong, Brandon finds himself leaving the life he wanted behind for an undercover op in New York at Monroe Publishing.

Soon, the two find themselves being forced together by their employers. Not a hardship when they hit it off during their flight from London to Washington. Of course, at that time, neither realized the other worked for the CIA. Now they are caught up in the intense publishing world with its expectations of marketing, glad-handing, social media, and networking. All Kimber and Brandon want to do is stop the terrorist who is threatening both London and the United States. And there is a clock counting down somewhere that they are in a race against.

This is a clean read that keeps the romance and language family-friendly. While there is violence with several deaths, the descriptions are not graphic. You may develop an aversion to elevators, but that is entirely up to you. 

This was an intense read that I enjoyed as an audiobook. Tim Campbell's narration was well-paced and executed. With a run time of just under 9 hours, it made for an excellent commute listen for a week. Novel Threat is the first book in the Pen and Dagger series, and I look forward to book two.

About the Book:

In a world of covert codes, two CIA operatives must infiltrate a New York publishing house, where every word on the page could be a weapon.

Brandon Hale, a seasoned CIA case officer, contemplates walking away from the covert world of espionage behind to embark on a quieter path in publishing. But his plan takes an abrupt turn when a critical source within the Labyrinth terrorist organization is assassinated, leaving behind a cryptic message about a New York publishing house. Rather than submitting his resignation, Brandon finds himself going undercover at Monroe Publishing to stop the next terrorist strike against the US.

Kimber Seidel, a CIA finance officer with secret aspirations of becoming a novelist, enjoys a serendipitous encounter with a handsome book lover like herself on her way home from London. Though she cannot reveal her true employment to her new friend, Brandon Hale, she can’t deny the instant spark that ignites between them. When Kimber’s manuscript is unexpectedly shopped to Monroe Publishing as a pawn in the CIA’s counterterrorism plot, Kimber must navigate the intersection of her literary dreams and her covert life as well as her deepening connection with Brandon.

Though each decoded message is leading Brandon and Kimber closer to the truth, it is also leading them into the line of fire, where the stakes are higher than anyone ever imagined.

Earth Day and National Park Appreciation Week ~ Book Recommendations

 Today is Earth Day, and this week is 

National Park Appreciation Week. 

To celebrate both, I recommend a delightful 

Historical Romance series

from Waterbrook Multnomah. 

Karen Barnett's Vintage National Parks series 

offers readers a glimpse into the 

parks' early days. If you are a fan of Historical Romance,

you will want to try these books.

The series consists of three books:

The Road to Paradise,

Where the Fire Falls,

and

Ever Faithful.

These books are set in the late 1920s and early 1930s. 

Each features different characters and National Parks

and can read as standalone titles.

These books were published between 2017 and 2019.

Revolution and Rebellion ~ Book Recommendation

 

The flames of revolution sparked a rebellion.

250 years ago, we demanded the right to have our voices heard.
We threw off the restraints of a king.
We fought for the freedom to rule ourselves.

We became a country of, by, and for THE PEOPLE.
Where all are created equal.
It was a dream of freedom that led to a Revolution and a Declaration.

It all began on April 18, 1775,
with a midnight ride that led to a shot heard around the world
on April 19, 1775.

Let freedom ring across this land. 

And never forget the hard-fought cost that gave 

this precious gift to us in trust.

As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence,

I am sharing books that I have read over the years that I feel

are worth reading during this time.

Some books may be harder to track down,

so be sure to visit your local library to see

if they possibly have a copy or can obtain one from

another library.

First up is from the American Girl Collection

Meet Felicity - 1774

This is the first book in the collection, and it is an 

easy-to-read introduction to the American Revolution

for middle grade readers (chapter books).

Happy Easter