Agent Recruit ~ Review

Agent Recruit
Max Thorne #2
By Ethan Jones

It's been four weeks since Max's detainee-transfer assignment that went wrong and he, his father - Valery Volkov, and his girlfriend Ava are in London on a quest for information. But when they find themselves betrayed and on the wrong side of MI5 their personal mission just got a whole lot more difficult.

As Max and the rest of his team start globe-hopping, Max's inexperience and impatience are about to cost him and it is just a question of how much. As Max works towards the team's ultimate goal of stopping Zlobin and obtaining information about Max's late mother he makes a rash decision that, if he survives, he may regret.

This is the second book in the Max Thorne series and it doesn't let down on the action that we've previously seen at Max's side in Eighteen Minutes and Agent Rising. And Max's ability at making enemies seems to be a special gift that he needs to work on distancing himself from especially if he's like to make it to middle age.

Max is not a reworked Justin Hall or Javin Pierce. Ethan Jones has again brought to life a character that is unique and not perfect - Max's flaws are what give him character and life. If you like thrilling spycraft fiction and have not yet picked up any of Ethan Jones previous books give this one a try but you should read Agent Rising first as it is the first book in the series where the mystery of Max's past comes into play in a big way. Eighteen Minutes is the series prequel that provides the backstory that shows how Max is now in the place that he is. And what place is Max in you ask? He has managed to get on the FSB's list of persona non grata. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book - no expectations were placed on me. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

What price would you pay to learn the truth?

Russian FSB Agent Max Thorne is recovering from a daring assignment in the United States, which led to shocking discoveries about his mysterious past. As he begins the search to put together the missing pieces, Max learns that the elusive truth is buried deep under decades of secrecy, betrayal, and deception involving the CIA and KGB.

Barely able to stay one step ahead of powerful forces set on protecting those secrets at all costs, Max is determined to do the right thing. But what price will Max have to pay to learn the bittersweet truth, and can he protect the ones he loves?

Join Max as he faces the darkness that is the secret service the only way he knows how ... head on.

Midnight's Curse ~ Review with Author Interview and Giveaway

Welcome to the blog tour for Midnight's Curse, book two in the Beyond the Tales series by Tricia Mingerink. Beyond the Tales is a series of fairy tale retellings with hints of allegorical elements set in a world based on the Appalachian Mountains. 

Don't miss the giveaway at the end of this blog post nor the invitation to the 
Facebook party on Friday for more giveaways!

Midnight's Curse
Beyond the Tales #2
By Tricia Mingerink

High King Alexander has awoken from his 100 years of sleep to a nation divided - the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia are on the edge of yet another war and not sure that they want to be ruled once again by a High King.

Over the years Daemyn Rand has served the High King and with the curse broken finds himself still serving Alex. But his life is different now as he has found love in the Princess Rosanna the princess who broke the curse placed upon the High King. But the past still has its hand on him and the thought of living a normal life and aging with those around him is unfamiliar to him.

Elara Ashen spends her days bemoaning her existence as a maidservant in the home of Baroness Hackett. Elara wants the life that Monica and Beatrice Hackett have - a life of position, of silk gowns, balls, and wealth. And when the King Cassius of Pohatomie invites the High King of Tallahatchia to the Harvest Festival and all the noble persons of the kingdom are invited Elara's wish to attend seems the least possible thing in the world. At least, until a chance encounter with the loveliest Fae she could ever imagine offers her heart's desire. All she needs to do is accept the offered gift of a pair of glass slippers which will make her the envy of every woman and the desire of every man's heart, including the High King's!

But when Elara's dream takes a most unexpected turn she is forced to see just where her jealousy and discontent has lead her - straight into a mess that she doesn't want to be in. And worse she just may destroy all hopes of a reunited Tallahatchia unless she can find a way to stop the curse she now finds herself under.

This is a lovely sequel to Dagger's Sleep as it continues the story that was first presented there (the awakening of the High King). I really like how we see how both Daemyn and Alex are struggling with learning to accept how their lives are now Alex to a kingdom in disarray that has little use for what was and Daemyn who is no longer on a quest to find a princess to break the curse. If you like a twist on the traditional fairy tale this one will most certainly give you that - this is one Cinderella tale that you will want to read again and again.

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



About the Book:

The glass slippers might be her dreams come true...or her worst nightmare. 

High King Alexander rules the Seven Kingdoms of Tallahatchia—a divided nation on the brink
of yet another war. When an invitation arrives from the king of Pohatomie, Alex knows it must
be a trap, but could it also be his opportunity to unite the kingdoms?

Daemyn Rand has lived a hundred years, served an arrogant prince, fallen in love with a
princess, and lost himself somewhere along the way. He has already died for his loyalty. Will
standing at the high king’s side cost him his last chance to truly live?

Elara Ashen is a lowly, miserable servant. All she wants is to spend even one night in a fancy
dress dancing with the high king. When she is offered a pair of glass slippers, it seems that all
her dreams have come true.

But dreams have a price, and gifts can be curses in disguise. What will it cost to stop this curse
from tearing Tallahatchia apart yet again?

Fairy tales meet the Appalachian Mountains in this adventurous fantasy retelling of the classic
Cinderella story.

Add to Goodreads - Buy on Amazon

Author Interview:

1)  Who (or) what is your favorite comfort read author or genre?

Light and humorous fairy tale retellings. They have always been my go-to comfort read from the time I was little. K.M. Shea, J.M. Stengl, Melanie Cellier are my favorites. K.M. Shea especially has a lot of retellings out there, and her writing is so hysterically funny all the time. I wish I could write as funny as she does. 

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

C.S. Lewis. He was seriously brilliant when it came to writing an allegorical story. The Chronicles of Narnia are so well written I get something new out of them every time I read them (and I re-read them at least once a year). I don't know how it is possible to pack so much into the books and still have the allegorical elements feel so natural and integral to the story. 

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

 Many of my settings are based on places I have actually been. Since I have never traveled outside of the United States yet, that means they are based on settings in the United States. It's a good thing we have such a variety of geography, lol. I write about waterfalls I have actually visited, trails I have walked, places my family got lost in, because it helps me bring the settings more alive on the page. 

4)  Do you have a favorite author that you would recommend?

A favorite author? Sorry, I can't pick just one, lol. For Christian fantasy: Jaye L. Knight, Morgan Huneke, Nadine Brandes, Jill Williamson, Morgan Busse. For fairy tale retellings, K.M. Shea, J.M. Stengl, Melanie Cellier, W.R. Gingell, Lucy Tempest, and many more are my favorites. I can come up with a mile-long list if you'd like, lol. 

I totally agree - whenever anyone asks for my favorite author I can never pick just one - Nope not possible. I love that some of the authors you named are on my list of favorites too - must be why I love your books we have similar tastes in reading!

5)  Who is your favorite character (or two) in Midnight's Curse? 

I love writing Alex, lol. He can be so annoyingly flawed at times but also so fun to write. It's a good thing I like writing about him since I have two more books with him as a main character. And also, Daemyn. Because Daemyn is awesome. 

6)  Midnight's Curse and the Dagger's Sleep, do you need to read one to read the other? Do you have a favorite? Why or why not?

It would certainly help to read Dagger's Sleep before Midnight's Curse because Midnight's Curse is a continuation with many of the same characters as the first book. But I did try to write Midnight's Curse so that you could jump straight into it if a Cinderella retelling sounded more appealing than a Sleeping Beauty retelling. You might be mildly confused at the beginning, but it shouldn't be impossibly confusing, if that makes sense.

The first book in the series Dagger's Sleep, a Sleeping Beauty retelling where the prince is cursed to sleep and the princess must wake him, is on sale for $.99 on Kindle!
Follow this link to snag this deal while it lasts!

About the Author

Tricia Mingerink is a twenty-something, book-loving, horse-riding country girl. She lives in Michigan with her family and their pack of pets. When she isn't writing, she can be found pursuing backwoods adventures across the country.

You can connect with Tricia on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Facebook Party!

 

 The Facebook party should be a blast with giveaways of 

Midnight's Curse, 

Dagger's Sleep, 

and over ten other Cinderella retellings by indie authors!

Follow this link to join the Facebook party.

Giveaway!

 

 Enter to win signed copies of Dagger's Sleep and Midnight's Curse 

(it will be the actual copy, not a proof copy as shown) 

as well as a Currently Reading 4oz candle from Novelly Yours Candles. 

 Due to shipping, the giveaway is open to the US only. 

Void where prohibited. 

  A Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog Tour Schedule

Monday – August 5

• The Florid Sword – Author Interview and Book Review
• Scribeheart – Author Interview

Tuesday – August 6 – Release Day!

• The Music of a Story – Book Review
• Jaye L. Knight – Author Interview
• Perfectly Quirky in Every Way – Book Review

Wednesday – August 7

• Liv K. Fisher – Author Interview
• Blooming with Books – Author Interview and Book Review
• TJ’s Musing – Book Review

Thursday – August 8

• Imperial Scribis – Author Interview
• Dream Write Now – Author Interview and Book Review
• Morgan Huneke – Author Interview

Friday – August 9

• The Page Dreamer – Book Spotlight
• Elizabeth Koetsier – Book Spotlight
• Brie Donning – Book Review
• Facebook Party 8-10pm EST, 7-9 pm CST, 6-8 pm MST, 5-7 pm PST

Saturday – August 10

• Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors – Book Review
• M.H. Elrich – Book Review

Coding for Kids: Scratch ~ Review

Coding for Kids: Scratch 
Learn Coding Skills, Create 10 Fun Games, and Master Scratch
By Matthew Highland

Coding for Kids is aimed at kids 6 years and older. The basics of coding and Scratch are laid out in easy to understand language that assumes you are starting this book with no previous knowledge from which to draw upon. Younger kids will need a parent (or another adult) to help them out when they first start using Scratch - but with this book, even the coding novice parent will be able to help their child navigate this new world,

I really think this is easiest to understand book on coding I have ever picked up and examined. If you can only get one book this is the one to go with. The text is straightforward and not confusing and the numerous illustrations allow you to verify that you are indeed on the right track with what you are doing.  I like that there is a glossary of terms in the back of the book - mark it with a tab - trust me you will make frequent trips to this page until the terms become familiar. The knowledge that you gain from this book is well worth the price.

*You will need access to a computer or tablet with an internet connection so if you don't have this at home check with your local library as many offer public access computers that you may be able to use and as your work in Scratch is saved in your account you will be able to use it anywhere.

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

About the Book:

Learn to code and make awesome games with Scratch!

Learn coding concepts and skills and start creating your own games right away! Coding for Kids: Scratch is a complete guide that makes mastering this programming language fun and easy for children (ages 6+).

From sprites and code blocks to scripts and scorekeeping, Coding for Kids: Scratch helps you discover everything you need to know to create 10 amazing games that you and your friends can play. Watch your confidence grow with step-by-step instructions and clear directions that keep things simple―even as the games you’re making get more challenging. Game on!

Coding for Kids: Scratch includes:

• Coding for kids―Learn Scratch terms and concepts, then use them to build games you can start playing immediately.
• Create 10 games―Cake Clicker, Dino Hunt, Crystal Keeper, and more―code, play, and share 10 cool games.
• Master Scratch―Simple directions, full-color screenshots, and projects that get more difficult make mastering Scratch a breeze.

The Killing Tide ~ Review

The Killing Tide
Coastal Guardians #1
By Dani Pettrey

Gabby Rowley broke his heart when she left 6 months ago but now she is back in Wilmington, North Carolina, and under Finn Walker's watchful eyes thanks to the threat on her life. Investigative reporting is her life and it has once again caused her to be on the wrong side of a gun - a gun from which she barely escaped.

With the expose she did on drug dealer Xavier Fuentes having put her on the top of his list of enemies Gabby has no choice but to return home - her boss has given her no choice in the matter and her big brother Noah is more than happy to help her home. But to further protect Gabby she's being hidden at the guest loft next to Finn's home. Can you say AWKWARD??

Unfortunately for those determined to keep her safe Gabby is very resourceful at evading them when she is on the scent of a story and the case that has just landed in the laps of the Coast Guard Investigative team of which Noah and Finn are a part of has her interest peaked. One member of the Coast Guard has been murdered, another has been attacked, and then there is the ship that just exploded following a potentially suspicious death. How can she ignore a story that demands that the truth be revealed?

The Killing Tide is the first book in the Coastal Guardians series and believe me if this series is like Dani Pettrey's previous series the excitement will just go up. Not to give anything away but the climax is more than a little intense. And you'll never see it coming so don't assume anything...

Overall this is a good read that fans of Dani Pettrey will enjoy - the location has changed with as we are taken to the coastal regions of North Carolina and our heroes are with the Coast Guard. What we learn in this first book is that there are definitely some stories to discover about the officers who call Wilmington home and I for one am most anticipating book 2 which I believe the final few pages hint at what is to come. For those who like to know the genre of their books, this is a contemporary romantic suspense. And if you read it just before bed, well you may not get too much sleep (unless you have very strong will power) as you may fall into the "just one more chapter" trap.

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 corpse that only leads to secrets.

An old flame with danger written all over her.

Things are about to get very complicated.

When one Coast Guard officer is found dead and another goes missing, Coast Guard Investigative Service special agent Finn Walker faces his most dangerous crime yet. His only clues are what little evidence remains aboard the dead officer's boat, and the direction the clues point to will test Finn and the Guard to their limits.

When investigative reporter--and Finn's boss's sister--Gabby Rowley arrives, her unrelenting questions complicate an already volatile situation. Now that she's back, the tug on Finn's heart is strong, but with the risks she's taking for her next big story, he fears she might not live through it.

Thrown together by the heinous crime, Finn and Gabby can't ignore the sparks or judgments flying between them. But will they be able to see past their preconceptions long enough to track down an elusive killer, or will they become his next mark?

The String ~ Review

The String
By Caleb Breakey

If you are looking for the next book that will keep up until the glow of morning is on the horizon - well you have found it with The String.

Trenton University has come under the controlling influence of someone who calls him(or her)self The Conductor. The Conductor has learned long-buried secrets about both students and staff at the university that is being leveraged in a cruel and twisted manner to an end that no one suspects. And with the lives of those nearest and dearest threatened most soon break to the Conductor's sick demands. And those that try to fight back let's just say they aren't about to make the same mistake twice.

But when the Conductor decides to add Markus Haas to his string he may have met his match. But he knows Markus's secret a secret that could take everything away from him and make him the final piece in the elaborate scheme that is soon to be revealed. Can Markus stop a master manipulator or will he die trying to save everyone?

If you like suspense with a psychological factor to it and like to be just a little creeped out in your reading The String will give you this and more. Secrets and long-hidden truths have come together against those who have thought themselves safe. What would you do to protect yourself, the life you live, and your loved ones? This book presents just such a moral dilemma and each character is about to be revealed. If you like the works of Ted Dekker, Stephen James, and Robert Whitlow you need to give this book a try.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by the publisher with no expectations - all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.


About the Book:

Welcome to the string. 

Let's go over the ground rules.

Rule #1: Participation is mandatory.
Rule #2: If any one person refuses to play, the threats to all players will come to pass.

Game on.

Get ready for a deadly social experiment as a sociopath known as The Conductor delivers disturbing threats and twisted moral dilemmas to unsuspecting students and staff.

As a powerful instinct for self-preservation sweeps through the campus, one man has a grave decision to make. Will university cop Markus Haas play the game to protect those he loves? Or will he break the string and incite massive chaos--and even death?

Want to purchase the book or learn more about it check-out the following:

                              Amazon  Barnes and Noble  ChristianBook.com  Goodreads

                                   Caleb's Twitter  Caleb's Facebook  Caleb's Instagram

Light from Distant Stars ~ Review

Light from Distant Stars

by Shawn Smucker

Light from Distant Stars is an interesting book that takes the reader on a journey through the life of Cohen Marah in a series of flashbacks of memory as he deals with a situation in his present-day life and ponders a question that is heavy upon his heart and soul. Can you kill someone without doing the deed?

As we are taken through Cohen's life we get to understand him and his relationship with his father - a relationship that is hard to define as it is one that also includes that of employer/employee. After leaving his position as a pastor following a total breakup of the Marah family Cohen's father takes on the duties of a funeral home with the upper floor being his and Cohen's new home. 

The gruesomeness of his father's new profession leaves a permanent impression on Cohen especially when he walks in on an especially troubling scene. A scene which leads him to seek a short escape from this new life and brings him into a most unique friendship (of a sort) with two young people who are attempting to find and stop something that Cohen can't explain. He just knows that it is dark and evil.

Cohen's memories are interspersed through the present as he and his sister Kaye struggle to come to terms with the loss of their father. And Cohen has the added guilt of his last conversation with his father weighing on him.

If you want a twist of suspense in your reading Shawn Smucker definitely gives it in this book. I don't think there is as much speculatism in this book as his previous titles (The Day the Angels Fell and The Edge of Over There) but there is an underlining thread of it that is subtly present. Overall this is a good read. The family dynamics add something to the story and I can't really say I empathize with his parents in any way but I do like Cohen and Kaye. Those who like the writing of Frank Peretti, Ted Dekker, and Erin Healy will most likely enjoy this one.

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:

When Cohen Marah steps over his father's body in the basement embalming room of the family's funeral home, he has no idea that he is stepping into a labyrinth of memory. As the last one to see his father, Cohen is the primary suspect.

Over the next week, Cohen's childhood memories come back in living color. The dramatic events that led to his father being asked to leave his pastoral position. The game of baseball that somehow kept them together. And the two children in the forest who became his friends--and enlisted him in a dark and dangerous undertaking. As the lines blur between what was real and what was imaginary, Cohen is faced with the question he's been avoiding: Did he kill his father?

In Light from Distant Stars, master story weaver Shawn Smucker relays a tale both eerie and enchanting, one that will have you questioning reality and reaching out for what is true, good, and genuine.

Want to learn more or purchase a copy for yourself? 

Check out the following:

                 Shawn's website  Shawn's Facebook  Shawn's Twitter  Shawn's Instagram 

Amazon  Barnes and Noble  ChristianBook.com  Goodreads

State of Lies ~ Review

State of Lies
By Siri Mitchell

What if what you knew as fact started crumbling around you? Georgie Brennan finds herself in just such a situation following the death of her husband. 

When Georgie Brennan's husband heads out to make a purchase for a kitchen repair she never expected he wouldn't come back. Sean was the senseless victim of a hit-and-run driver a driver how has disappeared. Eight months are quickly jumped over and we find Georgie still dealing with the loss of Sean and the effect it has had on not only her life but that of their 6-year-old son Sam. Let's just say it isn't easy.

Then strange things start happening. Unexplained noises beneath the house. Unscheduled repairs. Is someone trying to kill her or is she losing it with all the stress she is under? Time is running out and Georgie doesn't know who she can trust in this new life she finds herself in the midst of.
I've read Siri Mitchell's historical fiction in the past and found it to be enjoyable so I was interested in how a contemporary mystery would play out. I'm not really into the first-person viewpoint which I know some people like. I prefer a little more showing in my books but the writing was good overall. The book is approximately 350 pages and when it hits page 130 (give or take a page or two) the book starts to pick up in the action and presentation. Overall this is a good read and if you push past the beginning that is setting the stage you will be glad that you did so. 

This book takes a whole lot of unexpected twists so one isn't exactly sure where exactly it is going to end up. The action takes place in and around the D.C. area so you are assured of an interesting political aspect to be thrown into the mix. And when this is over you just might be looking over your shoulder too.

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

About the Book:

One woman is forced to question everything she knows in this 

domestic suspense novel from award-winning author Siri Mitchell.

Georgie Brennan may be a world-class quantum physicist, but she grapples with life as a single mother after her husband is killed. When she receives a message from beyond the grave, it leads her to question the details of her husband’s death.

As she follows the clues he left behind, her discoveries increasingly implicate those closest to her. When her father is nominated as the new United States Secretary of Defense, she must uncover the truth before his confirmation hearing—even as the same people who killed her husband are now after her. Nothing is as it seems. Lies are truth; enemies are friends. Even her child is at risk. As every possibility but one disappears, Georgie may find herself to be the antithesis of everything she’s thought herself to be.