7.31.2021

Lethal Cover-Up ~ Review

Lethal Cover-Up
By Darlene L. Turner

Madison Steele has just lost the most important person in her life again. This time it was the sister that she had just recently connected with. Worse it wasn't an accident and now the killer is after her too. Leah uncovered a cover-up at the pharmaceutical company she worked for and now the public is paying the price for what she uncovered.

With tainted drugs crossing the border it's only a matter of time before the deadly effects are realized. But stopping the flow will mean spending time with Tucker Reed, the high school sweetheart whose heart she broke years ago. Can they find Cicada with the few clues they have? Or will this murderous mastermind add them to his growing list of victims?

Lethal Cover-Up takes the reader into the action from page one and it continues non-stop throughout the book. Readers familiar with Love Inspired Suspense will be thrilled with the clean reading suspense offered that doesn't sacrifice the story to achieve this goal. And you can be assured of a satisfying ending - so curl up in your favorite reading spot and get ready to enjoy a few hours on the Canadian/US border.

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:
Some secrets are dangerous… 
But uncovering the truth could be deadly.

Border patrol officer Madison Steele knows her sister Leah’s fatal car crash was no accident. Someone’s willing to kill to cover up a pharmaceutical company’s deadly crime of distributing tainted drugs. Now they are after Madison to tie off loose ends. But with her high school sweetheart, Canadian police constable Tucker Reed, at her side, can Madison expose the company’s deadly plan before she becomes the next victim?

7.22.2021

The Trouble with Jenny ~ Review

The Trouble with Jenny
Wind River Chronicles #1
By Kathy Geary Anderson

Jenny Westraven is a beauty who has a sizeable inheritance to her name and as a member of New York's social elite, she is a highly sought-after prize. And that is the problem - she doesn't want to be valued for the financial windfall she will bring her husband. Rather she yearns for a marriage built on love, one like her late parents had. But more than anything Jenny wants to feel as if she belonged somewhere as if someone wanted her for her. 

When Jenny has an opportunity to work in a law office as a typewriter for her childhood acquaintance, Ben, she's more than willing to throw herself into the work. There's just one tiny little problem her guardians are less than thrilled that she is working and that she is found in a most appalling situation - kissing her employer!

With her singular skill at getting herself into trouble, Jenny soon finds herself heading West, banished to live with her brother until she is invited back into her aunt and uncle's good graces and home. But it seems that wherever she goes trouble follows. And the person most likely to be on the painful end of Jenny's adventures is Ben. 

When Jenny finds herself in a situation that could ruin her, she is determined to fight back. But she needs Ben's help to do so. Can a man with a broken heart truly be her best defense? Jenny is about to find out just where she belongs. 

The Trouble with Jenny is a delightful read. Set at the dawning of the Twentieth Century it is interesting to contrast what was with what is. Women had no voice. Those born into wealth were expected to be nothing more than ornamentation on their husband's arm. And wanting adventure is a total no-no. Too bad Jenny is determined to live life to its fullest.

Overall this book is excellent reading. The characters captured my attention and I dearly hope to visit them again in future books. If you are looking for something new to read in the historical romance genre this is one you have to try. This is clean reading that is perfect for mid-teens and up.

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
Series: Wind River Chronicles #1
Publisher: Purple Autumn Press
Release Date: April 20, 2021
Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

She’s always getting into trouble. He’s always getting hurt.

At the turn of the 20th century, New York socialite Jenny Westraven is in trouble . . . again. An orphaned heiress from a large banking family, she’s expected to follow the rules of society and marry according to her wealth and status. But Jenny craves adventure and anything BUT the ordinary. So, when her guardian aunt and uncle return from a European vacation to find Jenny working as a typewriter girl in a Newark law office, they are appalled. Worse yet, they interrupt a kiss between her and her young boss Mr. “Ben” Bennett.

Jenny has been getting Ben in trouble since he was ten, so he’s secretly relieved when her guardians reject him as a suitor. He has other plans for his life, and they don’t include his troublesome childhood friend. When Jenny uses outrageous methods to reject the suitors her family does approve for her, her aunt and uncle decide to send her to her brother in Wyoming.

Then, a family tragedy takes Ben out west as well, and his path crosses with Jenny’s once again. As they work together to end an injustice, what was merely an attraction between them develops into something more. Unfortunately, Jenny’s involvement with another man comes between them and puts her in the worst trouble of her life.

Now Ben must decide whether to risk his heart to rescue her once again or cut his losses and let her go.

7.20.2021

Chasing Failure ~ Review with Excerpt and Giveaway

Chasing Failure:
    How Falling Short Sets You Up for Success
By Ryan Leak
Foreword by Jon Gordon

No one wants to fail but sometimes you have to fail to get a better future.  Failure refines you and makes you better if you see it as a blessing rather than a detriment. 

As children, we dream about the future, but as we move towards the freedoms an adult life brings we allow doubts and reality to keep us from our dreams. We talk ourselves out of our dreams because we fear failure. But you fail by default if you never make an attempt. Each time you make an attempt, your fear of failure will lose its hold on you and your dream. The first step is the most important, and failure is not the end but the motivation to continue chasing your dream.

You are your biggest hurdle to success. Missing the mark makes you better because you keep trying until you get better, and then you go to the next step of your journey. How you deal with your failure reveals your character. Do you see failure as a challenge to do better or does it crush you into abandoning your dream?

But sometimes failure is an invitation to chase a new dream - sometimes your passion finds you. But is your passion a hobby or does it have career potential? Sometimes you have to create your own opportunity. What do people, other than family members, encourage you to try? Start small and work your way forward. Don't dump your job before you make sure you can do what you are going after. Reaching your full potential takes work and fulfills you, but is the personal cost worth the risk? For every success, there is a cost - will it be to your family, your health, your time? Only you can answer whether the cost is too high.

You'll need to budget your time for what is important - what are your goals? Have you made time in your day and your calendar for your dreams? Is your time going towards your goal, or is it going towards binge-watching an entire television series? Discipline is the key to keeping your time on track. One place to put your time into is knowledge - you need to understand how to accomplish your goals - sources of knowledge are readily available - you just need to find it.

Are you ready to chase failure to find the success you desire? If so, this book from Ryan Leak will give you the tools and guidance you need to fail so that you may ultimately succeed.

The audio version has a bonus - at the end of each chapter, questions from early readers are answered. The audio version is read by the author Ryan Leak; it is well-presented and well-paced. The chapters are not too long so that you can easily turn your commute into a step on your path to success.

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:

By blending personal stories, inspirational anecdotes, riveting psychology, get-up-and-go encouragement, and just plain practical step-by-step advice, Ryan Leak shows how chasing failure just may be the quickest way to success.

We all have something we’d love to do, but often our fear of failure outweighs the potential of our destiny. But what if we found out that failure could actually help us succeed? Through Ryan Leak’s journey of chasing the girl of his dreams to his NBA fantasy and his encounter with five-time NBA champion Kobe Bryant, Chasing Failure helps us remove every excuse for not pursuing the life we want to live.

In this book Ryan also talks about the science behind why people are afraid to fail, mixing in real-life stories and adding practical steps to help us intentionally chase failure. As he says, “God promises to be with you always, even through the failure.” This book is for the dreamers who have been afraid to move–and even those who have been afraid to dream. Ultimately, Chasing Failure will help us build confidence in what God has called us to do. As a motivational speaker, whether addressing people in corporations, churches, or youth events, Ryan has a message of hope: failure is right around the corner, so be brave enough to chase it! The good life is on the other side.

Purchase Links

Thomas Nelson | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

About Ryan Leak

Ryan Leak is an author, speaker, executive coach, and filmmaker. He’s known for two documentaries: The Surprise Wedding and Chasing Failure. The son of a preacher man, Ryan grew up in the church with a marketplace passion. Today, Ryan splits his time between speaking in churches and doing executive coaching and speaking in Corporate America through his company, The Ryan Leak Group, LLC.

Ryan has a unique church position in that he is on the teaching team of five megachurches. He rotates speaking at each of them seven to eight times a year. He regularly teaches 48,000 people between those five churches. Ryan does about 120 events each year, reaching 200,000 people, and trains approximately 15,000 leaders. Ryan and his wife, Amanda, reside in Dallas, Texas, with their two children, Jaxson and Roman.

7.17.2021

Frosted Roses ~ 6 Fairytale Retellings coming soon

The Frosted Roses are coming this September and they are available to preorder now!


Brothers and Sisters and Bears, Oh My!
Six exciting new retellings of Snow White and Rose Red



For a limited time, all six books are only 99 cents each to preorder.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


   Rose Petals and Snowflakes
   By Kendra E. Ardnek
  An Austen Mashup
  Goodreads||Amazon
  September 20th





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          Runaway Lyrics
          By C.O. Bonham
         A Steampunk Adventure
        Goodreads||Amazon
        September 21st








   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 
     As Long as We Live
     By Cortney Manning
    An Epic Fae Romance
    Goodreads||Amazon
    September 22nd





~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
            Secrets of the Mountain
            By Wyn Estelle Owens
           A Nordic Saga
           Goodreads||Amazon
           September 23rd







~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
    Gilded in Ice
    Sarah Pennington
    A Jazz-Age Mystery
    Goodreads||Amazon
    September 24th






~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

          The Bear
          By Rachel Roden
         A Western Fairy Tale
         Goodreads||Amazon
         September 25th

7.07.2021

Cover Reveal ~ To Treasure an Heiress

Today we are having another cover reveal. 
I know Christmas in July is coming early this year.
The only thing is this Christmas surprise will have to go
on your book wish list.

Roseanna M. White's The Secrets of the Isles series is about to
reveal the lovely cover of book 2 - To Treasure an Heiress.

And it is a lovely cover and is one I personally can't wait to read.
But the book isn't releasing until January 2022 but what a great book
to be at the top of your 2022 TBR list.

Now for a glimpse of the cover.



 

Title: To Treasure an Heiress

Author: Roseanna M. White

Series: The Secrets of the Isles Book 2

Release Date: January 2022

Preorder a SIGNED copy: https://bit.ly/2TjhJbB

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3AhtEXT

Goodreads: https://bit.ly/2SFJzye


Author Info:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award-nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.


1906

Beth Tremayne has always been drawn to adventure. During her childhood, she fed that desire by exploring every inch of the Isles of Scilly. As an adolescent, she dreamed of love in London’s ballrooms. Now, stumbling across an old map on her family’s property, she’s found more adventure than she ever dreamed in the hunt for pirate treasure. Unfortunately, Beth can’t escape the attentions of her family’s guest, Lord Sheridan.


Sheridan has spent years pursuing whatever archaeological interest caught his imagination. And when he discovers that Beth’s search connects with one of his favorite pirates of history, he can’t help getting involved. Plus, he finds her irresistible, even though she insists he stole a prized possession of hers.


As they work together following different clues and drawing closer to danger, they start to piece together a story of tragic love and piratical adventure. But the true surprise is the treasure they discover in one another.

7.06.2021

The Weight of Memory ~ Review

The Weight of Memory
By Shawn Smucker

Forty years ago Paul Elias left his hometown behind forever. But when he learns that he has little time left he returns to Nysa - the place of his greatest joy and his greatest loss. But he is doing it for Pearl. His granddaughter has no one other than him and he hopes that somehow he can find someone to give her what he no longer has - a future.

The Weight of Memory takes the reader on a journey - a journey of life, of memory. But returning to Mysa is not what Paul expected - it is a town that under a cloud. This very sadness is something that touches Pearl, who has a depth that is beyond her years. 

There are times that this book has an almost spooky feel to it but as it unfolds the reader gradually is made aware that there is more to the tale than first meets the eye. This is a layered story that has a subtle yet powerful appeal and is one that should not be missed.

Shawn Smucker has once again created a world that you'll want to revisit just reexamine everything once you've reached the climax. You'll want to search through it all to discover what you may have missed the first time through. If you have read Shawn in the past you won't be disappointed in this newest work. The back and forth between the present and Paul's memories is typical of his work and in no way has it lost its power to reveal a complexity of thought while entertaining. I highly recommend this book.

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 Paul Elias receives a terminal diagnosis, he leaves his physician's office in a fog. Only one thing is clear to him: if he is going to die, he must find someone to watch over his granddaughter, Pearl, who has been in his charge since her drug-addicted father disappeared. Paul decides to take her back to Nysa--both the place where he grew up and the place where he lost his beloved wife under strange circumstances forty years earlier.

But when he picks up Pearl from school, the little girl already seems to know of his plans, claiming a woman told her.

In Nysa, Paul reconnects with an old friend but is not prepared for the onslaught of memory. And when Pearl starts vanishing at night and returning with increasingly bizarre tales, Paul begins to question her sanity, his own views on death, and the nature of reality itself.

In this suspenseful and introspective story from award-winning author Shawn Smucker, the past and the present mingle like opposing breezes, teasing out the truth about life, death, and sacrifice.
 

Maxed Out ~ Review with Giveaway

Maxed Out (an Owl's Nest Mystery) by C.S. McDonaldMaxed Out 
The Owl's Nest Mysteries #2
By C.S. McDonald


Alexa Owl's life is going great. Her couturier shop is doing well. Her relationship with boyfriend Cliff Slater is heading towards love if she is reading things correctly. There just one little hiccup to mess with her life - Detective Bobby Starr is back and has another case that needs Alexa's assistance.

But this time the dearly departed that needs Alexa and Bobby's help doesn't seem so innocent to Alexa. But Maxine Krogen is the next case Bobby's been assigned on his quest to join the Guardian Angel Squad, so it's back to the 1950s and some truly fabulous clothes.

But as Alexa looks for clues using the technology of today she finds herself drawn to Hank's Sandwich Shop with it's tragic past. Not that Hank's has any link to her case with Bobby but still there is something...

As before Alexa and Bobby have 3 days to solve the case and determine who killed Maxi's husband and landed her in the doghouse. With time against them and a less than helpful widow tagging along this case just might prove a bit more challenging than their last case.

Maxed Out is the second book in The Owl's Nest Mysteries and all the cast is back as Alexa tries to balance life in today and her time-shifting excursions - which may result in a few mishaps in today especially where her hiring abilities are less than stellar, at least this time there aren't any fires to put out. Maxed Out  is a contemporary read that is a cozy mystery that also could be a candidate for magical realism with a touch of romance. The book isn't long, coming in under 200 pages and would make a perfect afternoon read - especially if you need a escape from the summer heat.

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.

* Per the author the content rating is G but for those wanting a clean read there are pointed hints at relationships that have intimacy outside of marriage - nothing is shown on the page.

Book Title:  Maxed Out (The Owl's Nest Mysteries) 
Author:  C.S. McDonald
​Category:  Adult Fiction, 184 pages
Genre:  Cozy Mystery
Publisher:  McWriter Books
Release date:  April 2021
Content Rating:  G. - C.S. McDonald's books are appropriate for YA readers as well as adults--no bad language or sexual content.
Book Description:

The Owl’s Nest Couturier Shoppe is a huge success! Business is booming and Alexa Owl’s love life is heating up. Yet much to the seamstress’s dismay, Detective Bobby Starr is suddenly back again! Bobby isn’t your everyday gumshoe. Rather, he’s an angel who’s trying to earn a place in Saint Peter’s Guardian Angel Squad. He’s required to solve murders he had left unsettled from when he walked the earth in order to be accepted into this prestigious group. Of course, they will need to return to the time period in which the murder took place, and again, Alexa is a reluctant time traveler. Oh, and there’s one more little problem—this time, Bobby’s brought along a friend, Maxi Krogen, and she’s no angel!
Buy the Book:
Amazon ~ B&N
add to goodreads

Mystery Author C.S. McDonaldMeet the Author: 

For twenty-six years C.S. McDonald’s life whirled around a song and a dance. Classically trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, The Pittsburgh Dance Alloy, and many others, she became a professional dancer and choreographer. In 2011 she retired from her dance career to write. Under her real name, Cindy McDonald, she writes murder-suspense and romantic suspense novels. In 2014 she added the pen name, C.S. McDonald, to write children’s books for her grandchildren. In 2016 she added the Fiona Quinn Mysteries. Presently, the Fiona Quinn Mysteries has nine books.

Cindy’s newest venture is The Owl’s Nest Mysteries. Once again, she has set her cozy mystery in Pittsburgh. The Owl’s Next Mysteries has a little grit, a little time travel, a little romance, and a whole lot of cozy!

Cindy resides on her Thoroughbred farm known as Fly by Night Stables near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Bill, and her poorly behaved Cocker Spaniel, Allister.

Connect with the author:  Website  ~  Twitter  ~  Facebook
Tour Schedule:
June 21 – Cover Lover Book Review – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 21 -Working Mommy Journal – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 21 - Locks, Hooks and Books - book review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 22 – Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
June 22 -Bound 4 Escape – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 22 -Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 22 - Rajiv's Reviews – book review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 23 – Splashes of Joy – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 23 - Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 23 - Working Mommy Journal – book review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 23 - Rajiv's Reviews – book review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
June 24 - Buried Under Books - book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 24 - Rajiv's Reviews – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 24 - Locks, Hooks and Books - book review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
June 24 - Book Corner News and Reviews – book review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
June 24 – Working Mommy Journal – book review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
June 25 - StoreyBook Reviews – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 25 - Olio by Marilyn - book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 25 – Rockin' Book Reviews – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 28 - Books for Books - book review of Maxed Out
June 28 - Blooming with Books – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 28 - Cover Lover Book Review – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 29 - Literary Flits - book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
June 29 – Rockin' Book Reviews – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 29 – Westveil Publishing – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 30 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
June 30 - Blooming with Books – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 1 – Books Lattes & Tiaras – book review of Maxed Out
July 1 - I Read What You Write – book review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 1 - Literary Flits - book review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 2 - Olio by Marilyn - book review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 2 – Westveil Publishing – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 2 - I Read What You Write – book review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 5 - Cover Lover Book Review – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 5 - Books Lattes & Tiaras – book review of Bon Voyage to Murder
July 6 - Blooming with Books – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 6 - Buried Under Books - audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 6 – Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 6 - Literary Flits - book review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 7 - I Read What You Write – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 7 - Cheryl's Book Nook – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 7 - @twilight_reader – book review of Bon Voyage to Murder
July 7 – Bound 4 Escape – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 8 – Bigreadersite – book review of Maxed Out
July 8 - Laura's Interests – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 8 - Books for Books - audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder
July 8 - @twilight_reader – book review of Taking Notes on Murder
July 9 – Hall Ways Blog – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 9 - Westveil Publishing – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 9 - @twilight_reader – book review of Maxed Out
July 9 - Books for Books - audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder
July 12 - Chit Chat with Charity – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 12 – Bigreadersite – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder
July 12 - Buried Under Books - audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 12 - Books Lattes & Tiaras – book review of Taking Notes on Murder
July 13 - The Momma Spot – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 13 - Cheryl's Book Nook – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 13 – Bigreadersite – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder
July 14 - Gina Rae Mitchell – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 14 - Laura's Interests – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 14 – Splashes of Joy – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 15 - Locks, Hooks and Books - book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 15 – Chit Chat with Charity – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 15 - Laura's Interests – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 15 - Cheryl's Book Nook – audiobook review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
July 16 – Lisa's Reading – book review of Maxed Out / giveaway
July 16 - Hall Ways Blog – audiobook review of Bon Voyage to Murder / giveaway
July 16 - Olio by Marilyn - book review of Taking Notes on Murder / giveaway
Enter the Giveaway: