Welcome to my Book Review Blog. My goal is to connect readers with the wonderful and amazing books I am blessed to reveiw. And to introduce you to the talented and wonderful authors responsible for writing these books. May my love for books show through my reviews on this site.
“An uplifting story of faith, hope, and healing.”–Booklist “Everyone has a story, and maybe everyone needs a little help toward healing.”
Popular podcaster and ex-reporter Faith Byrne made a name for herself telling stories of greatness after tragedy–but her real life does not mirror the stories she tells. While her daughters spend the summer in Hawaii with her ex-husband and his new wife, she must manage life on her own. All of that changes when she’s asked to spotlight her childhood best friend’s missing person case on her podcast.
Dora Crane has never accepted that her younger daughter could be dead, keeping her home looking the same as when her daughter disappeared. But when her husband leaves her and her older daughter intervenes, she agrees to counseling and to pack up her missing daughter’s belongings under one condition: Faith Byrne comes to Deep Valley and sheds light on the cold case.
As the long-abandoned investigation moves forward, old wounds and long-buried secrets are exposed. Will these two women, whose lives have never been the same, finally get the answers they need to reconcile the past and the future?
“This heartbreaking story will keep you guessing–and hoping–with the turn of every redemptive page.”–ERIN BARTELS, award-winning author of The Girl Who Could Breathe Under Water
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
When I saw the beautiful and intriguing cover of What Happens Next by Christina Suzann Nelson, I knew I had to have it. I love choosing books by their beautiful cover, and I picked a winner with this one.
What Happen Next is told through the eyes of Dora: Heather’s mom, Heather: Dora’s daughter and Faith: Heather’s best friend. Faith and Heather were pretty much inseparable in the summer of 1987, and after Faith’s family moves in with her grandma. When the summer was about over, Faith’s family moved, she and Heather did not communicate anymore.
Being a Podcaster in her adult life brought a familiar person into Faith’s life one day, Heather’s sister, asking Faith to shed light about her sisters disappearance decades ago. No one told Faith, so of course she was very shocked. She struggled much with the decision, but decided to do her part and help find her best friend.
Wow! What a story! Probably halfway through the book, Nelson drops a hint that gave me the jitters, and I couldn’t put the book down after that. Dora and her family have been grieving Heather’s disappearance all this time. Dora was turning her family away because she couldn’t stop grieving the loss of her daughter. Could she still be alive? So many questions. And not one answer. I don’t go to the end of books to get answers, so I had to speed read the last half of the book, I was having a fit to know what happened. So I’ll read this book again, here very soon, much slower so I don’t miss anything. It is too good not to give it another try. This was my first book by Christina Suzann Nelson, and boy, am I glad I chose it to review. Nelson’s writing is phenomenal. She is able to capture true feelings of the wonderful characters she created. The story has such a realistic feeling, and the characters are spot on. Nelson does a fantastic job of going from the excitement of the 1987 summer to the excruciating grief in Dora, to the sadness, to the disappointments, and to the acceptance and peace in the characters. Emotions were running every which way in this wonderful story. I felt like this was real family and friends I was reading about. I enjoyed the subtle touch of romance between Nate and Faith, which gave a warm, loving feeling. This is a book you dont want to miss. It’s Christian fiction, so it’s clean. Check out What Happens Next by Christina Suzann Nelson, you will be very glad you did! What Happen Next is getting Five plus stars from me. I’d love to give it more.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Christina Suzann Nelson in an inspirational speaker and the award-winning author. Her first novel, If We Make It Home, was honored as one of Library Journal’s top five inspirational novels of 2017.
In 2017, Christina was named the OCW Cascade’s Writer of Promise and received a Cascade award for her novel, Swimming in the Deep End.
Her stories have been published in the Cup of Comfort for a Better World, Cup of Comfort for Adoptive Families, as well as other publications.
Christina is over the top about her passions, including the stories created somewhere in the twists and turns of her less-than-focused brain. When she’s not writing, Christina serves on the board of the non-profit, Every Child Linn-Benton, where she has the opportunity to influence the lives of families and children in the foster care system.
On a typical day, she chases escaped farm animals, reads, hikes with her dog, and enjoys her husband and six kids.
An investigator who knows tragic loss firsthand,
and his new client, missing far too long…
Abducted at the age of sixteen and coerced into assisting the Jacoby crime family, Shannon Bliss has finally found a way out. She desperately wants to resume some semblance of normal life, but she also knows she has some unfinished business to attend to. She might have enough evidence to put her captors behind bars for a very long time.
When Shannon contacts private investigator Matthew Dane, a former cop, to help her navigate her reentry into society, he quickly discovers that gaining her freedom doesn’t mean her troubles are over. If the Jacoby family learns she is still alive, they’ll stop at nothing to silence her.
If justice is to be done, and if Shannon’s life is ever to get on track again, Matthew will need to discover exactly what happened to her–even if it means stirring up a hornet’s nest of secrets.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
THE AUTHOR
Dee Henderson
Dee Henderson is the author of numerous novels, including Taken, Undetected, Unspoken, Full Disclosure, and the acclaimed O’Malley and Uncommon Heroes series. Her books have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards,…
Henderson follows her tried-and-true formula in this well-paced tale of slowly developing love, which will please readers who enjoy the pairing of romantic suspense with evangelical Christian fiction.
Booklist
Henderson continues to prove her writing expertise in this psychological thriller.
After spending her childhood as a street thief, Gabriella Goodhue thought she’d put her past behind her until a fellow resident at her boardinghouse is unjustly accused of theft. Using her old skills to prove her friend’s innocence, Gabriella unexpectedly encounters Nicholas Quinn, the man she once considered her best friend–until he abandoned her.
After being taken under the wing of a professor who introduced him into society and named him as heir, Nicholas is living far removed from his childhood life of crime. As a favor to a friend, Nicholas agrees to help clear the name of an innocent woman, never imagining he’d be reunited with the girl he thought lost to him forever.
As Gabriella and Nicholas are thrown together into one intrigue after another, their childhood affection grows into more, but their newfound feelings are tested when truths about their past are revealed and danger follows their every step.
Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She’s been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado.
To Steal Her Heart is the first book in the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency series by Jen Turano. With her usual mixture of laugh out loud humor and faith, Jen pens another classic masterpiece. In this story, childhood friends Gabriella and Nicholas never expected to find each other again, but what a surprise when they were thrown together again in a most unique fashion.
I love this book and had so much fun reading it. The characters are so awesome! I love Gabriella and Nicholas and their interactions as well as their attraction for each other. I had a lot of laugh out loud moments following these two on their adventures. And those ladies of Bleeker Street. They are such a hoot, and I laughed and laughed some more at all of the scenes involving these ladies. Author Jen Turano does he usual outstanding job of writing this truly interesting and intriguing read. I always love that she writes the Christian life into her characters as well. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Turano has in the next books in this series, so stay tuned. But first, I highly recommend that you pick this first book up for a reading journey that will have you coming out of your seats with laugher and fun! This one gets a solid Five Stars from me!
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
More from Jen
“To Steal a Heart” is the first book in a new series. How did you come up with the idea for this series?
Oddly enough, this series was inspired by a lot of different things. I keep this idea box, and whenever I stumble on something interesting, I throw the idea into the box. When I was getting ready to assemble a proposal for a new series, I took out the box and began rifling through it. Unfortunately, nothing struck my fancy. What did strike my fancy though, was the movie “My Fair Lady.” I’d recently watched it for the millionth time, and I thought…hmmm…what could I do with that? Well, I didn’t want to do a recreation of “My Fair Lady” and that’s when it hit me – what if I used a gentleman instead of a lady and improved his circumstances in life with the help of a professor? That wasn’t really enough, though, for me to formulate an entire series, but then I went to New York City for a research trip. While there, I roamed around Bleecker Street for hours. It was the perfect place to set a series, and then I saw this older building that my tour guide thought might have once been a boardinghouse. That was what really started me thinking, and before I knew it, I’d created an inquiry agency run by women that came about when a resident of a boardinghouse was unjustly accused of theft. When the police would not investigate further, believing they had the true culprit behind bars, the ladies who lived in the boardinghouse felt compelled to step up and clear their fellow boardinghouse resident of the charges brought against her. The series took off from there, the first book centering around one of the lady inquiry agents, Miss Gabriella Goodhue, who used to live on the mean streets of the Lower East Side and, at one point in her life, was best friends with Nicholas Quinn, the man who has now found his circumstances vastly improved from the time he knew Gabriella. Throwing the two of them back together made for an interesting storyline, especially since Gabriella believes Nicholas abandoned her all those years ago, which makes it next to impossible for her to trust him.
Are there other interesting characters in this series?
Of course. All of the lady inquiry agents come with their own secrets. Miss Daphne Beekman is a reclusive author who lives in the attic of the boardinghouse. She has the propensity to faint at the drop of a hat, which makes for a few amusing scenes in the first book. She’ll get her own story in “To Write a Wrong,” coming out later in 2021. Then there’s Eunice Holbrooke. She’s the owner of the boardinghouse, and she only wears full mourning garb, covering her face with numerous veils and refusing to speak to anyone about her past. Clearly, there’s a mystery just waiting to be solved there, one that will be solved in book three, which I’m just now beginning to work on. The other residents of the boardinghouse provide a lot of color to the story, from the two sisters who work as paid companions by day to gossip collectors and carriage drivers by night, to the resident artist, Miss Judith, who has recently decided to dip her toe into the portrait market even though she’s really not proficient with painting people. There’s also a one-eyed, patch-wearing dog by the name of Winston, a parrot that likes to nick sparkly items named Pretty Girl, and a neurotic poodle that falls for Winston that goes by the name of Precious.
Did the pandemic affect the writing process at all for “To Steal a Heart?”
Luckily, I had already turned in the book before the pandemic hit. With that said, though, I then had to do some of the edits during the first few months of the pandemic. That was interesting. I have very specific conditions I need in order to write and edit and having Al (the husband person) working from home isn’t one of those conditions. It took me far longer than it normally does to complete the editing process, which threw off my schedule for the next book in the series, “To Write a Wrong.” Drastic measures were needed. That’s why I’m now the proud owner of a she-shed. Al thought I was joking when I first broached the subject of a she-shed, but after I had my millionth meltdown, he decided that might be a really good idea. Turns out sheds are in high demand at the moment, so getting a shed in a timely fashion wasn’t possible. It took 6 weeks for us to get a shed delivered and then we had to frame the inside and put up a ceiling and walls. I was not actually very involved with that process because I’m a danger to everyone surrounding me when nail guns are being used. 🙂 I did paint the outside of the shed, then painted the inside. Of course the air conditioning unit I had to order was delayed, so I painted in 100 degree heat. Lost about five pounds doing that, so…unexpected bonus there. I just recently finished decorating the inside, and I’m typing this interview from my new space. I’m thinking I’m going to call it “Jen’s Novel Nook” but that might change, so don’t quote me on that.
Anything else you’d like to add?
Just that I hope everyone is surviving these crazy days. I know there are many people out there who are suffering from many different problems this pandemic has caused. Know that you’re not alone, and that brighter days will show up again. Until that time, try to remember to smile and, perhaps, read a few books.
To celebrate her tour, Jen is giving away the grand prize package of copy of To Steal a Heart, plus all three books in the American Heiresses series and a 30 second mystery kit (Link: https://amzn.to/3nqrIpC)!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
With a target on her back, she’s determined to find answers. But can she escape the deadly backlash?
CIA analyst Layla Karam is thrust into a dangerous DEA field operation against a cartel, and after one of her team members is murdered because of fallout from the op, Layla is left scrambling to find safety.
At the same time, the CIA opens an internal investigation against her. Out of options, Layla turns to ex-boyfriend and private investigator Hunter McCoy for help finding out who might want to ruin her career.
Layla and Hunter soon discover that a mole inside the DEA has sold out the team’s identity to the cartel. She needs to clear her name with the Agency in order to protect herself and her teammates from cartel retaliation. With threats on all sides, Layla must put her trust in Hunter–the man who broke her heart–and hope they both come out of it alive.
For those who are content sensitive: this book contains non-graphic scenes and descriptions of physical and sexual assault.
Oh Wow! I love this nail biting thriller! And I didn’t get to read book one, and though I am going to read it later, I had no problems keeping up with the characters. The author does a fantastic job of giving enough details to fill readers in. I love these close knit characters and enjoyed getting to know them as the story unfolds. Layla, Vivian and Bailey are longtime friends after meeting in college and now all three work in some form of law enforcement. Which is exciting!! But someone is out to get Layla, and it seems they will go to any length to succeed.
Back Lash is one of those stay up all night and read books, and it’s exactly what I did. I couldn’t put this book down. There was too much going on and things were happening too fast to stop reading! After ending up in the hospital, a private investigator was brought in to help keep Layla safe. But because they had a past, Layla was not happy to have Hunter around. But she really has no choice.
Being a lawyer, author Rachel Dylan is full of knowledge about writing a legal thriller. This is why I love her books so much! She is spot on with the info. And the cast of characters she creates for Back Lash are so realistic I feel like I’m reading the news. And yet I also feel like I’m living the story with them. They seem like good friends to me now, and I love feeling this with characters. There were so many twists and turns, just when you think you have the bad man, another twist pops up and you are back where you started. Keeping us guessing. But in the end, Ms. Dylan weaves everything together into a wonderful ending. I also love that this author weaves faith and the Christian life into the lives of her characters. And it’s done in a subtle way not to offend anyone.
And oh, I can’t forget. I read the authors note and find it very interesting that the author writes a bit if herself in one of the characters, which I thought interesting and intriguing. Theres a lot to love about this book! If you enjoy a good clean thriller, this is your book!! This one deserves more than Five Stars, but that’s all I can give.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
About The Author
Rachel Dylan is an award-winning and bestselling author of legal thrillers and romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for over a decade including being a litigator at one of the nation’s top law firms. The Atlanta Justice Series features strong, female attorneys in Atlanta. Deadly Proof, the first book in the Atlanta Justice series, is a CBA bestseller, an FHL Reader’s Choice Award winner, a Daphne du Maurier Finalist, and a Holt Medallion Finalist. Lone Witness is the winner of a Holt Medallion, the Maggie Award, and is a Selah Finalist. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and five furkids–two dogs and three cats. Rachel loves to connect with readers. You can find Rachel at http://www.racheldylan.com.
“I want you to promise you will always be my sister.”
There were tears in Miriam’s eyes as their foreheads touched and Rachel whispered, “No matter what. Always.”
Now in its fourth year, the Amish settlement in Mexico is thriving. But as new settlers arrive, sons and daughters marry, babies are born, and crops grow thick, a storm looms on the horizon. And Caleb Bender knows–perhaps better than anyone–that the worst of storms don’t come from the western skies.
They come on horseback.
When their very existence is threatened, the Amish turn to the Mexican government for help, only to discover that the rulers of men are fickle and security is an illusion. Tried by fire and riven by war, Caleb and Domingo come to understand that the kingdom of God is not to be found in land or buildings or gold or armies, but in the hearts of peaceful men trying to feed their families.
Watching helplessly as daughters Rachel, Miriam, and Emma are drawn inexorably toward their separate destinies, Caleb is forced to confront the most important decision of his life.
“Authentic characters and attention to detail recommend this third entry in a strong series (Paradise Valley; The Captive Heart), to readers of T. Davis Bunn and Gilbert Morris.” –Library Journal
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
The new Amish settlement in Mexico is thriving. New families are moving in, new couples are falling in love and getting married, but things are not easy in the new settlement. Everyone had to work extra hard to survive. Troubles seem to Turn up on every corner. Bit Amish are a strong group of people, and the for sure do not mind hard work. As more issues arise, couples and families are torn apart in order to live their lives.
This has been a heartbreaking series for me. Though the Amish believe they did the right thing to move their families to Mexico, life was so hard. Hard work for both the men and women, hard decisions to be made, nothing was even a little easy as they had to start from scratch and build everything. In this book, with finding they had no help from the government amist their difficulties, it was difficult for me to read. I kept thinking, they should have stayed where they were, or go back to where life was easier. But they had so much invested to leave it all. All in all, this is about the most difficult Amish book, and series I’ve read. My Heart went out to them all because circumstances and their stubbornness made life so much harder for them. I’d like to read more, if this series continues, to see if life does indeed get easier for these special Amish characters who have wormed their way into my heart. If you enjoy old order historical Amish reads. You will enjoy this book and thus series.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
THE AUTHOR
Photo by: Larry McDonald
Dale Cramer
Dale Cramer is the author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed novel Levi’s Will, based on the story of Dale’s father, a runaway Amishman. Dale’s latest series, THE DAUGHTERS OF CALEB BENDER, is based on an Amish colony in the mountains of Mexico…
“Authentic characters and attention to detail recommend this third entry in a strong series (Paradise Valley; The Captive Heart), to readers of T. Davis Bunn and Gilbert Morris.” -Library Journal
Library Journal
Caleb Bender and his Amish neighbors have fled from Ohio to Mexico to avoid being legally required to send their children to “English” schools. The community is tested when it is attacked by bandits, then saved by Mexican troops who turn out to be just as vicious as the bandits. Meanwhile, a bishop arrives, allowing Caleb’s daughters to marry. Things are not so simple for Miriam though, when her beloved, Domingo, decides to fight in Mexico’s civil war.
VERDICT The Benders and their neighbors continue to struggle with fractured peace in 1920s Mexico. Authentic characters and attention to detail recommend this third entry in a strong series (Paradise Valley; The Captive Heart), to readers of T. Davis Bunn and Gilbert Morris.
Stunning coming-of-age drama set during the Great Depression and Prohibition
When Eve Marryat’s father is laid off from the Ford Motor Company in 1931, he is forced to support his family by leaving St. Paul, Minnesota, and moving back to his Ohio roots. Eve’s uncle Cyrus has invited the family to live and work at his Marryat Island Ballroom and Lodge.
Eve can’t wait to leave St. Paul, a notorious haven for gangsters. At seventeen, she considers her family to be “good people,” not lawbreakers like so many in her neighborhood. Thrilled to be moving to a “safe haven,” Eve soon forms an unlikely friendship with a strange young man named Link, blissfully unaware that her uncle’s lodge is anything but what it seems.
When the reality of her situation finally becomes clear, Eve is faced with a dilemma. Does she dare risk everything by exposing the man whose love and generosity is keeping her family from ruin? And when things turn dangerous, can she trust Link in spite of appearances?
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Eve welcomes the chance to leave their home in Minnesota and move back to Ohio. Marryat Island Ballroom and Lodge sounds like just the fun place to be, with working there with the uncle. But what will they find when they get there.
With characters that play their parts so well in Sweet Mercy, Ann Tatlock gives readers an intriguing read that will stay with them for a while. I like Eve, her personality is fun and she wants to make sure everything is OK with their uncle and his running his company. I admire her for wanting to expose the people she loved for not doing the right thing. Sometimes that has to happen. Eve just wants to be away from illegal things like moonshinning, bootlegging and other things that are on the wrong side of the law. She has a decision to make, but what will happen with her decision. That’s what you will find out in this book by Ann Tatlock. It has been a few years since this book was written but it’s just as good today as it was then. I encourage you to check this book out.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
THE AUTHOR
Photo by: Carrie Wagner
Ann Tatlock
Ann Tatlock is the author of the Christy Award-winning novel All the Way Home. She has also won the Midwest Independent Publishers Association “Book of the Year” in fiction for both All the Way Home and I’ll Watch the Moon. Her…
“In this coming-of-age novel, Christy winner Tatlock manages to offer readers an eclectic mixture of suspense and romance combined with deeply rooted historical elements… [She] presents endearing but flawed characters who prompt readers to explore their own bases for judgment and ethical criticism.”
Publishers Weekly
“Lush physical descriptions offer a pleasing backdrop to this tale of mystery and romance that focuses on the necessity of love and forgiveness as well as the magnitude of God’s mercy.”
The Exciting Conclusion to Lauraine Snelling’s WILD WEST WIND series8
As winter settles over the Engstrom ranch, Cassie Lockwood has a lot on her mind. The way Lucas Engstrom smiles at her should set her heart to tripping. But it doesn’t. Shouldn’t there be some attraction to him if they are going to be married? His vow to make her love him doesn’t seem to be working, no matter how considerate and charming he is. And then there’s the look she caught him sending Betsy Hudson at church one Sunday. Are she and Lucas drifting apart?
During a short trip away, Cassie realizes she must make other plans for her future. But what will the Engstroms say when she announces plans to leave the ranch and join a Wild West show?
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
THE AUTHOR
Photo by: Ginger Murray Photography
Lauraine Snelling
Lauraine Snelling (www.laurainesnelling.com) is the award-winning author of more than 70 books, fiction and nonfiction, for adults and young adults. Her books have sold more than five million copies. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California.
A dream of a better life…
A tragedy aboard a wagon train…
A tentative agreement…
Will it lead to love for two seeking hearts?
Hoping to escape the poor conditions of 1880 New York, Tarsie Raines and her friends Joss and Mary Brubacher and their two children set off for Kansas aboard an unusual wagon train. But when tragedy strikes on the trip across the prairie, Tarsie is thrown into a partnership with Joss that leaves them both questioning God and their plans for the future.
As their funds dwindle and nothing goes as planned, will they give up and go their separate ways? Or will God use their time in Drayton Valley in a way they never expected?
“Sawyer treats readers to love stories that speak to the heart.”–Romantic Times
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Endorsements
Sawyer treats readers to love stories that speak to the heart.
RT Book Reviews
THE AUTHOR
Kim Vogel Sawyer
Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of nineteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church,…
What would you do if you learned your life was a lie?
All her life, Kelli Huddleston has been told the story of a fire–a fire that killed her mother and two siblings when she was an infant. After her father’s death though, she uncovers evidence of a different story, including clippings about a boat accident that killed a young father and his infant daughter. And Kelli quietly realizes the story of her life has been a fiction.
How far would you go to discover the truth?
Armed with only a few pictures of what she thinks might be her family, Kelli crosses the country to Tennessee, determined to uncover the truth about what happened over twenty years ago in a small southern town. When the trip threatens to open doors to the past better left shut, and her plans for the future are jeopardized, Kelli is faced with an agonizing choice that will change her life forever.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Reading the blurb about this story had me wanting to read this book to find out what happened to Kelli. I can’t imagine finding something like this when she is all alone. Author Kathryn Cushman does an amazing job writing this story. There was a lot to tension going on. My heart was hurting for Kelli for just about the entire story. I enjoyed taking the journey with her as she went hunting to find answers about her family. There were lots of characters to meet. All were interesting and for the most part did what they could to help Kelli. This will be a story that will hang with me for a long time. And I will be watching for Kathryn’s books in the future. I also appreciate that Ms. Cushman clearly sends the message that God loves us not matter what, and that he went to the cross and died for our sins. And it wasn’t told in a preachy way, it was more subtle. This book is one anyone would enjoy. And I highly recommend it!
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
THE AUTHOR
Photo courtesy of Doug Ellis Photography
Kathryn Cushman
Kathryn Cushman is a graduate of Samford University with a degree in pharmacy. She is the acclaimed author of over a half-dozen novels, including Leaving Yesterday and A Promise to Remember, which were both finalists for the Carol Award in…
Cushman tells a deeply moving story of painful revelation and hard-won redemption steeped in small-town, southern charm, a tale full of heart and hope for all who have ever wished to feel that they truly belong.
Booklist
Cushman has created a delightful cast….This is storytelling at its finest as Kelli uncovers missing pieces, heals broken places, and finds redemption in true discovery. This story will have broad appeal to a female audience of nearly any age.
In the closed communities of the Amana Colonies, hidden truths are about to change everything for two young women….
East Amana, Iowa
1892
When Karlina Richter discovers that a new shepherd will be sent to her village, she fears she’ll no longer be allowed to help her father with the sheep. She’ll be relegated back to kitchen work, stuck inside all day. Her fears increase when the new shepherd shows little interest in the flock–or in divulging why he’s suddenly been sent to East. Is he keeping secrets that will impact Karlina’s family?
Dovie Cates visits the Amana Colonies to learn more about the place where her mother grew up. But when Dovie begins to ask questions about her mother’s past, no one seems willing to reveal anything, so she decides to take matters into her own hands. Will the answers she finds spell disaster for her future plans and the longings of her heart?
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
This book was different than any I’ve read because it is about about the Amana Colonies, and I’ve never read anything about this group of people. The information on the culture of the Amana Colonies was interesting, and I enjoyed this historical setting and reading about the way they lived in the late 1800’s. The characters were are interesting and realistic and entertaining. The calm and simple living of the Amana people was refreshing and heartwarming. I have read many of Judith Miller’s books, and have enjoyed each one I’ve read, and I look forward to more books from this author!
I received this book from the publisher Bethany House to read and review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Judith Miller (www.judithmccoymiller.com) is an award-winning writer whose avid research and love for history are reflected in her bestselling novels. Judith and her family make their home in Kansas City, Kansas.
After fleeing North Dakota and the now defunct Wild West Show, Cassie Lockwood and her companions have finally found the hidden valley in South Dakota where her father had dreamed of putting down roots. But to her dismay, she discovers a ranch already built on her land.
Cassie’s arrival surprises Mavis Engstrom and forces her to reveal secrets she’s kept hidden for years. Her son Ransom is suspicious of Cassie and questions the validity of her claim to the valley. But younger son Lucas decides from the start that he is in love with her and wants to marry her.
Will Cassie be able to build a home on the Bar E Ranch and fulfill her father’s dream of raising horses, or will she be forced to return to the itinerant life of her past?
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
THE AUTHOR
Photo by: Ginger Murray Photography
Lauraine Snelling
Lauraine Snelling (www.laurainesnelling.com) is the award-winning author of more than 70 books, fiction and nonfiction, for adults and young adults. Her books have sold more than five million copies. She and her husband make their home in Tehachapi, California.
Of the Engstrom family only Mavis, the matriarch, knew of Cassie Lockwood’s part ownership of the Bar E Ranch valley she and her sons own and cultivate. Her sons, Ransom and Lucas, aren’t handling the news well. Ransom’s resorted to bad manners and anger in his dealings with Cassie, while Lucas has decided he’s in love with the blond beauty and is set on marrying her. Cassie’s trying to find a home; having spent her whole life traveling with a Wild West show, she has never had one before. But she’s also intent on providing for her ‘family’: the two men, Indian woman, dogs, and livestock that made the trip to South Dakota with her. It’s only through Mavis’ gentle reminding to turn to God that Cassie finally accepts and trusts in Him to provide for her needs. This second book in the ‘Wild West Wind’ series is a good look at turning to God even in the most difficult situations.
Bailey Craig vowed never to set foot in Yancey, Alaska, again. She has a past, and a reputation–and Yancey’s a town that doesn’t forget. She’s returned only to bury a loved one killed in the plane crash, but then dark evidence emerges and Bailey’s own expertise becomes invaluable for the case.
Cole McKenna can face dangerous rescue dives. He can face the fear a murderer may be threatening his town. But facing the reality of Bailey’s reappearance is a tougher challenge. She broke his heart…but doesn’t seem to be the same girl who left Yancey ten years ago. And he’s not the same guy she left behind.
Racing against the clock and a rising body count, Bailey and Cole must move beyond the hurts of their pasts to work together until the truth of what is hidden in the depths finally surfaces.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Endorsements
Submerged is romantic suspense that will keep you up at night!
Dee Henderson, bestselling author of Full Disclosure
An amazing story of faith, suspense, the power of forgiveness and second chances! Dani Pettrey has a gift for developing characters to fall in love with…
Lynette Eason, bestselling author of THE WOMEN OF JUSTICE series
Praised by New York Times bestselling author Dee Henderson as “a name to look for in romantic suspense,” Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning…
[A] steadily paced thriller. . .Pettrey’s debut novel is a thoughtful attempt to capture both love and suspense in this intricately plotted mystery.
Publishers Weekly
Combining romance, danger, and a dose of Russian history, the novel proves a rapid and entertaining read.
Booklist
Pettrey is a new author to watch. Recommended for fans of Dee Henderson.
Library Journal
The story was easy to read, the suspense was excellent, and the plot was intricate. The suspense part of this novel was good, as was the overall message of grace and forgiveness.
Ravaged by disease, preyed upon by ruthless bandits, the Bender family’s second year in Mexico has taken a grievous turn. Faced with impossible choices, the expatriate Amish discover, more than ever before, what it means to live by faith and not by sight
But it’s Miriam who must make the hardest choice as her heart takes her on a new and dangerous course. Domingo. “He is gentle,” his sister said, “until someone he loves is threatened.” Is Miriam that someone?
“Cualnezqui,” he often calls her–the Nahuatl word for Beautiful one. The chiseled native has proven himself a man of principle, grace and power, yet is he the pearl of great price for whom Miriam would sacrifice everything, or is he merely a friend? Tormented by conflicting emotions, she’s haunted by vivid dreams: Dressed in the coarse cotton pants and shirt of a peasant, she stands on the precipice of a sun-washed ridge searching desperately for Domingo. Domingo the fierce. Domingo the protector.
Domingo the forbidden.
Inspired by Actual Events!
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Wow, Dale Cramer gives a different twist on Amish fiction in this series. In this second book of the series, more Ohio Amish join Caleb and his family at the newly Amish community in Mexico. As the Amish ways are, they all helped each other out in building houses and barns, and fields to plant food and ways of making money.
The one thing that is different for me with Amish fiction is the dangers this community of Amish people faced because of the new area they were in. They had to deal with bandits that didn’t think twice about pulling a gun on any of them. And this was especially difficult because of the Amish ways of not fighting back. Mexican friend Domingo, who had been helping Caleb since being in Mexico was a tremendous help since he knows the people of the area and their ways, but these Amish still faces difficulty, hurt, heartbreak and loss.
I highly recommend this book for Amish fiction lovers, as well as those liking Christian fiction, or just a good ole read. You will not be disappointed in this book, or this series by Dale Cramer
A copy of this book was provided by Bethany House for me to read and review. The opinions in this review are mine only, and my honest opinion.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
THE AUTHOR
Photo by: Larry McDonald
Dale Cramer
Dale Cramer is the author of the bestselling and critically acclaimed novel Levi’s Will, based on the story of Dale’s father, a runaway Amishman. Dale’s latest series, THE DAUGHTERS OF CALEB BENDER, is based on an Amish colony in the mountains of Mexico…
After his departure from New York two years ago to meet up with his almost-fiancée, Zayne Beckett is the last person Agatha Watson wanted to stumble upon in her travels as a reporter with the New York Tribune. Quite pathetically bedraggled, he clearly needs to be taken in hand and sent back East to his family. Although she no longer has feelings for him, Agatha realizes, by hook or by crook, she’ll have to be the one to get the obstinate man home.
Zayne has no desire to be taken anywhere and is prepared to drag his heels all the way home… until he finds himself slipping back into the familiar banter of his former friendship with Agatha. Once they arrive in New York, Zayne realizes Agatha’s determined nose for news has earned her a few enemies, and he hopes to repay her help with some help of his own. When she rebuffs all his attempts to prove himself a knight in shining armor, the lengths to which they’ll go to win this battle of wills lead to some memorable antics.
Everyone else may think them a match, but nothing could be further from the truth–until Agatha finds herself in real trouble. Have these two stubborn, too-smart-for-their-own-good people been meant for each other all along?
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
THE AUTHOR
Sara Karam Photography
Jen Turano
Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and…
This laugh-out-loud historical romance shows that even well-plotted plans can have unexpected endings . . . Turano has written a believable story that flows evenly throughout.
RT Book Reviews
Full of lively banter, fun adventure, and loveable characters, A Match of Wits is a pleasure. This outstanding getaway read will remind readers why they love Turano’s books.
With love and loss tangled together, how was she to know where her life would lead? Allie Kirkland has always heard the call of her father’s unfinished destiny. When she’s offered a production assistant’s job on a docudrama filming in the hills near Moses Lake, Texas, the dream of following in her director-father’s footsteps suddenly seems within reach. The reenactment of the legendary frontier settlement of Wildwood is a first step into the film industry. A summer on set in the wilderness is a small price to pay for a dream.
But in 1861, the real Wildwood held dangerous realities. Town founder Harland Delavan held helpless residents, including young Irish schoolteacher Bonnie Rose, in an iron grip. Mysterious disappearances led to myths and legends still retold in the region’s folk songs. Eventually, the entire site was found abandoned.
When filming begins, strange connections surface between Allie and the teacher who disappeared over a century ago, and everyone in Wildwood–including Blake Fulton, Allie’s handsome neighbor on the film set–seems to be hiding secrets. Allie doesn’t know whom she can trust. If she can’t find the answers in time, history may repeat itself…with the most unthinkable results.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
I have read a number of Lisa Wingate’s books and I have enjoyed then a lot. And this one is just as enjoyable. It is a little different in that even though the stories take place in the same setting, it is about Allie who is current and Bonnie who lives back in the 1800s. This was fun to read about, with the stories parallel to each other, yet much the same. The historical part was interesting because we get to see the historical Moses Lake. The story was also about many secrets that have been a part of this town. How will the people react? What will happen to the town when the secrets surface. This is the reason you need to read this book. You will enjoy each unique character and journey with them as they develop throughout the story. If you love a sweet little quaint town story, this one is for you.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
THE AUTHOR
Lisa Wingate
Lisa Wingate (www.lisawingate.com) is the New York Times bestselling author of thirty novels. Her work has won or been nominated for many awards, including the Pat Conroy Southern Book Prize, the Oklahoma Book Award, the Utah Library Award, the Carol…
As owner of the 57th Illinois Watch Company, Mollie Knox’s future looks bright until the night the legendary Great Chicago Fire destroys her beloved city. With her world crumbling around her, Mollie will do whatever it takes to rebuild in the aftermath of the devastating fire.
Zack Kazmarek, an influential attorney for one of Chicago’s finest department stores, is a force to be reckoned with among the city’s most powerful citizens. Bold and shrewd, he’s accustomed to getting exactly what he wants–until he meets Mollie Knox, the beguiling businesswoman just beyond his reach.
In the tumult as the people of Chicago race to rebuild a bigger and better city, Mollie comes face-to-face with the full force of Zack’s character and influence. Zack believes this may finally be his chance to win her, but can Mollie ever accept this man and his whirlwind effect on her life, especially with her treasured company on the line?
Endorsements
Into the Whirlwind is a delight. Elizabeth Camden shows remarkable ability to breathe life into nineteenth-century Chicago and its people. If you are a fan of historical romantic suspense, I cannot recommend this book or this author too highly.
Davis Bunn, bestselling author of Rare Earth
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
I have read several stories about the Great Chicago Fire and I am always glad when I can read another one. And I loved Into the Whirlwind. There is so much history recorded this this book that at times, to be honest, it did get boring. I was so into the characters that I wanted to read about them!
Molly Knox was working go save the company her father left for her, which was ruined by the fire. Spending so much time with lawyer Zack Kazmarek, there was an attraction that couldn’t be denied. I liked Molly from the start but Zack, he was kinda whack in the beginning but then he grew on me. The information and talk about the fire was interesting, because I enjoy talk about that time in history. And reading this author’s take on what it might have been like back then was fun and entertaining. If you enjoy historical fiction that is good clean fun, this is one you will enjoy. Why not grab your copy today! And hope you enjoyed as my as I did!!
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
THE AUTHOR
Photo courtesy of Ginger Murray Photography
Elizabeth Camden
Elizabeth Camden (www.elizabethcamden.com) is best known for her historical novels set in Gilded Age America, featuring clever heroines and richly layered storylines. Before she was a writer, she was an academic librarian at some of the largest and smallest…
“A sweet, emotion-filled romance to warm the heart and touch the soul… The cast of characters is varied and lovingly detailed, colorful and bursting with life.”
Publishers Weekly
“Camden takes readers on a breathless ride with smart, serious Mollie in the midst of tragedy and ruin.”
RT Book Reviews
This is a story rife with history, hope and faith that will keep you reading raptly until the final page.
CBA Retailers+Resources
With her great cast of diverse and interesting characters and thrilling plot, you will definitely want to read this heartwarming and inspiring story.
Fired from her most recent governess position, Melanie Ross must embrace her last resort: the Arizona mercantile she inherited from her cousin. But Caleb Nelson is positive he inherited the mercantile, and he’s not about to let an obstinate woman with newfangled ideas ruin all he’s worked for. In hope of turning her interest elsewhere, he determines to get Melanie married off, and luckily, there are many single men in town quite willing to take her off his hands.
The problem is, Caleb soon realizes he doesn’t want her to marry any of them. He’s drawn to her more every day, and he has to admit some of her ideas for the store offer unexpectedly positive results.
But someone doesn’t want the mercantile to succeed, and threatening words have escalated into destruction and danger. Will Melanie and Caleb’s business–and budding romance–survive the trouble that’s about to come their way?
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Endorsements
For a fast-paced story full of fun, action, mystery, and love, I highly recommend you treat yourself to Trouble in Store by Carol Cox. Her delightful characters and historical accuracy provide a delightful read!
Judith Miller, bestselling author of the HOME TO AMANA series
Carol Cox has done it again! From their first meeting in the mercantile, Melanie and Caleb jumped off the page and into my heart. Their story made me laugh, cry, and fall in love all over again. Trouble in Store is a do-not-miss read!
Kathleen Y’Barbo, bestselling author of Flora’s Wish and the ROCKY MOUNTAIN HEIRESS series
A sweet romance with a suspenseful touch of murder mystery makes Carol Cox’s Trouble in Store a great read!
Julianna Deering, author of Rules of Murder, A Drew Farthering Mystery
One of my favorite writers has produced another winner. Complete with romance and intrigue, this book is bound to keep you turning the pages to the happily ever after.
Hannah Alexander, author of Keeping Faith
Trouble in store? You’d better believe it. The action in Carol Cox’s novel, set in Cedar Ridge, Arizona, in the wild days of the Tombstone gunfights, delivers more punch than a cowpuncher’s spurs, while romantic tensions grow between Melanie and Caleb to build up to a satisfying conclusion.
Eric Wiggin, author of The Hills of God and The Recluse
A spunky, determined heroine, a stubborn, clueless hero, and an intriguing mystery that pulls you in and makes your mind swirl, blend together to create a charming historical romance you’ll add to your keeper shelf.
Vickie McDonough, award-winning author of 26 books and novellas
Start with the nostalgic allure of the Arizona Territory in 1885, stir in the suspense of a murder mystery, and season it with the thrill of romance. The result is the piece de resistance Trouble in Store, which you won’t soon forget.
Sandra Robbins, Christian romance author
Trouble in Store grabbed me from the very beginning…a page-turner of a tale that encompasses suspense, a murder mystery, romance, and a wonderful journey of faith. The secondary characters are so richly drawn, the twists and turns of the plot so intriguing, that I just couldn’t put the book down. I look forward to reading everything else by this author!
Roxanne Rustand, author of When He Came Home
THE AUTHOR
Photo by: A Portrait Park by J
Carol Cox
Native Arizonan Carol Cox has an abiding love for history, mystery, and romance. The author of more than 25 books, she believes in the power of story to convey spiritual truths. Carol lives with her husband and daughter in northern Arizona, where deer and…
A girl with the best of intentions.
A heart set on Hollywood.
An empty pocketbook.
That’s all it takes for Ellis Eton to find herself working as a telephone operator for a look-alike friend. For Ellis, this job will provide not only acting practice but the funds to get her a start in the movies. She’s tired of always being a disappointment to her traditional Boston family, and though she can’t deny the way he makes her head spin, she knows she’s not good enough for Griffin Phillips, either. It’s simple: avoid Griff’s attentions, work, and get paid. But in typical Ellis fashion, her simple plan spirals out of control when she overhears a menacing phone call…with her very own Griff as the target.
With an endearing heroine as her lead, Siri Mitchell takes readers on a madcap tale of love and discovering one’s true desires!
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
Endorsements
Quirky and fun, Love Comes Calling is fresh fiction that sparkles and shines with humor and heart, a delightfully dizzy romance brimming with smiles and chuckles from beginning to end.
Julie Lessman,
award-winning author of The Daughters of Boston and
Winds of Change series
Love Comes Calling is fast-paced, funny, and sweet–with enough action and wisdom to be irresistible. I loved it.
Mary Connealy,
bestselling author of Fired Up and The Kincaid Brides series
Sweet, fun, and thought-provoking, Love Comes Calling brings the Roaring Twenties to life. Step onto Siri Mitchell’s stage and watch the story of an impetuous, aspiring actress unfold. You’ll be swept away by the skillful blend of description, humor, and emotion.
Lorna Seilstad,
author of When Love Calls
THE AUTHOR
Siri Mitchell
Siri Mitchell has written nearly a dozen novels, three of which were named Christy Award finalists. A graduate of the University of Washington with a business degree, she has worked in many levels of government and lived on three continents. She and her family…
In Love Comes Calling, Mitchell pens a fast-paced, laugh-out-loud historical romance with love, misunderstandings, and an unforgettable cast of witty characters.
After losing her husband in the Rocky Mountain wilderness, young widow Joanna Watson is struggling to make a new home for her five-year-old son, Samuel, in the little mountain town of Settler’s Fort. When she returns home from work to find Samuel and the woman watching him missing–and the sheriff dead–she enlists a man she prays has enough experience in this rugged country to help.
Isaac Bowen wants nothing more than a quiet, invisible life in these mountains, far away from the bad decisions of his past. But he has a strong suspicion of who’s behind the kidnapping and murder, and if he’s right, he knows all too well the evil they’re chasing.
As they press on against the elements, Joanna fights to hold on to hope, while Isaac knows a reckoning is coming. They find encouragement in the tentative trust that grows between them, but whether it can withstand the danger and coming confrontation is far from certain in this wild, unpredictable land.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
Wow just when I think author Misty M Beller has written her best book, she comes up with one even better. Joanna Watson lost her husband in the Rocky Mountain wilderness this book is set in. The wilderness is a very hard life, especially for a widow and her small son. And when her son and babysitter went missing, Joanna will do anything in her power to get them back.
As I read this book, I thought of how people in today’s world would go crazy because of the time it take to do anything in this wilderness. It doesn’t take minutes or hours, or takes days and weeks. You would really need to trust the Lord and put all of your faith in Him. This is the only way I would have made it through what Joanna went through. And I am so glad she had Issac to help her because he knows these mountains. Issac and Joanna together is so sweet. They just have to get together after all of this. I thoroughly enjoyed another journey through this wilderness country. Different characters and different settings, but the same country land, rocks and mountains. I’m not going to keep going on this because I won’t spoil it for anyone.
If you enjoy the Rocky Mountain territory back in the 1800’s you might want to try some books like this or more from Misty M Beller. They are well worth your time. I love them and I am so thankful to Celebrate Lit for introducing me to Misty several years ago.
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
After working for 13 years in the corporate world, Misty M. Beller (mistymbeller.com) is now the author of fourteen independently published Christian historical romance novels. Raised on a farm in South Carolina, she combines her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life by writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters. She lives outside Charlotte, North Carolina, is an active member of ACFW, and teaches regularly at conferences and writing groups on effective book marketing.
More from Misty
The Story Behind the Story: Love’s Mountain Quest
Love’s Mountain Quest was one of the hardest books I’ve ever written, even though I LOVE Isaac and Joanna and their story. What made this book so hard was the fact that I wrote most of the story during my third trimester of pregnancy with our son!
Our little Matthew is our fourth baby (and first boy), so I was VERY heavy with child during the last three months I carried him, and that was the time that I’d scheduled to write Love’s Mountain Quest. Needless to say, the words were not flowing very well. My creativity was as exhausted as the rest of me! I could see Isaac and Joanna’s story in my mind, but showing it for readers using real words was the hard part.
Thankfully, I have an amazing editor at Bethany House (waving at Jen Veilleux!) who helped me massage the first draft, pushing both me and the story to be the very best we could be. Unfortunately for her, the edits for this book were the first bit of writing I did after taking a short maternity leave after the birth, so my brain was still a bit mushy from all the post-partum hormones and lack of sleep a newborn always brings. Jen’s patience through the process was remarkable, yet I so appreciate her determination not to stop until we had the very best book possible.
Our little Matthew just turned one, and Love’s Mountain Quest is finally making its way out into the world. Because of Jen, I’m so excited to share it with you! I can’t wait for you to meet the characters and story I love so much.
Commander Mark Bishop is deliberately low-key: “I’m in the Navy.” But commanding the ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada, keeping her crew trained and alert during ninety-day submerged patrols, and being prepared to launch weapons on valid presidential orders, carries a burden of command like few other jobs in the military. Mark Bishop is a man who accepts that responsibility, and handles it well. And at a time when tensions are escalating around the Pacific Rim, the Navy is glad to have him.
Mark wants someone to come home to after sea patrols. The woman he has in mind is young, with a lovely smile, and very smart. She’s a civilian, yet she understands the U.S. Navy culture. And he has a strong sense that life with her would never be boring. But she may be too deep in her work to see the potential in a relationship with him.
Gina Gray would love to be married. She has always envisioned her life that way. A breakup she didn’t see coming, though, has her focusing all her attention on what she does best–ocean science research. She’s on the cusp of a major breakthrough, and she needs Mark Bishop’s perspective and help. Because what she told the Navy she’s figured out is only the beginning. If she’s right, submarine warfare is about to enter a new and dangerous chapter.
MY THOUGHTS ON THIS BOOK
I have never read a book about submarines so I was really glad to get this one to read. And I love, love Dee Henderson’s books, all of them to date, so I knew this has to be an awesome read. And for me it was. I loved reading all of the technical stuff she so expertly added to her story. Reading a few reviews, I understand a lot if people didn’t care for the detailed info, but that is just Dee Henderson at her best. I will admit, I went back and read some if the scenes again, or some more than twice, but I still found it so interesting and intriguing. And I am so happy for all of the submarine talk to learning about them. It is a new topic for me and I really enjoyed it all.
The characters were well and perfectly created, and their development throughout the story was amazing. I love Gina, and Mark too! And was glad he was there for Gina. He was just the right person to give her the stability she needed. Gina was a genius, and I loved her part in the story and loved how the author shows that even though a genius person like Gina has everyday struggles just as the rest of us. Ms. Henderson does an amazing job weaving this into the story. And as for Gina and Mark’s attraction to each other, I love the romance!! Romantic and suspenseful! This makes for a story that will stay with you for a while.
If suspense and thrills are what you are looking for in a book, check this one out. I know it’s been out for a few years but it’s still the amazing book it was when released!
A special thanks to the author/publisher for a copy of this book. I am not required to write a positive review, the opinions here are mine alone. I am disclosing this with my review in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
THE AUTHOR
Dee Henderson
Dee Henderson is the author of numerous novels, including Taken, Undetected, Unspoken, Full Disclosure, and the acclaimed O’Malley and Uncommon Heroes series. Her books have won or been nominated for several prestigious industry awards,…
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