Saturday, December 29, 2018

Top Picks of 2018

I love going through all of the books that I have read over the year and seeing what great reads they were! I had a wonderful year of reading pleasure. I made my Goodreads goal, but admittedly I set it pretty low. It seems that the older I get the more busy I become and reading is relegated to right before bedtime. I read a lot of my favorite genre which is romantic suspense, but I peppered in other genres that were just as entertaining and wonderful. So here are my top 10 favorites of the year, but I could have put pretty much everything I read on the list:


10. Karen Witemeyer is one of my favorite authors and I will pretty much pick up anything she writes. This was a sweet read and even threw in some suspense that totally made me happy!














9. The conclusion to this series was exciting! Luke ya'll!!! 
















8.  I've always been a fan of YA literature and anything that Ally Carter writes. This was a fantastic read and I hope that there will be other books to go with it.














7. Cindy and Jeremiah have got to have a happily ever after or this reader is going to be totally ticked! So much time has been spent waiting for this series to close. I think the author's fan base suffers in the waiting, but we devour them when they finally come out and we breathlessly wait for more. 









6. I was pleasantly surprised with this book. I hadn't really read much about it. Written in letter form, I really fell in love with the characters within it. 














5. Susan Sleeman writes my favorite genre of romantic suspense. I will read anything she writes! I read several of her books this year and they all should be on this list, but then that wouldn't be fair to the other books I read! This was my favorite of Susan Sleeman's this year.













4. Short stories, novels, poetry, YA, elementary, Holly Schindler can write it all! And write it all well! I loved SPARK! There were a couple of other books by Holly Schindler that I read this year that should be on this list as well, but again...I picked my favorite.













3. Julie Lessman! Her novels have the ability to make me laugh, make me cry, make me want to throw the book across the room! She can write the steamiest, sweetest kissing scenes without turning it into porn! And she can write the most heart-wrenching redemption-come-to-Jesus scenes that I have ever read. She's always at the top of my list of recommended reads.








 2. Terri Blackstock usually writes more mystery/suspense type books. I loved this Christmas story! It was lighter than usual, and just filled a warm-fuzzy need that I had at the time I read it. Perfect for Christmas reading.















1. Wow! This was such a good read. It was hard to read because of the slavery issues that it dealt with, some of the characters were definitely unlikable and even evil, but it reminded me of Gone With The Wind in it's epic-ness. Strong female character trying to make it in a man's world. I'm looking forward to the next book in the series. I read 2 books by Lisa T. Bergren this year. I enjoyed both, but this one was my favorite. 









Well there are my Top 10 of 2018. I have 2 more to share with you, but they were a short story and a novella so I didn't include them in the Top 10, but they were pretty good Christmas reads:


A re-imagining of A Christmas Carol. Perfect for a quick Christmas read.












A short story that will give you a warm fuzzy feeling. A nice little Christmas read! 










Did you have a successful year reading this year? Did you set any goals? Did you keep those goals? Did you have a favorite? Feel free to leave a comment on this post. I monitor all comments so it will appear as soon as I okay it. I pray you all have a blessed and happy 2019!


The Daily Bible


I have been reading through the Bible in a year for several years now(as in 18 or more) and each year I try to change the version I read and the reading plan. For 2018 I chose this Bible. I have to say that I read all of the scriptures, but I skipped the devotional parts. I'm not a big devotional fan and I do a pretty intense Bible study through Precept classes so didn't feel the need for the devotional part. This is the first time that I can remember reading the Bible chronologically. I wasn't that big of a fan of it. I prefer to start in Genesis and end in Revelation. I like to start and know where I am going to finish.


Friday, December 28, 2018

Dead of Night by Brandilyn Collins


"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." Ephesians 6:12

Annie finds out just how true this verse is in DEAD OF NIGHT. A serial killer is on the loose and several women have been found dead. It seems the killer is escalating. Annie is once again chosen to draw the dead women in order to identify them. The killer seems to be taunting Annie and the police. Annie is feeling the evil that this killer represents. Annie has never felt such an urge to pray nor such oppression from being attacked by the enemy. Not only is Annie having to help the police track down a killer, but her family is once again in crisis thanks to her son Stephen. How much is too much for one woman to handle?

Oh. My. Word! DEAD OF NIGHT was a true thriller a minute! The author truly captured the evil that the killer represented. You could practically feel the oppression of the enemy while reading. I loved how determined Annie was to not lose her faith and to not let the enemy win. It seems Annie is growing stronger. In this book she didn't seem as hysterical as in the first two books. There were still a couple of times that I wanted to shake her, especially where her son Stephen was concerned. It was frustrating how she wanted to constantly protect him even when he was in self-destruct mode. And her ex-husband? Ugh! What a total JERK! In the midst of all of the danger and all of the crises with Stephen, Annie and Dave start realizing they have feelings for each other...eep! Poor Chetterling! I was hoping it would be him! Sigh...DEAD OF NIGHT is not for the faint of heart. If you aren't a thriller fan it could be hard to read this one. If you are a thriller fan, then this one will surely keep you turning the pages and possibly even keep you up at night!

Sunday, December 23, 2018

Stain of Guilt by Brandilyn Collins



Annie has spent the last 10 months learning how to become a forensic artist. When she is asked to do an aged drawing of a killer that has been on the run for 20 years she has her misgivings. The case is going to be featured on the TV show American Fugitive with Annie's drawing hopefully bringing justice to a family beyond ready for closure. Once again Annie and her family are in danger and Annie is feeling overwhelmed. With her son Stephen acting out Annie's life is slowly spinning out of control. Having promised God that she would seek Him after the last time she was in danger, Annie has been attending church. She believes what she is hearing but still is wanting to hold on to what little control she has.

I have so many feelings about this book! I found it exciting and suspenseful at times and then other times I found it frustrating and a bit irritating. I loved the suspense and the danger that Annie and her family was going through. I loved how we got peeks into the killer's thoughts. There were several twists that the story took that had me holding my breath with anticipation of the outcome. The frustrating/irritating parts to me were Annie's son's behavior and even Annie herself with getting overwhelmed so easily. Stephen, Annie's son is a typical self-centered teen, but add in some drugs, questionable friendships, and anger at both of his parents and you have a very unlikable character. At one point(spoiler alert!), he is arrested and this is where Annie's behavior irritated me. The inability to know what to do and function in the setting brought my hackles up. Even though she was encouraged to let the brat sit and stew she couldn't do it. Gah! I hope she gains a backbone soon and grows in confidence because she is irritating me! Now, all of that being said, the book still held my attention, it had me turning the pages quickly to find out what happens and it had enough suspense to keep my heart racing. There isn't any romance so far, but it seems that there are 2 guys that may be vying for her attention in the close future. All in all the Hidden Faces series is exciting and had me going to buy the next one as soon as I finished STAIN OF GUILT.


Saturday, December 22, 2018

Christmas Cake Kisses by Lena Goldfinch



Malcolm Ashbury, the Earl of Kentwick married Arabella for her large dowry. His estate was in disrepair, and Arabella's father, a man from humble beginnings, thought that the title for his daughter would be the perfect match. While Malcolm is kind and courteous to her, his staff is suspicious and protective of him. Arabella has such a sweet nature she hopes to win them over soon. Hoping to make Christmas special for her new husband, Arabella ventures down to the Cook's domain to enquire about baking him his favorite cake. A luscious affair that would challenge even the most practiced baker. When Arabella chances to hear part of a conversation between Malcolm and his best friend all thoughts of making a cake flee and insecurities arise that threaten this fledgling marriage.

Such a sweet Victorian short story! I thoroughly enjoyed it. The description of the cake was mouth-watering. Chocolate y'all! The characters are both very likable, especially Arabella. Even though this was a short story, it had all of the elements of a story that keep the reader interested. There was romance, the fly-in-the-ointment, and the Happily Ever After. A perfect Christmastime read that will have you sighing with satisfaction when you come to the ending. And look at that cover! It reminds me of old-time Grace Livingston Hill covers which I was always drawn to.


Monday, December 17, 2018

Brink of Death by Brandilyn Collins



Annie and her family have just moved into her father's house. Hoping to get her son away from the influence of bad friends she moves to a smaller community. But right across the street a break in and murder occur shortly after they move in. Annie has been a courtroom artist for years, when the police can't get the murder victim's child to give a good description of the killer, Annie reluctantly volunteers to see if she can draw him from the child's description. Annie is scared that she will somehow traumatize the child more than she already is, but through a slow process they manage to come up with a likeness of the killer. Annie realizes right away that she has seen the face before. As the police run into one dead end after another Annie becomes frustrated and, hoping to keep her family safe, helps the police follow a trail that may once again lead to a dead end or may lead to putting herself into more danger.

BRINK OF DEATH had one thrilling scene after another that kept this reader on the edge of my seat the entire time. In fact it was so tense at times that I had to put it down and go do something else in order to be able to handle it when I came back to it! I love forensic shows on TV and so it was fascinating to me to read about Annie's transformation from courtroom artist to becoming a forensic artist.  I especially loved the little glimpses we got into the killer's thoughts. I did get frustrated with Annie a couple of times when she couldn't seem to deal  with life, but she matured as the book went on and she gained confidence so became a much more likable character for me. If you are a fan of thrillers/mysteries I definitely recommend this book. Not much in the way of romance, but there are a couple of men I have my eye on for Annie as the series continues!



Monday, December 10, 2018

Code of Valor by Lynette Eason



Brady St. John is taking a much needed break. Away from his job, away from people. The only problem is, Brady is bored! Hearing a woman's screams on the lake in front of his cabin, Brady races to her rescue. Someone is trying to kill the woman on the boat. When Brady intervene's the would-be killer takes off. Brady rescues Emily Chastain. Who wants Emily dead? And why?

Emily's friend is missing. The last she was heard of was a 911 call saying someone was going to kill her. Now Emily is being targeted by the killer. Can she and Brady figure out what is going on before the killer finds her?

CODE OF VALOR was one exciting event after another! I couldn't put it down! CODE OF VALOR is the 3rd book in The Blue Justice series. The book took different turns that had me guessing and wondering who the killer was. I did get a bit confused at times as to who was calling the shots. It is all wrapped up in the end and tidily settled. There seem to be a lot of characters and sometimes I got a little confused as to who or whom they were working for, but it was still a thrilling read. I loved both Emily and Brady. They are perfect for each other. I love how patient Brady was with Emily and I loved how much Emily's faith influenced Brady and helped him overcome his anger towards God. I love the St. John family and this was definitely a wonderful addition to the series!

**I received a copy of the book from the publishers through Netgalley. All opinions are my own**

Friday, December 7, 2018

Aire by Lena Goldfinch



As a Principessa of Isalla, Annalisia is expected to marry a man of her grandmother's choosing and one of noble birth. Unfortunately Annalisia has no interest in the man that has been chosen for her. Granted it would be a great alliance for their country, but Annalisia can't imagine sharing her life or her secret with this man.

Yes, Annalisia has a secret. An ancient gift that nobody has seen in centuries. When Annalisia's handmaiden, Mira, is mistakenly kidpnapped in Anna's place she is determined to help find her. Jovanni, Mira's brother, is also searching for Mira. Anna and Jovanni join forces to try and find Annalisia and another girl that has been kidnapped. Jovanni is not afraid of Annalisia's gift/secret for he carries a secret of his own. As the two pursue danger and intrigue they become closer, but their affection can never go any farther than friendship. Jovanni is not of nobility and it would never do for a Principessa to marry a commoner.

I truly enjoyed AIRE! I loved the mythical aspect of it, I loved the setting and I loved the storytelling of the author. The characters were also endearing. I loved that both Annalisia and Jovanni knew they must honor custom over their hearts yet their love was so tender and sweet for each other. I also loved Ilan, Annalisia's friend and protector from childhood. The villain(s) were sufficiently evil without dipping too far into their depravity. I found the intrigue surrounding the castle to be exciting and I definitely loved both Annlisia and Jovanni's gifts. A sweet read and one that I would definitely recommend!

**I received a copy of the book as a gift from the author, I was not expected to review this book. All opinions are my own**

Thursday, November 29, 2018

Yes, Carol...It's Christmas! by Cindy Vincent: Guest Post: Christmas Party Tips Part 2





Cindy’s Christmas Party Tips


Post #2:

Hello again and Merry Christmas!  In my last post, I talked about iconic items that instantly evoke the feeling of Christmas.  And in today’s post, I’m going to talk about another one of those items—decorated sugar cookies.  A good Christmas party should never be without them!  Please note though: While Carol, in my book Yes, Carol . . . It’s Christmas!, is supposed to be an expert when it comes to decorating cookies, I am not nearly as talented as my fictional character.  Ha!  That’s the difference between fiction and reality . . .  


So if you’re not an expert baker, don’t panic, because I intend to make this easy for you.  Let me start by sharing my top-secret, fail-safe sugar cookie recipe. 
  Uh-huh, that’s right.  After years of trying to perfect a sugar cookie recipe that not only tasted good, but rolled out easily to make cookie cutouts, someone told me about this.  And, let me just say, I have never looked back.  Just mix according to the directions (I usually make up two packs at once) and then—this is very important—cover and set in the refrigerator for several hours.  Once the dough is nicely firmed up, spread a little flour over your work surface, and also spread some flour on your rolling pin.  Each and every time you roll out the dough.  Use cookie cutters to cut out the desired shapes and put them on your cookie sheets.  Bake according to the instructions. 

After you have all the cookies you like, and they’ve cooled nicely, now comes the fun part.  Here’s a tip that I learned the hard way—there is frosting and there is icing.  Frosting is something that goes on a cake (and often comes in a round container at the grocery store), but icing—specifically, royal icing—is what a person uses to decorate cookies.  Here’s my recipe.

32-ounce bag of powdered sugar
6 tablespoons meringue powder
1 cup warm water
3 teaspoons Karo light corn syrup

Mix the dry ingredients (the powdered sugar and the meringue powder) together first, using a fork.  And a word to the wise—be very careful when you’re messing with all that powdered sugar.  Never just dump it into a bowl or you’ll have a kitchen covered in a white layer of sugar that will be sticky for weeks.  So pour it in very slowly and gently.  Once you’ve mixed the first two ingredients, start adding the water a little at a time.  Use your fork to slowly mix it in, one small section at a time.  Keep adding water until your icing becomes a consistency that you can work with in a piping bag.  If the icing is too thick, add water.  If it’s too thin, add more sugar.  And finish off by adding the Karo syrup. 

When your icing is ready, separate it into different bowls and add food coloring to each one.  If you haven’t decorated sugar cookies like this before, I’d suggest not going too crazy when it comes to your colors.  Meaning, don’t start out with every color under the sun.  You can see in my picture that I recently made a batch using red, blue, green and white.  


To decorate your cookies, put the icing into piping bags (which are sometimes called pastry bags).  I highly recommend using these disposable bags without tips.  You won’t have to worry about washing them later and you can actually see the icing inside the bag.  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DJ6F2WY/  

As soon as you have icing loaded up into the bags, twist the top closed so the icing will stay in the bag and not ooze out the back.  Then snip the very tip of the bag.  Keep in mind, this is where the icing will be coming out.  So the bigger the snip at the end, the larger your piped line of icing will be.  I suggest starting with a small hole first, while you’re adjusting to your technique. You can always cut it larger later if you want to. 

When piping (or pushing the icing out through the little hole in the piping bag), you’ll be doing two different steps.  The first is to “Outline” the area of the cookie.  I like to do this and then give it a few minutes to dry.  The second is to “Flood” the rest of the area with icing so that the icing sort of slides into place.  Some people even suggest that you add a little water to your icing at this stage, so that it “floods” the outlined area a little easier.  From my pictures, you can see that I might have benefitted from thinning my icing a smidge, because I ended up using a knife to spread them to the edge of the outline.  
  After you’ve iced your cookies, you can also add sprinkles, just to give them a little more pizzazz.  

When it comes to decorating sugar cookies, remember, you’re going for “pretty” and not “perfect.”  If you’re a professional baker or someone who’s been doing this since the dawn of time, your cookies will probably look like something in a baker’s window.  But for non-professionals, these cookies are simply meant to be fun and Christmassy.  And they’re meant to evoke the happy feelings of Christmas for your party guests to enjoy.  

Thank you, Julie, for hosting me here today!  And now, please join us tomorrow for my third post on Christmas party entertaining at another wonderful blog, Heidi Reads.  See you there!

Tuesday, November 27, 2018

Yes, Carol...It's Christmas! by Cindy Vincent: Review





Carol used to throw the best Christmas parties. She even wrote a book on how to throw the best Christmas parties. But that was years ago. Carol hasn't thrown a party in years. All Carol is interested in this year is getting home and hoping that her kids can make it over for the day. Once Carol embarks on her journey home strange things begin to happen. She is visited by a friend who has been dead for some time. Her friend tells her that she will be visited by 3 more ghosts. More precisely, "Ghost hosts." The Ghost Host's of Christmas Past, Present and Future. Carol is less than amused when each ghost shows up to show her things she would prefer to forget. There is a reason why Carol no longer throws wonderful Christmas parties and she'd prefer to leave them in the past. By the time the ghosts are finished with Carol will she have changed her mind?

Yes, yes this is a re-telling of A Christmas Carol, that timeless classic by Charles Dickens. I've always been a fan of the story and re-tellings. I absolutely enjoyed Yes, Carol...It's Christmas! I love how at the beginning of each chapter we are given a party tip for hosting the best Christmas parties. I especially enjoyed this quote when Carol was watching her 9 year old self baking cookies with her grandmother:

"You must remember, Carol, that Christmas is all about giving. And not about what presents we're going to get. Hosting a wonderful Christmas party is one of the best gifts you can give to others, since you can truly make people happy."

I love that! I love also that Carol once again finds her love for Christmas. The little references throughout the book to the original A CHRISTMAS CAROL are fun to catch as well.

If you are looking for a fun and fast Christmas read this one will surely put you in the Christmas spirit!

**I received a copy of this book from the author for review purposes. All opinions are my own**

How about you? Are you a party thrower for Christmas or are you more of a bah humbug Christmas character? I have my Bible study women over each year for a Christmas party and then I have a few different families over for special dinners throughout the month. Feel free to share your answers in the comments. I do moderate my comments to avoid SPAM so be patient, your comment will post as soon as I see it.

Come back tomorrow and check out a guest post from Author Cindy Vincent!


Monday, November 26, 2018

Yes, Carol...It's Christmas! by Cindy Vincent: Spotlight






About the Book

As the top salesperson for Pfunn Party Supplies, Carol Frost doesn’t exactly know how to have fun herself these days. Though she wasn’t always such a humbug. Once upon a time, she was famous for hosting Christmas parties that were filled with everything from laughing guests and luscious hors d’oeuvres, to artfully iced sugar cookies and creatively decorated Christmas trees. To top it off, she even wrote a bestselling book that became the authoritative tome on Christmas party entertaining at the time—The Complete, Total, Ultimate, Everything-You-Might-Possibly-Want-to-Know Guide to Hosting the Best Christmas Parties Ever.

Yet that was long ago, before her life changed and she stashed her tinsel and twinkle lights away once and for all. And while Carol soon learned to settle for her boring but comfortable existence, an old friend knows that Carol isn’t really living up to her potential. An old friend who . . . well . . . now enjoys her eggnog in the afterlife, you might say. To goad Carol into going back to her former party-hosting ways, said friend sends three of her specter pals to pester Carol. Then, much to Carol’s annoyance, she is visited by the Ghost Hosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future on a plane filled with plenty of holiday revelers. And though Carol only wants to be left alone, the Ghost Hosts have other plans. Instead, they take her on an adventure that wasn’t exactly on her itinerary . . . or printed on her ticket stub. From that moment on, Carol’s life will never be the same. Provided, of course, she survives the jingle-bell rollercoaster of a ride and makes it home in time for Christmas . . .

Paperback edition | Kindle edition | Goodreads


About the Author

CINDY VINCENT, M.A. Ed., was born in Calgary, Alberta, and has lived all around the US
and Canada. She is the creator of the Mysteries by Vincent murder mystery party games and the Daisy Diamond Detective Series games for girls. She is also the award-winning author of the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Caper novels and the Daisy Diamond Detective series. She lives in Houston, Texas with her husband and an assortment of fantastic felines.



Come back tomorrow for my review of YES, CAROL...IT'S CHRISTMAS!

Giveaway!

Put together your own best-ever Christmas party with this fun “party in a box” giveaway!
Enter for a chance to win a package with the following prizes: a signed copy of Yes, Carol…It’s Christmas! by Cindy Vincent, two Betty Crocker sugar cookie mixes, two cookie cutters, a four-pack of sprinkles, a strand of Christmas lights, and two glass ornaments. Due to shipping costs and varying international laws, this giveaway is open to US residents (age 18 or older) only. Void where prohibited. Good luck!




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Wednesday, November 21, 2018

Once Upon A Montana Summer by Lisa T. Bergren



Adalyn Stalling has lost twice in love. As first a contestant on the TV show THE ONE she thought she was going to be the one picked-but another was chosen- the next season she was asked to be the star of the show and choose among many bachelors. Once again Adi found love, and yet once again it fell through. Now known as “America’s Sucker-Punched Sweetheart” Adi’s boss is asking her to take a leave of absence-just until the media backs off. But Adi has picked up a stalker. Enter Chase Rollins. Chase is a childhood friend who arrives just in time to help Adi escape to her childhood home in Glacier Montana. Adi arrives to see that her grandfather is in poor health and has let their tourist cabins fall into disrepair. She sets in to renovate and get the cabins fixed for the summer tourist season. Adi also spends time getting to know Chase-her childhood friend and crush. Mending her broken heart, Adi hopes that nobody will recognize her. What none of them count on is how determined Adi’s stalker is to find her.

I really enjoyed ONCE UPON A MONTANA SUMMER. I loved the setting of Montana. The descriptions were beautiful. I loved the romance between Chase and Adi that bloomed at a carful and carefree pace. And lastly I loved the bit of suspense with the stalker. Reading his plans and thoughts kept the story moving along at an exciting pace.

While I enjoy a good series, I really enjoy when a book has everything I need in one volume; romance, suspense and a “happily ever after”. Lisa T. Bergren never disappoints in a new story and she is always a favorite of mine. I highly recommend ONCE UPON A MONTANA SUMMER, you won’t be disappointed!

**I received my copy for review purposes from the author. All opinions are my own**


Wednesday, November 7, 2018

A Dream Fulfilled by Julie Lessman



Ohhhhh Katie and Luke *sigh.* I just love them! Katie is so feisty. Even after a few years of marriage she still manages to give Luke fits! In A DREAM FULFILLED Katie finds a new friend. Marlene seems to be Katie's other half, or even her twin. They seem perfectly suited to each other. Having craved a friendship like this for years Katie is amazed at how close they become and how quickly their friendship develops. In the meantime Luke is working long hours and begins to feel a bit neglected at home. But he doesn't begrudge Katie her friendship with Marlene, after all, Marlene has helped Katie grow spiritually like Luke has never seen in the past.

 Luke has developed relationships with the street urchins near where he works. When he sees one particular small kid being picked on by bullies Luke steps in to help. When he asks the kid his name he is soundly told, "Just Will" and that is all of the information he can get. As he slowly develops a relationship with Will he becomes more and more aware of how much Will reminds him of his younger self. Scrappy and full of attitude Will finds a place in Luke's heart that will not be shaken.

I loved this story. I love the friendship between Katie and Marlene. Have you ever had a connection with someone like that? I have to say that I haven't. So I could totally understand Katie's excitement in finding Marlene. I also love how mature Katie has become. She didn't seem combative like she was in A HOPE UNDAUNTED. She has settled down and grown spiritually. That doesn't mean that the spark has gone out of her, not by any means. She still gives Luke fits! The passion is still very much present between Luke and Katie. After all, it wouldn't be a Julie Lessman novel without that passion. Personally I love it! And talk about a plot twist! Whew! Hang on to your seats, because there's a big one, and it rocks Katie and Luke's world! I love how the author always has spiritual lessons in her novels, her characters experience real life feelings and emotions and real life meetings with the God of the universe.

Author Julie Lessman doesn't just have physical passion in her novels, but she also has romance. An example is this quote that I absolutely love:

"I'm happy that you give time to a friend who obviously needs it, truly I am. But when I walk through that door, I want to be your best friend, Katie, not anybody else. I want to be the one you light up for unlike any other, because that's who you are to me." --Luke

I just melted when I read that! I loved how vulnerable Luke was, and I love how he shared his need with Katie and I loved how she responded...which you'll have to read for yourself by getting the book!



Friday, November 2, 2018

Cold Pursuit by Susan Sleeman


Alex and his partner Samantha are undercover trying to catch a gunrunner at a resort. When the gunrunner keeps coming on to one of the staff Alex can't sit by and let it continue. Whitney is less than thrilled when Alex steps in. She was handling the situation and is afraid that she will lose her job.

When a man is shot at the lodge Alex and Sam are the first on the scene, seeing Whitney leaving the area Alex immediately assumes she is a suspect. Trapped in blizzard-like conditions Sam and Alex are the only law-enforcement able to work the case.

Whitney needs Alex and the rest of Blackwell Tactical to protect she and her niece and nephew. Her brother-in-law murdered her sister, and now he has escaped from jail and Whitney just knows that the bullet that killed the man was probably meant for her.

Always the team member that lightens the mood Alex takes a more serious roll in his protection of Whitney. There's an immediate attraction between the two, but both of them have sworn to never love someone who can have the power to hurt them. As danger lurks around every corner for Whitney and the kids, Alex becomes more and more attached to them. Will he become distracted by his feelings for them and put them all in further danger?

Another exciting installment of the Cold Harbor series! I love that from the beginning Alex felt he could be himself with Whitney. No need to joke all of the time, but truly share his feelings and emotions with her. I also loved the setting. I mean seriously, how scary to be caught in a blizzard with a murderer on the loose! Another thing I really like about the Cold Harbor series is that the team always has each others backs. They are honest and tough with each other, but yet there is a bond of friendship that they share that makes them close as a family. They kept reminding Alex to keep his head on straight and do the job. Again, an exciting read that kept me turning the pages in anticipation. I'm looking forward to reading Sam's story next!


Thursday, November 1, 2018

A Time For Adventure by Miranda Atchley


Abi and her friend Meg go on a grand adventure to Europe. They get to see all kinds of new sites and meet new friends. They visit Meg's family in Ireland and meet up with Abi's parents along the way as well. They try all kinds of new cuisine's and travel by boat, train, automobile and buggy. They enjoy their adventures, but are both ready to see the shores of New York when they return. Abi is ready for her new publishing company, Lily House Publishing, to get up and running and publish their first manuscripts. We know that whatever happens next for Abi that she will be trusting the Lord to guide her path.

This was my favorite of the series so far! I enjoyed the trek through Europe and visiting all of the sites with Abi and Meg. The tension is still palpable between Abi and her parents. For some reason I thought that Abi and her father were closer, but in this book he seems just as unreasonable as Abi's  mother. Abi is caught between trying to respect them as her parents, but also being her own independent woman no longer under their authority. I hope that this relationship will be resolved in the next installment. We can always count on Abi to be wearing the latest styles. I enjoyed her boldness in wearing trousers this time around. A TIME FOR ADVENTURE was a pleasant read and I do look forward to continuing the series.


Monday, October 22, 2018

Haunting Joy Omnibus Book Blitz!

About the Book


This complete series edition includes Haunting Joy Books 1 & 2 and Chain Reaction, a prequel short story.

Book 1
The ghost of Beth sweeps seventeen-year-old Joy into an extraordinary journey to complete some unfinished business...and challenges her to make some dangerous choices. Like calling Joy’s high-school crush, Nick, for help.

A soft, sliding kind of sigh wakes me up. It’s hardly a noise at all.

I blink to clear my sticky, early-morning vision. I know I heard a sound, an almost human-sounding sigh, coming from the corner of my room. As I slide my gaze that way, a chill slithers over me. My room feels creepy and strange.

I peer into the corner, and the white dress is no longer heaped in a haphazard pile on my armchair. It’s laid out nice and neat, with the straps up over the back cushion and the skirt spread over the seat. The flip-flops are sitting side by side in front of the chair, toes pointed toward me.

Like there’s an empty girl, in an empty dress, looking right at me.

Book 2
I step out of the shower into my steamy bathroom. Then I see it. I whip a towel around me so fast I almost wipe out on the tile floor. Because apparently I’m being haunted again...

By a boy who scrawled KYLE across my bathroom mirror with his ghostly finger.


Joy’s new ghost, Kyle, crashes into her life, disrupting her senior year...and complicating her relationship with Nick. Which is already complicated enough.

Haunting Joy: The Complete Series is part slightly spooky ghost story and part sweet romance wrapped in one. For teens and young adults.

Available now!
Paperback | eBook


About the Author

LENA GOLDFINCH is the Amazon-bestselling author of books for teens and historical inspirational romance for adults. She's always been a sucker for a good old-fashioned
romance, whether it's a novel or short story, young adult or adult, fantasy or realistic, contemporary or historical. Lena has been a finalist in several national writing contests, including the RWA Golden Heart and ACFW Genesis contests.







Enter this spooky-sweet giveaway for a chance to win bookish prizes! One grand-prize winner will receive a $15 Amazon.com gift card and a paperback copy of the Haunting Joy omnibus (open to US residents only). Two runners-up will each receive an ebook copy of the Haunting Joy omnibus in Kindle (.mobi) or .epub format (open internationally). Void where prohibited. Good luck!

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Friday, October 19, 2018

I Remember You by Holly Schindler


Rob & Geena 4Ever. Etched into the sidewalk by two young kids in the throws of first love. Ruby's Place, a magical hangout from the past, looking for a comeback. What happens when the past and the present collide?

I Remember You is a continuation of Holly Schindler's short story Ruby's Place. And this full-length novel is every bit as good as the sweet story that Ruby's Place is. Angela is determined to get Ruby's Place open by Christmas Eve. After all, magical things happen at Ruby's Place on Christmas Eve.

I totally loved I Remember You I love a story with lost love found again. I also loved how the story was told in flashbacks to the time that Ruby's Place was in it's heyday and then to Rob & Geena's story and then to the present. It was all woven together seamlessly and had me invested in all of the characters past and present. I'm definitely looking forward to reading what happens next year at Ruby's Place now that the town is talking about how weird/magical it can be.