Nerves of Steele by Susan Sleeman

 

Peyton is getting ready to go on vacation when she gets a call from one of her clients. His jewelry business has just been broken into and over a million dollars in diamonds have been stolen. Peyton knows she has to go investigate because the Steele family business is on the line with this client. Grant Logan wants the job as the store’s security manager. The robbery is a nightmare for him as he has just moved his daughter to the area and needs this job. Owner Alex Armstead has informed both Peyton and Grant that they will be working together to find out who the thief is and if they don’t find the diamonds then neither of them will be employed by him. Before Alex can explain some of his actions he is involved in an accident that puts him in the hospital in a coma. Can Grant and Peyton figure out who has the diamonds and who may be threatening the Armstead family? But most of all can Grant and Peyton work together to solve the crime with the obvious attraction they are feeling towards each other every time they are in the same room? 

I’m absolutely loving the Steele Guardians series! Nerves of Steele definitely didn’t disappoint in the excitement/suspense department. I loved the characters as well. Grant is kind and patient and definitely a loving father to his daughter. I liked Peyton’s epiphany’s that she had about where she saw her life going and her ability to adjust her expectations after struggling it out with the Lord. Author Susan Sleeman knows how to make the spiritual “ah ha” moments that speak to the characters hearts, personal and touching to the readers hearts as well. An exciting book that keeps the reader turning the pages with expectation and excitement!

A Blue So Dark by Holly Schindler

 

The story opens with Aura, her mom and dad and her best friend Janny on a trip to Florida. Everything was supposed to be perfect, but for Aura the beach was a disappointment with undertones of foreboding lurking in the wings. 

Fast forward 5 years and Aura’s life seems to be falling apart. Her father has left the family, Aura’s best friend has her own issues and slowly Aura’s mom is sinking into schizophrenia. Aura feels like she is sinking, but has promised her mom “no drugs” and not to tell anyone. 

The rest of the story is Aura trying to help her mother through her episode hoping that she will come out of it. The thing that scares Aura the most though is how much is she like her mother, is this her fate as well? 

Oh, I’m telling you, author Holly Schindler knows how to pack all the feels into her stories! There was so much here! I wanted to shake Aura and tell her to GET HELP! I wanted to shake her mother and tell her to GET HELP! I wanted to shake both Aura and Janny and tell them to get their act together and listen to each other. Mental illness is such a hard thing to deal with. Add the fact that Aura is only 15 and having to make adult decisions, it was a train wreck waiting to happen. The subject matter is heavy, this is definitely not a light and fluffy read. But the story was engrossing and kept me reading and rooting for Aura and hoping, like she did, that someone would come alongside her and help her. Again, all the feels! A book I very much recommend.

The Death of Ivan Ilych by Leo Tolstoy

 

This is a short story by Leo Tolstoy. Ivan Ilych is a man who has lived pretty much for himself. Every decision he has ever made has been about how it affects him. It’s really a sad tale about how much Ivan Ilych has invested in himself and not others. He eventually realizes that he is dying and it comes to him that nobody really cares. His life was unremarkable and so is his death. 

This is another book mentioned in the book On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior. It is found under the chapter of Love. Which I find ironic because as far as I could see Ivan Ilych didn’t love anyone and nobody loved him. In fact his wife despised him! It was really a sad tale, but it does cause the reader to become introspective and think about their own life and how they have used their life to affect others around them. 

Nana The Great Comes To Visit by Lisa Tawn Bergren

 

Whether you are a Nana, Grandma, Grammy or whatever your grandchildren call you, this is a fun book to read to them. I wish that I was as fun as this Nana! I love the fun things that Nana does when she comes and visits her grandchildren. She's pretty creative. I also love the illustrations. They are cute and depict the activities in the story perfectly. A fun story and picture book for your young grandchildren and you to enjoy! 

Check out this fun activity kit with free downloadables: https://www.godgaveusbooks.com/kids-activities

You can also. purchase the book from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Nana-Great-Comes-Visit-Bergren/dp/0593232887/ref=sr_1_1?crid=16IVN5VCXC9CP&keywords=nana+the+great+comes+to+visit&qid=1647971294&s=books&sprefix=nana+the+great+comes+to+visit%2Cstripbooks%2C76&sr=1-1

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain

 

This is a class y'all. But whew is it offensive! The n-word is very prominent in the story and it was a slap in the face every time I saw it. I know, the era in which this was written that was totally acceptable. Reading it in a more "enlightened" time period causes me to shake my head. I definitely would not have read this book out loud to my children! Ack! Anyway, I could go into all of the racist stuff and all of the what's acceptable now vs. then but you all know it. As far as the story goes, meh, not my favorite. Huck is a mess and then bring Tom Sawyer into the story and whoa! Huck seemed to have an ounce of common sense about him, and a sense of right and wrong, but Tom Sawyer? Holy moly was he a mess. I guess you could say he lived in his own little fantasy world and it seems to have been left unchecked so his imagination has run amok! The whole helping Jim escape plan had me scratching my head going whaaaaattttt???? Anyway, if you like to read classics then go for it, but it definitely wasn't my cup of tea.

This book was a recommendation out of the book On Reading Well by Karen Swallow Prior. It was under the Courage chapter. 

Put Out To Pasture by Amanda Flower

 

Shiloh Bellamy is working her tail off on her family farm trying to get it back on its feet. But when another murder happens and her best friend is accused of committing that murder, Shiloh knows that she has to prove her friends innocence. Chief Randy is all for a cut and dried case, but Shiloh knows that her friend didn't commit the murder. There are many suspects that come to light because the victim was not well-liked. And what about Shiloh's grandmothers mysterious allusion to a treasure on Bellamy Farm? Was her grandmother speaking literally or figuratively? Add onto that Shiloh's relationship with her dead fiance's best friend Quinn and Shiloh has a full plate to keep her busy. Will she be able to solve who the murderer is or will she be the next victim in order to keep her silent? 

I really enjoyed this second book in the Farm to Table series! I am enjoying the characters and the mysteries. Things are looking pretty bleak for Shiloh and the recovery of the farm, but she is determined to bring it back to life. I like that about her character. She is not willing to give up on this project even with all of the impossible tasks she sees ahead. The animals that are always present in Amanda Flower's books bring a smile to my face and fun antics to the story. I like the relationship between Quinn's daughter Hazel and Shiloh. I also like the fact that Shiloh is able to see beyond people's behavior into their hurts. She's able to bite her tongue several times which is admirable. I do wish she and Quinn could get on the same page about whether they want to be friends or more! Dancing around the subject or ignoring it isn't helping either one of them. If you are a fan of cozy mysteries then I definitely recommend this book. It is a fun, fast and entertaining read and you won't be disappointed.

Tough as Steele by Susan Sleeman

 

Londyn Steele and her family protection company are trying to get the protection contract of a prominent family. But when the woman they are supposed to be protecting disappears right under their noses it doesn't look good for their company. Londyn is determined to find Mimi even if it means stepping out of her jurisdiction to do it. Nate was practically raised by Mimi's daughter and son-in-law and he has no intention of letting Londyn step into the investigation that rightly falls in his jurisdiction. Can the two of them play nice in order to rescue and bring home Mimi before the kidnappers decide she is no longer valuable to them? 

This is the first in the Steele Guardians series and I'll tell you what, it lives up to what I expect from a Susan Sleeman romantic/suspense story! I enjoyed the introduction of all of the characters of the Steele family. They all seem like strong women with competent skills. I love that it is tied in with the other series that this author writes so we get a glimpse into those characters again as well. Londyn and Nate work well together and I loved how they complimented each other. Londyn is independent but yet knows how to step back instead of being overbearing and insisting on her way. Nate's nature as an ex SEAL has him wanting to protect but yet he doesn't ever belittle Londyn because she is a woman. They are both willing to work together without having to have their ego's stroked constantly in order to bring Mimi back. The pace kept the story moving and exciting. The spiritual content was important to both characters and both grew stronger in their faith. I'm excited to continue reading this series!