COMING Jan 7th!!! #TheCodebreakers #OnWingsofDevotion

On Wings of Devotion by Roseanna White About the Book

Against Every Warning, She’s Drawn Ever Closer to the Man Known as “Black Heart” All of England thinks Major Phillip Camden a monster–a man who deliberately caused the deaths of his squadron. But he would have preferred to die that day with his men rather than be recruited to the Admiralty’s codebreaking division. The threats he receives daily are no great surprise and, in his opinion, well deserved. As nurse Arabelle Denler observes the so-dubbed “Black Heart,” she sees something far different: a hurting man desperate for mercy. And when their families and paths twist together unexpectedly, she realizes she has a role to play in his healing–and some of her own to do as well. With Camden’s court-martial looming, an old acquaintance shows up, intent on using him in a plot that sends the codebreakers of Room 40 into a frenzy. With their fragile hopes for the future in the cross hairs, Arabelle and Camden must hold on to hope–and to each other–if they want to survive. Purchase Links: RoseannaWhite.com About Roseanna  Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at:  Blog: https://roseannamwhite.blogspot.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoseannaMWhite/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/roseannamwhite/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/roseannamwhite/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/RoseannaMWhite Website: http://www.roseannamwhite.com #TheCodebreakers #OnWingsofDevotion

Review ~ Seconds to Live (Homeland Heroes #1) by Susan Sleeman

Paperback, 368 pages

Published December 3rd 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

When cybercriminals hack into the U.S. Marshal's Witness Protection database and auction off personal details to the highest bidder, FBI Agent Sean Nichols begins a high-stakes chase to find the hacker. Trouble is, he has to work with U.S. Marshal Taylor Mills, who knows the secrets of his past, and the seconds are ticking down before someone dies.

Purchase:

CBD 

(Christian Book Distributors)

About the Author

Susan is the bestselling author of over thirty-five Christian/inspirational and clean reads romantic suspense and mysteries and has sold over a million books. She grew up in a small Wisconsin town where she spent her summers reading Nancy Drew and developing a love of mystery and suspense books.

Today, Susan channels this enthusiasm into writing romantic suspense and mystery novels and hosting the popular internet website TheSuspenseZone.com.

Much to her husband’s dismay, Susan loves to look at everyday situations and turn them into murder and mayhem scenarios for future novels. If you’ve met Susan, she has probably figured out a plausible way to kill you and get away with it. Don’t worry, she’d never follow through on it.

Susan currently lives in Oregon, but has had the pleasure of living in nine states. She and her amazing husband have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law and an adorable grandson. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying her grandson, reading, gardening or working on TheSuspenseZone.com.

My Review

5 STARS!!!

‘They were the unsung heroes, men and women who put their lives on the line every day, 

like soldiers going into battle.’

I enjoyed everything about this first offering in Sleeman’s new romantic suspense series Homeland Heroes. Seconds to Live is a fast-paced, danger-infused story. I loved that Taylor and Sean were email pals for six months before meeting in person. They didn’t quite know what to do when they first laid eyes on each other and their feelings seemed realistic. They were nervous, unsure, and yet very aware of all the things they had shared through email. Sleeman did a good job of transmitting the trepidation and tension between them.

The whole dark web, cyber hacking plot line might seem too technical for some but it thoroughly captivated me. I felt like I was right in the midst of the excitement and fear in trying to figure out who hacked the WITSEC database before any witnesses were murdered. One of the best aspects of this story to me was I couldn’t possibly guess the identity of the hacker. I simply enjoyed the roller coaster emotions and thrill ride of Seconds to Live.

I can honestly say I never think much about those who have gone into witness protection and the ramifications of that choice. I feel like I should pray for these people. I’m looking forward to more stories in this series. If you enjoy contemporary mystery/suspense with moderate romance and Christian themes, then I recommend this book.

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. 

Review ~ Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright

Paperback, 352 pages

Published December 3rd 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

About the Book

After Aggie Dunkirk's career is unceremoniously ended by her own mistakes, she finds herself traveling to Wisconsin, where her grandmother, Mumsie, lives alone in her vintage, though very outdated, home. Aggie didn't plan for how eccentric Mumsie has become, obsessing over an old, unsolved crime scene--even going so far as to re-create it in a dollhouse.

Mystery seems to follow Aggie when she finds work as a secretary helping to restore the flooded historical part of the town's cemetery. Forced to work with a puzzling yet attractive archaeologist, she exhumes the past's secrets and unwittingly uncovers a crime that some will go to any length to keep hidden--even if that means silencing Aggie.

In 1946, Imogene Grayson works in a beauty salon but has her sights set on Hollywood. But coming home to discover her younger sister's body in the attic changes everything. Unfamiliar with the burgeoning world of forensic science and, as a woman, not particularly welcomed into the investigation, Imogene is nonetheless determined to stay involved. As her sister's case grows cold, Imogene vows to find justice . . . no matter the cost.

Purchase:

CBD

My Review

5 STARS!!!

'There was never a good time for Death to visit.'

Jaime Jo Wright is in a league of her own. Echoes Among the Stones held me captive with its deep story, fabulous mystery, and exceptionally well-written characters. I had several theories early on of which person was the killer, one of them being a long shot. In the end, it paid off. I had the correct killer but for the wrong reasons.

Dual-time stories have become some of my favorite to read. There are always lessons to be gleaned from the past and in Echoes Among the Stones, one of the things Aggie is going to learn is how to deal with her grief over the loss of her mother and not let it stymie her from having a fulfilling future.

My heart stuttered more than once through the emotional storm of Imogene’s narrative. If you’ve ever lost someone you dearly love then you know agony. You know you would give anything to be with them one more time. In one scene, Imogene’s brother asks if she’s even been inside Hazel’s room since their sister’s murder.

          Imogene nodded her head.”I have.” She’d considered moving into it. To be closer to Hazel, wrapped in the faint, lingering scent of her.

Oh my. I could totally relate. When my mom passed away, the first thing I did when I went back to her home was go straight to her bedroom, grab her pillow, bury my face in it and breathe in her scent. I did the same thing when my daughter died. Sometimes I still hold her favorite blanket close, imagining I can smell the ‘lingering scent of her’. It’s such a tangible scene in the book that even now, my heart aches and I tear up.

“…Their voices will always echo, here, among the stones, and in our hearts. It is how it was meant to be.”

These are just a couple of thoughts about one of the best books I’ve read in 2019. I highly recommend it. You can’t go wrong with a Jaime Jo Wright book!

I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. 

WINNER!!!

ROSALYN is the winner of 

Seconds to Live by Susan Sleeman!!!

Thanks to those of you who came by and entered the giveaway. 

If you aren't a follower of the blog but would like to stay informed, please sign up in the sidebar. 

Rebecca Reviews ~ Seconds to Live (Homeland Heroes #1) by Susan Sleeman + Giveaway!!!

~GIVEAWAY ENDED~

About the Book

When cyber criminals hack into the U.S. Marshal's Witness Protection database and auction off personal details to the highest bidder, FBI Agent Sean Nichols begins a high-stakes chase to find the hacker. Trouble is, he has to work with U.S. Marshal Taylor Mills, who knows the secrets of his past, and the seconds are ticking down before someone dies.

About the Author

SUSAN SLEEMAN is the bestselling author of over thirty-five novels with more than one million books sold. She writes romantic suspense novels that are clean with inspiring messages of faith. Readers love her series for the well-drawn characters and edge-of-your-seat action. She graduated from the FBI and local police citizen academies, so her research is spot-on and her characters are real.

In addition to writing, Susan also hosts TheSuspenseZone.com. She has lived in nine states but now calls Oregon home. Her husband is a retired church music director, and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law, and an adorable grandson.

To learn more about Susan’s books sign up for her monthly email that includes exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and other goodies. http://www.susansleeman.com/susans-ne...

Or stop by any of these locations on the web.

Website - http://www.susansleeman.com

Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/SusanSleemanB...

Twitter - http://www.twitter.com/susansleeman

Review Site - http://www.TheSuspenseZone.com

Purchase Link:

CBD

3.5 stars

"Help. Oh, help. . . . she'd made a huge mistake."

When one of U. S. Marshall Taylor Mills' witnesses breaks protocol and is hunted down by a vicious criminal, the tip of the proverbial iceburg breaks through the surface. Not only has Dustee's whereabouts been compromised but the notorious "Phantom" has managed to breach the entire database of the Witness Protection Program. Frantic to protect those for whom she is responsible, Taylor relunctantly agrees to join forces with an elite FBI RED team, (Rapid Emergency Deployment). However, the lead agent on the case is none other than a man she has only known in cyber-space; Sean Nichols.

Glimpsing Taylor Mills in person for the first time nearly takes F. B. I. Agent Sean Nichols' breath away. They know each other so well, and then again they don't, since their only conversations have been through various emails back and forth across the country. How interesting has this case become, when not only are the lives of dozens of innocent people at stake, but rapid fire emotions are threatening to rise to the surface as well.

As the team rushes to stay one step ahead of a deranged hacker, Taylor and Sean struggle to find a middle ground through some of the tough decisions that a high profile case demands. In the end, who may have "seconds to live"?

What an interesting story line, especially for those who have a profound understanding of technology and how dangerous criminal infiltration can be when exercised at the highest levels. The two main characters spend a lot of time in their own heads analyzing their relationship from every possible angle, which may slow the story down for some readers or it could have the opposite effect . . . . an enhanced satisfaction in the end.

I received a book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

Senior Reviewer, Rebecca Maney

Rebecca is a graduate of Bryan College with a degree in Christian Education, and is currently serving at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gastonia, North Carolina as the Director of Children's Ministry. With over 30 years of experience in her field, she has had many opportunities to use her love of reading and writing in creative ways across the generations. A wife, mother of four "nearly" grown children, and grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren, Rebecca has been able to return to her love of reading and more recently reviewing, with a renewed passion for the "beauty of story". 

Rebecca is offering an extra copy of this book to one blog follower.  Just in time for Christmas!!! 

GIVEAWAY RULES

1) Sign up through GFC in the right hand sidebar 

2) Leave a comment letting us know what you most like about reading Christian Fiction 

3) Leave your email address in a non-spam format 
( jane at doe dot com)

 A winner will be drawn on December 13th. 
US entries only (lower 48) because postage is a bear. Sorry! 

Review ~ A Pursuit of Home (Haven Manor #3) by Kristi Ann Hunter

About the Book

When she learns the family she thought dead might be alive and in danger, Jess Beuchene knows her secrets can only stay buried for so long. Desperation brings her to Derek Thornbury, an expert in history and artifacts, to help her decipher the clues in an old family diary. Will their search to uncover the truth of the past lead to a future together?

Paperback, 376 pages
Publisher: Bethany House, Nov 5, 2019

Purchase:
Amazon
B&N

CBD

About Kristi

Award winning author Kristi Ann Hunter had been losing herself in stories since before she could read them herself. Now she has the privilege of transporting readers into the Regency-set world of her own creation. With ten books published since 2015, including the acclaimed Hawthorne House series, Kristi has had a busy few years. When she isn’t writing, she hangs out with her children and husband in Georgia watching Marvel movies, trying to learn how to play Minecraft, and eating what some might consider an excessive amount of dark chocolate.

Links:

https://www.kristiannhunter.com/

https://www.kristiannhunter.com/BookPage/APOH

My Review

5 STARS!!!

‘Diaries were incredible windows into the past…He wanted that diary. The question was, did he want it badly enough to deal with her?’

Jess has been an enigma since the first book in this incredible series, A Defense of Honor. She’s cantankerous and intensely private. I was intrigued to read her story and taken completely by surprise. Jess has a sharp tongue but she is funny. Oh the dialogue between her and Derek was downright hilarious at times. He’s marvelous, by the way. A man of God who desires to help others makes him the perfect counterpart to Jess’s prickly exterior.

I enjoyed this book and didn’t want it to end. Hunter has once again given Regency fans a series to read over and over again, making it a modern ‘classic’. I can’t wait to see what is next in her repertoire of book ideas.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher. No review was required. No compensation received.

Review ~ Misleading Miss Verity (Regency Brides: Daughters of Aynsley #3) By Carolyn Miller

Published November 26th 2019 by Kregel Publications

Paperback, 352 pages

Verity Hatherleigh has a mind of her own—but her actions do not impress her viscount papa. When she gets into one scrape too many, he sends her off to the wilds of Scotland to rethink her headstrong ways.

Anthony Jardine relished his role as curate, but his new duties as laird of Dungally aren’t always to his liking. Though he thought his new inheritance would be a blessing, somehow he’s finding nothing but trouble on these estates. And the intelligent, compassionate, feisty lass who was sent to rusticate in his territory is one of the biggest problems. He’s falling in love with her, but she doesn’t share the faith that’s his foundation—not to mention he’s been lying to her about who he really is. For the truth-loving Verity, that may be unforgivable.

The tangled web these two have woven may spell disaster for their happiness—and for the tenants of Dungally. 

Purchase:

CBD

4 STARS!!!

It’s not often a book sinks as deeply into my subconscious as Misleading Miss Verity. Miller always provides aesthetically pleasing visuals but that’s not what stood out to me this time. Verity is a character that I regret to say I could sadly identify with on many levels. She’s always known she was a disappointment to her parents because she wasn’t a boy, and thus she was always compared to others and treated as less than. I’ll clarify here my own mother never made me feel this way. But Verity’s mom is a real piece of work. I didn’t like her in the first two books and still don’t like her one iota.

Verity’s defining moment comes when she is surrounded in darkness and fear is overtaking her. She calls out to God and it’s a moving moment. But later when she realizes her worth is not in her parent’s expectations, that through Christ she is a new creature, spotless before God, and it is Christ who makes her worthy, it is powerful.

Once again, Miller has proven she has a compelling ability when it comes to storytelling.

I do want to mention I sort of lost respect for Verity’s sisters in this book. They didn’t seem to do anything to encourage her when they were around. And I really liked them in their own stories. Ha! The Chisholm family is great though. I’d like to see James get his own story one day.

I received an early copy from the publisher. My opinion is my own. No compensation has been received.

Review ~ Ruby Jane (Montana Marshalls 5) by Susan May Warren

She loved...and lost.

Ruby Jane never thought she'd meet the man of her dreams while running from the police in Russia. That he'd steal her heart on a train to Siberia. But loving a former CIA officer comes with a price...a life of danger. A life of high stakes.

A life where he simply disappears...

He has no memory of the man he was.

Mack Jones has no memory of his past...just the dark sense that he is hiding. And, he wants to stay that way. Mack likes the life he's built in a small tourist town, tucked away beyond the mountains, and has no desire to dig around in the gray areas of his memory.

When his place of business catches fire and Mack rescues the owner, he makes the news, which of course alerts the past he's hoping to outrun.

The only person who can help him is a mysterious woman he doesn't remember.

But a woman he desperately needs.

The surprising, thrilling conclusion to the Montana Marshall series. 

Purchase:

Amazon (Kindle)

My Review

4.5 STARS!!!

“The fire is supposed to burn away everything but our faith and character.”

Every now and then I read a book that when I close the last page, I just sit there. In silence. Contemplating. Ruby Jane was that kind of book for me. A smashing conclusion to the Montana Marshalls series, Warren brings it on with plenty of action, intrigue, romance, and a theme of regeneration that had me in tears. Her ability to show how a person who is utterly tarnished by their actions, words, and thoughts, and yet through the power of the Holy Spirit can be reconciled to God left me praising Him for his mercy and grace toward me!

“You have to believe that no matter what happens, you’re going to be okay. That God’s grace is enough.”

Without any doubt, SMW is the best builder of a fictional family I have read. Each and every character is pivotal to the storyline and I didn’t want to miss a single moment with any of them. I didn’t connect with Ruby Jane in the way I expected but I think it’s because I was acutely focused on York. He is an amazing character and completely stole my heart.

The Montana Marshalls must be read in order to get the full effect and enjoyment. Literally each book picks up where the other leaves off. It’s an excellent binge read!!

I received an early copy from the author. My opinion is my own. No compensation has been received.

A Thanksgiving Thought...

Today is a hard day for many people. 

I'm reminded to pray diligently for those who are suffering loss whether it's through death, distance, severed relationships, or all of the above. 

I pray each one of us feel God's mercy and compassion. That we realize his unfailing love and respond to his gentle persuasion to place our heartache in his hands where comfort resides. 

Grace and peace to you all!

*image:  https://pixabay.com/users/tsukiko-kiyomidzu-1850874/

Rebecca Reviews ~ The End of the Magi by Patrick W. Carr

Paperback, 384 pages

Published November 5th 2019 by Bethany House Publishers

Following his vision of the coming Messiah, the prophet Daniel creates a select group of men who will count down the calendar to the arrival of Israel’s promised king. Centuries later, as the day nears, Myrad, a young magi acolyte, flees for his life when his adoptive father and others are put to death by a ruthless Parthian queen.

Having grabbed only a few possessions, Myrad escapes the city, and searching for a way to hide from the soldiers scouring the trade routes, he tries to join the caravan of the merchant Walagash. The merchant senses that Myrad is hiding secrets, but when the young man proves himself a valuable traveler, an epic journey filled with peril, close escapes, and dangerous battles begins.

With every day that passes, the calendar creeps closer to the coming Messiah. And over everything shines the dream of a star that Myrad can’t forget and the promise that the world will never be the same.

Rebecca's Review

3.5 stars

"From the time the word goes out to restore and rebuild Jerusalem until the Anointed One, the ruler, comes, there will be seven 'sevens' and sixty-two 'sevens'." Daniel 9:25

Counting the years. Counting the months. Magis meticulously counted the days until the promised Messiah would come, according to the prophet Daniel. When a magnificent star appears in the sky, a young magi acolyte dreams of such a star, with a voice calling out to him saying, "I am". Then tragedy strikes and Myrad is forced to run for his life following the death of his adoptive father; his physical handicap making the journey all the more difficult as he trudges across the Parthian desert. Miraculously, he gains favor with a wealthy merchant, thus launching the beginning of the "end of the magi".

Intriguing barely scratches the suface of this story, for the author's imagination takes over much of what we don't know about the famed biblical visitors, and skillfully weaves in the known; resulting in a tale that is not only believable, but fascinating. Readers well versed in ancient history will find the story much easier to understand, but those who are not will feel sufficiently schooled.

Rising above it all is the reassuring truth that God can even use a "club footed Persian boy"to accomplish His purposes; for "it's almost as if God takes delight in accomplishing His ends in the most unlikely way possible. . . . . . (His) promises are sure, whether they come sooner or later." In spite of this being a more difficult than average book to read, its impact will remain unforgettable.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.

Senior Reviewer, Rebecca Maney

Rebecca is a graduate of Bryan College with a degree in Christian Education, and is currently serving at the First Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church in Gastonia, North Carolina as the Director of Children's Ministry. With over 30 years of experience in her field, she has had many opportunities to use her love of reading and writing in creative ways across the generations. A wife, mother of four "nearly" grown children, and grandmother to four beautiful grandchildren, Rebecca has been able to return to her love of reading and more recently reviewing, with a renewed passion for the "beauty of story".