Review ~ Storing Up Trouble (American Heiresses 3) by Jen Turano

COMING MAY 2020

When Miss Beatrix Waterbury's Chicago-bound train ride is interrupted by a heist, Mr. Norman Nesbit, a man of science who believes his research was the target of the heist, comes to her aid. Despite the fact that they immediately butt heads, they join forces to make a quick escape.

Upon her arrival in Chicago, Beatrix is surprised to discover her supposedly querulous Aunt Gladys shares her own suffragette passions. Encouraged by Gladys to leave her sheltered world, Beatrix begins working as a salesclerk at the Marshall Field and Company department store. When she again encounters Norman on a shopping expedition, he is quickly swept up in the havoc she always seems to attract.

But when another attempt is made to part Norman from his research papers, and it becomes clear Beatrix's safety is also at risk, they soon discover the curious way feelings can grow between two very different people in the midst of chaos.

Purchase:

Christian Book

I'm not affiliated with Christian Book and make no monies if you use the link to purchase a copy. Link provided as a courtesy only.

My Review

3.5 STARS!!!

Wrapping up this delightfully funny series are Beatrix Waterbury and Norman Nesbit. For all their crazy antics, deep down these two need each other but will they discover that in time? 

As always, Turano provides a few hours of lighthearted fun, wild shenanigans, and clean romance. I want to pick this authors brain and find out how she comes up with unique story ideas and develops such zany characters.

If you’re looking for an escape during these crazy days, grab a copy of Storing Up Trouble. You’re sure to be entertained!

I received an electronic copy from the author and publisher. No review was required. No compensation received.

Review ~ Kings Falling (The Book of the Wars 2) by Ronie Kendig

Paperback, 352 pages

Published March 31st 2020 by Bethany House Publishers

Leif Metcalfe and his team, dubbed Reaper, need to recover the stolen, ancient Book of the Wars if they hope to stop the Armageddon Coalition and their pursuit of global economic control. But their attention has been diverted by a prophecy in the book that foretells of formidable guardians who will decimate the enemies of ArC. While Iskra Todorova uses her connections in the covert underworld to hunt down the Book of the Wars, Leif and Reaper attempt to neutralize these agents but quickly find themselves outmaneuvered and outgunned.

The more Reaper tries to stop the guardians, the more failure becomes a familiar, antagonistic foe. Friendships are fractured, and the team battles to hold it together long enough to defeat ArC. But as this millennia-old conspiracy creeps closer and closer to home, the implications could tear Leif and the team apart.

Purchase:

Christian Book

My Review 

4 STARS!!!

Reaper Team comes back like a rocket launcher! Talk about explosive scenes, snappy dialogue, heart thumping action, and crazy-cool fight scenes…Kings Falling has it all.

Kendig is well known for causing readers to stay up late into the night to finish her stories and this one is no exception. I was engrossed in the continuing plot and had a hard time putting the book down. It’s not a nice and tidy ending but will culminate in Soul Raging, coming November 2020. I cannot wait to find out how in the world this team is going to survive…and who is going to survive.

I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher. All opinions are my own.

The Lost Lieutenant (Serendipity & Secrets #1) by Erica Vetsch

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Kregel Publications (April 21, 2020)

He's doing what he can to save the Prince Regent's life . . . but can he save his new marriage as well? 

Evan Eldridge never meant to be a war hero--he just wanted to fight Napoleon for the future of his country. And he certainly didn't think that saving the life of a peer would mean being made the Earl of Whitelock. But when the life you save is dear to the Prince Regent, things can change in a hurry.

Now Evan has a new title, a manor house in shambles, and a stranger for a bride, all thrust upon him by a grateful ruler. What he doesn't have are all his memories. Traumatized as a result of his wounds and bravery on the battlefield, Evan knows there's something he can't quite remember. It's important, dangerous--and if he doesn't recall it in time, will jeopardize not only his marriage but someone's very life.

Readers who enjoy Julie Klassen, Carolyn Miller, and Kristi Ann Hunter will love diving into this brand-new Regency series filled with suspense, aristocratic struggles, and a firm foundation of faith. 

Purchase:

Christian Book


I'm not affiliated with Christian Book and make no monies if you use the link to purchase a copy. Link provided as a courtesy only.

My Review

5 STARS!!!

"Love was more than regard, more than trust, more than companionship. It was getting everything without reservation, without secrets."

A friend gifted me The Lost Lieutenant because she knows I adore Regency era stories. Well, this one was an incredible tale! I was captivated from beginning to end. My emotions went for a wild carriage ride that came to a spectacular happily ever after ending. I'm looking forward to the next book in this exciting series filled with intrigue and blessings. There's a sneak peek of The Gentleman Spy at the end and oh my....Marcus Haverly is going to be amazing. 

Review ~ The House at the End of the Moor by Michelle Griep

Paperback, 320 pages

Published April 1st 2020 by Shiloh Run Press

What Can a London Opera Star and an Escaped Dartmoor Prisoner Have in Common?

 

Opera star Maggie Lee escapes her opulent lifestyle when threatened by a powerful politician who aims to ruin her life. She runs off to the wilds of the moors to live in anonymity. All that changes the day she discovers a half-dead man near her house. Escaped convict Oliver Ward is on the run to prove his innocence, until he gets hurt and is taken in by Maggie. He discovers some jewels in her possession—the very same jewels that got him convicted. Together they hatch a plan to return the jewels, clearing Oliver’s name and hopefully maintaining Maggie’s anonymity.

My Review

3.5 stars

How can we ask God to show justice in the world when while willfully nursing our own hidden prejudices, selfishness, lusts, greed...our own broken relationships?

Griep's talent in writing Gothic romance is well-known. The House at the End of the Moor is an easy read and one that many will enjoy. I'm a huge fan of the author but I struggled with the alternating chapters in first person POV. That being said, Maggie and Oliver have quite an adventure. Their story is filled with danger, mystery, hard truths, and romance. I recommend it to fans of historical fiction.

I received a review copy from the author and publisher. No review was required. No compensation received.

Review ~ The Best We've Been (Thatcher Sisters 3) by Beth K Vogt

Coming May 5 from Tyndale House Publishers!!!

How can you choose what is right for you when your decision will break the heart of someone you love?

Having abandoned her childhood dream years ago, Johanna Thatcher knows what she wants from life. Discovering that her fiancé was cheating on her only convinces Johanna it’s best to maintain control and protect her heart.

Despite years of distance and friction, Johanna and her sisters, Jillian and Payton, have moved from a truce toward a fragile friendship. But then Johanna reveals she has the one thing Jillian wants most and may never have―and Johanna doesn’t want it. As Johanna wrestles with a choice that will change her life and her relationships with her sisters forever, the cracks in Jillian’s marriage and faith deepen. Through it all, the Thatcher sisters must decide once and for all what it means to be family.

My Review 

5 STARS!!!

I'd deprived myself of so much because I'd looked...and seen the wrong thing.

Vogt’s conclusion to the Thatcher Sister’s series is an emotional story for all three siblings that I'm glad to have experienced.

I’m not even sure how to break it down where it makes sense but one of the things that moved me the most was Payton’s experience when she went to her first Bible study. I can vividly remember being a new Christian and when I was around mature Christians it was easy to feel ‘stupid’ when they were talking about biblical things. Payton’s struggle reminded me I need to be sensitive to others who may not know the ‘lingo’ and that maybe I need to stop using so much church slang.

Jillian’s journey is ongoing and I can’t say I’m completely satisfied with where she and her husband ended up. It’s like real life though. Sometimes we have to focus on the present, not what we are wishing for in the future. They settled in a good place for now but I sure would like to know what happens in a year or two. *hint hint ;-)

Johanna….oh, Johanna! In the first two books, I didn’t like her at all. I was seriously wondering how the author was going to make me care about her but oh, boy, did she! Not until I went through the ringer again though. I was grumbling under my breath about a decision she was facing but then the beauty of Vogt’s story telling brought hope and love into Jo’s life. Later the author showed me how a single misunderstood moment can have a devastating impact on a young girl. My heart ached for Johanna and I was brought to tears when she finally realized the truth of the situation so long ago. I think she is another character that needs a sequel one day. ;-)

The Best We’ve Been is one of the best books I’ve read this year. It is a top read in 2020 for sure! Anyone who enjoys family drama and complex characters facing challenging life circumstances will find promise in this book. I recommend reading the series in order for the full affect.

I was provided an electronic copy of the book from the publisher (Tyndale) via Net galley. I was under no obligation to write a review. No compensation has been received.

Review ~ Peace in the Storms of Life: Devotional Encouragement for Women by Julie Rayburn

Hardcover, 256 pages

Published March 1st 2020 by Barbour Books

God’s Word Is an Anchor in Life’s Storms

 

These 125 heartfelt devotional readings will challenge you to dive deep into God’s Word to find the strength and peace you need amid the storms of life.

 

Your Father God is ever-present, even in the deepest valleys, and His hope is available to those who seek it. This book will encourage and inspire through any circumstance when you allow your heart to be transformed as you apply God’s truth in real-life situations. As you consider questions for further thought, you’ll be drawn deeper into the heart of God.

 

This lovely book is perfect for personal use or as a heartfelt gift for a friend going through hard times. 

My Review

4 STARS!!!

Have you ever felt like the waves of life are crashing over you?

That first line is apropos in these scary times, is it not? Peace in the Storms of Life arrived on my doorstep at the perfect time! Wrapped in a lovely Wisteria watercolor style hardcover, each of these 125 short devotionals is practical, hopeful, and encouraging. I love how the author speaks as if she is sharing tidbits of wisdom over a shared meal or coffee/tea time. I’m reminded as I read them that in all things we can trust in the One who knows us and loves us better than anyone. If you’re stressed or worried or anxious, this would be a wonderful addition to your time spent studying God’s Word. There is a gentleness that comes across in each devotion that is soothing to the soul.

I received a copy from the publisher and was under no obligation to write a review.