by admin | Oct 24, 2020 | Books, Historical, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Legacy of Honor is a truly beautiful story of faith and honor yet the tale contains many ugly scenes as it develops. A vivid illustration of how the choices a person makes can affect their own life as well as the lives of others, this book has the potential to impact future choices made by its readers.
Two families have major roles in this narrative and the families could not be more different. One family is a simple one with a strong faith and their actions honor their beliefs. They may not be wealthy but they are content with their life and at peace with the Lord. The other family is wealthy and powerful yet always seems to want more and to hold grudges and resentment against those they consider their enemies.
From these families come Riley Stratton and Emma Monroe who have been friends since childhood. Emma is as good as gold and has followed in her late mother’s footsteps in her love and care for others. Although Riley is a Stratton, somehow he has managed to avoid the arrogant and callous attitude of his father and brother. He loves them both but is uncomfortable taking part in their activities.
This book held me captive from the very beginning with its gripping narrative, true-to-life characters, and steady pace. As Riley and Emma face difficult choices, tragedy and faith eventually lead them to victory. Legacy of Honor is a must read in my opinion.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
|
Book: Legacy of Honor
Author: Renae Brumbaugh Green
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release Date: Nov, 2020
Click here to get your copy!
|
 |
He’s been raised to carry on the legacy.
After her mother’s untimely death, Emma Monroe’s dreams to become a teacher are dashed. She takes a job as maid and cook at the local Stratton Ranch, where she endures humiliation and hardship in order to provide for her ailing father and younger brother. Only Riley Stratton, her childhood friend and heir to the Stratton fortune, sees her heart. When she’s asked to care for Skye, the young half-Indian girl most family members refuse to claim, Emma finally finds the purpose she craves.
Riley Stratton has it all, or so it seems. Growing up as the youngest son of the rich and powerful John Stratton, Riley stands to inherit a legacy of greatness in the Stratton Ranch. On the surface, his family looks like they have it all, but manipulation, deceit, and an ever-present quest for power leave him desperate for change. Yet his father has made it clear: do things the Stratton way, or face alienation and disinheritance.
As Riley and Emma choose between honor, dreams, and expectations—not to mention the love they can no longer deny—their first steps prove how quickly the situation can spin into danger. When their best efforts threaten the lives and hopes of those closest to them, it becomes clear the decisions they make will change the course of their lives forever.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Renae Brumbaugh Green is an ECPA Bestselling Author, award-winning humor columnist, and wannabe superhero. She lives in Texas with her handsome, country-boy husband, four nearly-perfect children and one nearly-perfect son-in-law, and far too many animals. When she’s not writing, Renae teaches online classes and tries to be rugged without chipping her nail polish.
MORE FROM RENAE:
I’ve been writing this book for more than a decade!
In 2008, my dear friend and writing mentor, Chip Ricks, shared a book idea with me. Loosely based on her own family history, she wanted to write a story about two brothers—one who chose to live for Christ, the other who didn’t. She wanted to follow that family through the generations, to show the impact of that one choice, on the people who came behind.
She just had one problem. Chip was a brilliant writer, but she wasn’t a fiction writer. “Will you help me write this book?”
Now, Chip was in her 80s at the time. She was a mother, a grandmother, to me in the faith. If she’d asked me to paint the moon pink, I’d have given it my best shot. For several years, Chip and I worked together on several versions of the book. We only ever got through the first few chapters, and we’d change our minds about the characters or the situations. Finally, one day she smiled at me. She said, “You know, Renae. This is your book. I know I whispered the idea to you, but I always wanted you to be the one to write it. I’m getting too old to work on this . . . please take it. It’s your story.”
Soon after, she moved across the country to live with her daughter. We stayed connected via phone calls and Facebook, until eventually, she stopped responding. We lost touch. I continued to write the book—Chip’s book. Now my book. I’d work on it a while, then put it away for several months, even a few years at one point. In 2017, I finished what would become the first final draft. I fiddled with it more, here and there, but I hung onto it until I met Misty Beller, my publisher at Wild Heart.
I submitted the book to her, and she accepted it, right away! Then the editor got hold of it. God bless Erin Taylor Young! She was brutal, in the best possible way. I spent weeks (months?) making the suggested changes, and each one made the book so much better. The day I turned in those final edits to my publisher, I opened up Facebook. There, on Chip’s FB page, was a note to all her friends.
From one of her children.
She’d gone to see her Heavenly Father.
I sat there, frozen, looking at my screen, big fat tears tracking my cheeks. How was it possible that on the day the book was complete, I learned of her death? She was so instrumental in my walk of faith, and in my path as a writer. It was almost like the Holy Spirit wanted me to know . . . this particular journey was now complete.
I hope you enjoy this book, book one in a trilogy, for it is very close to my heart. And I hope you learn from the actions of two brothers, so many years ago, that our choices have an impact on our own lives, and on the lives of those who follow us.
—Renae Brumbaugh Green
BLOG STOPS:
|
Among the Reads, October 16
Through the Lens of Scripture, October 16
The Christian Fiction Girl, October 17
deb’s Book Review, October 17
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 18
Labor Not in Vain, October 18
Texas Book-aholic, October 19
Genesis 5020, October 19
Vicky Sluiter, October 20
lakesidelivingsite, October 20
Betti Mace, October 21
Sara Jane Jacobs, October 21
ABBA’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 22
Sodbusterliving, October 22
Older & Smarter?, October 23
|
Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 23
For Him and My Family, October 24
Lighthouse Academy, October 24 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)
Inklings and notions, October 25
Daysong Reflections, October 25
Locks, Hooks and Books, October 26
Simple Harvest Reads, October 26 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Artistic Nobody, October 27 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Splashes of Joy, October 27
Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 28
Adventures Of a Travelers Wife, October 28
Connie’s History Classroom, October 29
Pause for Tales, October 29
|
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Renae is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/10258/legacy-of-honor-celebration-tour-giveaway
by admin | Oct 18, 2020 | Books, Law Enforcement, Love Inspired, Romance, Romantic Suspense, Suspense, Witness Protection
MY REVIEW:
Texas Holiday Hideout is a good example of why I enjoy Love Inspired Suspense. Due to its short mass market format, the reader jumps into the story feet first and only slows down for an occasional breath or two before the action picks up again. I also love that I can usually get through the entire novel in an evening so I don’t expect a long commitment to it, especially when I’m having a busy week. I am constantly amazed at how the Love Inspired authors are able to condense a story into a limited amount of pages without leaving me feeling deprived. In my opinion that takes true talent.
The story itself is somewhat unique. The heroine finds herself in need of witness protection after her mother’s murder only to discover that she has already been in the program unknowingly most of her life. Now that would do a real number on most people’s trust factor. Her own mother lied to her! Now to stay safe herself, she is forced to lie again and she doesn’t like it one bit. But she would do almost anything to protect her precious young son. U.S. Marshall Miles Avery is doing everything he can to keep Melissa and her son safe and his family has taken them both into their hearts. Can he continue to protect his own heart?
Lots of danger, action, suspense, and romance are in store for readers of Texas Holiday Hideout. Filled with multiple twists, turns, and surprises it is a tale that kept me turning the pages until the very end. Its emphasis on faith and trust was strong but subtle. Another winner from Virginia Vaughan and Love Inspired Suspense.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Celebrate Lit. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
|
Book: Texas Holiday Hideout
Author: Virginia Vaughan
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense
Release Date: October 1, 2020
Click here to get your copy!
|
 |
When her identity’s exposed, hiding on a lawman’s family ranch is her last hope.
After her mother is killed, Melissa Morgan’s shocked to learn she’s spent her life in witness protection. Now it’s US marshal Miles Avery’s job to keep her and her little boy safe. And with a mole in his agency, the only way to evade the killer is to hide Melissa on Miles’s family ranch…and pretend she’s his wife for the holidays.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Virginia Vaughan is a multi-published author of inspirational romantic suspense. Blessed to come from a large, southern family, her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table. She was a lover of books even from a young age, devouring gothic romance novels and stories of romance, danger, and love. She soon started writing them herself. A former investigator for the State of Mississippi, Virginia utilizes her criminal justice background with her love of writing to transform words into powerful stories of romance and danger.
MORE FROM VIRGINIA:
What if one day you discovered you were in the Witness Protection Program and didn’t know it?
This is the premise for my October book, TEXAS HOLIDAY HIDEOUT, which releases this month. My heroine, Melissa Morgan, learns she and her mother entered the program when Melissa was a child. Her mother never told her and, when Melissa witnesses her mother being murdered, she becomes the assassin’s next target. US Marshal Miles Avery steps in to protect the single mom and her son from a killer, but a leak in WITSEC leaves him with little options except to take his witnesses to his family’s ranch…and pretend she’s his wife for the holidays.
So, in celebration of TEXAS HOLIDAY HIDEOUT releasing this month, here are 10 things about the Witness Protection Security Program (or WITSEC) I learned during my research for this book.
- The program is voluntary. No one can be forced to enter.
- You can leave the program at any time—although it is not recommended.
- No person in the program, who follows the rules, has ever been killed.
- People entering WITSEC sometimes keep their same first name and/or initials so that if they mess up and start to sign their name, they have time to correct.
- Since WITSEC is a federal program, many states have their own programs to protect witnesses of gang or street-level crimes.
- If you get married while in WITSEC, you must lie to your new spouse to protect your true identity in the event the relationship doesn’t last.
- Protected witnesses are mostly criminals. Only about 5% are innocents despite the popular trope in movies and fiction.
- Local law enforcement may or may not be notified when a protected witness is relocated to their jurisdiction.
- Divorced, non-custodial parents have had their children hidden from them and now must agree to allow their children to enter the program.
- WITSEC protected witnesses are expected to eventually become self-sufficient. They do not get to live off the government for the rest of their lives.
Did any of these facts about WITSEC surprise you? I’d love to hear which ones. I had a lot of fun researching WITSEC for TEXAS HOLIDAY HIDEOUT. I hope you enjoy Miles and Melissa’s story! Look out for the next book in the series—middle brother Navy SEAL Paul Avery’s story—coming in TEXAS TARGET STANDOFF in March of 2021.
BLOG STOPS:
|
Through the Fire Blogs, October 8
Genesis 5020, October 8
Hallie Reads, October 8
Artistic Nobody, October 8 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Through the Lens of Scripture, October 9
Texas Book-aholic, October 9
reviewingbooksplusmore, October 9
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 10
deb’s Book Review, October 10
The Cafe Scholar, October 10
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 11
KarenSueHadley, October 11
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 11
Older & Smarter?, October 12
Inklings and notions, October 12
Simple Harvest Reads, October 12 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
She Lives To Read, October 13
Hebrews 12 Endurance, October 13
For Him and My Family, October 13
Betti Mace, October 14
Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, October 14
|
Locks, Hooks and Books, October 14
Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 15
lakesidelivingsite, October 15
Lighthouse Academy, October 15
To Everything There Is A Season, October 15
Sara Jane Jacobs, October 16
Blogging With Carol, October 16
Book Love, October 16 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Tell Tale Book Reviews, October 17
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 17
Batya’s Bits, October 17
Emily Yager, October 18
Labor Not in Vain, October 18
HookMeInABook, October 18
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 19
Mary Hake, October 19
Daysong Reflections, October 19
For the Love of Literature, October 20
Bigreadersite, October 20
EmpowerMoms, October 20
Blossoms and Blessings, October 21
Splashes of Joy, October 21
Pause for Tales, October 21
|
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate her tour, Virginia is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of Texas Holiday Hideout!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/101f3/texas-holiday-hideout-celebration-tour-giveaway
Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.
Barbara Cornthwaite lives in the middle of Ireland with her husband and children. She taught college English before “retiring” to do something she loves far more; her days are now filled with homeschooling her six children, trying to keep the house tidy (a losing battle), and trying to stay warm in the damp Irish climate (also a losing battle). She is surrounded by medieval castles, picturesque flocks of sheep, and ancient stone monuments. These things are unappreciated by her children, who are more impressed by traffic jams, skyscrapers, and hot weather.
