Never Miss by Melissa Koslin

MY REVIEW:

Melissa Koslin is another new to me author. As a fan of romantic suspense, I was eager to read Never Miss. I was not disappointed.

Although both the hero and heroine were almost too good to be true, this novel is fiction after all so I ignored their perfection and enjoyed every minute of their story. Between Lyndon’s photographic memory and Kadance’s skills as a sniper and navigational talent, not to mention that both were excellent problem solvers, the pair of them were a nearly superhero level team.

I guess I should have known to expect more plots involving viruses and biological warfare due to our all too real pandemic but this is the second novel this month. At this point I’d prefer my recreational reading to focus on another subject but nevertheless I did enjoy Never Miss. The pacing was excellent as was character development. I particularly liked Lyndon’s handsome nerd persona.

The requisite action, danger, suspense, and romance were present and the story contained a good balance of dialogue and action. The author also managed to keep me on my toes with several surprises and plot twists. I will definitely be on the lookout for more books by Melissa Koslin. Suspense lovers might want to check her out.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Former CIA sniper Kadance Tolle possesses a special set of skills and a rare pedigree. She comes from a family of assassins, and by saving Lyndon Vaile’s life she risks being found by them. Despite the danger, Kadance feels compelled to help Lyndon discover who is after him–and his research that seems to prove that the Ebola virus was manmade and is about to be weaponized.

With shadowy figures pursuing them and a Mastermind watching their every move, Kadance and Lyndon must scramble to stop an impending bioattack at the State of the Union address. But their warnings fall on deaf ears, and it becomes increasingly clear that there’s no one they can trust–except perhaps each other.

Strap in for a breakneck story that will have you up all night, hurtling toward the last page as the clock ticks and time runs out.

Read an excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Melissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. She and Corey, her husband of twenty years, live in Jacksonville, Florida, where they do their best not to melt in the sun. Find more information on her books at MelissaKoslin.com.

The Paris Betrayal by James R. Hannibal

MY REVIEW:

James R. Hannibal is  new to me author and I was not at all sure what to expect from his latest novel Paris Betrayal. I wasn’t very far into the narrative before I had very mixed feelings about it. I first wanted to stop reading because in some ways it reminded me too much of our current pandemic with its plot element of an engineered bioweapon. On the other hand, the dangerous adventures of Ben Calix made me want to keep reading in order to find out how things turned out for him.

Poor Ben, once a favored spy in his organization, soon found himself out in the cold with nowhere to turn and pursued by unknown agents. His page turner of an adventure moved at breakneck speed as he alone attempted to stop a madman from unleashing a devastating disease on the world. Plenty of action, danger, suspense, and a hint of unexpected romance fill the pages as the hero barely manages to stay one step ahead of his adversaries.

Readers expecting a strong Christian message might be disappointed because it is quite subtle. It is a clean read and contains no gruesome depictions of violence that many books of this genre might include. Fans of spy thrillers should enjoy this one.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

After a rough mission in Rome involving the discovery of a devastating bioweapon, Company spy Ben Calix returns to Paris to find his perfectly ordered world has collapsed. A sniper attack. An ambush. A call for help that brings French SWAT forces down on his head. Ben is out. This is a severance–reserved for incompetents and traitors.

Searching for answers and anticipating a coming attack, Ben and a woman swept up in his misfortunes must travel across Europe to find the sniper who tried to kill him, the medic who saved his life, the schoolmaster who trained him, and an upstart hacker from his former team. More than that, Ben must come to grips with his own insignificance as the Company’s plan to stop Leviathan from unleashing the bioweapon at any cost moves forward without him–and he struggles against the infection that is swiftly claiming territory within his own body.

Award-winning author James R. Hannibal rachets up the tension on every page of this suspenseful new thriller.

Read an excerpt HERE.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

James R. Hannibal is no stranger to secrets and adventure. This former stealth pilot from Houston, Texas, has been shot at, locked up with surface-to-air missiles, and chased down a winding German road by an armed terrorist. He is a two-time Silver Falchion Award winner for his children’s mysteries, a former Thriller Award nominee, and a 2020 Selah and Carol Award finalist for The Gryphon Heist–the opener for the CIA series that now includes Chasing the White Lion. James is a rare multisense synesthete, meaning all of his senses intersect. He sees and feels sounds and smells, and hears flashes of light. If he tells you the chocolate cake you offered smells blue and sticky, take it as a compliment.

Crazy for You by Michelle Sass Aleckson

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Crazy for You by Michelle Sass Aleckson presented by Susan May Warren, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

MY REVIEW:

I have absolutely loved having the chance to revisit Deep Haven through the new Deep Haven collection presented by Susan May Warren and each volume written by a new-to-me young author. So far each of them has stayed true to the standard set by Warren in her own previous Deep Haven series and it has been such fun meeting new characters as well as touching base with old favorites.

Crazy For You features Pete Dahlquist, fire chief and member of the town council, who just happens to be related to most of the Deep Haven residents – most notably the Dalquists and the Zimmermans. Unfortunately the two families are fierce competitors and each family wants what is best for the town but only if it is best for their own interests. Pete is stuck in the middle attempting to keep the peace but it has become evident that that’s a near impossibility.

Ronnie Morales has recently moved to Deep Haven to take the head paramedic position, hoping that the move will help her younger brother Tiago who could not seem to stay out of trouble in the city. Dedicated to her profession and her brother, Ronnie does not always come across well to others and may have difficulty lasting her probation period for that reason.

Neither Ronnie nor Pete are thrilled to have to work together but they both quickly realize that their first impressions of the other were not correct and they soon become friends. Their friendship begins to break down some of Ronnie’s walls of self-protection and Pete learns that it is okay to make decisions on what he believes is best rather than trying to please both sides of his family.

The story itself moved along at a steady pace with numerous conflicts and dangerous events along the way. A few of Pete’s relatives were a real piece of work and one in particular was a true menace. I particularly loved how the town came together at the end to support Pete, Ronnie, and Tiago. Crazy For You is a great book and hope everyone will get a chance to read it.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

Title: Crazy for You

Series: Deep Haven Collection #3

Author: Michelle Sass Aleckson presented by Susan May Warren

Publisher: Sunrise Publishing

Release Date: May 25, 2021

Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

The problem with being related to everyone in town is that there is no one left to date…until now…but will this outsider survive his family?

Former soldier Veronica “Ronnie” Morales isn’t going to let her kid brother, Tiago, get pulled into the gangs of Minneapolis, so, seeking safety and a fresh start, she heads to sleepy Deep Haven on the north shore of Minnesota. She’s hoping to put down roots as the paramedic for the new Crisis Response Team, but it’s not easy to be the town outsider.

Fire Chief Peter Dahlquist is a peacemaker—he has to be. After he’s related to both of the Deep Haven dynasties – the Zimmermans and the Dahlquists, Deep Haven’s version of the Hatfields and the McCoys. Worse, Peter is the holdout vote for a landmark project, which also makes him the loneliest guy in town when both sides demand that he pick sides. The only one who seems to understand his plight is the newcomer in town…his pretty, street-tough paramedic.

When Tiago finds himself caught up in small town shenanigans and the town blames Ronnie for tragedy, Peter is forced to pick sides. But will his choice cost him the home—and the woman—he loves?

PURCHASE LINKS:  Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Christianbook | BookBub

ALSO AVAILABLE:

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

Susan May Warren is the USA Today best-selling novelist of 80 books. With more than 1.5 million books in print, she is beloved by reviewers and readers around the world. Visit Susan at www.susanmaywarren.com.

CONNECT WITH SUSAN: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

After growing upon both the east and west coasts, Michelle Sass Aleckson now lives the country life in central Minnesota with her own hero and their four kids. She loves rocking out to 80’s music on a Saturday night, playing Balderdash with the fam, and getting lost in good stories. Especially stories that shine grace. And if you’re wondering, yes, Sass is her maiden name. Visit her at www.michellealeckson.com.

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE: Website | Facebook| Instagram | Twitter

Merging the creative energies of best-selling authors Susan May Warren and Lindsay Harrel, Sunrise Publishing is the matchmaker for established authors who want to build on their current success for future growth and aspiring authors looking to break out, build an audience, and hone their writing skills.

CONNECT WITH SUNRISE: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | admin@sunrisepublishing.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

GIVEAWAY:

(1) winner will receive a $15 Amazon gift card + 3 Crazy for You ebooks (one ebook for the winner and two to give to friends)!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 25, 2021 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on June 1, 2021. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

A Groom for Bailey by Heather Blanton

MY REVIEW:

As one of several young women widowed by an unexpected blizzard, Bailey Bryson finds herself pressured to find a new husband or leave Last Chance, Nebraska. Hesitant to agree to a mail order marriage, Bailey has finally resigned herself to her fate. To complicate matters, Bailey has become well know as a writer in multiple historical publications under the assumed identity of Dr. Perseus Stone

Reporter Collin Winchester has arrived in Last Chance to track down and expose Dr. Stone as a fraud. The assignment may just be his own last chance at keeping his new job. Little does he realize that he will encounter the young woman who has remained on his mind since their brief meeting a decade before and that she will become the center of his search.

Although A Groom for Bailey is not the usual western romance I have become accustomed to reading from Heather Blanton, it is a delightful second chance romance that can easily be read in one sitting. It illustrates how many complications can result from what seems to be one little seemingly innocent lie. I enjoyed every minute of it and especially appreciated the ingenious solution to Bailey’s problems.

If you have never read a novel by Heather Blanton, do not wait another day to meet her unique and realistic characters.

I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

It was just a harmless, little lie…

Widow Bailey Bryson writes scholarly articles under the masculine-sounding name of Dr. Perseus Stone. When handsome reporter Collin Winchester comes to Last Chance, Nebraska seeking an interview with the good doctor, a whirlwind of lies and confusion tears through the town. No one knows what to believe, especially since the truth is mingling so well with the fiction.

And Bailey is caught in the middle. She knows the truth will set her free, but then she learns Collin has come to Last Chance to smear Dr. Stone’s reputation. A man who does not exist, yet one the town is now bent on protecting.

How can she and Collin get at the truth—especially when their hearts are hiding secrets, too?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Heather Blanton is the independent bestselling author of several Christian Westerns, including the “Romance in the Rockies” series which was recently OPTIONED for a LIMITED TV SERIES.

She is a former journalist and avid researcher who endeavors to seamlessly weave actual history in among fictional storylines. She loves exploring the American West, especially ghost towns and museums. She has walked parts of the Oregon Trail, ridden horses through the Rockies, climbed to the top of Independence Rock, and even held an outlaw’s note in her hand.

“Heather Blanton is blessed with a natural storytelling ability, an ‘old soul’ wisdom, and wide expansive heart. Her characters are vividly drawn, and in the western settings where life can be hard, over quickly, and seemingly without meaning, she reveals Larger Hands holding everyone and everything together.”
MARK RICHARD, EXECUTIVE PRODUCER, AMC’S HELL ON WHEELS, and PEN/ERNEST HEMINGWAY AWARD WINNER

Her novels are all Christian Western Romance because this is the genre that lets her write about feisty pioneer women who struggle to find love and keep their faith. Like all good, old-fashioned Westerns, there is always justice, a moral message, American values, lots of high adventure, unexpected plot twists, and often a touch of suspense. Of course, romance is always a strong element in her stories because it is such a beautiful gift from God and a perfect reflection of how he loves us: sacrificially and lavishly. Her work is inspired by authors like the great Louis L’Amour, Francine Rivers, and Linda Lael Miller, to name just a few.

She grew up in the mountains of Western North Carolina on a steady diet of Bonanza, Gunsmoke, and John Wayne Westerns. Her most fond childhood memory is of sitting next to her daddy, munching on popcorn, and watching Lucas McCain unload that Winchester! Her daddy also taught her to shoot and, trust us, she can sew on buttons with her rifle.

She is a proud member of Western Writers of America and American Christian Fiction Writers.

Dusk’s Darkest Shores by Carolyn Miller

MY REVIEW:

I first read and reviewed The Elusive Miss Ellison in March, 2017 and have read and reviewed most, if not all, of Carolyn Miller’s subsequent novels since then. To say that she has become one of my must-have authors is an understatement. I have also enjoyed watching as this author has honed her craft and finely tuned each book along the way. I have thoroughly enjoyed them all but Dusk’s Darkest Shores may just be her best novel thus far.

Not only is this book a lovely romance but it plumbs the depth of human emotions and brings hope for those who believe they have none. Mary and Adam were characterized so well that I found it easy to care about their lives and struggles. I also appreciated how each of them matured as they recognized how true character is revealed by how one reacts to unexpected circumstances and hardship and that true beauty is much deeper than a pretty face.

Dusk’s Darkest Shores was one book I did not want to put down until its end and that end came much too quickly for me. The story was filled with all the requisite elements to make me one happy reader. If you have not read a book by Carolyn Miller, this one would be the perfect place to start.

I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by the author. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

How can a meek wallflower help a returning war hero whose dreams are plunged into darkness?

Mary Bloomfield has no illusions. Her chances for matrimony have long since passed her by. Still, her circumstances are pleasant enough, especially now that she has found purpose in assisting her father with his medical practice in England’s beautiful Lake District. Even without love, it’s a peaceful life.

That is until Adam Edgerton returns to the sleepy district. This decorated war hero did not arrive home to acclaim and rest, but to a new battle against the repercussions of an insidious disease. Mary’s caring nature cannot stand to see someone suffer–but how can she help this man see any brightness in his future when he’s plunged into melancholic darkness, his dreams laid waste by his condition?

Adam wants no charity, but he’s also no coward. If this gentle woman can work hard, how can he do less? Together they struggle to find a way forward for him. Frustration and antipathy slowly develop into friendship and esteem. Then a summer storm atop a mountain peak leads to scandal–and both Mary and Adam must search the depths of their closed hearts for answers if they hope to find any future path with happiness at its end.

Best-selling author Carolyn Miller is back with a fresh series that will not only thrill readers eager for more of her work, but bring in new fans looking for beautiful writing, fascinating research, deftly woven love stories, and real faith lived out in the Regency period.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Carolyn Miller lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. Together with her husband she has pastored a church for ten years, and worked as a public high school English and Learning and Support teacher.
 
A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English Literature, and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. Her Regency novels include The Elusive Miss Ellison, The Captivating Lady Charlotte, The Dishonorable Miss DeLancey, Winning Miss Winthrop, Miss Serena’s Secret, The Making of Mrs. Hale, A Hero for Miss Hatherleigh, Underestimating Miss Cecilia, and Misleading Miss Verity, all available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, Koorong, etc Her contemporary novels include Restoring Fairhaven and Regaining Mercy, as part of the Independence Islands series.
 

Connect on social media :

  • Facebook - Black Circle  Pinterest - Black Circle  Twitter - Black Circle  Instagram - Black Circle  Follow me on Goodreads  Follow me on BookBub  LinkedIn - Black Circle