by admin | Jun 14, 2019 | Books, Historical, Prohibition, Romantic Suspense
MY REVIEW:
Once again Melody Carlson has pulled me into one of her books and held me captive for a few hours that flew by much too quickly. I thoroughly enjoyed Harbor Secrets, a novel set on the Oregon coast during the turbulent era of Prohibition. I particularly enjoyed this story because my daughter now lives on the Oregon coast and it was fun to learn some of its history through the lives of the characters.
Anna McDowell is a strong, single mother who has been estranged from her father for many years. Returning home with her teen daughter after her father suffers a stroke, Anna takes over her father’s newspaper until he can recover. Most residents are not very happy with a woman in charge of the paper and it doesn’t take very long for Anna to realize that something fishy is going on in Sunset Cove. As she investigates, she also finds herself the center of attention of more than one eligible bachelor.
As the title indicates, this suspenseful tale is filled with secrets, some that directly affect Anna’s life. In the midst of all the action, danger, suspense, and romance is a strong story of forgiveness and reconciliation that led to a particularly satisfying ending. 
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:
A Peaceful Coastal Town…Threatened by a Storm of Secrets
It’s 1916 when newspaper woman Anna McDowell learns her estranged father has suffered a stroke. Deciding it’s time to repair bridges, Anna packs up her precocious adolescent daughter and heads for her hometown in Sunset Cove, Oregon.
Although much has changed since the turn of the century, some things haven’t. Anna finds the staff of her father’s paper not exactly eager to welcome a woman into the editor-in-chief role, but her father insists he wants her at the helm. Anna is quickly pulled into the charming town and her new position…but just as quickly learns this seaside getaway harbors some dark and dangerous secrets.
With Oregon’s new statewide prohibition in effect, crime has crept along the seacoast and invaded even idyllic Sunset Cove. Anna only meant to get to know her father again over the summer, but instead she finds herself rooting out the biggest story the town has ever seen—and trying to keep her daughter safe from it all.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women, and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, True Colors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including RT’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita, and the Gold medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog.
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by admin | Jun 14, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Humor, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I may as well admit it, I’m officially old – at least Wooing Cadie McCaffrey managed to make me feel my age. Actually, this novel is very well written and witty with a heavy dose of serious real-life situations and faith thrown in for good measure.
Cadie and Will are both immensely likeable people and quite suited to each other but life has gotten in the way. This has left Cadie feeling dissatisfied and determined to end their relationship which leads in turn to a misunderstanding and a big mistake which makes Cadie even more determined to end it. At this point I wanted to shake her and ask “Why now?!” Of course she didn’t listen and I had to continue to observe their sometimes awkward encounters with increasing frustration. Happily everything turned out well by the end of the story.
I applaud the author for tackling some touchy situations with total honesty. The truth is that even Christians make mistakes but God is there to redeem them all if they are truly repentant and continue to follow Him. I feel that this would be an excellent book for older teens, especially if they can learn from Cadie and Will’s mistakes.
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 four years with her boyfriend, Cadie McCaffrey is thinking of ending things. Convinced Will doesn’t love her in the “forever” way she loves him, Cadie believes it’s time for her to let him go before life passes her by. When a misunderstanding leads to a mistake, leaving her hurt, disappointed, and full of regret, she finally sends him packing.
But for Will, the end of their relationship is only the beginning of his quest to figure out how to be the man Cadie wanted him to be. With the dubious guidance of his former pro-athlete work friends and tactics drawn from Cadie’s favorite romantic comedies, Will attempts to win her back. It’s a foolproof plan. What could possibly go wrong?
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bethany Turner is the author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck and the director of administration for Rock Springs Church in Southwest Colorado. A former bank executive and a three-time cancer survivor (all before she turned 35), Bethany knows that when God has plans for your life, it doesn’t matter what anyone else has to say. Because of that, she’s chosen to follow his call to write. She lives with her husband and their two sons in Colorado, where she writes for a new generation of readers who crave fiction that tackles the thorny issues of life with humor and insight.
by admin | Jun 13, 2019 | Books, Contemporary Fiction, Romance, Suspense
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Vigilant, the first book of The Night Guardians series by Sara Davison, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
MY REVIEW:
Vigilant is one of those novels that will make its reader think and then probably think some more! Not only is it a well-written nail-biter with a touch of romance but it brings up some very disquieting questions about how far a Christian should go to help the weak and powerless. Should we obey the law without question or are there times when civil disobedience is necessary?
In Vigilant these are some of the questions certain characters must ask themselves when children begin to disappear from their homes. Two brothers who were victims of terrible abuse as children have become advocates for children in similar circumstances but often find their hands tied by the system. A detective and his partner find themselves working overtime attempting to solve the case of the disappearing children. As their paths cross and two of the men fall in love with the same woman, things get a bit complicated.
I enjoyed this book although it was at times difficult to read, especially the incidents of child abuse even though those scenes were not as graphic as they could have been. I was not overly fond of the romantic aspect that involved a love triangle. None of the relationships were developed as well as I would have liked and Nicole was irritatingly indecisive about Gage and Daniel. I felt like she rushed into things without thinking it through. Other than that, the story was very strong with plenty of action and suspense to keep it moving along.
I did not reach any clear conclusions about the questions raised but I do agree that they are legitimate ones. Now that I have rambled somewhat aimlessly, I would recommend this book if you don’t mind a challenge on exactly what your Christian responsibilities should be and where you should draw the line.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by JustRead Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: Vigilant
Series: The Night Guardians, Book 1
Author: Sara Davison
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink
Release Date: June 1, 2019
Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
She must choose between the man who represents the law and the one who may have taken it into his own hands.
Neglected by her parents for most of her life, Nicole Hunter keeps everyone, especially men, at arms’ length. So when Attorney Gage Kelly walks into the diner where she is waiting tables one evening, she fights her attraction to him with everything she has.
Gage and his brother Holden grew up in an abusive home, and Gage has baggage of his own. But the connection between him and Nicole is too strong to ignore, and Gage manages to convince them both that their relationship is worth the risk.
Then children begin disappearing in the night.
When Detective Daniel Grey starts to close in on the child snatcher, and enlists Nicole’s help, she faces her deepest fear. Everything and everyone she has clung to so tightly could be ripped from her, leaving her completely alone.
Except for one.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Sara Davison is the author of the romantic suspense novel, The Watcher, the romantic suspense series, The Seven Trilogy, and the suspense novel, Vigilant, book one of The Night Guardians Series. She has been a finalist for eight national writing awards, including the Word Award for Best New Canadian Christian author, a Carol, and two Daphne du Maurier Awards, and is a Word and Cascade Award winner. Sara has a degree in English Literature and currently resides in Ontario, Canada with her husband Michael and their three children, all of whom she (literally) looks up to.
CONNECT WITH SARA: Website | Facebook | Twitter
TOUR GIVEAWAY:
(1) winner will receive a copy of Vigilant and $25 Amazon Gift Card!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight June 4, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on June 17, 2019. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open to US/CAN residents!
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
by admin | Jun 11, 2019 | Books, Historical, Romance, World War 1
Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for The Number of Love by Roseanna M. White with JustRead Publicity Tours! Follow along with the tour for a special inside peek at how The Number of Love is connected to the author’s previous book from another series, A Song Unheard.
MY REVIEW:
Although I somehow missed this author’s first series, I have been a fan throughout the previous two series and fully intend to catch up on the earlier books as well. They are already on my shelf waiting for me to find the time to read them.
The Number of Love is Roseanna M. White’s first novel in her latest series, The Codebreakers which features members of Room 40, a secret and important part of England’s intelligence network during World War 1. Readers met Margo De Wilde in White’s novel, A Song Unheard, the second book in the previous Shadows Over England series. I loved seeing her in this important role as one of the esteemed codebreakers and learning more about her life and a bit of how her mind worked. Her reluctant romantic relationship with Drake Elton was a welcome bonus as he proved himself a very worthy suitor for her.
I am constantly amazed at the talent of Roseanna White and the magical way she brings her characters to life as well as the depth of her research. History comes to life from her gifted imagination and I find myself learning and wanting to know even more about our past. WWI was given so little time in my high school history classes and because WWII was the “big war” for my parents’ generation, it was the one I knew most about. I so appreciate the way White has filled in some of the gaps in my woefully inadequate knowledge about WWI.
As I have found in all White’s books, The Number of Love was easy-to-read with characters I cared about. It captured and held my full attention from the very beginning with its danger, mystery, action, and romance as well as its profound spiritual truths. This book added one more reason why I am such a fan of this author. All her books are on my keeper shelf. If you are a late comer to her novels, don’t wait any longer and give them a try, especially if you are a lover of history. I don’t think you will be disappointed.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours and am also a member of the author’s influencer team. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: The Number of Love
Series: Codebreakers #1
Author: Roseanna M. White
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: June 4, 2019
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Intrigue
Three years into the Great War, England’s greatest asset is their intelligence network—field agents risking their lives to gather information, and codebreakers able to crack every German telegram. Margot De Wilde thrives in the environment of the secretive Room 40, where she spends her days deciphering intercepted messages. But when her world is turned upside down by an unexpected loss, for the first time in her life numbers aren’t enough.
Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, followed by an enemy that just won’t give up. He’s smitten quickly by the too-intelligent Margot, but how to convince a girl who lives entirely in her mind that sometimes life’s answers lie in the heart?
Amidst biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them, but others they love, Margot and Drake will have to work together to save them all from the very secrets that brought them together.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | ChristianBook
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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.
CONNECT WITH ROSEANNA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram
TOUR GIVEAWAY:
Grand Prize: Shadows Over England series, The Number of Love, and the Decrypto board game, plus “Mi Alma” necklace (Necklace is 24″ chain with a 1″ pendant that says “Mi Alma” Spanish for “My Soul”. A term of endearment used throughout the book. Handmade by Bookworm Mama)
(3) additional winners of The Number of Love.
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight June 3, 2019 and last through 11:59 pm June 17, 2019. US only. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
