Labyrinth of Lies, #2 By Irene Hannon

 

 Book Description:  When the daughter of a high-profile businessman disappears from an exclusive girls' boarding school, police detective Cate Reilly is tapped for an undercover assignment. It doesn't take her long to realize that beneath the veneer of polish and wealth, things are not as they seem at Ivy Hill Academy. But the biggest surprise of all? The only man she ever loved is also working at the school.

Zeke Sloan has never forgotten Cate, but now isn't the best time for their paths to cross again. When their two seemingly disparate agendas begin to intertwine--and startling connections emerge among the players--the danger escalates significantly. But who is the mastermind behind the elaborate ruse? And how far will they go to protect their house of cards?

My Thoughts:  I love this story!  I love the characters, the romance and the mystery.  And such an intriguing book cover.  Looks so gothic and suspenseful.

This is the second book in A Triple Threat Novel.  But never fear for these can be read out of order.  

The undercover assignment that Cate Reilly takes on is quite interesting especially since I love education.  But this posh Ivy Hill academy seems a bit sinister and why take a business man's daughter?  This is the mystery.

Cate Reilly is undercover at the Ivy Hill Academy and lo and behold, Zeke Sloan is also working at the posh school.  But why?  And can Cate keep her heart?  This is the romance.

Such a great story with quite a few twists and turns....twists and turns keep the reader's interest.

Fun Friday

 

Take time to renew yourself today!

Read a good book and have a cuppa!

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

 Walking Banana Pudding

So easy just follow picture for putting it together.

Great for parties & family get togethers.

In the Shadow of Denali (The Heart of Alaska) by Tracie Peterson, Kimberley Woodhouse

 

 

Book Description:  Cassidy Ivanoff and her father, John, work at the new and prestigious Curry Hotel outside Mt. McKinley. While John will be expedition and wilderness exploration guide for the wealthy tourists, Cassidy has signed on as a cook's assistant. Both are busy as the hotel prepares to welcome the president of the United States on his way to drive in the golden spike to officially complete the railroad.

Allan Brennan travels to the Curry Hotel to be an apprentice of a seasoned Alaska mountain guide. Ever since his father's death climbing Mt. McKinley, he's worked to earn enough money to make the trek to the Alaska territory himself. His father's partner blames their guide for the death of his father, but Allan wants to find the truth for himself. He finds an unlikely ally in Cassidy, and as the two begin to look into the mystery, they suddenly find that things are much less clear, and much more dangerous, than either could ever imagine.

My Thoughts:  I've always loved books authored by Tracie Petersen and now she has teamed up with Kimberley Woodhouse to write a great story set in Alaska.

Cassidy Ivanoff and her father, John, are in Alaska to work at the famous Curry Hotel which is within view of Mt. McKinley.

Cassidy is working as a cook's assistant and her father will be a guide in the wilderness for wealthy guests.

Then Allan Brennan comes along to be an apprentice as a mountain guide.

This historical romance was fascinating!  And Cassidy's cooking skills...as well as, the mountain guides adventures was a fun lesson for this reader.

There is a bit of a mystery in this read too.  Allan's father's guide blames the death of his father on their guide but Allan is there to be an apprentice so he can to find out the truth concerning his father's death.

Meeting Cassidy and finding that she is a great partner in helping him find out the truth in this somewhat dangerous mystery.

Then the president of the USA is making a stop at the hotel as he travels to drive the golden spike to complete the railroad.

A lot of history and mystery combined with some sweet romance.

\

• Series: The Heart of Alaska (Book 1)
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764219235
• ISBN-13: 978-0764219238

Lost in Darkness (Of Monsters and Men) by Michelle Griep

 

 Book Description:  Travel writer Amelia Balfour’s dream of touring Egypt is halted when she receives news of a revolutionary new surgery for her grotesquely disfigured brother. This could change everything, and it does. . .in the worst possible way.

Surgeon Graham Lambert has suspicions about the doctor he’s gone into practice with, but he can’t stop him from operating on Amelia’s brother. Will he be too late to prevent the man’s death? Or to reveal his true feelings for Amelia before she sails to Cairo?

My Thoughts:  When I signed up for this blog tour I did not read the book description well or it didn't register.

So, as I began reading this novel I was expecting something ever so different.  My mistake not the author's.  

This is about Frankenstein.  Frankenstein, the title character in Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's novel Frankenstein, the prototypical “mad scientist” who creates a monster by which he is eventually killed. Lonely and miserable, the monster turns upon its creator, who eventually loses his life. 

The story begins innocently enough but as the reader continues in the story, it definitely takes on a different aura. 

This is the most unusual story but great for this time of year.  If you enjoy all things monster and kind.of.innocent then you'll love this read.

Even though this is the most unusual story, especially for a mystery/romance reader such as me, I found the story fascinating and so close to the original Frankenstein story with a few exceptions.  Unfortunately, I also found this story extremely sad.

Michelle Griep is a master story teller so you may love this novel.

Sisters by the Sea by: by Wanda E. Brunstetter, Jean Brunstetter, Richelle Brunstetter, Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach

 My Thoughts:  This is a WOW read!  Four stories in one book by four different authors.  

I love books by Wanda E. Brunstetter and now she has three authors, all in the family to write new stories about sisters.  

The first short story is by Wanda E. Brunstetter at is Seashell Cake.  A sweet story about Leora Lambright.  Lenora works in a bakery and when John Miller comes in its instant attraction.  However, this does does seem to be a match made in heaven.

The next story is Beach Ball by Jean Brunstetter.  Violet Lambright is Amish but leaves it all behind to become a waitress and she drives her own car.  She is beautiful and independent.  Can her life work the way she thinks?

The third story is Fragments of a Sand Dollar by Richelle Brunstetter.  This story is about Francine Lambright who is a faithful Amish young woman and cannot understand why the love of her life would consider leaving the Amish faith.

Lorine Brunstetter Van Corbach pens the final story, A Sarasota Sunset.  Alana Lambright has anxiety from a traumatic past.  Can she find love and healing.

All of these stories center around sisters who find their way to Florida; hence, the title Sisters by the Sea.

Four grand stories of faith, hope and love!

"I received a complimentary copy of this book from Barbour Publishing and was under no obligation to post a review."

Shadows at Dusk (Missing in Alaska Book #2) by Elizabeth Goddard

 

Book Description:  A missing person. A murder victim. And two hurting people seeking justice, connected in ways they could never imagine.
Montana Detective Trevor West is desperate to learn what happened to his sister, who went missing in Alaska over a year ago, leaving nothing but a few photographs as clues to her whereabouts. At the advice of Police Chief Autumn Long, Trevor enlists the help of an experienced bush pilot. If Carrie James can't help him find the places in the photographs, no one can.
But Carrie has her own agenda. Grieving the death of her closest friend and the only person she could trust, Carrie will help Trevor find his sister on one condition--that he help her track down her friend's killer.

My Thoughts:  Here it is!  The long awaited second book in Missing in Alaska. And what a story!

This story takes us on a journey of life aspects. . . hurting people, people who have lost ones to murder and redemption.  Not to mention the suspense which borders on a thriller read.

Sometimes justice isn't justice until the the one sho has been missing is found or the one who is murdered has been abdicated.

Detective Trevor West is one of those guys who has a tender heart and a hard exterior. He loves his sister and only wants to find her.  He knows that Carrie James is his only hope.

Carrie has her own agenda.  She'll help Trevor IF he helps her track down her friend's murderer.

Both Trevor and Carrie seem desperate to find their loved ones but can desperation sometimes leads to measures beyond our grasp.

Best quote in my opinion of this story is “…I can’t think of anyone who might be after me, except the man who killed me.”

Don't miss this most excellent thriller/suspense read by Ms. Goddard!

*This book was provided for review by Revell*

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Revell (October 17, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0800742052
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0800742058

Naomi's Gift by Amy Clipston

 

Book Description: Take a trip to Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where you'll meet the women of the Kauffman Amish Bakery in Lancaster County. As each woman's story unfolds, you will share in her heartaches, trials, joys, dreams ... and secrets. You'll discover how the simplicity of the Amish lifestyle can clash with the 'English' way of life---and the decisions and consequences that follow. Most importantly, you will be encouraged by the hope and faith of these women, and the importance they place on their families. Naomi's Gift re-introduces twenty-four-year-old Naomi King, who has been burned twice by love and has all but given up on marriage and children. As Christmas approaches---a time of family, faith, and hope for many others---Naomi is more certain than ever her life will be spent as an old maid, helping with the family's quilting business and taking care of her eight siblings. Then she meets Caleb, a young widower with a 7-year-old daughter, and her world is once again turned upside-down. 

My Review:  I love Christmas stories!  There's just something about the "magic" of the holiday.  And Amy Clipston once again pens a fascinating and heartwarming story set in the small village of Bird-in-Hand, Naomi's GIFT.

My heart goes out to Naomi . . . she lives for everyone else.  She's a hard working, kind hearted Amish lady.  She's one of those women that can easily bake, cook, clean, quilt and love her family.  But Naomi is "riddled" by sadness.  She longs to be married and have a family of her own but after two attempts of being "burned" by love, Naomi feels that she will probably be an old maid.  Not that she minds, but she just longs to love and be loved.

The story begins with Caleb, a widower, and his 7 year old daughter stopping at the farmer's market before visiting his aunt and uncle.  His daughter, Susie, takes off once they enter the market and heads directly for the quilts.  The quilts that Naomi makes.  It is here at the quilts that the distraught Caleb finds his lost daughter.  It is also where he and Naomi meet and Naomi is distraught by Caleb's eyes!  Oh!How! Those eyes speak!  Such sadness but "that" look says ever so much!

Caleb and Susie continue on their way, leaving Naomi to go on with her life only to meet Susie and Caleb at church.  Love this love story! 

This small book is packed with the"magic" of Christmas....a wonderful combination of love, adventure and His story!

Dead Set (Agatha's Amish B&B Book 3) by Vannetta Chapman

 

 Book Description: Agatha Lapp is elated when Channel 4 News decides to run a feature story on Amish businesses. The extra publicity should guarantee even more success for her Plain and Simple B&B, especially after she’s finished with the remodel. The cameras are rolling live when Agatha raises the rubber mallet and punches the first hole in her living room wall. That’s when things get complicated…

Hidden inside the wall is a diamond-studded belt buckle stolen twenty years earlier. The police return the buckle to the owners and refuse to re-open the case. The public is convinced more stolen goods are hidden at Agatha’s. When overzealous treasure hunters break into the B&B and a dead body is found half a mile down the road, Agatha knows she needs to take this investigation into her own hands.

With the help of a retired detective and her best friend, Agatha sets out to solve the mystery of the Lost Texas Treasures and find a killer. Their chase leads them through the Texas Hill Country to the famed YO Ranch where Agatha finds herself looking down the barrel of a gun. Suddenly, she’s no longer worried about a remodel. She just wants to live through this showdown.

My Thoughts:  I love stories authored by Vannetta Chapman.  I was over.the.moon.happy to receive this third book in Agatha's Amish B&B series.

This is the third book but it can be read as a stand alone.  But don't miss out on the first two books.  They are all fantastic.

I relate to Agatha's friend Gina.  We huff and puff and roll our eyes but we love our people and are always trying to help.

Tony is a great friend to Agatha.  And no matter if your Englisch or plain you need a boyfriend to help you with the "hard things."  Tony is also a retired policeman which doesn't hurt.

The mystery begins right away as Agatha hammers a whole in the wall on a local TV station.  And she finds a super expensive belt buckle in the wall.  Well it's off to a mystery...the why's and what if's begin but then it gets really exciting when Agatha and Tony head to the Texas Hill country.  Yeah, guns are involved just not on Agatha's hip but the uhmmm...other guy.

I loved this story.  I must say out of the the three books this was my favorite.  Maybe because it has a lot of excitement and romance.  And baked goods and coffee are always on the docket.

*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.*

Fun Friday

 

An Unusual Amish Winter Match: An Uplifting Inspirational Romance (Indiana Amish Market, 3) by Vannetta Chapman

 Book Description:  He’s too serious. She’s too flighty.

But together, they might be perfect…

With his crops failing, Amish bachelor Ethan King already has enough problems. He certainly doesn’t need pretty Ada Yoder—and her sunny exuberance or her penchant for jumping from job to job—adding to his troubles. But when a family emergency requires them to work together, they’ll discover that the biggest problem isn’t their differences…it’s their feelings for each other.

My Thoughts:  There's a reason it's called Love Inspired Inspirational Romance.  These books bring love and happiness to your day.

Vannetta Chapman is one of my favorite authors.  

In An Unusual Amish Winter Match Ada Yoder and Ethan King seem like an unusual match.

Honestly, Ada is almost the exact opposite of Ethan.  Ada is all sunshine and smiles and Ethan is serious about everything.

Ethan is concerned about his failing crops and well, everything. Sweet Ada likes to help but seems a bit flighty to Ethan.

This is a sweet and romantic of two individuals who seem so opposite but, yet, their opposites seem to attract them to each other.

You'll love this story!

Don't Close Your Eyes (The first book in the Hallowed Halls series) by Mary Alford

Book Description: Seven years ago, FBI Profiler Megan Iluak tapped into the mind of a serial killer—and nearly became his last victim. Her FBI colleague and then husband, Jack, put everything he had into finding the killer, but the case took its toll on Megan and Jack and destroyed their marriage. With her heart in shambles, Megan fled to the small Inuit village where she was from in remote Alaska, but vivid nightmares of the killer won’t let her go so easily. And soon, her dreams take a fresh and frightening twist from nightmare to reality.

Jack thought he’d made the right decision by letting Megan go and not fighting for their marriage. He believed she was better off without him after he’d almost gotten her killed. Now, with a new set of murders matching their closed case, there’s only one person who understands this killer enough to bring him in, and that’s Megan.

Jack wasn’t expecting all the old feelings he thought he’d buried down deep to resurface when he sees Megan again. Nor is he prepared to come face-to-face with Megan’s secret. The one that raises the stakes impossibly high.

My Thoughts: THIS book!  Do you believe in second chances?  We serve a God of second chances.  Sometimes second chances are what makes us more clear in our love and our purpose for living.

Megan Iluak is an FBI profiler.  She tapped into the mind of a serial killer and it nearly cost her her life.  It seems that everything began to fall around Megan as this nightmare thrust her into a flee from the nightmare mode.  

She feels her marriage is over and runs to the village in remote Alaska where she used to live. But the nightmares get worse and it seems that her nightmares are becoming her reality!

Jack, her husband/ex-husband, thought he should let Megan go.   He realizes it was a mistake.

Lots of suspense!  A fantastic read!  Don't miss this story!

at Peace in the Storm {Experiencing the Savior's Presence When You Need Him Most} by Ken Gire

 

Book Description:  When you need a Savior who stills the wind.

"Here's the rub about faith. Sure, prayer often changes outward things, but the only guaranteed miracle God offers us is inner peace, the peace of Christ. A peace so crazy deep that it cannot be analyzed or understood. It descends on us even when everything else is falling apart, while the drug-addicted child does not come to his senses, or the job offer doesn't pan out, or the cancer rages and the marriage is a hollow mess. But I'll let you in on a secret. This miracle of the 'inner variety,' this inexplicable and supernatural calm in the storm, is the greatest miracle you'll ever experience."

My Thoughts: All of us are human and so, all of us will go through a "storm" of some kind in our lives.  The storms are life are not always easily handled by humans, therefore, we need a Savior who will calm the storm and help us through this storm.

On page 57, Mr. Gire gently reminds us that, "As we weather storms, trying to navigate through the darkness, our temptation is to turn our eyes not toward God's Word, but toward the raging skies."  This statement was the whole pivotal point of this read for me.  I must keep my eyes on Jesus. . . just like Peter when he saw Jesus on the water . . . when I take my eyes off Jesus I will fall.  Thankfully Jesus will be there to catch me (if I let Him).  Oh!the!love!He!has!for!me!

This isn't a point by point, do this kind of read.  This is a walk by faith, keep your eyes on the One who loves you most.  An encouraging read for when we are faint of heart.

I love the way Mr. Gire makes life with Jesus so very real.  At the end of this wonderful book we see Jesus having merriment with His friends and disciples.  Yes, sometimes we need to give ourselves permission to have fun.  The storm will not always last, Jesus will be by our side.  "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint."Jeremiah 31:25  (end of book, p. 159)

This encouraging book would make a wonderful "card" for that special person who may be going through a storm in life.  It's also a a great read just for you to know Jesus is there for you!

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764208845
• ISBN-13: 978-0764208843

Unscripted by Davis Bunn

  

Book Description:  Young line producer Danny Byrd is well-known in Hollywood for being someone who gets things done on time and under budget. But when his reputation takes a beating after his partner--and former best friend--makes off with their investors' money, Danny has but one chance to redeem himself and restore his ruined career.

LA lawyer Megan Pierce has sacrificed years of her life proving herself to her impossible bosses only to find herself disgusted at their snobbery and their specious business practices. When an opportunity to actually make a difference comes her way, she knows she has to grab it--even though she's not entirely clear what "it" is.

Danny and Megan are each other's best hope for redemption. What they never could have imagined was that they might also be each other's best hope for love.

My Thoughts:  Davis Bunn has always been one of my favorite authors and he has knocked it out of the ballpark with this newest novel. 

A WOW! read for sure!

When I first saw the title to this book I saw a man with the word Holy in the background.  Then I read the book description and thought Holy and Hollywood do not go together.  

But then as I read the story of Danny and Megan I thought, you know, the word Holy does fit in the story.

Danny is my kind of guy.  He's honest, upright and, maybe, a little too trusting. Then there's Megan she's a lot like Danny but, yet, so different.  

When you live in a cut throat business and a tinsel curtain is not the covering you need, well, welcome to Hollywood.

Such a wonderful story filled with deceit, snobbery but most of all filled with love, hope and redemption.

A Gotta Read!  

• Paperback: 368 pages
• Publisher: Revell
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800727878
• ISBN-13: 978-0800727871

The Amish Christmas Secret by Vannetta Chapman and the Amish Widow's Christmas Hope by Carrie Lighte

 

 My Thoughts: One of my favorite authors, Vannetta Chapman, has a double delight in reading with Carrie Lighte.  And it's all about the Amish and Christmas!  A win-win!

In the Amish Christmas Secret, Becca Schwartz is a question asking neighbor much to Daniel Glick's dismay.  So many questions he doesn't want to answer.  And Becca is more than curious why Daniel is so secretive.

This is a delightful full of romance between two very different people.

Then in The Amish Widow's Christmas Hope a single mom returns to the house she inherits and to the town she left.  

As her children begin friendships with her old love flame's children it makes it more difficult to leave the place where she grew up.

A lot of fun and frolicking in this read.

Two Amish stories that are completely different but so compelling in the love they exude for others and for Christmas.

Fun Friday

 

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

 Easy, make ahead taco salad for a quick lunch.

Brown hamburger with seasonings, place tomatoes, cheese and 

sour cream in individual cartons, add lettuce in a baggie.

Follow picture for put together, refrigerate and grab and go for lunch.

A Time to Stand by Robert Whitlow

 

Book Description:  In a small Georgia town where racial tensions run high and lives are at stake, can one lawyer stand up for justice against the tide of prejudice on every side?

Adisa Johnson, a young African-American attorney, is living her dream of practicing law with a prestigious firm in downtown Atlanta. Then a split-second mistake changes the course of her career.

Left with no other options, Adisa returns to her hometown where a few days earlier a white police officer shot an unarmed black teen who is now lying comatose in the hospital.

Adisa is itching to jump into the fight as a special prosecutor, but feels pulled to do what she considers unthinkable—defend the officer.

As the court case unfolds, everyone in the small community must confront their own prejudices. Caught in the middle, Adisa also tries to chart her way along a path complicated by her budding relationship with a charismatic young preacher who leads the local movement demanding the police officer answer for his crime.

My Thoughts: 

Interesting how an author will write a fiction story about a current event in our world.  I think authors like to voice their opinions through a story.  

In any event, this is quite an interesting story.

Adisa Johnson is a young African-American attorney who enjoys living her dream of practicing law in Atlanta.

However, Adisa returns to her small Georgia hometown where racial tensions are flying high because a white police officer shot an unarmed black teen who is comatose in a hospital.  But Adisa must consider what she believes/stands for because she is to defend the police officer who shot the teen.

And she is in a budding romance with a charismatic young preacher who is demanding that the local police officers make this a crime and punish the police office who shot the black teen. 

This story is more about emotions and how people, no matter what the skin color, can be racist.

This is a think.about.it.read . . .  what one really values and what one really believes is right no matter what ones skin color may be

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718083032
• ISBN-13: 978-0718083038

The Persistent Road by Tim Bishop

Book Description:  There’s always an escape. Sometimes you need to search long and hard for the right one.

After losing all he once cherished, Doug Zimmer follows his wife’s parting bread crumbs and rides up the Pacific coast—on a bicycle. Armed with a revolver and only a vague plan to get through the months ahead, he aims to end his depression one way or the other.

As spiritual forces wrangle for his soul, he pedals eastward across America. He meets Lauren Baumgartner—a younger adventurer with a vibrant spirit—and a band of zealots who confront his aversion to religion. Accompanying Doug are not only sunny days and the beauty of nature but also the perils of the road, fellow travelers with their own stories, and the hollow silence of solitary campsites playing host to unseen creatures of the night.

A jarring episode on a climb through a treacherous pass brings Doug face-to-face with life and death. Will Doug’s adventure deliver him from loneliness and lament . . . or hurtle him to an abrupt end?

My Thoughts: Tim Bishop is a brand new to me author.  I found him on a book site.

I love to meet new authors through their books.  

This is an intriguing story.  

It merits a read since it echoes so many things and thoughts so many people go through.

Sometimes we, as people, need to understand what others are going through so that we may understand what we need to do in life.

I found Doug Zimmer a likable guy who is going through a rough patch in life.

This may the book you need to read and find out the struggles Doug faced are struggles you may be facing but there is a good answer.

*Thank you, Tim Bishop!*