The Red Cottage by Hannah Linder

Book Description:  Meg Foxcroft has never minded the tattling village gossip or her uncle’s ill-tempered rebukes. After all, she has Tom McGwen—and one day, they will build their own cottage, paint it red, and live a wonderful life.

But then the unthinkable happens. Meg is attacked, her uncle’s apothecary shop goes up in flames, and when she wakes up in the arms of an eloquent lord, she remembers nothing. Not even her own name.

In a frantic race against time, Tom plunges into dangerous water, bent on sheltering Meg from harm and discovering who wants her dead. Even if she despises him. Even if it’s now the handsome lord she casts her smile upon.

As danger swells and truth comes crashing around them, Meg must confront the past and decide who she trusts—and loves—before the enemy makes the final strike.

My Thoughts:  A new to me author who does not disappoint.

This story of hardship and love takes on a new vibe when it comes to Gothic Style Regencies.

Meg Foxcroft grabs the readers heart and just when all seems lost life seems to get even more difficult for Meg.

And then so many things begin to happen and Meg really doesn't remember a thing.

Then Tom, whom Meg really doesn't like at all decides that he is the only one who can find out what is happening to Meg. 

Is it her uncle?  The mean bully acting out and trying to look innocent?  Or is it someone with a vendetta against Meg and her family and Meg is in the way?

Such a great read with just enough action and adventure to lure the reader into the love life of Meg and what her choices will bring her.

You'll want to read this mix of mystery and gothic regency. 

A not to be missed story!

*This book was provided for review by Barbour Publishing*

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.

HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY!

Happy book birthday to Shattered Amish Identity by Mary Alford! This suspenseful new release is out now. Order here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DWN2NSQ7/

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.

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

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.*

n 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!

Fun Friday!

 

Take time to renew yourself today!

Read a good book and have a cuppa!

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

Fun Friday

 

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

Walking Banana Pudding 

So easy just follow picture for putting it together.

Great for parties & family get togethers.

Mary Alford's newest book!

 Buy Author Mary Alford's new book here: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DWN2NSQ7/

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.

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

SHATTERED AMISH IDENTITY by Mary Alford

 Book Description:  When Amish school teacher Hannah York is attacked, she defends herself with skills she never knew she had. CIA agent Titus Miller arrives, claiming that she’s actually fellow agent Lara Redmond—and that she’s in danger from a powerful enemy. Despite suffering from amnesia, Hannah is certain she’s only ever lived a quiet Amish life. But why does Titus seem so familiar, and could it be true that he loved her once? When Hannah’s family is abducted, she and Titus must work together to find them. Can Hannah trust him to help unlock the truth of her past…and keep her safe?

My Thoughts: One of my favorite suspense authors has done it again!  

This is an interesting "take" on Amish life.  A non Amish young lady is an Amish school teacher with amensia. 

When someone seeks to take her out Hannah York doesn't understand why.  Then enters Titus who comes to help save her from the enemy.  Titus is sure that Hannah is suffering from amnesia and is a girl that he once loved and knew but Hannah can't remember. 

There is a lot of action and some suspense. The mystery is the biggest thing going on in the story.

If you love an excellent mystery with all the feels then you'll love this fascinating story.

Grab your copy today...Preorder on Amazon (just click the link)

*All opinions are my own*

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.