Under Fire (Defend and Protect)by Lynn H. Blackburn

 

Book Description:  USSS Special Agent Zane Thacker has landed his dream assignment protecting the president of the United States. When the president plans a fundraiser at the exclusive estate of a political supporter in Raleigh, Zane is thrilled to be working again with Special Agent Tessa Reed, his best friend--and the woman he desperately wishes could be more.

Though Tessa almost lost everything, she battled her demons and came out on the other side healthy and healed. But when her role as the liaison between the Raleigh office and the president's protective detail wrenches her past back into the present, her greatest failure threatens to come to light. 

Zane refuses to let Tessa go through this alone. But can he stand by the woman he loves and protect the president from a mounting threat at the same time?

My Thoughts:  An action packed story full of faith and love.

Special Agent Tessa Reed is quite a gal!  Full of life but, yet, soft as slightly melted ice cream.

As a special agent she is chosen to be to work with Special agent Zane Thacker to protect the president at a fund raiser.

Only Zane knows what Tessa has been through and how she has struggled to overcome.

As Zane and Tessa try do to their job many old things/memories seem to rear their ugly heads.

Guessing who the "hater" is and what he wants is a bit challenging.  It seems that the "hater" wanted revenge but really wants recognition.  Such an interesting thought in a story plot.

The romance between Zane and Tessa is sweet and not overdone.  

The "hater" wants revenge from Tessa.  Tessa has a difficult time understanding what the "hater" is after.  Such a conundrum.  

This is quite a story with a few twists and turns.

A great ending to a great story.

*This book was provided for review by Revell*

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

 

A Plain Scandal by Amanda Flower

 

About the Book:  The people of Appleseed Creek in the heart of Ohio’s Amish Country are under attack. Soon after the dust has settled on a buggy accident that turned out to be murder, an unknown assailant begins cutting off the long hair of Amish women and the beards of Amish men.

New to the area, computer specialist Chloe Humphrey may not share their customs, but she is certainly alarmed over these crimes against the Amish and worries how such events will impact her growing number of friends who are more connected to that way of life.

In this small community, when Chloe discovers the body of an Amish businessman who was stabbed in the back and whose beard was cut off, she knows that finding the murderer and restoring peace to Appleseed Creek is as much her responsibility as anyone else’s.

My Thoughts:  I "found" Amanda when I read A Plain Death. When book 2, A Plain Scandal came out, I grabbed it up.  Amanda flower writes about an English young woman, Chloe, and her close relationship to two Amish young people-a brother, Timothy, and sister, Becky.

In fact, when Becky decides to leave her Amish roots (in book 1), she comes to Chloe almost begging to be her roommate.  Chloe takes her in and is ever so glad because Becky is one fab cook!  And Timothy is not so bad either!  A great carpenter and easy on the eyes.

This read, A Plain Scandal, has it all.  With a combination of humor, faith, romance and mystery this is one fantastic read!  

This fiction read is based on real life accounts of hair cutting of the Amish women and beard cutting of the Amish men.  If you know the Amish hair cutting is a sin.  Something that just isn't done!  But there seems to be two more mysteries going on, too.  A murder and the house that Chloe and Becky reside in.  Just when I thought I knew whodunit, another twist was added.  

This is a most serious mystery but Amanda is able to put great humor and wit into her writing.  

I would suggest that one read A Plain Death first simply because there is quite a bit about the Amish and the family that is mentioned in book 2.

Even though I really liked book 1, book 2 is absolutely great!  

Book 1

Fantastic new book by Shannon Redmon

 

Available on Amazon!

A March Bride by Rachel Hauck

 Book Description:  Susanna has found her true prince, and their happily ever after is just around the corner. But when Nate asks her to give up something precious to her, Susanna can't help but wonder if it's a sign that their love is not meant to be. Susanna Truitt (Once Upon A Prince) is three weeks from royalty. She'll soon marry King Nathaniel II of Brighton Kingdom. But when the government insists she renounce her American citizenship before the wedding, coupled with the lack of involvement by family and friends, Susanna's heart begins to doubt whether this marriage is God's plan for her. Nathaniel would do anything for his bride-to-be. But he knows his position requires that she give up a lot to be with him. Her life will never be her own---right down to her very identity. When she travels home to St. Simon's Island, Georgia, right before the wedding, Nathaniel fears she won't return. Gathering his courage, he devises a plan to win his bride all over again, and together they seek out a kingdom to treasure above all.

My Thoughts:  I love weddings!  And I've had the opportunity to read three ebooks by Rachel Hauck about weddings.  YAY!

Of course, Rachel Hauck is an excellent romance writer so reading these stories is like eating my favorite chocolate with a white chocolate mocha!

Susanna is my favorite bride of the three books.  Maybe, because she is to marry and live in the Brighton Kingdom.

Susanna is in love with Nate (King Nate, that is!) and planning this royal wedding is a wonderful dream . . . and then! boom!  The Brighton Kingdom insists that she give up her American citizenship to marry the king.  

Oops!  One slight inconvenience, right!?!?  

Um, well, that went over like a lead ballon.  

So, off Susanna  flies back home to good ole Georgia but the handsome King Nate loves his bride-to-be Susanna.  He devises a plan to make sure Susanna returns to him.

This plan was quite ingenious!  Wonder if it could really happen in "real" life?  (This is why fiction books are so much fun!)

A great fun, light read!  Loved it!

Hope Between the Pages (Doors to the Past) By Pepper Basham

 

 Book Description:  Clara Blackwell helps her mother manage a struggling one-hundred-year old family bookshop in Asheville, North Carolina, but the discovery of a forgotten letter opens a mystery of a long-lost romance and undiscovered inheritance which could save its future. Forced to step outside of her predictable world, Clara embarks on an adventure with only the name Oliver as a hint of the man’s identity in her great-great-grandmother’s letter. From the nearby grand estate of the Vanderbilts, to a hamlet in Derbyshire, England, Clara seeks to uncover truth about family and love that may lead to her own unexpected romance.

My Thoughts:  This story intrigued me because I have visited the places that are written in this story.  So I can envision all the the author is writing about.

Pepper Basham is a new author for me. I do enjoy new authors and getting out of my reading comfort zone.

Clara Blackwell has one of the most interesting jobs in my book.  {See what I did there.😆}  I love the way Clara finds some old, forgotten love letters that lead to an inheritance.  An inheritance that is deeply needed by the heirs.

This is a somewhat rags to riches story.  The feel good kind.

But Clara has to step out of her comfort zone to find this Oliver.  Sometimes when one goes on chance adventure to seek truths more than one can ever imagine happens.  In Clara's case this is true.

Finding a person is not easy but, oh, the fun of the adventure and finding new friends in the most unexpected places.

A lovely 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