A Dangerous Stage {Protection for Hire} by Camy Tang

My Thoughts:  I loved the first book in this series Protection for Hire.  Now A Dangerous Stage is, again, about Tessa, but enter the lawyer, Charles Britton.  Charles is the lawyer who sent Tessa to prison (for a crime she didn't commit).  

Tessa's faith is tried, for it seems that lies abound everywhere she turns after she is hired by one of the contestants to delve into a shady singing competition.

Now, I REALLY love Camy Tang's books because they have a lot of action mixed with mounds of faith!  Camy isn't preachy but she gets the point across.  A lot like Tessa who lives her faith!

Tessa is one tough lady but she has a soft center just like a wonderful chocolate, caramel truffle but that tough exterior makes her seem like an iron maiden.   

I wasn't sure about Charles...can a "wimpy" lawyer truly help a feisty lady like Tessa?!  Will Charles really stand "tough?"  These were a couple of questions I had when Tessa meets up with Charles.

I must say that I enjoyed A Dangerous Stage even more than I enjoyed reading Protection for Hire.

One doesn't need to read Protection for Hire before reading A Dangerous Stage but reading the first book will help in understanding Tessa and her mafia family.

This is one great read!

*This book was provided for review by Zondervan Publishing*

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; Original edition (October 30, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310320348
• ISBN-13: 978-0310320340

COTT {Clash of the Titles}

October November Clash Champion!

Congratulations to Kara Isaac, with 

Can't Help Falling

 

Buy on Amazon
Buy on Barnes and Noble


A funny, heartfelt romance about how an antique shop, a wardrobe, and a mysterious tea cup bring two C.S. Lewis fans together in a snowy and picturesque Oxford, England.

Emelia Mason has spent her career finding the dirt on the rich and famous. But deep down past this fearless tabloid-reporter façade, there’s a nerdy Narnia-obsessed girl who still can’t resist climbing into wardrobes to check for the magical land on the other side. When a story she writes produces tragic results, she flees to Oxford, England—home to C.S. Lewis—to try and make amends for the damage she has caused.

Peter Carlisle was on his way to become one of Great Britain’s best rowers—until he injured his shoulder and lost his chance at glory. He’s determined to fight his way back to the top even if it means risking permanent disability to do so. It’s the only way he can find his way past failing the one person who never stopped believing in his Olympic dream.

When Peter and Emelia cross paths on her first night in Oxford, the attraction is instant and they find common ground in their shared love of Narnia. But can the lessons from a fantasyland be enough to hold them together when secrets of the real world threaten to tear them apart? Cobblestone streets, an aristocratic estate, and an antique shop with curious a wardrobe bring the world of Narnia to life in Kara Isaac’s inspiring and romantic story about second chances.

What Voters Had to Say:

These authors are all a blessing! Please keep writing...You encourage us all!

The cover alone makes me want to read the book, which sounds like a wonderful read. :)

Loved Can't Help Falling. More please! :)

Keep writing, Kara! Love your books!

Kara Isaac, I have just discovered your books and love them. Keep it up! 

I loved Kara Isaac's first book, Close to You, so am really looking forward to reading Can't Help Falling. I enjoy her style of writing. I recommended Close to You to my book club, so hopefully we'll be reading and discussing it sometime in 2017.

I have read, and enjoyed, Can't Help Falling. As far as the covers, I have to vote for this one because what little you see of the guy's face, it looks like my son!!

I won Kara Isaac's Can't Help Falling on a Facebook giveaway and was wonderfully surprised at how much I loved this book! The cover is amazing and it really catches the eye!

Kara has a zany unique writing style that combines substance with heartfelt laughter

I'm not familiar with some of these authors but really like some of them!  Keep up the good work!

Kara Isaac, you have such a gift bringing comedy, romance, and meaning to your stories. I love them!! 

Wish I could have picked two books here, because Can't Help Falling caught me just by the description. I'll be looking for this one!

About the Author:

Kara Isaac lives in Wellington, New Zealand. When she's not working her day job as a public servant, chasing around a ninja preschooler and his feisty toddler sister, she spends her time writing horribly bad first drafts and wishing you could get Double Stuf Oreos in New Zealand. Her debut romantic comedy, Close To You, released April 2016. Her sophomore novel, Can't Help Falling, released in October 2016 and is an RT Reviews Top Pick. She loves to connect with readers on GoodReads, Twitter, Facebook and through her website.

All Is Calm, All Is Bright: A Colleen Coble Christmas Collection by Colleen Coble

Book Description: Return to two of Colleen Coble’s most beloved settings—Bluebird Ranch and Hope Beach—for holiday romance and mystery!

All Is Calm

It’s going to be an unexpectedly romantic Christmas at Bluebird Ranch.

Brendan Waddell has always considered Bluebird Ranch a little piece of heaven: an idyllic ranch that pairs abused children with abused horses, run by one of his Marine buddies. Now, it seems just the place to spend Christmas recovering from an on-the-job injury.

Lauren Everman first came to the ranch as a foster kid, but now knows it’s the perfect hideout. As the witness to a murder, Lauren needs somewhere to lie low. Her beauty immediately catches Brendan’s attention—but so does her secretive behavior. This Special Ops Intel man knows a woman on the run when he sees one. Can he trust her, or is she putting the ranch at risk? One thing is certain: he’s going to do everything he can to keep her safe so he can see what magic Christmas brings.

All Is Bright

A romantic Christmas wedding at Tidewater Inn gives Delilah’s unique gifts a chance to shine. But will her light be snuffed out before the bride and groom say “I do”?

As manager of the Tidewater Inn, Delilah Carter has been planning a spectacular Christmas wedding for her friend, Elin Summerall. But when Delilah’s car is forced off the road and into the ocean, she finally has to admit that the strange phone calls she’s been receiving lately may be more than just pranks.

Sheriff Tom Bourne has always had a soft spot for Delilah, and he’s determined to protect her. He hopes to win her heart by giving her the surprise gift of a lifetime . . . but first he has to make sure nothing happens to her before Christmas Day.

My Thoughts:  The Christmas reads are coming in...yay!  

Coleen Coble has two great novellas in one sweet book. 

The first novella, All Is Calm, is full of suspense.  Ironically, all is not calm at Bluebird Ranch.  Lauren Everman comes to the ranch to hide out.  She remembers the ranch from her days as a foster child. And Brendan Waddell comes to the ranch to visit friends. 

Brendan feels "love at first sight for Lauren.  But as he gets to know her he knows she is hiding something.  

A great short story full of suspense and mystery!

Then All Is Bright is the story about Delilah.  Delilah wants her friend to have the dream wedding she always wanted.  Sheriff Tom Bourne has admired Delilah and wants to protect her...he also wants to win her heart.  He plans a great surprise for her.  

Another great suspense short story with wonderful characters that come to life in the pages of a great read!

This book would make a nice Christmas card for someone who needs a lift during the holidays.

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson (October 6, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718037820
• ISBN-13: 978-0718037826

The Cherished Quilt (An Amish Heirloom Novel) by Amy Clipston

My Thoughts: Amy Clipston is a favorite author of mine.  

Emily is a kind and generous young woman who feels that life is like a quilt and can be stitched together.  And it seems that quilting and Amish women go together like peanut butter and jelly.

Emily is anxious to meet her father's new employee, Christopher.  But when they first meet...it seems that an Christopher has an iceberg for a heart.  Poor Emily.  However, Emily is not deterred.

She feels that Christopher needs friendship and so she decides to make him a quilt.  

And then Christopher must leave and return to Ohio for some emergency....just when he and Emily might be having "feelings" for one another.  

I like the easy way this story reads.  And, yes, it is somewhat predicable, but I like it.  It makes for a great holiday read to warm one's heart and a reminder that everyone is going through something.  So, be nice to everyone you meet.

A great story and a would make a great gift for that reader on your list!

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

Meet the Author:  

Amy Clipston has been writing for as long as she can remember. Her fiction writing "career" began in elementary school when she and a close friend wrote and shared silly stories. She has a degree in communications from Virginia Wesleyan College and is a member of the Authors Guild, American Christian Fiction Writers, and Romance Writers of America. She is the author of the bestselling Kauffman Amish Bakery series with Zondervan, which is part of HarperCollins Christian Publishing. An advocate for organ and blood donation, Amy donated a kidney in 2011 at Johns Hopkins Hospital. Through her donation, her husband received a second kidney transplant. Amy and her husband matched another couple and swapped kidneys with them. Amy's memoir, A Gift of Love, will be available in early 2014. She hopes her story inspires others to become organ and blood donors. Amy lives in North Carolina with her husband, two sons, mother, and four spoiled rotten cats. You can find her on the web at www.AmyClipston.com or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AmyClipstonBooks.

• Series: An Amish Heirloom Novel
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan (November 29, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310341965
• ISBN-13: 978-0310341963

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

Go here Kraft Philadelphia for great holiday recipes!  Here's one of my Favorites:

Caramel Pecan Cheesecake Bars

time

prep:

15 min

total:

6 hr

servings

total:

32 servings

what you need

1

cup  PLANTERS Pecan Pieces, divided

50

 NILLA Wafers, finely crushed (about 1-1/2 cups)

1/4

cup  butter, melted

4

pkg.  (8 oz. each) PHILADELPHIA Cream Cheese, softened

1

cup  sugar

1

cup  BREAKSTONE'S or KNUDSEN Sour Cream

3

Tbsp.  flour

1

Tbsp.  vanilla

4

 eggs

24

 KRAFT Caramels

1

Tbsp.  water

3

squares  BAKER'S Semi-Sweet Chocolate

make it

HEAT oven to 325°F.

LINE 13x9-inch pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides. Reserve 1/2 cup nuts. Finely chop remaining nuts; mix with wafer crumbs and butter. Press onto bottom of prepared pan. Refrigerate until ready to use.

BEAT cream cheese and sugar in large bowl with mixer until well blended. Add sour cream, flour and vanilla; mix well. Add eggs, 1 at a time, mixing on low speed after each just until blended. Pour over crust.

BAKE 45 min. or until center is almost set. Cool completely.

MICROWAVE caramels and water in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or until caramels are completely melted when stirred. Pour over cheesecake; top with reserved nuts. Melt chocolate; drizzle over cheesecake. Refrigerate 4 hours. Use foil handles to remove cheesecake from pan before cutting to serve.

kraft kitchens tips

HEALTHY LIVING

Save 40 calories and 5 grams of fat per serving by preparing with Reduced Fat NILLA Wafers, PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese and BREAKSTONE'S Reduced Fat or KNUDSEN Light Sour Cream.

SUBSTITUTE

Substitute 1 cup KRAFT Caramel Bits for the KRAFT Caramels.

EASY MICROWAVE MELTING OF BAKER'S CHOCOLATE SQUARES

Microwave 1 oz. BAKER'S Chocolate in microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 30 sec. (The chocolate will retain its shape.) Stir 1 min. or until chocolate is completely melted. Add 10 sec. for each additional ounce of chocolate, stirring every 30 sec.

Silent Night, Deadly Night by Richard Mabry, M.D.

Book Description:  The colored lights on the snow gave it a holiday appearance, but the dead woman’s body in the yard added a grisly touch. How did Ina Bell Patrick die? 

Who killed her? And why? 

The dead woman had no direct heirs, so two nephews and a niece stood to inherit. Dr. Laura Morris was left to make all the arrangements, attorney Roger Morris could certainly use the money, and Zack Morris had disappeared two years earlier. Then there was neighbor and “best friend” Fay Autrey, who was certain the woman intended to leave her some money—a great deal of money. 

The police were still looking for the killer who left the frozen body in the snow when it became apparent someone was trying to pick off the heirs, one by one. Who would win the race—the police or the killer? 

My Thoughts: A few years ago I just happened to be looking for something "different" to read and picked a copy of Dr. Mabry's novel.  I've never been interested in medical thrillers but after reading that first book by Dr. Mabry I was hooked!

This book, Silent Night, Deadly Night may look short but it is a WOW read!  There is quite a story packed into this novella!

I truly thought I had the mystery solved, I thought I was on the right track; however, I was thrown for a loop when the shooting began and the lost brother showed up.

I must say, I'm a fairly good armchair detective, but this story took a few roller coaster turns I didn't see coming!  
And the ending is so sweet!  

I loved, loved this read!  

This book would make a wonderful gift or even a stocking stuffer for your favorite armchair detective!

* A special Thank You to Dr. Mabry for kindly giving me a copy of his book to review *

Buy Book HERE!

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (November 13, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1518641091
• ISBN-13: 978-1518641091

COTT {Clash of the Titles}

October November Releases CLASH! 

It's the end of our CLASH year, and we've lined up some awesome holiday reading (and gift ideas!) for this month's Clash of the Titles.
Vote for your Ideal curl up in front of a fire read!

Scroll through these releases and cast your vote for your perfect idea of a next read.

It's a tough choice, but it's up to you to determine our Clash Champion!

Risking Love

Brenda S. Anderson

A play-it-safe bank employee falls for a down-on-his-luck, risk-taking widower. Can she risk loving a man whose home she may have to take away?

An Unexpected Role

Leslea Wahl

Josie's island getaway becomes the summer of her dreams as friendships grow, romance blossoms and a series of thefts surround her with excitement. But as she sets out to solve the mystery she has become entangled in, she not only realizes the importance of relying on her faith but along the way also discovers her true self.

Forest Child

Heather Day Gilbert

Historically based on the Icelandic Sagas, Forest Child brings the memorable, conflicted persona of Freydis Eiriksdottir to life and is Book Two in the bestselling Vikings of the New World Saga.

 

Can't Help Falling

Kara Isaac

A funny, heartfelt romance about how an antique shop, a wardrobe, and a mysterious tea cup bring two C.S. Lewis fans together in a snowy and picturesque Oxford, England.

The Cautious Maiden

Dawn Crandall

In an effort to salvage her good name, Violet is forced into an engagement with a taciturn acquaintance; Vance Everstone. With danger stalking her and a new fiance who hides both his emotion and his past, Violet must decide who to trust and who to leave behind. 

The Thorn Healer

Pepper D. Basham

A wounded nurse battles resentment against a German prisoner as the two work together to save an Appalachian town from deception and disease in the wake of World War 1.

VOTE BELOW!

If you have trouble viewing the entire survey Click Here to load a dedicated page to the survey.