WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

Parmesan Baked Tomatoes (again, another great recipe from Pinterest!)

Parmesan Baked Tomatoes

2 medium tomatoes
1/3 cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan
fresh oregano
salt
freshly ground pepper
olive oil

Preheat the oven to 450 F (230 C).

Cut the tomatoes lengthwise into approximately 1/3-inch (1 cm) slices. 

Place them on a baking sheet. 

Top with Parmesan, oregano, salt and pepper (season according to your taste). Drizzle with some olive oil and bake until tomatoes are tender and the cheese is melted, for about 10-15 minutes.

**We eat them like this but some say they like them on French bread, hamburgers, sandwiches . . . well, the list is endless!

Because You're Mine by Colleen Coble

Book Description:  Alanna has been plagued by tragedy. So it should come as no surprise that in the beauty that surrounds Charleston, all is not as it seems.

When her husband is killed by a car bomb while their band is on tour in Charleston, Alanna doesn’t know where to turn. Her father-in-law is threatening to take custody of the baby she carries, but the one thing she knows for sure is that she can’t lose the last piece of Liam she has left.

Their manager offers her a marriage of convenience to gain her U.S. citizenship and allow her to escape her father-in-law’s control. It seems like the perfect solution . . . but her doubts begin almost as soon as she arrives at Barry’s family home, a decaying mansion surrounded by swamp.

To make matters worse, Liam’s best friend survived the car bomb. She’s never really liked Jesse and now she can’t seem to get away from him. When he takes Liam’s place in their band, it’s almost more than she can bear.

But then things start happening. Things that could easily cost Alanna her life—or the life of her unborn child. Are they merely coincidences? Or is there something much more sinister at work?

My Thoughts:  Anytime Colleen Coble writes a new story I grab it.  She is one of my to.go.authors. 

As I began reading Because You're Mine I was immediately immersed in the story of Alanna and her unborn child.  

Alanna has not had the best of luck.  So, when her husband is killed by a car bomb while their band is on tour.... it seems that her life will not get better.  Poor Alanna!  It seems that life goes from bad to worse.  But there is always hope and Alanna holds on to life and hope for herself and her unborn child.  An interesting part of this story for me was the strong bond that a mother has for her child even her unborn child. And all that she will do to protect her child.

There are twist and turns in this spellbinding read!  

Of course, there are a couple of characters in this read that seem all to real and not likable at all.  But in true "Colleen Coble fashion" the twists come when the reader least expects them.

This is one of those reads that the mystery/suspense reader will not want to miss!

This book would make a great Valentine's gift for that reader on your list!  💕

*This book was provided for review by BookLook*

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; Reprint edition (January 10, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0718083806
• ISBN-13: 978-0718083809

Deadlock (FBI: Houston) by DiAnn Mills

Book Description:  Two murders have rocked the city of Houston. Are they the work of a serial killer, or is a copycat trying to get away with murder?

That is the question facing Special Agent Bethany Sanchez, who is eager for her new assignment in violent crimes but anxious about meeting her new partner. Special Agent Thatcher Graves once arrested her brother, and he has a reputation for being a maverick. Plus, their investigative styles couldn’t be more opposite: he operates on instinct, while she goes by the book.

When hot leads soon fizzle out, their differences threaten to leave them deadlocked. But an attempt on their lives turns up the heat and brings them closer together, and a third victim might yield the clue that will help them zero in on a killer. This could be the case of their careers . . . if they can survive long enough to solve it.

My Thoughts:  I've been waiting for this book!  I've read all of the FBI: Houston books.  Each book is about a different crime and different agents that work on the cases.  But  all the crimes take place in Houston, Texas.

Special Agent Bethany Sanchez and Special Agent Thatcher Graves couldn't be more different in their approaches to solving crimes.  She goes by the law and he goes by what he believes/feels.  They are placed as a team to solve two murders that have rocked Houston.

As their leads fizzle out it seems that this case becomes a deadlock...nothing is happening.

But then a third victim and an attempt on the agents lives turns up the heat on this case.

As the agents begin to rely on each other and trust each other.  They realize that their opposite ways of solving crimes can actually help them solve the crimes. 

Once again Houston FBI has some of the best agents in literary fiction!

Again, DiAnn Mills has written fantabulous story!  

• Series: FBI: Houston (Book 3)
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (October 1, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1414389957
• ISBN-13: 978-1414389950

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

This really works!  

Made the cake so much better!

Conspiracy of Silence (The Tox Files) by Ronie Kendig

Book Description:  Four years after a tragic mission decimated his career and his team, Cole “Tox” Russell is persona non grata to the United States. And that’s fine—he just wants to be left alone. But when a dormant, centuries-old disease is unleashed at an archaeological dig where three Bronze-era censers are found, Tox is lured back into action. Partnered with an archaeologist and an FBI agent who’s an expert in deception, Tox and his team are pitted against a secret society, a plague dubbed the New Black Death, and a revered codex—which may hold the key to stopping the deadly outbreak. 

My Thoughts:  This was quite an interesting read!  Having read only one book by Ronie Kendig I was not expecting this sort of adventure.  To be honest the first book I read by her was slightly boring to me.

But when I began this book it just hit a cord with me and I delved right in to this intense adventure.

This read seems to be  a military thriller,  there's a little bit of old work mystic too...templar knights and older world plagues.

This book has a bit of Indiana Jones and Jason Bourne adventures in it.

What surprised me the most is that this book was written by a woman.  The military intelligence, the fast paced adventure, the spiritual applications to life, the old world references with  a touch of romance make for one incredible read. 

This hard.to.put.down read will keep your blood pounding with adventure and intrigue!

*This book was provided for review by Bethany House*

Meet the Author:  

Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author of a dozen novels. She grew up an Army brat. Now, she and her husband, an Army veteran, have an adventurous life in Northern Virginia with their children and a retired military working dog, VVolt N629. Ronie's degree in Psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters. 

Since launching onto the publishing scene in 2010, Ronie and Rapid-Fire Fiction novels have hit bestseller lists and garnered awards and critical acclaim.

Ronie can be found at www.roniekendig.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rapidfirefiction), Twitter (@roniekendig), Instagram (@kendigronie) and GoodReads.

{Handlebar Blog Tour} NIV Holy Bible for Girls, Journal Edition, Hardcover by Zondervan

My Thoughts:  I picked this Bible for a new christian who is also a young teen.  Yes, it's the NIV translation and I know there is some controversy over this translation but for a teen who is new to Christ I think this Bible is great.
She loves the beautiful cover and said it is quite easy for her to read and understand.  That's what reading God's Word is all about!  Understanding His Word.
She also loves the plastic snap band that keeps her thoughts and underlining somewhat secret.
There is quite a bit of room for her to draw/color and write thoughts that may come from the reading of the Word or thoughts she wants to remember from Sunday School or church.
Overall, I think this is a lovely Bible for a young lady.
And I loved this Bible!  It's beautiful!

*This Bible was provided for review by Handlebar*

• Age Range: 8 and up 
• Hardcover: 1408 pages
• Publisher: Zondervan; Csm Jou edition (October 18, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0310758963
• ISBN-13: 978-0310758969

Rx: Murder by Richard Mabry

Book Description:  Dr. Elena Gardner learns an OB patient of her fiancé, Dr. David Merritt, is suffering frequent beatings at the hands of her husband. Despite Elena’s advice, the wife refuses to take legal action against her abusing husband. David is so frustrated that he loudly and publicly voices his desire to beat the man senseless. When someone actually kills the husband in that fashion, David’s off-hand expression leads him to the sheriff’s office. As the situation worsens, the two doctors form a partnership with a new attorney in town in order to fight a murder charge.

My Thoughts:  Dr. Richard Maybry writes the best medical mysteries.  I've read all of his books and yet to be disappointed.

When I received Rx Murder I was pleasantly surprised to find that it is a novella.  At first I thought how can this read be interesting? It's too short to develop a story, just 82 pages.  Well, it just so happens that great things come in small packages.  

I read this novella in one setting...well, I did get up to get more Vin Tea but it is quite interesting.

It's more than a medical read, it's a mystery.  And a lesson.

Dr. David Merritt learns that one's words can get one into a puddle of trouble.  But his fiancé, Dr. Elena Gardner, teams up with him to help him get out of trouble and find the murderer.

A great mini read!

• Paperback: 82 pages
• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (April 3, 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1508461716
• ISBN-13: 978-1508461715