{Revell Reads Blog Tour} Deadly Intentions by Lisa Harris

Book Description:  Research scientist Caitlyn Lindsey is convinced that someone is taking out her team one by one. First, a friend and research partner was killed in a home invasion. Three months ago, her boss died in a suspicious car accident. Four days ago, another partner supposedly committed suicide. And now Caitlyn herself has miraculously survived a hit-and-run. Afraid for her life with nowhere to turn, she reaches out to one of the victim's husbands, Detective Josh Solomon.

Though initially skeptical about Caitlyn's theory, Josh soon realizes that the attack that took his wife's life was anything but random. Now the two of them must discover the truth about who is after Caitlyn's team--and what their end game is--before it's too late.

My Thoughts:  Lisa Harris never disappoints when she writes a mystery/suspense/thriller.  This story is o.so.wonderful!

Caitlyn Lindsey's character comes alive in the first chapter when "things" begin happening that aren't suppose to happen.  She feels like someone is also watching her and maybe they are.

At first I wasn't sure about Josh Solomon...well, his character seems a bit weak but that soon changes and one can't help but fall in love with Josh.  He doesn't take on a super personality he just becomes more thoughtful.

As one reads on in the story there a lot of action takes place it seems that there is an under current of "something" happening but the reader can't quite figure out what.

Just when I felt I knew what was going on, well the game changed.

I loved, loved this story!  Great suspense and great mystery combined in one fantastic story of intentions gone haywire.

*This book was provided for review by Revell Reads*

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Revell (August 6, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0800729161
• ISBN-13: 978-0800729165

The Yellow Lantern: True Colors: Historical Stories of American Crime by Angie Dicken

Book Description:  In 1824, Josephine Clayton is considered dead by everyone in her Massachusetts village—especially the doctor she gas assisted for several months. Yet, she is still very much alive.

After the doctor’s illegal dealing with his body snatcher to obtain her body, Josephine awakens, positioned as the next corpse for his research. To cover up his crime, the doctor tries to kill her, but Josephine begs to be spared. They strike a deal—Josephine will leave her village and work at a distant cotton mill. All the while, she’ll await her true mission—posing as a mourner to help the body snatcher procure her replacement.

At the mill though, Josephine is praised for her medical remedies among the other female workers, gaining attention from the handsome factory manager, Braham Taylor. Yet, when Braham’s own loved one becomes the prey for the next grave robbing, Josie must make a choice that could put her dark past behind her or steal away the promise of any future at all.

My Thoughts:  This is an incredible story.  One that begs to be read.  The reader tries to put the book down but keeps wondering what happened?!?

the Yellow Lantern is not astray for the faint of heart.  Oh, no!  This story is about dead/living people and one young woman's mission to live.

Grave robbing?  When one hears those two words together one van't help but wonder shy would anyone want to see old bones.  Well, it turns out that there is profit to be made from old bones and body snatchers are a breed all their own.

This is the third book in the True Colors "series."  These books don't have to be read in order...they are stand alone mystery/suspense.  And.O.So.Good!

Angie Dickens writes with a scary pen bringing up things that happen in the dark but are brought to light.

I loved this story!

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

• Series: True Colors
• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Books (August 1, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1643520830
• ISBN-13: 978-1643520834

The Healing Jar (The Prayer Jars) by Wanda Brunstetter

Book Description:  Lenore Lapp is an Amish schoolteacher in her late twenties still living at home with her parents and grandparents. She thought love had passed her by until she meets Jesse Smucker, a widower with a baby daughter. She quickly falls in love with them both and accepts Jesse’s proposal of marriage, but Jesse breaks off their engagement when he realizes he can’t marry only for convenience.

Resigned to living single, Lenore throws herself into caring for her elders. While working in her grandmother’s garden, she digs up an old jar. Will Lenore find healing for her broken heart and solve long-buried family secrets by reading the note contained inside?

My Thoughts:  This third novel in The Prayer Jars by Wanda Brunstetter is my most favorite out of the three.  Probably because it's about a school teacher and healing.  Isn't God good to give us healing?

Lenora Lapp is a loving. sensitive young lady who has much to offer.  So when Jesse Smucker asks her to marry him, even though he is a widower with a baby daughter, Lenora know that she loves Jesse and his sweet little daughter.  So when Jesse breaks their engagement, he breaks Lenora's heart as well.

Lenora decides to forget about love and help her aging grandparents.  Whole working in their garden one day she digs up a jar filled with slips of paper.

This is the beginning of the Healing Jar.  Oh, what a read!  O, What hope and healing!

Mrs. Brunstetter writes with such emotion that the reader feels as if she might be Lenora.

Loved this story!

*This book was provided for review by The Clippity Clop Club*

• Series: The Prayer Jars (Book 3)
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Shiloh Run Press (August 1, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1624167497
• ISBN-13: 978-1624167492

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday}

Another great recipe I found on Pinterest . . . 

OH!MY!  SOOOOO GOOOOD!

INGREDIENTS:

3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1 large egg
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1 teaspoon baking soda
pinch salt, optional and to taste
1 cup coarsely chopped graham crackers and crumbs, about 4 full-size cracker sheets
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup butterscotch chips
3/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut

DIRECTIONS:

1. To the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine the butter, sugars, egg, vanilla, and beat on medium-high speed until well-creamed, light and fluffy, about 5 minutes (or use a hand mixer and beat for at least 7 minutes).
2. Stop, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the flour, cornstarch, baking soda, optional salt, and mix until just combined, about 1 minute.
3. Add the graham crackers (include the fine crumbs too, they act as flour here and are important), chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, coconut and beat momentarily to incorporate, less than 1 minute, or fold in by hand.
4. Using a 2-inch cookie scoop, form heaping two-tablespoon mounds (I made 22). Place mounds on a large plate, flatten mounds slightly with your palm, cover with plasticwrap, and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or up to 5 days, before baking. Do not bake with warm dough because cookies will spread and bake thinner and flatter.
5. Preheat oven to 350F, line a baking sheet with a Silpat, or spray with cooking spray. Place mounds on baking sheet, spaced at least 2 inches apart (I bake 8 cookies per sheet). Bake for 8 to 9 minutes, or until edges have set and tops are just beginning to set, even if slightly undercooked, pale and glossy in the center. Do not bake longer than 9 minutes for soft cookies because they firm up as they cool (The cookies shown in the photos were baked with dough that had been chilled overnight, allowed to come to room temp for 15 minutes, and were baked for 8 minutes, with trays rotated at the 4-minute mark. They have chewy edges with soft, pillowy, gooey centers). Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for about 5 minutes before removing and transferring to a rack to finish cooling.
6. Store cookies airtight at room temperature for up to 1 week, or in the freezer for up to 3 months. Alternatively, unbaked cookie dough can be stored airtight in the refrigerator for up to 5 days, so consider baking only as many cookies as desired and save the remaining dough to be baked in the future when desired.

Deeper Than Red (Red Burning) by Sue Duffy

Book Description:  Twenty-year-old Tally Greyson isn’t consumed with her own education, social life, or career goals like most young women her age. Instead, she’s trying to save her mother from the grasp of a seductive cult. What Tally doesn’t realize is that in this community, there’s a far greater danger than any she can imagine—and she and her mother aren’t the only ones in its sights. There are plots brewing here that will threaten the fate of the world.

Concert pianist Liesl Bower has put her own dangerous past behind her, and in her Charleston family home, surrounded by those who love her, she’s preparing for a world concert tour with her dear friend, violinist Max Morozov. She thinks she’s safe; the man who tried to kill her is dead, his coconspirators have been rounded up, and no one knows she had anything to do with saving the world from a new revolution.

That is, until a world leader is assassinated on the other side of the globe, setting events into motion that could kill the U.S. president, destroy Washington—and take everything and everyone Liesl loves with it. A madman is at the controls now. Even with the backup of the CIA and the dubious protection of a former KGB agent, this time they may all be too late.

My Thoughts:  I truly enjoy stories penned by Sue Duffy.  I enjoyed reading the first two books in this Red Burning trilogy.  

Deeper Than Red is the third book in this trilogy and probably my favorite of all three reds (reads, *punny)!

All three Red Burning books are inter-related.  So, yes, it would be recommended to read them all in order.  But, yet, there are three different ladies with three different  issues/problems to be solved.

In Deeper Than Red, a cult that seems to good to be true, a young lady with only her mother's well being at heart, and a world leader who somehow seems connected to it all. Also, we meet Tally Greyson whom is trying to tie this all together.  I like Tally for she is tough and spunky with enough guts to know when to be afraid and when to ask for help.

And then concert pianist, Liesl Bower, from the previous story is back as she prepares for an upcoming piano concert with violinist, Max Morozov.  It's interesting how Ms. Duffy takes one story and ties it into the next.  Related and mysterious!

I love the action, suspense and mystery with a biblical basis that is written into these fantastic christian suspense reads!  The romance is low key and does not over shadow the suspense/mystery of all that is happening.

If you love a good, clean suspense read with christian values and light romance then this is the read for you!

(Books 1 & 2 in the Red Trilogy)

Dixie Belle (Uptown Belles) by Debbie Mayne

Book Description:  In book one of the Uptown Belles series, sparks fly when Cissy Hillwood arrives in New York City from her Alabama hometown and meets her uncle’s fiercest competitor.

My Thoughts:  I love the cover of this book.  It reminds of that.coming.of.age where we all spread our wings and fly.

This is a refreshing read.  The author writes about life.  Real life issues! And how to deal with them as a christian.  

Small towns can be ever so cruel and this happens to be the case with Cissy Hillwood.  She's had a crush one of the football players for a very long time and when he asks her out she is so excited.  But they haven't been dating long when she finds out what kind of character he has.

She is visiting with her friends when he comes up and tells her that she will date him exclusively and then too prove it hits her hard across the face.  Cissy tells him no one hits her!  She ends up calling 911.  The police come and arrests Mr. Tough Guy and the town won't let her live it down.  Terrible!  Just terrible!  Like it's her fault!   ugh!

Anyway, Cissy's mother calls her brother in New York and makes a way for Cissy to go live away from the small mindness of the people in their community.

Cissy is no sissy, though.  And throughout the story we find that Cissy is tough as nails.

I love the way that Ms. Mayne writes about christianity.  How it's so easy to be a weekend christian but a follower of Christ is an everyday fellowship, in our every dealings of life.

A great read!

• Series: Uptown Belles (Book 1)
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Realms 
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1621365247
• ISBN-13: 978-1621365242

The Scripture Memory Map for Women: A Creative Journal (Faith Maps) complied by the Barbour Staff

My Thoughts:  I'm always on the lookout for journals or devotionals that will help me in my walk with the Lord.

So when I was offered this small book, The Scripture Memory MAP for women, I jumped at the chance to use it.

Each section consists of two pages...there is a place at the top of the left hand page for the date, then a square for My Memory Verse For Today, Then a place for This  Verse is important to Remember Because and enough space for you to write, Then What It Means To My Faith, Then onto the second page where there is space to write How It Applies To My Life, Then a square for Knowing This Verse Will Be Helpful When, and lastly My Prayer For Today and a space to write your prayer. 

There are colorful hearts, butterflies and arrows that point you show you which way to go.  Thus creating a type of map.  

The creative part comes when you write in the sections.  😊

There are verses at the end of each section. 

I am in love with this creative journal.  This is a Fantastic plan for memorizing God's Word!

This makes a wonderful gift!  

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

• Series: Faith Maps
• Spiral-bound: 176 pages
• Publisher: Barbour Books (August 1, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1643520881
• ISBN-13: 978-1643520889