Lethal Danger ~ Review

Lethal Danger

Guardians Unleashed #4

By Jerusha Agen

Someone is targeting the fair Jazz Lamont loves, and she'll do everything she can to stop them. The Tri-City Fair has been an important part of her life for the majority of it, a place she can call home.  And someone is determined to destroy it and the people who frequent it.

As part of the additional security, Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency is trained to stop and eliminate the threats that are threatening this year's fair. When an accident causes a visitor to panic, Jazz and security guard Hawthorne Emerson jump into action to save the visitor's life. Later Jazz is is surprised and thrilled to learn that the guard who assisted with rescue is none other than her favorite author Hawthorne Emerson! Of course she crushes!

But Hawthorne is dealing with his own demons from the past, which seemingly have links to the accidents and threats surrounding the fair. 

Before everything wraps up, both Jazz and Hawthorne will have to put aside their pasts and the influence it has on their present. If they don't, they may not live to see tomorrow.

This is the fourth book in the series and it certainly doesn't disappoint. It is a contemporary Romantic Suspense read, but at its heart it is a story of family, friendship, trust, and letting go of the past. Both Jazz and Hawthorne struggle with "family" and "friendship". They've allowed the past to keep both at arm's length and added 5 more feet just to be safe. And they've blinded themselves to the fact that some of their pain is their own doing. 

This is wonderful blend of suspense and human nature that presents in a completely satisfying read. Not to be missed. Though part of a series one can enjoy this book as a standalone title.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the Books:          

This K-9 team is trained to eliminate threats. 

This threat could eliminate them.

Being a loner is getting old. Jazz Lamont still can’t fit in at the Phoenix K-9 Agency, and she’s losing her best friend. At least providing security with her K-9 partner at the Tri-City Fair will mean revisiting the only place where she once belonged. But a series of accidents threatens her beloved fair and puts lives at risk.

Thriller author Hawthorne Emerson suspects foul play after the first “accident.” Moonlighting as fair security to investigate the death of his sister’s boyfriend, he’s eager to find the truth. He doesn’t expect the task to lead him to the cult he escaped.

Finding the culprit behind the sabotage is personal for Jazz and Hawthorne. But someone else has a personal stake, too. Someone who wants Jazz dead. When everything she thought was true is dismantled, can Jazz risk trusting others—including God—to survive?


Lethal Danger continues the thrilling story of the elite Phoenix K-9 Security and Detection Agency that began with Hidden Danger (Guardians Unleashed, #1). (Each book can stand alone or be read as a series of installments.)                                                        

The Lady with the Dark Hair ~ Review

The Lady with the Dark Hair

By Erin Bartels

This is a split-time book that follows Esther Markstrom, who lives in the present day, and Viviana Torrens, who called the later half of the 19th-century home. Ester's life has been dictated by her mother's artistic tendencies and their familial ties to Francisco Vella, a minor painter during the Impressionist Era. 

Vella is a bit of a mystery, with not much known about his work other than the collection of works shown at the museum run by Esther's family. But we, as readers get to see Vella and his "relationship" with Viviana. Viviana can no longer return to her home. She is an orphan who, through a series of events, finds herself seeking refuge and escape. We get to experience Viviana's journey as she discovers herself and the world through the eyes of an artist. 

Both these timelines are brought together as Esther begins a journey for answers, thanks to questions raised by her former professor. Who painted The Lady with the Dark Hair? Was it her ancestor as her family has long believed? Or was it another? But this journey will do more than answer questions about the past. It will help Esther discover truths about herself that she's never had the luxury to explore.

I love duel timelines and the way the story unfolds, revealing bits and pieces of the mystery. And there are so many facets that draw one attention to the world of art. I found the process of making paint in the late 1800s fascinating. I have to be honest, I had never before given any thought as to where paint came from. In my limited experience, it comes from a tube or a small pot. Overall, I would say, this was a good read. There's a mystery and a touch of romance, but nothing to keep you up all night. If you want a book you can read leisurely without the tension that suspense causes, you will love this book. 

I was provided a complementary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.                                                                                                                                                                       

About the Book:

Esther Markstrom and her artist mother have always been proud of their ancestor, painter Francisco Vella. They even run a small museum and gallery dedicated to raising awareness of his scandalously underappreciated work. But when Esther reconnects with her former art history professor, she finds her once-solid family history on shaky ground as questions arise about Vella's greatest work--a portrait entitled The Lady with the Dark Hair.

In 1879, Catalan orphan-turned-fugitive Viviana Torrens has found sanctuary serving in the home of an aging artist in Southern France. It is in his studio that she meets Francisco Vella, a Gibraltarian merchant who sells artists' pigments. When her past catches up to her, she is compelled to pose as Vella's sister and join him on his travels or be deported back to Spain to stand trial. Along the way she will discover that the many parts she has been playing in order to hide her identity have far-reaching implications she never could have foreseen.

This dual-timeline story from award-winning author Erin Bartels takes readers from the sleepy Midwest to the sultry Mediterranean on a relentless search for truth, identity, and the freedom to follow one's dreams.

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue ~ Review

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue

By Jaime Jo Wright

Effie James never meant for her sister to see what she did. When they snuck out to check out the abandoned house at 322 Predicament Avenue it was just suppose to be a harmless late night lark. Instead her sister Polly is in shock from what she saw - a brutal murder. But there is no evidence of what Effie heard and Polly saw. Shepherd, Iowa doesn't believe them and their reputations are now called into question. It might be 1901, but proper young ladies don't go out at night to explore abandoned houses and then make up tales of murder. 

The present day finds this same house serving as a Bed and Breakfast, being run by Norah Richman. Norah wants to avoid thinking about rumors of ghosts and hauntings at 322 Predicament Avenue. And she definitely doesn't want to dwell on her own sister's murder, a murder also linked with the house. But with a visiting podcaster sharing he search into answers of the old murder, Norah's fears and pain are foremost on her mind. 

This book is told in a back-and-forth between the two timelines, drawing the reader's attention in from the first page. Two women, two sisters who need answers to events that alter their lives forever. Why and who? These are the answers they seek as they battle the fear that grips them. Effie needs to find evidence of a violent crime, while Norah needs to know why and who. As both work with the strangers who've entered their lives to discover the truth, both will learn exactly who they are and what they'll do and risk for those they love.

Night Falls on Predicament Avenue has some gothic moments and most definitely is not a book to read in bed if you want an 8-hour peace-filled sleep. Nope, this is a stay up all night book that will keep you engaged and reading. Just one more chapter won't work for this book - you need to give yourself all day, and maybe a long weekend to catch up on the sleep you are sure to lose. Not for the faint of heart, this is suspense and mystery at its split-time finest!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Book Description:

 

As the walls of the house at Predicament Avenue reveal their hidden truths, two women--generations apart--discover that fear and foreboding are no respecters of time.

In 1901, Effie James is committed to doing anything to save her younger sister, who witnessed a shocking murder, leaving her mute and in danger of the killer's retribution. Effie must prove what her sister saw, but when a British gentleman arrives, he disrupts Effie's quest with his attempts to locate his wife, Isabelle Addington, who was last seen at the supposed crime scene in the abandoned house at 322 Predicament Avenue. Just as Effie discovers what she seeks, she finds that the blood staining the walls will forever link her to a scandal she couldn't imagine, and to a woman whose secrets promise to curse any who would expose them.

A century later, Norah Richman grapples with social anxiety and grief as she runs her late great-aunt's bed-and-breakfast on Predicament Avenue. But Norah has little affection for the house and is committed only to carrying out her murdered sister's dreams until crime historian and podcaster Sebastian Blaine arrives to investigate the ghostly legacy of the house's claim to fame--the murder of Isabelle Addington. When a guest is found dead, the incident is linked to Isabelle's murder, and Norah and Sebastian must work together to uncover the century-old curse that has wrapped 322 Predicament Avenue in its clutches and threatens far more than death.

 

AUTHOR BIO

 

Jaime Jo Wright (JaimeWrightBooks.com) is the author of ten novels, including Christy Award and Daphne du Maurier Award-winner The House on Foster Hill and Carol Award winner The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond. 

She's also a two-time Christy Award finalist, as well as the ECPA bestselling author of The Vanishing at Castle Moreau and two Publishers Weekly bestselling novellas. Jaime lives in Wisconsin with her family and felines.

 

SOCIAL MEDIA HANDLES & HASHTAGS

 

X: @jaimejowright @bethany_house @Austenprose

Instagram: @jaimejowright @bethanyhousefiction @austenprose

Hashtags: #nightfallsonpredicamentavenue #jaimejowright #historicalfiction #historicalsuspense #inspirationalfiction #gothicfiction #newbooks #bookrecs #bookx #bookstagram #booktour #austenprosepr #bhpfiction

Vanishing Legacy ~ Review

Vanishing Legacy

Elite Guardians: Savannah #1

By Kate Angelo and Lynette Eason

The Elite Guardians have come to Savannah. Not for a visit but as a permanent fixture for the foreseeable future. What Alana Flores never expected was to have a case literally come out of her backyard shed.

Penny Thomas escaped a kidnapper only to be targeted again. Why would anyone target a terrified 7-year old girl is a question Alana, the Elite Guardians and Penny's father Cash want to know. Because until they can figure out the why they can't stop the kidnapping attempts. What's worse, Penny's autism makes the experiences even more terrifying and disruptive. And when Alana's son Rocco makes a connection with Penny he too is added to the danger.

Vanishing Legacy is the first book in the spin-off series Elite Guardians: Savannah. With a whole new cast of characters and a new setting this has a new feel to it while building on the same standards of the pervious one. This book offers some intense moments when Alana has to jump into action. Can I just say there are balloons involved? And that they float? Never mind, I just did. 

If you like Suspense that will keep you turning the pages late into the night, with a touch of clean romance thrown in, you'll want to give this book a try. It's fairly fast-paced and will grab and keep your attention from cover-to-cover! I know because I stayed up way too late for an early morning workday. My bad! But I had to know what was coming next and the who behind everything!

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

For this Elite Guardian, protecting her client’s daughter 
just got personal.

Elite Guardian Alana Flores, former LAPD underwater dive detective, just wants a fresh start in Savannah, Georgia, with her son, Rocco. Hoping to repair their broken relationship, and provide a safer, more stable life, nothing could be more disastrous to her hopes than when they find a terrified, autistic child in her shed.

Oh no.

Enter Cash Thomas, a widowed trauma surgeon struggling to raise his autistic daughter, Penny. He’s put his wife’s disappearance and presumed death behind him…until someone tries to kidnap his daughter. Terrified of losing Penny to the same cartel that supposedly killed his wife, he turns to Alana and the Elite Guardians.

But is Sonia really dead? Or is she behind the kidnapping attempts? Cash and Alana must keep their children safe, uncover the truth about Sonia, and find a way to outsmart the cartel before it’s too late.

And what about the spark between them? Could this be the fresh start they both long for? Certainly not while their children are in danger. And when their worst fears happen, will they lose everything?

With heart-pounding foot chases on River Street, underwater thrills off Tybee Island, and a climactic showdown at Forsyth Fountain, Vanishing Legacy will leave you breathless.

 Available for purchase at https://amzn.to/4ao9mwY

Tagline

Safety. Secrets. Sacrifice. What will it cost these Elite Guardians to protect the innocent?

What the Mountains Remember ~ Review

What the Mountains Remember

By Joy Callaway

Belle Newbold's life is a facade. It hides the truth of her past, all she lost when her father died and her mother remarried. Her present and past are about to collide when her stepfather is invited to join Henry Ford's Vagabond camping tour. For the first time in seven years, she will be returning to the mountains and all its hidden memories. 

But it is more than a chance of a rare outdoor excursion for the wealthy upper class that is behind Belle's participation. No, she is being offered a chance to reunite with the man she is engaged to, a man she has only once before met. Worth Delafield is her chance at having a family and the assurance that she can have a simple life but one with financial stability. And she can have a marriage without the fear of a broken heart should he die young. She wants no entanglements of the heart, and the marriage her stepfather has arranged is the perfect way to secure her future without involving her heart.

I love the title of this book, What the Mountains Remember. One just thinks of all the secrets the mountains hold and what they have witnessed over the years. And this camping tour certainly reveals many secrets, some of which will alter the lives of those who are participating in it. And Belle's cousin Marie Austen—well, let's just say she is a character and not my favorite person in the book, but she is pivotal in parts of the storyline. 

I feel for Belle and how she had to hide her true self. Fear is a powerful motivator, and it has held Belle and her mother in its grip for the last seven years. This is a book of rediscovery, second chances, and finding love.

I loved the cover of this book, and it perfectly suits the story, which is set in 1913 North Carolina. Perfect for those who love historical women's centric fiction. As in all life some people are more likable than others, and in this case, I found Belle, Worth, and Shipley Newbold (Belle's stepfather) to be the characters I liked best.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

 

At this wondrous resort, secrets can easily be hidden in plain sight when the eye is trained on beauty.

 

April 1913—Belle Newbold hasn’t seen mountains for seven years—since her father died in a mining accident and her mother married gasoline magnate, Shipley Newbold. But when her stepfather’s business acquaintance, Henry Ford, invites the family on one of his famous Vagabonds camping tours, she is forced to face the hills once again—primarily in order to reunite with her future fiancé, owner of the land the Vagabonds are using for their campsite, a man she’s only met once before. It is a veritable arranged marriage, but she prefers it that way. Belle isn’t interested in love. She only wants a simple life—a family of her own and the stability of a wealthy man’s pockets. That’s what Worth Delafield has promised to give her and it’s worth facing the mountains again, the reminder of the past, and her poverty, to secure her future.

 

But when the Vagabonds group is invited to tour the unfinished Grove Park Inn and Belle is unexpectedly thrust into a role researching and writing about the building of the inn—a construction the locals are calling The Eighth Wonder of the World—she quickly realizes that these mountains are no different from the ones she once called home. As Belle peels back the facade of Grove Park Inn, of Worth, of the society she’s come to claim as her own, and the truth of her heart, she begins to see that perhaps her part in Grove Park’s story isn’t a coincidence after all. Perhaps it is only by watching a wonder rise from ordinary hands and mountain stone that she can finally find the strength to piece together the long-destroyed path toward who she was meant to be.

 

International bestselling author Joy Callaway returns with a story of the ordinary people behind extraordinary beauty—and the question of who gets to tell their stories.

 

AUTHOR BIO

 

Joy Callaway is the author of All the Pretty Places, The Grand Design, The Fifth Avenue Artists Society, and Secret Sisters. She holds a BA in journalism and public relations from Marshall University and an MMC from the University of South Carolina. She resides in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband, John, and her children, Alevia and John. Visit her online at joycallaway.com.

 

Pumpkin War ~ Review

Pumpkin War: 

The True Story of Cinderella

Ever After Maneuver #1

By Kendra E. Ardnek 

Elindala's task is simple, make the prince of Charmonce fall in love with her and steal his kingdom. Except it doesn't quite go according to plan. Prince Christof isn't falling at her feet. Yes, he did propose, and he did marry her. But he's determined for them to have a proper marriage but not until she comes to realize that she can trust him with her secrets. But how can she tell him the truth when doing so will betray her country. Worse, if she doesn't complete her task, her mother will consider her a disappointment, and she will end up in the tower with the other imprisoned princesses. If only King Hurbert hadn't married her mother and taken over their kingdom, she wouldn't be in this mess.

What's a princess in disguise to do? Ella needs to figure this out and soon.

Christof knows that Ella is the woman he is to marry. Not that her glamour has enchanted him; rather, it was a gift given to him by his grandmother that showed him where to set his heart. But when it becomes obvious that Ella is hiding something he needs to wonder just what role she is to play in his kingdom. Could his grandmother have been wrong? Could another fae have been working in opposition to his grandmother's gift? These are questions Christof must think on and hopefully get to the truth of his new wife.

Pumpkin War is an interesting twist on Cinderella, especially the stepmother—evil stepsister dynamic. This book is separate from but connected to the author's previous book, To Destroy an Illusion: A Glass Mountain Retelling.  So if you've read it you'll get a fun surprise in this book. If you haven't read it, there will be no issues with reading and enjoying this book, which is the first in the Ever After Maneuver series. 

Experience the story of Cinderella as you've never experienced it before! 

About the Book:

All's fair till it isn't a game...

Go to a ball, meet the prince, fall in love.
It's all simple process, though Elindala knows better than to fall in love with the prince. She wears a glamour that molds her into his perfect woman, and as soon as she has his heart, she will play the part of a faithful wife until she has torn down the defenses and has laid bare his kingdom for her family's attack. She just has to keep up the walls around her heart that have kept her safe her whole life.

Christof knows that all isn't right with his new bride. Ella's story has a few too many holes, and she's keeping a few too many secrets. However, she is the woman he's chosen, and he's determined to win her heart the way that she has stolen his. His parents worry, but he's sure that a little patience and care is all it'll take. After all, she's clearly not had much of that from her stepfamily.

War threatens, and secrets abound. Whose heart is forfeit, and whose kingdom will remain standing at the end of the Pumpkin War?

The Ever After Maneuver is a series of loosely connected swoony sweet retellings set in a shared world, with overarching themes of love, treachery, and political intrigue. There will be story arcs spanning multiple books, but unless specified otherwise, they can be read in any order.

The Ark and the Dove ~ Review

The Ark and the Dove
The Story of Noah's Wife
by Jill Eileen Smith

The Ark and the Dove is the story of Noah's wife. Zara has been married to Noah for many years and they are among the very few who even acknowledge that there was much less is a Creator.  Idol worship has become rampant, and God has had enough of humanity's disobedience and their embrace of any and every form of wickedness. For years, Noah has been speaking out, trying to divert his family, friends, and neighbors from the path of destruction that they are on. But nothing Noah has said has made any difference other than to earn him and his family scorn and ridicule.

Zara and Noah have three sons, two of whom are married. When word comes that God's wrath will soon destroy everything, Zara knows they need to find a wife for their youngest son, Ham. But finding a wife for Ham is not easy, though they manage to locate a young woman who will make do. 

As time grows short, Noah, Zara, their sons, and daughters-in-law must work together to fulfill God's command. The ark they build will house them and the animals God provides, as well as the supplies they will need while the earth is cleansed of all its wickedness. 

But people being people, sin is still in the hearts of those who survived the flood. This will challenge them as they live in the confined space of the Ark and later leave it to begin a new life again on dry land. And will the children and grandchildren of Noah and Zara find favor in the eyes of God? All of these are things that trouble Zara as the world she's known faces the wrath of God. She knows God created everything and that as time has gone by, even her own friends who had once believed have turned to other worldly pursuits, finding displeasure in God's eyes. Trusting the Creator after all that she has witnessed seems like it should be an easy thing, but can she protect her children and grandchildren from the evils that they witnessed before the end of everything?

This was an interesting read. Biblical Fiction is a tricky genre, as the author needs to walk a fine line between what is known and what could have been. The author has done so with this book. She's presented a story that could easily follow the daily lives of Noah and his family without stepping out too far by changing the known to fit her story. This book covers decades of time with noticeable jumps to move the story from point A to point B, which is fine - it takes a long time to build an ark that will have to be sea-worthy for who knows how long. If you like Biblical Fiction you may want to give this one a try. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations, but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Zara and Noah have walked together with the Creator for their entire lives, and they have done their best in an increasingly wicked and defiant world to raise their three sons to follow in their footsteps. It has been a challenge--and it's about to get much, much harder.

When the Creator tells her husband to build an ark to escape the coming wrath against the sins of humankind, Zara steps out with him in faith. But the derision and sabotage directed their way from both friends and extended family are difficult to bear, as is knowing that everyone she interacts with beyond her husband, her sons, and their wives is doomed to destruction. And when the ark is finally finished, and the animals have been shut up inside, Zara and her family embark on an adventure that will test their patience and their faith as they await deliverance and dry ground.

Experience the story of Noah and the flood like you never have before. With bestselling and award-winning author Jill Eileen Smith as your guide, you'll never look at a rainbow the same way again.

These Tangled Threads ~ Review

These Tangled Threads

By Sarah Loudin Thomas

This is a historical fiction that takes place over approximately 8 years (December 1915 to April 1924). Set in Asheville, North Carolina, the story centers around the Biltmore Industries and the weaving community it supports. But like everything, financial concerns are always lurking on the fringes. And it is in this environment that Lorna Blankenship finds herself. And a decision she made years ago has been a shadow ever since over her life and her relationships with others.

When Lorna is specifically asked to create a special design for Cornelia Vanderbilt's upcoming wedding that decision has come back to haunt her. Lorna needs to find inspiration but instead comes across a beautiful woven cloth. A cloth that could be what could save Biltmore Industries. Lorna needs to find the weaver now. But to do that she'll need to ask for help from the friend she rejected years before.

This story is told in a back and forth between the years from the viewpoints of the three main characters, Lorna, Arthur Wescott, and Gentry Cutshall. Each has a secret, a shame that they don't want to share. And each story comes together in a unique and satisfying way. I loved the historical aspect of this story. I was unfamiliar with Biltmore Industries and its history. And weaving, I enjoyed learning a bit about its design and processes. Perfect for anyone who loves American Pre-Depression Historical Fiction and second chances.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

 

Seven years ago, a hidden betrayal scattered three young friends living in the shadow of Biltmore Estate. Now, when Biltmore Industries master weaver Lorna Blankenship is commissioned to create an original design for Cornelia Vanderbilt's 1924 wedding, she panics knowing she doesn't have the creativity needed. But there's an elusive artisan in the Blue Ridge Mountains who could save her--if only she can find her.

To track the mysterious weaver down, Lorna sees no other way but to seek out the relationships she abandoned in shame. As she pulls at each tangled thread from her old life, Lorna is forced to confront the wounds and regrets of long ago. She'll have to risk the job that shapes her identity as well as the hope of friendship--and love--restored.

In this seamlessly woven historical tale, award-winning Appalachian author Sarah Loudin Thomas delivers a poignant novel of friendship, artistry, restoration, and second chances.

 

AUTHOR BIO

Sarah Loudin Thomas (sarahloudinthomas.com) is the author of numerous acclaimed novels, including The Finder of Forgotten Things, The Right Kind of Fool, winner of the 2021 Selah Book of the Year, and Miracle in a Dry Season, winner of the 2015 INSPY Award. 

She worked in public relations for Biltmore Estate for six years and is now the director of Jan Karon's Mitford Museum. A native of West Virginia, she and her husband now live in western North Carolina. 

Pride and Preston Lin ~ Review

Pride and Preston Lin

By Christina Dudley

Lissie (Elizabeth) is the middle Cheng sister who were taken in by her aunt and uncle when their parents died. When Lissie is overworked one night at the family restaurant she makes what could have been a fatal mistake - she serves a customer with allergies a dish that contains shellfish. Not good and then Preston Lin starts throwing his "privileged" opinion about the situation around. He might be good looking but his wealthy family and self-righteous personality make him an instant cringe for Lissie. Especially after the shellfish incident. It's not like she meant to make such a huge mistake.

Pride and Preston Lin is a modern take on Jane Austin's Pride and Prejudice with a twist. Preston is a star student at Stanford, and stellar when it comes to swimming. Everything Lissie isn't. And he has his very own fan club in Hazel Bing, the young woman Lissie had the unfortunate incident with. And her brother Charles has a thing for Lissie's sister Jenny, which means more chance encounters with Preston, ugh!

It is really interesting seeing how the author changes up Jane Austen's classic and makes it hers. This is definitely a modern twist, but it all plays out in such an original way that someone with only a passing familiarity with Pride and Prejudice might not recognize it. It is fun seeing the similarities and just how different they come across in a different time period, setting, and culture. Highly recommend to anyone who reads any and all Jane Austen iterations. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

 

In this modern-day retelling of Pride and Prejudice, the quick-witted and contrarian Lissie Cheng must navigate societal pressures and her growing attraction to the rich and enigmatic Preston Lin.

 

Lissie is the middle of three sisters, orphaned and taken in by their aunt and uncle. Both she and her older sister, Jenny, work in the family restaurant while pursuing their education and career dreams. When Lissie accidentally serves a dish containing shellfish paste to an allergic customer, she runs afoul of the wealthy Lin family. Their golden boy, Preston, star swimmer and Stanford Ph.D. student, is as handsome as he is self-righteous. Lissie hates him and everything he stands for, but circumstances keep bringing them together. Can she overcome her pride and her initial misgivings about Preston Lin and his condescending mother? Will love prevail, and will these enemies turn into lovers?

 

Pride and Preston Lin by popular Regency romance writer Christina Hwang Dudley is a hilarious and earnest contemporary riff on Jane Austen’s classic work. And readers will undoubtedly root for Lissie Cheng, a sassy new Elizabeth Bennet for our times, to find lasting love and happiness.

 

AUTHOR BIO

Christina Dudley's books have been called "enchanting," "sparkling" and "swoon-worthy" by reviewers like Austenprose and Austenesque Reviews. She's authored two award-winning Regency series: The Hapgoods of Bramleigh and The Ellsworth Assortment, as well as PRIDE AND PRESTON LIN, a contemporary riff on Austen's classic which was chosen as a February 2024 Editor's Pick by Kirkus Reviews Magazine and received starred reviews from both them and Booklist. She and her family live in Bellevue, Washington.

 

ADVANCE PRAISE

 

"In a world with so many Pride & Prejudice adaptations, a new one has to be truly special to stand out, and this one is. Dudley’s contemporary debut is faithful to its source material but finds clever ways to make it work in a modern setting, while also adding an authentic Chinese American perspective on the beloved story. A warm, sweet story with all the witticisms Austen fans savor."— Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

 

"Like Crazy (not) Rich Asians meets Jane Austen, Pride and Preston Lin is a delightful retelling of a beloved classic that had me smiling from page one."— Evelyn Skye, New York Times bestselling author of The Hundred Loves of Juliet

 

Chapter 3 of Yours, Mine, and Hours is now available to read!

 

You may or may not be aware that I have been taking part in the Story of the Month club for the last two years. 

What's the Story of the Month?

Well, I'm glad you asked. It is a collaboration between several authors to provide new and exciting stories for you to enjoy for free. Last year (2023), four authors wrote three stories each, and each month, one of them was offered online for readers to enjoy at their leisure. 

This year, Michelle Francik and I decided to do something different. We are collaborating to write a story, a chapter per month, with each of us alternating chapters (and months). So far, we have been having a blast seeing just where the story is going next because until we get the next chapter from one another, we don't know either.

Chapter three of Yours, Mine, and Hours is now available for you to read at Chapter 3 - Phoebe. 

You missed the first two chapters? That's no problem; they are available to read at Story of the Month 2024. And the best part is the reading is still free!

Tangled Up in Love ~ Review

Tangled Up in Love

A Trinity Lake Romance

By Carolyn Miller

Ellie Reilly has been living her dream, traveling Europe, enjoying the history, and meeting someone special. Returning to Trinity Lakes is just so ordinary. And what was her everyday life before Europe has changed, leaving her feeling unsettled and at loose ends. And then there is her best friend Jasper, something just feels off about him.

Jasper Cohen has been counting down the days until Ellie's return since the day she left. He's been hiding his feelings for her for years and when he sees after all those weeks away, lefts just things get just a tad awkward. Of course, Ellie has no idea why, just assumes it's because of his dad's health issues.

When Ellie gets an unexpected job offer - reopening the local museum - it seems like a dream come true, if not for her recent taste of Europe and travel. But this is an opportunity she can't pass up. With the encouragement of those who know her best she takes on the challenge and recruits Jasper to help her bring her vision back to life. And then she gets word that Sebastian is coming to see her.

Tangled Up in Love finds Ellie having to decide just what she wants out of life and just how important her faith and values are to her daily life. Will it take a crisis for Ellie to see what she truly wants out of life? Or will she be blinded by what she thinks she wants?

This is a contemporary romance that can be read as a standalone title. The Trinty Lakes series is written by several authors, each focusing on different people within the community. In this book the main focus is on Jasper, Ellie, and Ellie's family-especially big brothers Jackson and Mitch. Trinity Lakes seems like it would a lovely community, smaller but not tiny. A bedroom community, one could say, of Seattle or Walla-Walla. Tight with bonds that hold them together in a good way. I would highly recommend this title for fans of friends-to-something more.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

One kiss didn't mean much. One kiss could mean everything. When Ellie Reilly returns from a dream overseas trip, a too-long hug from her best friend Jasper Cohen clues her in that his feelings might be more than what she suspected. He's unsure about pushing their friendship further, and doubly uncertain when her European friend, Sebastian, seeks her out in Trinity Lakes. Uncertainty is something Ellie knows all too well. Since returning from her vacation, Ellie feels like she doesn't fit at her family's ranch or in small town life. When she is asked to take on responsibility for reopening Trinity Lakes' historical museum - a dream she's always wanted - she can't help but wonder if settling for life in the familiar is all that God has for her, or whether she dare trust Him for more? Can these two best friends push past mistakes and insecurities and find a future together? Preorder at https://books2read.com/TangledUpInLove

Hidden Yellow Star ~ Review

Hidden Yellow Star

By Rebecca Connolly

What would you do if those around you were facing persecution merely because of their heritage? This is the question that Andrée Geulen faced when the students in her classroom of Jewish heritage were forced to wear a yellow star - a yellow Star of David marking them as lesser beings in the eyes of Nazis. 

When her Jewish heritage causes her to lose her job, Ida Sterno joins the Committee for the Defense of Jews in Belgium. This resistance movement is helping to hide Jewish children from the very people who seek to destroy them. This connection and concern brings Ida and Andrée together in their fight. 

The very nature of their efforts if discovered is sure to be a death sentence, even if it is while in a camp. And asking people, children to deny who they are was a danger that threatened all involved. And the threat of betrayal was all too real.

This is a story of bravery and risk. A story of love and sacrifice. A story of standing up for what is right. This story will touch your heart as mothers give up their children, in hopes of a life away from the very real danger they daily faced. The efforts of those who do all that they can out of love. Hidden Yellow Stars will move you. 

The characters heartbreak, their despair, their feelings of injustice, their righteous anger, and their fear resonated with me as I worked my way through the book. The historical aspects come alive. One phrase really struck me: He who saves one life saves all of humanity. These people saved many lives, knowing what they risked doing so. One has to wonder what one would do in a similar situation. I highly recommend this book for anyone who reads WW2 Fiction.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Based on the true story of two World War II heroines who risked everything

to save Jewish children from the Gestapo by hiding them throughout Belgium.

Belgium, 1942

Young schoolteacher Andrée Geulen secretly defies the Nazis in Belgium, who are forcing Jews to wear a yellow Star of David. Andrée is not Jewish, but she feels a maternal connection to her students, who are living in constant fear, and decides to take action. No child should have to suffer under such persecution. But what can one woman do against an entire army?

Ida Sterno is a Jewish woman who works with the Committee for the Defense of Jews in Belgium, a clandestine resistance group tasked with hiding children from the Gestapo. She wants to recruit Andrée because her Aryan appearance can provide crucial security measures for their efforts. Andrée agrees to join and begins work immediately by adopting a code name: Claude Fournier.

Together, Andrée and Ida, and their undercover operatives, work around the clock to move Jewish children from their families and smuggle them to safety through the secret channels established by the resistance. As each child is hidden, Andrée commits to memory their true name and history. Someday, she vows, she will help reunite as many of these families as she can.

But with the Gestapo closing in and the traitorous Fat Jacques who has turned from ally to enemy and is threatening to identify and expose any Jew he meets, Andrée and Ida must work even harder against increasingly impossible odds to save as many children as possible and keep them safely hidden—even if it might cost them their own lives.

About the Author:

Rebecca Connolly is the author of more than two dozen novels. She calls herself a Midwest girl, having lived in Ohio and Indiana. She's always been a bookworm, and her grandma would send her books almost every month so she would never run out. Book Fairs were her carnival, and libraries are her happy place. She received a master's degree from West Virginia University.

While doing research for this book, she discovered information about her own family history, including the fates of several unknown family members who perished in the concentration camps of World War II.

One Wrong Move ~ Review

One Wrong Move

Jeopardy Falls #1

By Dani Pettrey

When a series of art heists focus on galleries that Christian O'Brady installed the security systems for, he is pulled into a case that will bring his past front and center. His parents pulled Christian and his siblings into their crimes at a young age, and, unfortunately, Christian was good at it until he turned his skills to the benefit of others. But this rash of thefts has reopened the past, along with his guilt.

Called in when art theft has hit galleries that her company insures, Andi Forester is tasked with discovering who is involved. What she didn't expect was the man who destroyed her FBI career would be involved, indirectly, with the case. 

As Andi and Christian work to uncover all the layers of this deadly criminal spree, they find themselves the target of someone who wants to keep the truth hidden. But the cat-and-mouse game they find themselves in finds them being drawn into past sins and the cost could be their lives.

One Wrong Move is the series debut of Jeopardy Falls, which I have to admit keeps the tension and suspense ratcheted up throughout the book. And in addition to the art theft storyline there is an equally page-turning, attention-grabbing thread - Andi's past with the FBI and the debacle that ended her career as a forensic analyst has come into question. But who is telling the truth, Andi or the man her work put in jail? The answer just may get them killed!

This is a fast paced Contemporary Romantic Suspense set in New Mexico. If you love reading a book that will keep you up all night Dani Pettrey has done it. If you prefer to sleep at night - make this a weekend read instead with a good hour or two to relax before you want to put your head to your pillow. This story is complete with no danglers to keep you wondering, "But what about?" But even so I'm interested to see what happens next - I'm assuming it will have something to do with Christian's siblings - Riley or Deckard.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book
Title: One Wrong Move
Series: Jeopardy Falls #1
Author: Dani Pettrey
Publisher: Bethany House
Release Date: February 2024
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Taunting riddles.

A deadly string of heists.

Two broken hearts trapped in a killer's game.

Christian O'Brady was pulled into a life of crime at a young age by his con artist parents. Now making amends for his corrupt past, he has become one of the country's foremost security experts. When a string of Southwestern art heists targets one of the galleries Christian secured, he is paired up with a gifted insurance investigator who has her own checkered past.

Andi Forester was a brilliant FBI forensic analyst until one of her colleagues destroyed her career, blaming her for mishandling evidence. She now puts those skills to work investigating insurance fraud, and this latest high-stakes case will test her gift to the limit. Drawn deep into a dangerous game with an opponent bent on revenge, Christian and Andi are in a race against the clock to catch him, but the perpetrator's game is far from finished, and one wrong move could be the death of them both.

Dani Pettrey captivates with . . .

"An intense blend of suspense, love, and faith."--Booklist

"Wicked pace, snappy dialogue, and likeable characters."--Publishers Weekly