Monday, December 31, 2018

Escape by Glenn Haggerty




About The Book: 
“I’d never seen a dead body before, but I was pretty sure the guy in the car trunk was dead.”

Middle school's tough, and Tyler Higgins just wants to hang with the cool kids. But Dustin’s idea of quality entertainment is spying on parked cars on Lover’s Lane. When two creeps show up with a body, Tyler doesn’t want to stick around. Then again, he might not have much choice.

My Review: 
I found this book to be full of action adventure, drama, and bullying. It has some animals, and this story has a faith theme. It is very short but that's good for young readers and those of us who are in need of a good, fast read. I loved the core of who is and who isn't your friend. Tyler has some major lessons to learn in this story. I enjoyed it and I may read more of this author's books.

5 Stars 


Author Bio: 


Glenn writes inspiring adventures with an edge. No matter how dark the day, finding hope to pursue the prize is the core of all his novels and studies. He is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers), a graduate of Vision Loss Resources and Bethel Seminary, the father of six and grandfather of seven. Glenn likes tandem biking, kayaking, and daydreaming and lives in Minneapolis with his wife. He is also an award-winning author with short stories published in SplicketyHavokCadet Questand PartnersChase, the third book in his Intense series was released on April 1, 2018.

Link to Book 

Social Media 

This book is part of a Celebrate Lit Review Blast. 


Saturday, December 29, 2018

Mark of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse (The Ravenwood Saga Book #1)



About the Book: 

Lady Selene is the heir to the Great House of Ravenwood and the secret family gift of dreamwalking. As a dreamwalker, she can enter a person's dreams and manipulate their greatest fears or desires. For the last hundred years, the Ravenwood women have used their gift of dreaming for hire to gather information or to assassinate.

As she discovers her family's dark secret, Selene is torn between upholding her family's legacy--a legacy that supports her people--or seeking the true reason behind her family's gift.

Her dilemma comes to a head when she is tasked with assassinating the one man who can bring peace to the nations, but who will also bring about the downfall of her own house.

One path holds glory and power, and will solidify her position as Lady of Ravenwood. The other path holds shame and execution. Which will she choose? And is she willing to pay the price for the path chosen?

My Review:
Christian fantasy is one of my all-time favorite categories. I found this book to be a good read that I enjoyed except for a few things. 1) Cliffhanger alert. 
2) Repetition. 
3) It takes a while to lay the foundation so it doesn't pick up until later in the book. 
Beyond that, I felt that the story was entertaining enough, very gothic, and Lady Ragna's motives clearly shown. The supporting characters were almost stronger than the main ones. I hope they are featured more prominently in the next book in the series. Faith is interspersed, but not overwhelming. That may make this book ideal for newcomers to Christian Fiction. This is my first book by this author. 

4 stars

Purchase a copy here! 

About the Author:


Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the Follower of the Word series and the award-winning steampunk series, The Soul Chronicles. Her debut novel, Daughter of Light, was a Christy and Carol Award finalist. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.

Sunday, December 23, 2018

The Shadow of Croft Tower by Abigail Wilson

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About the Book

Book: In the Shadow of Croft Towers
Author: Abigail Wilson
Genre: Historical fiction, romantic suspense
Release Date: January 15, 2019
In the Shadow of Croft TowerFrom debut author Abigail Wilson comes a mysterious Regency tale of secrets and spies, love and treachery.
Orphaned Sybil Delafield jumps at the opportunity for a position at the mysterious Croft Towers. She believes she was hired to act as companion to a dying woman, but a highway robbery and a hostile welcome from the Chalcroft family cause her to wonder if she was actually hired to help someone spy for France.
An unsolved murder adds intrigue to this already secretive family, and Sybil recognizes Mrs. Chalcroft’s handsome grandson as one of the infamous highwaymen who robbed her. Sybil must determine if this man’s charming smile and earnest eyes speak the truth or if he is simply using her like others in the house. Everyone seems to have something to hide, and Sybil must decide who to trust while also coming to terms with the truth about her own past.

GET your copy HERE! 
My Review:
It's always a pleasure to have a book that is a fantastic read. Here's a read with mystery, murder, gothic tones, a bit of romance and history all rolled into one tale. War and spies, drama and adventure are all included. It's a clean read. It is not overflowing with "Christian" content, which keeps it open to all readers. That could be a big bonus if the author is working to get people in, and then give them more Christian content in upcoming books. It's not preachy, and I'm grateful for that sometimes. Today is one of those times. It's a book you can pass out to just about anyone, and pray over it and see how it opens doors for later on. Because of that, and the really interesting story, I give it 5 stars. 

About the Author

Abigail WilsonAbigail Wilson combines her passion for Regency England with intrigue and adventure to pen historical mysteries with a heart. A Registered Nurse, chai tea addict, and mother of two crazy kids, Abigail fills her spare time hiking the National Parks, attending her daughter’s gymnastic meets, and curling up with a great book. In 2017, Abigail won WisRWA’s Fab Five contest and ACFW’s First Impressions contest as well as placing as a finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense. She is a cum laude graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and currently lives in Dripping Springs, Texas, with her husband and children. Connect with Abigail at www.acwilsonbooks.com

Excerpt from the Book

1813
THE ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE
I often wonder what my life would have been like if I had never learned the truth. I wouldn’t have set off as I did for Croft Towers. I never would have met him.
It’s strange what I remember about the day I left London. The mail coach was late; the weather wretched. The clock had struck midnight long before two strangers and I ducked beneath the postmaster’s outstretched umbrella to board the Royal Mail and rumble across the North Downs.
That difficult journey east marked the beginning of an unseasonably cold autumn. Frigid rain pelted the coach windows. The undercarriage squealed beneath the seats as a metallic scent wound its way between the drafty boards. I gripped the windowsill, wondering if the coachman intended to hit every bump in the road.
“Far to go, miss?”
The woman’s voice startled me. Dressed head to toe in red
satin, she’d endured the last few darkened hours with a handful of smelling salts and a tongue hot for complaints, but she hadn’t spoken to me until now. Not until the first hint of rain-soaked daylight peeked over the horizon.
I lowered my gaze and fiddled with my bonnet ribbons. “Yes, ma’am . . . well, not too much farther, I hope.”
Taken from “In the Shadow of Croft Towers” by Abigail Wilson. Copyright © 2018 by Abigail Wilson. Used by permission of http://www.thomasnelson.com/.

Blog Stops

Just the Write Escape, December 20
Faery Tales Are Real, December 20
The Avid Reader, December 20
Mary Hake, December 22
Carpe Diem, December 22
Inklings and notions, December 23
Blogging With Carol, December 23
Stories By Gina, December 24
Remembrancy, December 24
Madeline Clark, December 25
Janices book reviews, December 26
Back Porch Reads, December 27
Book by Book, December 27
Daysong Reflections, December 28
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 28
Godly Book Reviews, December 29
Bigreadersite, December 29
A Rup Life, December 30
Bibliophile Reviews, December 30
A Reader’s Brain, December 31
Texas Book-aholic, December 31
Bookworld Reviews, January 1
Pause for Tales, January 1

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Abigail is giving away a grand prize of one finished copy of the book!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d777/in-the-shadow-of-croft-towers-celebration-tour-giveaway

Saturday, December 15, 2018

I Know The Plans by Mellissa Wardwell (Promises from Above Book 3)

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About the Book

I Know the Plans
Book: I Know the Plans
Author: Melissa Wardwell
Genre: Romance
Release Date: October, 2018
All the plans Tiffany and Brad made for their lives as individuals were thrown to the wind the moment they met. Now, after almost a decade of marriage, they spend more time apart than together. Though plans remain unfulfilled, their hearts seek to remain steadfast and connected.
After Brad returns from his latest tour in Afghanistan, it is evident that the man Tiffany married is no longer the same. As Brad struggles with reacquainting himself with his life, Tiffany questions how it could be part of God’s plan. Have the sins of their past finally come back to haunt them? No matter how much support they have in their family and friends, the choice is still theirs. Will they continue to trust God with their lives or will they choose their own course?

My Review:

This is a lovely addition to this series. Based on one of my favorite scripture verses, this book was a nice read. This book focuses on Brad's return from Afganastain, and some of the issues that come from that. Personally, I have known several of our guys who have come back from a war, and it does indeed change them. I appreciate this author's books for not shying away from realism. Faith and trust are themes in this story. I'm looking forward to more books from this author.

5 starts


Get your copy Here
About the Author 
Melissa WardwellMelissa Wardwell resides in the quaint town of Owosso, Michigan with her husband and their three teenaged children. She began her writing journey in August of 2014 with her debut novel “What God Brings Together”. She decided to give writing a try after she shared a story that nagged at her with a friend. Unsure in her own abilities to craft a story she plunged ahead anyway. After reading the first draft of that first book, she then understood that God had a much bigger plan. “God does not give his children a desire just so that it can go to waste.” Since then, she has added three more novels and taken part in two anthologies. Melissa also has a review blog and is a contributing blogger for Heart”wings” Blog.
Being a mother and wife herself, Melissa understands the importance of taking care of yourself from time to time. So, all her stories revolve around women who are mothers: single mothers, widowed mothers, young mothers, married mothers, and even women who have a mother’s heart but no children of their own.
To see the full list of her work, visit www.melissawardwell.com

Guest Post from Melissa

Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV) “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
This verse has been my “Go To” verse since the day I married. It is a constant reminder that no matter what struggles I endure, God has a plan. I may not be able to see through the fog, I may not like or understand the journey, but it is all part of a plan. All I can do is trust God’s design for my life and be willing to move when He tells me to.
God used the writing process of “I Know the Plans” to remind me that He has a plan for me and book and I need to just trust the process. This book has taken me over a year to complete. If it wasn’t one thing to keep me from committing to it, then it was another. I don’t begrudge the events that kept me away, but as soon as I would begin to grumble to God about not having the energy or the brain power to write, I would get this preverbal reminder that I was not the one in control. If I am going to write faith lessons in fiction, I need to trust the Master Author.
In “I Know the Plans”, Sergeant Bradley Jones and his wife, Tiffany, are hit with one whopper of a plot twist that leaves them wondering if they can get through some major medical issues, PTSD, and infertility in one piece. Their family and friends do their best to support the couple but sometimes, trusting God’s plan is all they can do. Something we all try to learn to do in our own lives. 
Due to the military thread in this book, I asked my veteran friends what charity they hold in high esteem. Almost every single one of them suggested “Wounded Warrior Project” and offered rave reviews of their humanitarian efforts in the military community. So, a portion of my royalties from this book will be going to “Wounded Warrior Project” in honor of their service and the service of thousands of others. 
There is another group of people I wanted to honor. Those who fight with infertility. I know many who have fought the battle to have children of their own. Some eventually find success, while others have not. Some have even taken the route of adoption and have saved the lives of young ones who needed all the love in the world. Then there are some that just choose to embrace the fact that children of their own was not going to happen and have given all their love to others. All of these groups of people fight a battle that is riddled with pain, confusion, endless medical procedures, and thousands of dollars. There isn’t one group or another that could support these people as much as our love, prayers, and thoughtful kindness can. So, I encourage you to embrace those around you and shower them with love. Sometimes what they need is just a friend that will listen and not try to mix the problem. Just as you have received the Father’s love, now you can give it away. 
Finally, I want to thank the CelebrateLit blog team for signing up for this tour. I am honored that they choose to read this story and offer their honest opinions on this book. As always, I pray it ministers to the readers as much as it ministered to the author. “You all are amazing!”
Blessings,
Melissa Wardwell

Blog Stops

Connect in Fiction, December 14
Inklings and notionsDecember 14
Godly Book Reviews, December 15
Blogging With Carol, December 15
Mary Hake, December 16
Carpe Diem, December 17
Maureen’s Musings, December 18
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 18
Texas Book-aholic, December 19
Christian Bookaholic, December 20
cultivating us, December 20
Bibliophile Reviews, December 22
Simple Harvest Reads, December 24 (Guest Post from Mindy Houng)
Janices book reviews, December 25
The Becca Files, December 26
Bigreadersite, December 26

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Melissa is giving away a grand prize that includes an “I know the plans” coffee mug and print copies of books 1, 2, & 3 from the Promises From Above Series!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d76f/i-know-the-plans-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, December 9, 2018

Murder of Connivance by Linda Shenton Matchett

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About the Book

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Book: Murder of Convenience
Author: Linda Shenton Matchett
Genre: Historical Mystery
Release Date: October 15, 2018
May 1942: Geneva Alexander flees Philadelphia and joins the USO to escape the engagement her parents have arranged for her, only to wind up as the number one suspect in her betrothed’s murder investigation. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, she must find the real killer before she loses her sight…or is convicted for a crime she didn’t commit.
Set in the early days of America’s entry into WWII and featuring cameo appearances from Hollywood stars, Murder of Convenience is tribute to individuals who served on the home front, especially those who did so in spite of personal difficulties, reminding us that service always comes as a result of sacrifice. Betrayal, blackmail, and a barrage of unanswered questions… Murder of Convenience is the first in Linda Shenton Matchett’s exciting new “Women of Courage” series.
Click HERE to get a copy! 

My Review:

This book gripped me as soon as we got to the Pastor's sermon. The message and Faith in this book starts off with a firm foundation. 

Geneva is a gifted soprano, something I connect with. She manages to join the USO, in spite of her eye condition. I have known someone with this particular condition and it's a horrible one. The typical outcome leaves the person blind, which is what Geneva is facing. Retinitis Pigmentosa wasn't discovered until the 1970s, but ignore that and use this as a chance to learn more. 

I liked Geneva and, to my surprise, I could feel the heart and depth of WWII research the author has woven into this book. I enjoyed learning new things about the OSO. This kind of education is so desperately needed for our younger generation. To have it wrapped up inside of a complexed mystery; Matchett you won me over with this one book. 

This book stands alone but is book one in a new series. A few things left me curious and I'm thinking they will be answered in the next book in the series. I fully intend to read it. Few books still encompass the proper Noir feeling while including Christ and mystery. 

P.S. I believe the cover is done the way it is, to emphasize a tiny glimpse into how Geneva's vision works. 

5 Stars 

About the Author

Linda Matchett Head ShotLinda Shenton Matchett is an author, speaker, and history geek. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry and has lived in historic places all her life. Linda is a member of ACFW, RWA, and Sisters in Crime. She is a volunteer docent at the Wright Museum of WWII and a trustee for her local public library

Guest Post from Linda

World War II is my favorite era about which to read and write. What I find most fascinating about the time period are the stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things, especially women, who until this time, had been provided for and protected.
A woman was typically insulated from difficulties or frightening things, and her husband or father took care of just about everything. When the war took millions of men away, the women had to learn how to take care of themselves in addition to filling the job vacancies.
Yes, there were Rosie the Riveters: women who worked in the factories building weapons, ships, vehicles and all kinds of war material, but there were also Land Army girls, many of whom didn’t know how to drive, who learned to operate all kinds of farm equipment so they could bring in crops to feed our nation as well as our Allies. Others donned uniforms to serve in the WACS, WAVES, SPARS, WASPS, Marines, Army Nurse Corp, and Navy Nurse Corp. Millions boosted morale through the USO and Red Cross or served in myriad ways with Civil Defense. Some went overseas to cover the war as journalists. A few even signed on as spies.
The driving force with most of these women was the realization that their country needed them. They put their own needs and desires aside to help win a war they didn’t ask to be part of. And many did it while single-handedly running the household because their husband was somewhere across the globe – ordinary women doing extraordinary things.
My latest release, Murder of Convenience, explores themes of service and sacrifice intertwined with the question of how to respond when God says no. It is my hope that the novel honors the women who lived during WWII in some small way.

Blog Stops

All-of-a-kind Mom, December 1
Bigreadersite, December 1
Carpe Diem, December 3
Pause for Tales, December 5
Multifarious, December 7
Have A Wonderful DayDecember 8
Bibliophile Reviews, December 8
Blogging With CarolDecember 9
Texas Book-aholic, December 10
The Lit AddictDecember 12
Maureen’s Musings, December 13
Janices book reviews, December 14

Giveaway

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To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away a grand prize of a World War II themed gift basket!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d6d3/murder-of-convenience-celebration-tour-giveaway