Standoff at Christmas by Margaret Daley

Christmas was yesterday, but for me, I could read a Christmas book every day of the year! My latest Christmas read was Standoff at Christmas by one of my favorite authors, Margaret Daley. This book is the fourth book in her "Alaskan Search and Rescue" series.

The story is about Rachel Hart who works in the office at the Port Aurora Fishery in Port Aurora, Alaska, and K-9 officer Jake Nichols from Anchorage, Alaska. Jake returns home, with his injured search dog, Mitch, to Port Aurora for Christmas and to recuperate from a near death accident. 

When Jake arrives home, he gets reacquainted with Rachel who was his best friend from childhood. Shortly after arriving home, Rachel's aunt is brutally murdered and attempts are soon made on Rachel. Instead of a nice quiet vacation, Jake soon finds himself involved an investigation into strange goings on at the fishery. Will he be able to keep Rachel and her other aunt safe? Will he be able to survive himself. If they do survive, will their friendship remain intact or will their relationship evolve into something more?

I love Margaret Daley's work and especially her LoveInspired Suspense novels. Her characters are believable and always draw the reader into their stories. Standoff at Christmas, was true to her work and I loved it! . I would highly recommend picking up a copy of this wonderful book. If you can't fine it in your local stores, you can always order it on line.

On a 5-Star Scale = 5 Stars!!!!! 

I would like to thank Margaret Daley for my copy of Standoff at Christmas. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Whispers in the Reading Room by Shelley Gray

Once again I have discovered an author who is new to me and I can honestly say I thoroughly enjoyed her work. Shelley Gray's Whispers in the Reading Room is her third book in "The Chicago World's Fair Mystery Series". Since I enjoyed this book so much I hope to go back and read the other two books in the series, Secrets of Sloane House and Deception on Sable Hill.

Whispers in the Reading Room is the story of Lydia Bancroft, a librarian at the Lincoln Lending Library in Chicago, Illinois. Lydia is engaged to Jason but finds herself intrigued with a tall, dark and handsome gentleman who visits the library on a regular basis. The gentleman is Sebastian Marks, a mystery man who speaks nary a word at first. But if Lydia has her way, she will find out more about this mysterious man.

In time, Lydia and Sebastian become friends but there is still a shroud of mystery around Sebastian that Lydia wants to peel away. She hears that he is wealthy and that he is involved in a business in the worst part of town. She still wants to know more but will she be hurt in the process?

Lydia is a great character that by all society's standards should rest in the fact that she is engaged to Jason. After all, since her father's death, she and her mother have become almost penniless and marrying Jason should elevate them back up to society's standards, or will it? 

Lydia just can't curb her curiosity about Sebastian and wants to learn more about the mysterious gentleman. She decides she wants to visit Sebastian's club but soon finds herself a suspect in a murder.She has to decide who she can trust and who Sebastian really is. Is he a wealthy gentleman that people have wrongfully accused of being a man who should be feared or is he truly a gentleman who has been misunderstood?

I loved the mystery surrounding Sebastian and grew to like his character more and more as his past was revealed.

This book is a wonderful historical novel filled with intrigue, mystery and romance. I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys a historical mystery filled with romance.

On a 5-Star scale - 4 1/2 stars!

I would like to thank Litfuse Publicity and Zondervan for my copy of Whispers in the Reading Room. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review.

Smiles & Blessings,

The Golden Braid by Melanie Dickerson

I have always been a fan of fairy tales and Melanie Dickerson has a wonderful gift of retelling fairy tales. In The Golden Braid, Ms. Dickerson gives us the retelling of the story of Rapunzel and she does it remarkably well.

When the story begins, almost nineteen year old Rapunzel is living with her mother Gothel in the village of Ottelfelt in the Holy Roman Empire. But a young man proposes to Rapunzel and while she tells him "no", her mother decides they must move once again to the larger city of Hagenheim. Rapunzel gets excited as her dream is to learn how to read and she feels she may be able to learn in a larger city.

Their journey becomes treacherous and Rapunzel finds herself being rescued by Sir Gerek, a knight. Later down the road Sir Gerek finds himself being rescued by Rapunzel. He promises to repay her by teaching her to read.

As the story progresses, Rapunzel discovers a mystery surrounding her life that could possibly change it forever. Ms. Dickerson has created a wonderful world to place Rapunzel in and weave aspects of the original fairy tale. I truly enjoyed this retelling.

If you love historical romances set during the Medieval time period, or retelling of fairy tales, or just enjoy a good clean read I would suggest you pick up a copy of The Golden Braid. While it is listed as a book for young adults, I believe adults will enjoy it just as much.

On a 5-Star Scale -  4 1/2 Stars!

I would like to thank Litfuse Publishing Group and Thomas Nelson for my copy of The Golden Braid. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti

I love Christmas and I love stories set during Christmas. When I decided to request Cynthia Ruchti's An Endless Christmas to read for review I wasn't aware of the impact this small little book would have on me. Let me tell you, I cried, I laughed, I cried some more and when I turned the last page I felt such a peace come over me. 

This book is powerful to say the least. The characters walk right off the page and into the readers heart. I was pulled into the story by Katie Vale and Micah Binder and to be perfectly honest, I didn't want to leave. While these two characters share the leading roles, I also fell in love with Dodie and Wilson Binder, Micah's grandparents. The Binder family is quirky and full of love for each other. 

Micah brings his girlfriend Katie with him when he leaves Florida to spend Christmas with his family at his grandparents house in Minnesota. Upon arrival, Micah proposes only to receive an answer of "no" from Katie. While this could make Katie's visit quite uncomfortable, the family engulfs her with love and a wonderful story begins to develop.

An Endless Christmas is a story of family traditions, friendships and love. It's a book that can teach all of us the true meaning of the season. It will make you smile, laugh and even shed some tears, but it will, more than anything else, give you an insight of what a true gift love is.

I can't say enough for this book. This is definitely a book to read, savor and read again, year after year. My copy is a hard back about 5 by 7 and filled with 227 pages of pure pleasure. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good book.

On a 5-Star Scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Litfuse Publicity Group and Worthy Inspired for my copy of An Endless Christmas. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Keeping Christmas by Dan Walsh

I truly enjoy any book with the name of Dan Walsh on the cover. His newest book Keeping Christmas pulled at all my emotions, as most of his books do.

Keeping Christmas is the story of 'empty-nesters'. Stan and Judith Winters find themselves all alone at Thanksgiving as all three of their children and their families have moved to other states and can't afford to come home for the holidays. To make things worse, they tell their mom that they won't be able to come home for Christmas either. This was the catalyst for this story.

Judith can hardly believe she won't see any of her kids during the holidays. The feelings she starts to have take her into a deep depression and Stan and Betty, the wife of Stan's best friend Barney, try just about everything to help Judith get through this difficult time. Are they successful? You'll have to read the book to find out.

I will say that the love displayed in this book was almost tangible. I felt it. I believed it. I loved it.

Mr. Walsh, has a talent of creating characters that could be your neighbor, your best friend or a family member. While they are fiction, they are real. They could easily walk right off the page into your life. I always feel like I become part of his stories. They are just that good.

I would highly recommend Keeping Christmas to anyone who loves stories set during Christmas and stories that have answers to everyday problems. This is good for all ages.

I would like to thank Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for my copy of Keeping Christmas. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson

If you love to read fun books set during Christmas, you must pick up a copy of Melody Carlson's book The Christmas Joy Ride. This is a fairly short hardcover book, a mere 168 pages, but the lesson learned within it's pages packs a wallop!

Imagine an 85 year old woman wanting to drive a motor home across country from Chicago to Phoenix. That is exactly what Joy Jorgenson plans on doing. You see, she has sold her home in Chicago and is supposed to be flying to Phoenix to live in an assisted living apartment near her two sons. But Joy has other plans. She gets her RV out of storage and plans to drive to Phoenix, making several important stops along the way. 

Joy's young friend, Miranda Fortner, is about to lose her home in February to foreclosure. She doesn't like the idea of Joy driving by herself so she decides to join Joy in traveling the old Route 66. What she doesn't know is that while she is blessing Joy by being a travel companion, she will be blessed by Joy and all those she comes in contact with.

I truly loved this book. While I did shed a few tears along their journey I also found myself laughing out loud at other times. Imagine seeing an RV driving down the road totally decked out in Christmas decorations. What a sight that would be!

Ms. Carlson has written some sweet Christmas stories over the years but I believe this may just be her best yet. I loved her characters and it was almost as though there were several stories packed into one. 

I would highly recommend picking up a copy of this very sweet and heart touching book. Maybe pick up a couple as Christmas gifts.

On a 5 Star scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for my copy of The Christmas Joy Ride. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

CFBA - A Father's Second Chance by Mindy Obenhaus

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

A Father's Second Chance

Love Inspired (July 21, 2015)

by

Mindy Oberhaus

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

A Word from the Author: To steal a line from Donny and Marie, I’m a little bit country, a little bit rock-n-roll. I’m trapped in the city, but prefer the country or the mountains.

I love Jesus, my family, and just about anything sweet.

I believe Jesus died for my sins, rose three days later, and will one day return. He has carried me through some of my darkest hours. Without faith in Him, I would be nowhere.

I have a penchant for chocolate, clothes, and shoes. When I’m not penning romance novels, I enjoy cooking, decorating and shopping.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Businesswoman Celeste Thompson has one goal: to make her restaurant and hotel a success. She doesn't need any distractions, even from handsome contractor Gage Purcell and his two adorable little girls. Besides, single dad Gage is just biding his time before a big job at the mines comes through. But as Celeste's project springs to life, their arguments transform into attraction. Gage isn't looking for romance, especially not with another career-driven woman like his ex-wife. But openhearted Celeste is more than just another work-consumed client. She might just be his happily-ever-after.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Father's Second Chance, go HERE.

My Thoughts:

I have to say, this was my first experience in reading a book by Mindy Obenhaus and that makes me quite sad. You see, she has a wonderful fresh voice and I have missed out on her previous Love Inspired books. But not to worry, I can purchase them online and plan to do just that.

A Father's Second Chance is the wonderful story of Celeste Thompson who owns a restaurant in Ouray, Colorado, named "Granny's Kitchen". She inherited it from her grandmother and now has great plans to develop the upstairs area. This brings in our hero, Gage Purcell, who is currently working in construction until a job in the mining industry opens up for him. Gage is a single father raising two young daughters who just happen to love Celeste. The question is, will their father take their lead and do the same?

This a story of second chances for not only Gage and Celeste, but also Celeste and her mother. What transpires through this wonderful story touched my heart. Ms. Obenhaus created such wonderful, believable, flawed characters and set them into the beautiful town of Ouray. The town, Granny's Kitchen, and the Golden Girl Mine are also characters within the book and embrace the reader to become one with the story. I loved it!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a sweet love story. 

On a 5-Star scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Mindy Obenhaus for my copy of A Father's Second Chance. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest opinion, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Vendetta by Lisa Harris

Lisa Harris is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors. With her heart pounding fiction she takes her readers on a fast paced ride filled with twists and turns that don't let up until the final pages. Her newest release, Vendetta, is the first book in her new series "The Nikki Boyd Files".

Nikki Boyd is a member of the Tennesse Missing Persons Task Force for a reason. Her sister was abducted tens years prior to the start of the story and continues to remain missing. By joining the task force she hoped to be able to continue her search for her sister while helping find other missing persons.

In Vendetta, we meet Tyler Grant, who was married to Nikki's best friend, Katie, until an accident took her life leaving Tyler and Nikki to mourn the loss of their beloved wife and friend. Tyler and Nikki draw close over the course of the story but will they become more than friends? Will Tyler's son Liam gain a new mother? Those are questions I hope to have answered in the next book that releases in the Summer of 2016.

Ms. Harris has filled Vendetta with red herrings leading the reader in one direction only to bring us back in another direction. Her characters are always well crafted and Nikki and Tyler are no different. They are characters that have strong personalities and they complement each other well. The lesser characters are just as well written even the 'bad guy'. Let me tell you, she makes you hate the 'bad guy'. The characters take control of the story early on and pulled this reader into their story making me want to know more.

If you are looking for a book filled with fast paced action and twist and turns I'm sure you will enjoy Vendetta. It is one of the best Romantic Suspense novels I have read this year.

On a 5-Star scale - 5 HUGE stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group for my copy of Vendetta. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

CFBA - Deadlock by DiAnn Mills

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Deadlock

Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (October 1, 2015)

by

Diann Mills

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling
author who believes her readers
should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with
unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels.
Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two
Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier,
Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. Library Journal presented her with a Best Books 2014: Genre Fiction award in the Christian Fiction category for Firewall.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers; the 2015 president of the Romance Writers of America’s Faith, Hope, & Love chapter; a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, and International Thriller Writers. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas. DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms
listed at her website.

ABOUT THE BOOK

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.


If you would like to read the first chapter of Deadlock, go HERE.

Watch the video:

My Thoughts:

I. Loved.This. Book. It's as simple as that. When I met Special Agent Bethany Sanchez, my heart went out to her. When I met her partner, Special Agent Thatcher Graves, I lost my heart to him. Both these characters are a different as night is from day, yet they are very much alike. Ms. Mills used their weaknesses to make them stronger.

There is a serial killer on the loose in Houston and someone is targeting people that don't seem to have anything in common, or do they? Special Agents Bethany Sanchez and Thatcher Graves are on the case. Unfortunately someone is targeting them now. Will they succeed or succumb?

If you enjoy a good "on edge-of-your seat" suspense novel filled with twists and turns, then I am sure you will love DiAnn Mills newest "FBI: Houston" novel, Deadlock. The Christian theme isn't overpowering but it is there and plays a major part in the change these characters undergo.

On a 5-Star scale - 5 HUGE Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Tyndale Books for my copy of Deadlock. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review.

Smiles & Blessings,

Miracle Drug by Richard L. Mabry, M.D.

I love a good Medical Thriller and when Dr. Richard Mabry's name is on the cover I know I will be in for a wonderful edge-of-my-seat read. Dr. Mabry's newest book, Miracle Drug, kept me turning pages long into the night and I wasn't disappointed.

What would you do if you had a mysterious event happen and found yourself doused with an unknown substance? Then days later you start showing systems of diphtheria only to find out later there is an underlying disease and possibly no cure. That is the basis of Miracle Drug.

While in South America, two people are infected with a deadly disease, the former president of the United States, David Madison, and nurse Rachel Moore. Upon arriving home, Dr. Josh Pearson, finds himself the newly appointed physician to the former president. When he learns there is an experimental drug that may save the life of the former president and Ms. Moore he finds himself in a quandary as there may only be enough of the 'miracle drug' to save one life. Should he give all the drug to the former president or give it to Ms. Moore who happens to be his girlfriend?

Dr. Mabry has created one of his best books yet. The twists and turns he spread throughout the book caused me to keep guessing until the very end. It is definitely a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat.

I would highly recommend Miracle Drug to anyone who enjoys a good medical thriller or any suspenseful novel. 

On a 5-Star scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank LitFuse Publicity and Abingdon Press for my copy of Miracle Drug. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

All is Bright by Colleen Coble

Okay, Christmas is still a little more than two months away, but reading about Christmas for me could be an everyday occurrence. I love Christmas, I love Christmas movies and I love to read Christmas books. 

My newest venture into reading a Christmas story was reading All is Bright by Colleen Coble. This is a wonderful novella that tells the story of Delilah Carter, who manages the Tidewater Inn and Tom Bourne, the Sheriff of Hope Beach. 

All is Bright begins when Delilah is ran off the road into the freezing waters of the Atlantic. Thankfully some locals saw her car plunge into the water and come to her rescue. So starts the twists and turns of this wonderful novella.

I love being able to pick up a book and read it in one sitting. I did just that with All is Bright. The fact that I was sitting on the edge of my seat the entire time added to the suspense for me.

Since novellas are shorter than a novel, I sometimes close the book wishing I knew what happened next. Ms. Coble gives the reader a nice closer with the Epilogue which happens three years after the story begins. Thank you for this gift Ms. Coble.

I would highly recommend All is Bright to anyone who loves a quick read, a story set during Christmas or a fan of Colleen Coble. I promise you won't be disappointed.

On a 5-star scale - 4 Stars!!!!

I would like to thank BookLook Bloggers and Net Galley for my e-copy of All is Bright. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

CFBA - The Bones Will Speak by Carrie Stuart Parks

This week, the 

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance 

is introducing

The Bones Will Speak

Thomas Nelson (August 11, 2015)

by

Carrie Stuart Parks

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

Carrie Stuart Parks is an award-winning fine artist and internationally known forensic artist. Along with her husband, Rick, she travels across the US and Canada teaching courses in forensic art to law enforcement as well as civilian participants. She has won numerous awards for career excellence. Carrie is a popular platform speaker, presenting a variety of topics from crime to creativity.

Animals have always been a large part of her life. Her parents, Ned and Evelyn Stuart, started Skeel Kennel Great Pyrenees in 1960. Carrie inherited the kennel and continues with her beloved dogs as both an AKC judge and former president of the Great Pyrenees Club of America. She lives on the same ranch she grew up on in Northern Idaho.

ABOUT THE BOOK

A killer with a penchant for torture has taken notice of forensic expert Gwen Marcey . . . and her daughter.
When Gwen Marcey’s dog comes home with a human skull and then leads her to a cabin in the woods near her Montana home, she realizes there’s a serial killer in her community. And when she finds a tortured young girl clinging to life on the cabin floor, she knows this killer is a lunatic.

Yet what unsettles Gwen most is that the victim looks uncannily like her daughter.
The search for the torturer leads back in time to a neo-Nazi bombing in Washington state—a bombing with only one connection to Montana: Gwen. The group has a race-not-grace model of salvation . . . and they’ve marked Gwen as a race traitor.
When it becomes clear that the killer has a score to settle, Gwen finds herself in a battle against time. She will have to use all of her forensic skills to find the killer before he can carry out his threat to destroy her—and the only family she has left.

If you would like to read the first chapter of The Bones Will Speak, go HERE.


My Thoughts:

Once again I selected a book that was written in the first person. I have to say I was happy that there was only one first person point of view in this book and I didn't have to deal with 'head-hopping'. While I am not a fan of first person novels, I did enjoy this author's work and would happily say I would read her work again.

Her characters were crisp and enjoyable to get to know. Granted there was a serial killer on the loose and the main character, Gwen, was a forensic artist involved in trying to locate the killer. I enjoyed being in her head hearing her thoughts.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller novel. 

On a 5-star scale - 4 Stars!

I would like to thank Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Thomas Nelson for my review copy of The Bones Will Speak. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review.

Smiles & Blessings,