Part of Your World, Once Upon a Time In Texas #2 by Karen Witemeyer

 

Book description:

She saved him from the sea. He awakened her heart. Now a villainous scheme threatens to destroy them both.

Seawater runs through Muriel Quinn’s veins—a fact that has long concerned her father, who desires his youngest daughter to abandon the waves and embrace the respectable life expected of a grown woman. Yet even when banished from her beloved sea, Muriel feels its pull upon her soul. Drawn to the shore, she witnesses a boating accident and dives in to save a man from drowning. As she brings him back from the brink of death, a dream stirs to life in her heart.

Despite his family's wealth and social standing, Zane Erickson pursues a career in architecture, having no interest in cementing a match with any of the bridal candidates his mother foists upon him. Until a mysterious beauty saves his life and vanishes before he can learn her name. Determined to find her, he is stunned when the matchmaker his mother hired arrives with the very woman who has haunted his dreams. But he soon learns there are darker forces than romance at work in this meeting.

Entangled in a blackmail scheme that grows more deceitful and dangerous by the day, Zane and Muriel must fight not only for their love, but for the lives of those they hold dear.

My review:
This is the 5th Westernized version of a fairy tale Witemeyer has written. She did three in the Texas Ever After Series for Bethany House Publishers, and this is the second in her Once Upon a Time In Texas Series for Hope and Light Publishing.

  I have enjoyed every book. Witemeyer excels at turning fairy tales into more modern Westernized stories without overdoing the similarities.

  Part of Your World is a retelling of The Little Mermaid, a story I am completely unfamiliar with. I did read a plot summary after reading this book, and can see similarities from that...such as Muriel rescuing Zane from drowning in the sea.

As with all of her books, Witemeyer created some great likable characters - and of course a couple not so likable ones. Zane made a great hero of the story, and Muriel a great heroine. Then there is Fletcher, the 10 year old nephew of Muriel, Zane's Grandpa Clem, and others, who all add to a great story in their own way.  

There is a villain of course - an evil female character. There is an element of suspense in the story, with a 10 year old boy in danger and shenanigans on the beach at one point. And this is a romance, so there is that, which was well done. Witemeyer came up with a great plot that kept me reading til the great ending. I truly loved and enjoyed this book, and was happy to see Zane and Muriel get their happy ending. 

The book does have some true history in it, which the author references at the end of the book that I found interesting. 

The author again has shown she can write a great historical novel that is worth reading. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance eBook copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
For those who love to smile as they read, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. Voted #1 Readers' Favorite Christian Historical Author in 2023 by Family Fiction Magazine, Karen is a multiple award-winning author and a firm believer in the power of happy endings. She is an avid cross-stitcher, tea drinker, and family board game player who makes her home in Abilene, TX with her heroic husband who vanquishes laundry dragons and dirty dish villains whenever she's on deadline. Learn more about Karen and her books at www.karenwitemeyer.com.

                                 Once Upon a Time In Texas #1 (Beauty and the Beast)

Texas Ever After #1 (Snow White)

Texas Ever After #2 (Cinderella)

Texas Ever After #3 (Little Red Riding Hood and Sleeping Beauty)

Book recommendation: A Brewed Awakening by Pepper Basham

 

Yeah, I actually did it. Me, a guy who is a confirmed bachelor read a rom-com. That is romantic comedy for those who don't know. 

And it was an amazing read. I laughed a lot. At one point I had just taken a bite of my lemon Outshine Bar when I laughed out loud, and choked on said bar.

Someone on social media said this book has depth. And it may sound odd to say that about a book like this, but it is true. The book is filled with hilarious zingers, one liners, and banter that is pure genius. 

And there is something towards the end of the book that tests the whole town. Not giving any spoilers, but not everything is happy in the book. But it has a great ending. 

I posted my thoughts and mini review in the fiction group that I am in, and the author thanked me, and said she saw a bumper sticker a few years ago on a guy's car that said "Real men read Austen." So maybe a guy reading this book is not that odd.

Pepper Basham is an amazing author. Her books span a few genre's, including the awesome Freddie and Grace Mysteries...which has a 5th book coming out next month: The Bachelor Spy, which I already preordered. I highly recommend her books. 

My review of A Brewed Awakening: 

"Yeah, this is a ROM-COM, and yeah, I am a guy....but man, what a great story. I laughed out loud so many times while reading it, and it was hard to put it down and go to bed...but I had actually fallen asleep after resting my head against the back of my couch.

The comedy and zingers/banter in this book is pure genius, yet as someone else said, the book has depth. I loved the characters, plot, the food and recipe descriptions, the setting. This book deserves more than 5 stars. It is 100% awesome. If you have never read one of Basham's books, this would be a great one to start with."

And I would be remiss to leave off a description of the book: 

Daphne dreams of Mr. Darcy. Finn serves up pints and rock music. Can opposites attract when a tea shop princess meets her pub-owning rival? Perfect for fans of Courtney Walsh and Emma St. Clair.

In the charming mountain town of Wisteria, North Carolina, Daphne Austen clings to tradition like cream to a scone. She's built her life--and her late grandmother's tearoom, Tea Thyme--around all things English: delicate china, Jane Austen novels, and the comforting predictability of routine. The only thing threatening her perfectly ordered world? The loud, aggravatingly handsome Brit opening a pub next door.

After his ex-wife broke his heart and his business partner nearly destroyed his career, Finn Dashwood packed up his six-year-old daughter and left England behind. He's looking for a fresh start, and the last thing he needs is a fussy, tea-obsessed neighbor criticizing his every pint and playlist. It doesn't matter that she's ridiculously kind (to everyone else) and that his daughter is utterly fascinated by her. Finn's heart is not open to being broken again.

But disagreements turn into prank wars and then a competition when a high-profile wedding needs a last-minute caterer. The townsfolk are thrilled--Wisteria hasn't seen this much excitement since the county fair lost a goat.

When the wedding demands both sweet and savory fare, Daphne and Finn are forced to put down their swords and pick up their serving trays. Between burnt pastries, brewing tempers, trending hashtags (#SipsAndSpats, anyone?), and one very adorable little girl, rivalry soon gives way to reluctant friendship--and maybe something that feels suspiciously like chemistry.

Can a tea shop princess and a pub owner with a past mix their lives as seamlessly as clotted cream and jam . . . or will their differences keep them steeped in rivalry forever?

Fall headfirst into a romance that's as sweet as scones and as lively as a pub singalong. Early readers are raving about the laugh-out-loud humor, irresistible chemistry, and swoony, kisses-only romance that makes A Brewed Awakening impossible to put down. Grab your copy today and discover a charming enemies-to-lovers story brewed with heart, humor, and small-town magic.

About the author:
Pepper Basham is a best-selling author who writes romance “peppered” with grace and humor. Writing both historical and contemporary novels, she loves to incorporate her native Appalachian culture and/or her unabashed adoration of the UK into her stories. She currently resides in the lovely mountains of Asheville, NC where she is the wife of a fantastic pastor, mom of five great kids, a speech-language pathologist, and a lover of chocolate, jazz, hats, and Jesus. Her twentieth book, The Cairo Curse, came out in February. Next up is Positively, Penelope, the sequel to her bestselling novel, Authentically, Izzy. She loves connecting with readers and other authors through social media outlets like Facebook & Instagram. 

You can learn more about Pepper and her books on her website at www.pepperdbasham.com 

Tracking the Taken Child, Colorado K-9 Unit #2 by Sharon Dunn

Book desciption:

 A little girl has vanished…

Can a K-9 team find her?

Preschool teacher Lydia Caldwell’s peaceful day in the Rockies becomes her most harrowing nightmare when she’s pushed over a mountain ledge and her three-year-old daughter is abducted. Lydia must now entrust her life and her child’s fate to K-9 Officer River Jameson and his yellow Lab partner, Frankie. As the danger escalates and the trail grows colder by the second, River and Frankie work tirelessly to track down the kidnapper. Is the culprit Lydia’s ex…or is someone from her past seeking revenge? Will River’s skill and Frankie’s instincts save an innocent child—and protect Lydia from the elusive criminal targeting her?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Book review:
This is the second book in the multi-author seven book series Colorado K-9 Unit. The main plot of the series is an investigation into young pregnant teen girls being kidnapped, then then killed after delivering their babies, which disappear. 

Dunn focuses part of her book on that plot, and brings in the other law enforcement individuals working on that case. The main focus of the book is the abduction of Lydia's daughter and Officer River Jameson and his K-9's efforts to find the girl and catch the kidnappers. 

I really enjoyed this book. You know ahead of time from the book description that three year old Elsie is going to be kidnapped, but it is still a dramatic and suspenseful moment when it happens. 

The author does a great job of meshing the plot line for the whole series and the one for the book as River pushes himself to work on both crimes, getting a little help from his fellow law officers on the kidnapping.

Dunn also does very well on portraying the anguish of a mother dealing with the kidnapping of her child. 

The romance angle was handled nicely, and did not seem rushed. 

I admit I had my suspicions of who was behind the kidnapping, and I was correct, but the author didn't make it obvious. 

Dunn did an excellent job on this second book in the series, and it left me eager to read the next book, coming out in May by Terri Reed.

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Sharon Dunn started writing when she was pregnant with her oldest child. He is now 33 years old. She has written cozy and humorous mysteries along with over thirty romantic suspense novels. Her books have won awards and frequently appear on the USA and Publisher's Weekly bestseller lists. She is a widow who lives next to a park with her cat Sparky. She has three adult children. When she isn't writing, she loves going for walks, doing puzzles, reading and meeting up with friends. 

Check out her website for more about Sharon and her books: SharonDunnBooks.net

    Book #1

Book #3, coming May 26

Book #4, coming June 30

Book #5,  coming July 28

Book #6, coming August 25

Book #7, coming September 29

Collateral Damage, Hightower Security #6 by Jorgia Yates

Book description:

 He’ll protect her.

Or die trying.

Dr. Ava Morrison dedicates her free time to helping soldiers recover from the invisible wounds of war. But when a patient's flattery turns to obsession, she realizes too late that he isn’t just in need of medical intervention—he’s a loaded weapon, and she’s the one in his sights.

An isolated safe house.

24/7 close protection.

Silas Hightower swore he’d never work a "lone wolf" op again—not after the last one ended in blood. But when a special forces-trained predator targets Ava and his team is out of reach, he’s facing his worst-case scenario: alone, cut off, and shielding Ava from a hunter anticipating his every move.

Guard her at all costs.

Stay frosty.

Don’t fall in love.

My review:
The first book in this series, Collision Course,  came out a  little over a year ago. It was Yate's first published novel, and it caught my attention immediately. I took a chance on that new author, and am glad I did. 

 This is the sixth and final book in the series, and I am a little sad to see it end. But it ended with a great and hard to put down read. Silas is the head of Hightower Security, and finally gets his story in the last book of the series. This book had more character development of him, and gave the reader a chance to know him better. 

I think Dr Ava Morrison was in a previous book - I can't remember her, but one of the team constantly refers to her as "Dr Barbie", and she and Silas seem to know each other. I liked both she and Silas a lot as the main characters, and enjoyed the romance that they both fought at first. 

Collateral Damage is basically a stalker story. A great stalker story. Yates does a great job of weaving a suspense and drama filled story that kept me on the end of my seat until the great and satisfying conclusion. Sad to see the series end, but I am looking forward to what this author comes up with next. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Collateral Damage releases May 14 in e-book, but is available now in paperback.

About the author:

Falling in love shouldn’t be this dangerous—but Jorgia Yates wouldn’t have it any other way.

She writes Christian Romantic Suspense with protective heroes, courageous heroines, and a faith that holds strong when everything else falls apart.

Jorgia married her teenage sweetheart (after a very awkward meet-cute in the 90s), and together they’re raising two amazing children on the spectrum.

Living with chronic illness means her world is a little smaller—but her imagination is anything but. So while real life includes rest, resilience, and lots of grace, her characters chase danger, dodge bullets, and fall hard for the kind of love that protects—body and soul.

Check out her website for more about Jorgia and her books: JorgiaYates.com

Go here to get a free prequel to the series, Covert Risk: Free book. 

The rest of the series:

                                                                   Book #1

Book#2

Book #3

Book #4

Book #5

Witness Safeguard Mission, Canine Defense #4 by Carol J Post

 

Book description:

A family in a killer’s crosshairs.

A K-9 determined to defend.

When Nicole Woodard and her young sister witness their father’s murder by an unknown assailant, Nicole knows they’re next on the killer’s hit list. Now they must rely on Officer Braydon Feldman and his K-9 partner, Caesar, for protection. The killer will stop at nothing to silence the sisters and keep the crime hidden. But what could their father have been involved in that got him killed? With attacks coming from all sides and dangerous family secrets being exposed, can Braydon and Nicole stay alive long enough to uncover the truth before the killer strikes again?

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

My review:
   Despite my not being a dog lover, I always enjoy these K-9 stories, especially suspense ones. This author has done several, and I have enjoyed each one. Including this newest novel of hers. It is the fourth in a series, but they are all stand alone stories.

  Witness Safeguard Mission starts out with the suspense and drama on the fourth page of the actual story, and does not let up until the bad guys are caught and stopped. I believe kids add a lot to the story, and seven year old Maddy certainly added a lot to this one. When on the run from bad guys, a  young child adds a whole new angle of suspense, danger,  and drama, and that was the case in this book.

  I did really like the main characters. Nicole has set aside - at least temporarily - her plans job-wise to help care for her little sister. Braydon ends up cutting his vacation short to protect the two sisters and puts himself in the bad guys' crosshairs and inconveniences himself a lot. 

  There were some tense moments along the way. Even though as a reader you know there is going to be a happy ending and the bad guys are going to lose in the end, Post did a great job of making that journey very suspenseful and drama and danger-filled. The book did have a great ending, including in the romance departmet. 

 I was suspicious of one person early on. Very early on. I am proud of myself for being right, and that character did kind of make up for it in the end. 

 Loved this non stop suspenseful novel. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

Witness Protection Mission releases April 28.

About the author:
Carol J. Post is a New York Times bestselling author of fun and fast-paced Christian romance and Christian romantic suspense stories. Her books have won several awards and been nominated for two RITA® awards and an RT Reviewers’ Choice Best Book Award. She is also a popular speaker, presenting workshops on a variety of craft topics.

Carol especially enjoys research trips, which usually involve camping, with some hiking, kayaking and bonfires thrown in when possible. She also loves playing the piano and writing songs with her musical husband. Her two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of two sassy cats—Ziggy and Ziva—who also love camping and are known to occasionally take over her blog with their “It’s Zaturday!” posts.

Check out her website for more about Carol and her books: CarolJPost.com

The rest of the series:

Book #1

Book #2

Book #3

Book #5, coming September 29

Now Until Forever, Brand of Justice #16 by Lisa Phillips

 

Book description:

Born into a legacy, Eliana must find her own brand of justice.

After moving to Chicago to work at the mysterious Shrine museum, Eliana is determined to uncover the family secrets she’s never been told. When she stumbles upon her first ever dead body, everyone around her believes she should try and solve the murder. But taking cases isn’t what she came here for. Despite her plans, things are about to turn far more sinister, and the path she’s on seems determined to drag her back into a nightmare.

Chicago PD Officer Carlos Ryson was born into a legacy of his own. He’s here to look for his missing sister, Luci, and wants to enlist Eliana’s help. This is a family problem, and only family working together can solve it. But Eliana has never forgotten the way Carlos shredded her heart. If he wants them to team up, he’ll have to confront the damage he did and find a way to repair it.

While the city around them descends into a chaos that resembles the end times, someone has seized the opportunity to get what they want from the Shrine. Only Eliana stands in their way, but if she’s going to figure this out she’ll need to trust that the people around her have her back.

Before it’s too late.

My review:
  Back in January, this author came out with the 15th and last novel in this series. Then she announced there was going to be one more book. This one is different from the other fifteen. At the end of the last book, Kenna and Jax (Oliver Jaxton) had just given birth to a daughter, Eliana. This book is 20 some years later and features Eliana and Carlos Ryson, child hood friend and who was also a little baby at the end of the last book.

  I thoroughly enjoyed the book. There were little updates occasionally about Kenn and Jax, plus they made an appearance later in the book, but it was mostly Eliana and Carlos that were the focus of the story. I liked both characters, and was cheering on their possible relationship. It was different reading a book in this series where Jax and Kenna were not the main characters, but it was a great way to end the series.

As with the rest of the series, there was a lot of suspense and plenty of bad guys - and you weren't always able to tell which was which - such as Tony....who once his nickname was revealed, I realized who he was. (Not giving that away) :)

I have been looking forward to this book ever since Phillips announced it was going to happen, and it definitely did not disappoint. This series has been a wild and suspenseful ride that started in August 2022, and has finished almost four years later with this book about the daughter of Jax and Brenna. Awesome conclusion.

Special thanks to the author for an advance e-book copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:
Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over 80 books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.

Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Lisa is a worship leader, tea aficionado, and dog lover of two crazy Airedales.

For more about Lisa and her books, check out her website....which is one of the best and most interesting author sites I have been on: AuthorLisaPhillips.com

I usually put pictures of the previous books in a series here, but there are 15 previous books....so here is a link to the series on Amazon. Brand Of Justice Series. 

The Bookshop of 99 Doors by Jaime Jo Wright

Book Description: 

The manor's rumored one-hundredth door may conceal secrets hidden as deep as the estate's bookshelves extend high . . . but the haunted past has a way of ensnaring curious souls.

In 1888, Minnie Tipton finds herself beset by the dark superstitions that envelop the Pennsylvania mansion her father bought. Convinced the vengeful spirit of a Civil War captain haunts the house and worried by her father's rapidly worsening illness, Minnie delves into the home's fraught past in an effort to bring him peace. Yet the lingering impact of the war and the gruesome tale of murder she uncovers only foster more fear and threaten to unravel Minnie's own sanity.

In the present day, Triss Bellamy eagerly steps into the role of bookshop manager in the mansion-turned-museum boasting ninety-nine doors. But Triss's dream job turns into a nightmare when havoc breaks loose with the arrival of her brother's team of self-proclaimed paranormal investigators. Their determination to find a rumored one-hundredth door--a dangerous portal to the madness long said to plague the mansion--results in calamity, leaving Triss no choice but to hunt down the truth or watch her brother slip forever beyond her reach.

An atmospheric dual-time Gothic suspense masterfully penned by acclaimed author Jaime Jo Wright with themes of a Civil War-era ghost, a possible hidden door, and unexplained mysteries at a historic mansion's bookshop with a troubled past.

My review:
  I have been intrigued by the cover, title, and description of this book ever since I first saw it. I deliberately waited til close to the release date to read and review it, and now find myself wishing I had dove into it sooner. 

I have enjoyed every book I have read by this author, but this book is a masterpiece of writing in my opinion that is even better than her previous books. It is a dual timeline story, as most of hers are. Wright seamlessly weaves the two timelines together with their different plots and characters in a way that made it a truly delightful read. Though she diabolically left a cliffhanger and switched to the other timeline a few times. (Arrrgh!)

I loved the plots and characters in both timelines, and really loved the setting - which was  the same for both. 

And of course I really enjoyed the bookshop part of the story. 

Wright has the amazing ability to write a story that seems like there are ghosts and other paranormal activity, only to end up with a rational solution that does not involve ghosts, though the way this story went for a while, I was wondering how she was going to do that. 

In the modern storyline, there are the equivalent of ghost hunters, which added an interesting twist to the story.

At the center of the story was the search for the mysterious 100th door. Do they find it? You won't get the answer from me, as I don't do spoilers. 

I will say that Wright pulled together an amazing ending for both timelines, and I was left wowed by this amazing story. It was definitely worth the time I spent reading it. A very suspenseful and intriguing book that is one of the best I have read so far this year. 

Special thanks to the author for an advance copy of this novel. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.

About the author:

Jaime Jo Wright, multi award-winning author--including the Christy and Daphne du Maurier awards--is a coffee-fueled and cat-fancier extraordinaire. She has entwined her life with the legendary Captain Hook, residing serenely in Wisconsin's rural woodlands. Her literary vocation involves penning chilling Gothic tales, a baffling change from that of Austenites, with a strong preference to the master of dark, Edgar Allan Poe. Two mischievous urchins adorn their family, who keep their mother on her toes - providing an exhilarating amount chaos. 

Check out her website for more about Jaime and her books: JaimeWrightBooks.com