My 2022 reading goal

 It is the in thing for readers to share their reading goals met for the year, along with their favorite book or books of the year. I set a goal of 200 books, and surpassed it by a bit. It may seem unbelievable the amount of books that I read, but there are reasons for it:

I live alone

I work 4 days a week (4 10's) instead of 5

I rarely go out of my house on days off, except to stores in my little town

I go to work early to get a good parking place, and read in my car and on lunch breaks.

So I hit 554 books, 354 books past my goal. I cannot pick one favorite book, but there are two series that are at the top of my list.

First is the Love and Honor Series by a new author to me, Hallee Bridgeman. There is a short prequel, but the three main books came out in September, October, and November.....unusual for a series. They usually come out 6 or more months apart. Awesome series, and I have read several other books by her. She is good.

The other series is an author who I was familiar with, but really didn't start reading til this year. If I counted right, I read at least 60 books by her this year, and this was the best series: The Fog Lake Suspense Series by Christy Barritt. I read all 7 books on Kindle Unlimited in February. I liked them so much that I bought the paperbacks in June and read them again. She puts books out so fast, I don't know how she does it, but she has become one of my favorite authors. 

I discovered a lot of new authors this year, and here are 26 that I read at least a few books by. There are others that I read one or two books buy and did not list.

1) Hallee Bridgeman

2) Sara Blackgard

3) D.L. Woods

4) Tom Threadgill

5) Lynne Shannon

6) Pepper Basham

7) Penny Zeller

😎 Malory Ford

9) Stephenia McGee

10)  Jo Grafford

11) Edie James

12) Kimberly Rae Jordan

13) Melissa Jagears

14) Leah Atwood

15) Sondra Kraak

16) Michelle Griep

17) Sara Davison

18) Robin Patchen

19) Jerusha Agen

20) Valerie Bodden

21) Jennifer Pierce

22) Taylor Michaels

23) Rebecca Hartt

24) Sharlene MacLaren

25) Bree Livingston

26) Christy Barritt

A Mark of Grace, Secrets of the Canyon #3 by Kimberley Woodhouse Woodhouse

 

Book description:

When everything crumbles, her chance for a new beginning hangs in the balance.

Ruth Anniston survived an injury that left her physically scarred, broken, and angry at God. Now, she finds herself working behind the scenes as a kitchen and dining room supervisor at the El Tovar Hotel, hidden away from curious eyes and with little hope of finding love. When money begins to disappear from the hotel, Ruth's entire livelihood is put at risk when she lands on the list of suspects.

Frank Henderson has at last succeeded in obtaining his dream job as head chef at the El Tovar. But competition in the kitchen is fierce, and one mistake could cost him his future. As the thefts at the hotel continue, and his affection for Ruth grows, Frank's career--and his heart--are in jeopardy.

As tensions run high, Ruth and Frank must work together to save the El Tovar. They find themselves growing closer . . . but can their combined ingenuity overcome the odds against them?

My review:
   No offense to the author, but for some reason I didn't think this book would be as good as the other two were. 

  I was wrong. In my not so humble opinion, this was the best of the three. Of course there is the fact that the setting of the books and the workings of the hotel and Harvey girls has become very familiar, and the reader knows a lot about all that, so the author doesn't have to spend as much time setting up the setting and all that.

  This book was different from the other two in that the two main characters have been in all three books, and did not have to be introduced. Ruth has seemed somewhat of a stern unapproachable character in the previous two books, and that may have played into my thinking that this may not be as good as the other two books. But it definitely gave the author more time for character development.

  I love mystery and suspense, and this book had a lot of both. The reader knows both what is going on and who the bad guy is, but there is a lot of suspense as you wonder what is going to happen next, and if Ruth, Frank, and their boss will ever get to the bottom of things before the hotel is ruined forever. In the labels section of blogger, where I first post my book reviews, I labeled the book as "read in one sitting", and I did read it in one sitting. Once I started reading, I didn't put it down except for a few breaks.

 As much as I loved the mystery/suspense angle of the book, the book has a lot of spiritual "meat" in it. Not only is this author amazing with the historical accuracy in her books, she definitely does not shy away from making her books obviously and unapologetically Christian.

  Ruth struggles throughout most of the book about her injuries and scars from a mountain lion attack. She has built walls and backed off from friends, and has caused Frank to love her from afar as he tries to be her friend. Though Ruth is a fictional character, there is much to be learned about grace, along with the sufferings of Job in the book....enough to make me think on some things I need to think on. Which is most likely the author's intent.

 Slight spoiler: the bad guys are eventually caught, Ruth patches up her relationship with God, and of course the guy gets the girl. And we leave the great El Tovar Hotel....which still exists, by the way.

 This was a great series that had plenty of mystery and suspense, with a lot of Biblical truths and romance all through the series, coming to an end in this last - and best - book of the trilogy.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Kimberley Woodhouse (www.kimberleywoodhouse.com) is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 30 fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of 30-plus years live in the Poconos, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandbaby, and research all the history around them.

 A Mark of Grace will be available January 3 from Bethany House Publishers, part of the Baker Publishing House.

 Check out the first two books in the series:

                                                               Book #1

Book #2

 

Beneath His Silence by Hannah Linder

 

Book description:

Will Seeking Justice Lead to Her Own Demise?

A Gothic-Style Regency Romance from a Promising Young Author

Second daughter of a baron—and a little on the mischievous side—Ella Pemberton is no governess. But the pretense is a necessity if she ever wishes to get inside of Wyckhorn Manor and attain the truth. Exposing the man who killed her sister is all that matters.

Lord Sedgewick knows there’s blood on his hands. Lies have been conceived, then more lies, but the price of truth would be too great. All he has left now is his son—and his hatred. Yet as the charming governess invades his home, his safe cocoon of bitterness begins to tear away.

Could Ella, despite the lingering questions of his guilt, fall in love with such a man? Or is she falling prey to him—just as her dead sister?

My review:
  This was one of those books that I thought sounded good, and then wondered about when it came. It got lost in the shuffle of Christmas reads and I got an email reminding me I needed to post a review.

 The book was different. I have come to discover anything that has the description of "Gothic" attached to it is usually different. In this case, different turned out to be a good thing.

 I really liked the characters. The quiet, mysterious, and misunderstood Lord Sedgewick (Henry)......and Ella, trying to find out the truth about her sister while going undercover as a governess to her own nephew, Peter. Peter was also a great character, a very likable and mostly well behaved little boy.

 The author does a great job of spinning the story around the main characters while keeping Ella and the reader in the dark about what happened to Henry's wife/Ella's sister. You get the idea early on that whatever happened was not intentional on his part, which helps the reader like him all the more, but you remain clueless for most of the book as to what really happened.

 It is a suspenseful story full of mystery, but not one of those fast pulse pounding reads with non stop action that has you turning the pages as fast as you can read, but it is more of a slow paced mystery with every day life going on as Ella does her best to quietly uncover the truth of what happened to her sister.

 There is more action and suspense towards the end of the book as another character becomes more involved in the story, and the book did get more interesting and hard to put down as the end of the book became closer.

 Overall, this was a great and interesting read with enough suspense and mystery to appeal to lovers of that genre', and it had a great ending. It would appear this is the author's first published novel, and I definitely liked it enough to read what she writes next.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

HANNAH LINDER resides in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. Represented by Books & Such, she writes Regency romantic suspense novels. She is a double 2021 Selah Award winner, a 2022 Selah Award winner, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). 

Hannah is a Graphic Design Associates Degree graduate who specializes in professional book cover design. She designs for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors, including New York Times, USA Today, and International bestsellers. She is also a local photographer and a self-portrait photographer. 

When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments—piano, guitar, and ukulele—songwriting, painting still life, walking in the rain, and sitting on the front porch of her 1800s farmhouse. To follow her journey, visit hannahlinderbooks.com. 

Beneath His Silence is available from Barbour Publishing.

Thanks to Barbour for the review copy.

Body of Evidence, Triple Threat Series #3 by Irene Hannon

 

Book description:

The dead don't give up their secrets easily

Forensic pathologist Grace Reilly has seen her share of unusual deaths in rural Missouri. But when she begins to notice a curious pattern in autopsies of older residents whose demises appear to be natural, she takes her concerns to Sheriff Nate Cox.

Nate is skeptical about the link Grace is seeing between the deaths, as well as her suspicions of foul play. But her persistence is compelling. And once they join forces to investigate, danger follows close behind. Because exposing the truth could destroy several lives--including Grace's.

Queen of inspirational romantic suspense Irene Hannon closes out her bestselling Triple Threat series with this gripping tale of secrets revealed and romance sparked.

My review:
    Irene Hannon has long been one of my top favorite Christian suspense authors, and is an author who keeps putting out fresh new suspense that seems to be even better than the previous books.

   This has been a really great series, and Body of Evidence, the last book in the trilogy, may be the best of the three. Forensic pathology is a fascinating subject, and Hannon did a great job of portraying it in the character of Grace Reilly. The descriptions of the autopsies were not gory, but gave enough information to be interesting.

 The plot was interesting and well done: murders that were done so well that they appeared to be natural deaths, suspected at first only by Grace, and then by Nate.

  Grace and Nate were great and likable characters, and both determined to find out what the truth was, no matter how many obstacles were in their way, including convincing the coroner that the deaths were not natural and they needed more tests done on the bodies.

 This is romantic suspense, and the romance part was more of a slow burn. Slight spoiler: not a lot happens in that department til closer the end of the book.

 The suspense part of the book was also kind of a slow burn. There are no chases or shootings, but it is still a big page turner and there are attacks on Grace that are more low key.

  In books like these where the killer is unknown, I always try to figure out who it is, and sometimes I am successful. I was not in this book. I figured it out right before Nate did, and it was not a big leap at that point, but it was a big surprise....I did not see that one coming at all.

 The book had a great satisfying conclusion that brought all three sisters together, and not only tied up the murder investigation quite well, but also the romance angle.

  Body of Evidence shows that even after all the books and series this author has written, she still has it.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than 60 contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels. In addition to her many other honors, she is a three-time winner of the prestigious RITA Award from Romance Writers of America. She is also a member of RWA's elite Hall of Fame and has received a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.

 Body of Evidence is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

And check out the rest of The Triple Threat Series:

                                                                         Book #1

                                                                        Book #2

                          

Honor's Refuge, Love and Honor Series #3 by Hallee Bridgeman

Book description: 

You can't give up on love

When she was just five years old, Melissa Braxton watched her father take her mother's life and suffered the pain of separation from her sister, Lola. Melissa grew up with a strong desire to help those stuck in abusive relationships. It's why she became a therapist and opened a domestic abuse shelter.

After losing a leg to a gunshot wound in the line of duty, Phil Osbourne has felt like a man without a purpose--until he hears Melissa's story and decides to use his Special Forces contacts to track down her missing sister, the wife of a Colombian cartel teniente. He knows what he discovers will break Melissa's heart. What he doesn't realize is that helping the women reunite will bring the cartel down on them like the category 5 hurricane striking Miami.

Bruised yet not quite broken, Melissa and Phil battle the storm and the cartel, calling on strength they didn't know they had to escape death, save the innocent, and--just maybe--find healing in each other's arms.

My review: 
     I have been eagerly anticipating this book since I read the second a month ago. It is awesome that all three books came out a month apart. Most series has books come out at least 6 months apart.

 It was well worth the wait. This has been an awesome series, and introduced me to a great author whose other books I have been reading. (I highly recommend the Song of Suspense Series)

  Honor's Refuge is not as military in nature as the first two. Two of Phil's former Special Forces buddies make an appearance for part of the book, and he makes use of his Special Forces training in the book, but it all takes place in Miami. The other two books involved all of his former team, and took the reader to other countries.

 Not to say this book was not as good. It was definitely as good. I really enjoy books that have a character that has some handicap or past to overcome. Though the characters are fictional, it is not fictional that no matter what our past or handicap is, we can persevere and God can help us in whatever it is.

  Phil lost his leg on a mission in the first book. He also had a previous medical drug addiction made easier by his being in the medical field.  Though he has a great attitude about the loss of his leg, he is letting those two things keep him from a couple things he wants in life: to be an ER doctor instead of an EMT, and to admit his love for Melissa and have a relationship with her.

  The book didn't just have romance, but also a lot of suspense and bad guys. There was one part of the book that I was saying in my mind to the author "How could you?!"...but even with that very sad part of the book, it was truly a masterpiece of Christian fiction. The author is new to Revell Publishing with this series, but it is such a great series that her place as one of their authors should be firmly cemented in place.

  A big part of the book is Melissa's work with abused women and men. Again, though the book was fiction, I was saddened by the thought of how prevalent that is, and am thankful there are people out there in real life helping those in that kind of situation.

 Faith played a large part in the book. Things happened that made Phil crave the drugs he used to be addicted to, and his praying and Melissa's praying with him happened a few times. I appreciate authors who do not shy away from that.

 I really enjoyed this series, and loved the characters. Phil may be my favorite, with all he had to overcome, but the author did a great job on the characters she created and the interplay between them.

 The book did have a happy ending, worthy of not just the book, but the whole trilogy. It has left me wanting to read more by this fairly new-to-me-author, and I am looking forward to what she writes next.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Hallee Bridgeman is the USA Today bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee and her husband finally settled in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she's not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. An accomplished speaker and active member of several writing organizations, Hallee can be found online at www.halleebridgeman.com.

 Honor's Refuge will be released in four days, November 1 from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Check out the first two books in the series. And they definitely need to be read in order.

                                                            Book #1, September 2022

                                                             Book #2, October 2022

Dangerous Beauty by Melissa Koslin

Book description: 

What is the price of freedom?

Liliana Vela hates the term victim. She's not a victim, she's a fighter. Stubborn and strong with a quiet elegance, she's determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers. But she can't stay safely in America--unless the man who aided in her rescue is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her.

Meric Toledan was just stopping at a service station for a bottle of water. Instead, he becomes the key to Liliana's rescue. If he can keep his secrets hidden, his wealth and position afford him many resources to help her. But the mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by while his prize is stolen from him.

My review:
    Confession: I will admit that after the book came, the cover and description didn't grab me, and I had set it aside and almost forgot about it. I got an email this week that it had to be reviewed by today, and put it off til today......and man was I surprised. This is the second solo endeavor by this author, and man did she hit it out of the park. Once I started it, I did not want to put it down. (And other than bathroom breaks and a supper break, I did not).

  This is a novel about sexual trafficking, and a very good one. The author created two terrific main characters in Liliana and Meric. Liliana made a great victim....the kind who did not let it define her or make her live in fear. She did not feel in debt to Meric for rescuing her in the way he did, yet she was thankful and determined to help him. Meric....he was a multi-faceted complicated character. Determined to keep his hands and emotions to himself when it came to his new wife, he lived in fear he would turn into his father all the while secretly fighting the very people his father was like. He lived behind a cold and uncaring façade that only Liliana could see through. At times I wanted to smack him, but realized the way he acted was because of the way he was raised and played into making sure his wife felt safe. From even him. (I will admit to muttering a couple times "just kiss her and admit you love her, you idiot). :)

  Another author described this novel as a "fresh twist on a marriage of convenience", and that is a very great description. The romance part of the book was on a back burner. A back burner turned down very low, while other parts of the book took precedence. 

  This was not what I would call a fast paced suspenseful novel, as things moved fairly slow, but it was still suspenseful and things did happen.

  The author did a great job of shining a spot light on the horrors of sex trafficking, and did it in a way to showcase the awesomeness of people being set free from that life.

  Slight spoiler: the romance was finally pulled from the back slow burning burner to the front full flame one. :)

  This was a great read, and I am glad I took the time to read and review it. I definitely recommend it.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:
Melissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm
Taekwondo. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. The author of Never Miss, Melissa lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband, Corey. Find more information on her books at www.MelissaKoslin.com.

Dangerous Beauty is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.
Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Check out Melissa's previous novel from Revell: Never Miss

Word of Honor, Love and Honor #2 by Hallee Bridgeman

Book description:

 You can't outrun the past

FBI Special Agent Lynda Culter is investigating an ecoterrorist organization in the Alaskan wilderness when she and her partner are taken captive and he's murdered before her very eyes. The only person who can identify the key players, Lynda gets assigned to take part in a joint operation in Istanbul to take the organization down.

As a woman in a Muslim country, she'll find it much easier to move around undetected with a fake husband. Unfortunately for her, the one assigned to play the role is none other than Army weapons specialist Bill Sanders--the man who crushed her heart in college.

With a cargo bay's worth of hurt and baggage between them, these two consummate professionals must play their parts perfectly if they hope to stop those responsible for bombing oil pipelines, which has killed innocent civilians and threatened to destabilize the oil markets. Protecting Lynda becomes Bill's primary focus--but love long buried has a way of resurfacing at the most inopportune times.

My review:

   Usually when I say I have been eagerly waiting for a sequel, it has been 6 months or more. In this case, it has been only a month....but I have still eagerly been waiting. I don't know why these three books are coming out a month apart, but I love the fact that they are.

 This sequel did not disappoint. It had a lot of the same characters, at least regarding the Army team, but the plot and locations were totally different. This book was all over the place geographically: Alaska, Kentucky, Alabama, Kuwait, and Turkey.

  Bill - Sanders - was the hero of this story, back from the life threating injury in book #1, and the heroine was his college sweetheart he walked away from. The antagonism she had towards him for part of the book made everything all the more interesting.

 The plot was well thought out and riveting: attacks on oil pipelines globally. I will admit to being a bit anti-Muslim, but found that angle of the book interesting....the food, practices, dress, etc. In fact, I found myself Googling some foods to find out exactly what they were. Then I got to the end of the book, and the author has recipes for some of them. :)

 There is a lot of suspense, bad guys, drama....and yes, romance. But there is also themes of forgiveness, and trusting God. Lynda had to forgive Bill. He had to forgive himself, and come to an understanding that our past does not need to define us, and that we are all equal in God's eyes. This book is not just an awesome story of eco-terrorists and their plot to blow up oil pipelines and wreak other havoc, and the attempts of the good guys to stop them. It is also the story of two souls ripped apart by one man's shame and feelings of unworthiness for the girl he loves...of a decade old romance finally coming to fruition.

   This book was truly an amazing read. There was a lot I did not see coming, especially that one thing that has left me puzzled about a certain body...but I will not give away any spoilers.

   The story has also given me a bigger appreciation for our military personnel. Not just for the danger they face, but what they leave behind and the personal sacrifices they make of family and comfort.

  Word of Honor is only the 4th or so book I have read by this author, but I love her writing style, the characters she creates, and the message and themes of those books. I am definitely counting down the days until the third and final book in this series, which is coming out November 1 of this year.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Hallee Bridgeman is the USA Today bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee and her husband finally settled in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she's not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. An accomplished speaker and active member of several writing organizations, Hallee can be found online at www.halleebridgeman.com.

Word of Honor is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

                                                                          Book #1

Book #3, coming November 1, 2022

Escape From Amsterdam, Heroines of WW II #7 by Lauralee Bliss

Book description: 

 A University Student Smuggles Children Out of Amsterdam

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

Helen Smit believed she was called by God to become a teacher. Little does she know that her care for kids will take a drastic turn for survival when the Germans occupy Amsterdam and Jewish children and parents begin to be deported. Now all she can think of is helping all the kids escape before it’s too late.

Erik Misman’s newfound love for Helen is tested when he joins a plot to help move Jewish children to a safe place in the countryside. If danger can foster a closer bond with Helen a/nd save the lives of the little ones, he will do it all. But a German patrol that stumbles upon the farm where they are hiding with three children and a soldier who takes an unexpected interest in Helen, could well destroy their plans for safety and love.

My review: 

   This book is set during the German occupation of the Netherlands during World War II. It is the first book I have read by this author, and she did a great job of holding my attention.

  The book was entertaining, engaging, and also sobering. Helen and Erik were likable characters, and though they were fictional, their actions and things that happened in the book are things that actually happened and that people did. Fiction is such a great medium for stories like this. There are those who claim the Holocaust never happened, but this book did such a great job of reminding the reader of the harsh reality that it did indeed exist, and though much evil was done, there were real life heroes like the fictional ones in this book that risked everything to save lives of the Jewish people.

  There is a lot of suspenseful moments in the book. One hopes and believes that everything is going to work out, but the author wove the story in such a way that it still had me on the edge of my seat hoping for the best.

  Romance does play a part in the book, but it is not the main focus of the book, and is done well. 

  Though this book is a reminder of some very dark days in our world's history, and of such evil that rules for too long, it was a great read and also a great reminder of the good people at that time who persevered in spite of the forces against them

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Lauralee Bliss is a published author of over thirty Christian romance novels and novellas in both historical and contemporary with nearly 600,000 sold. In 2018 she received a 25-book published award from ACFW. Her recent releases are Escape from Amsterdam and two books in the Angel Series - Christmas Angels of Virginia and Angel in the Crossroad.

Lauralee enjoys writing books reminiscent of a roller coaster ride for the reader. Her desire is for readers to come away with an entertaining story and a lesson that ministers to the heart. Her new imprint HeartSoul Press exemplifies this.

Lauralee is also an avid hiker, hiking the entire Appalachian Trail twice from Georgia to Maine and from Maine to Georgia, one of only 24 women to accomplish this feat. She has also completed other trails totaling over 10,000 miles including the Florida Trail of which her Florida Trail adventure "Gators, Guts and Glory" is part of the Hiking Adventure Series along with Mountains, Madness and Miracles - 4000 Miles Along the Appalachian Trail.

Check out her website: lauraleebliss.com. 

Escape From Amsterdam is available from Barbour Publishing.

Thanks to Barbour for the review copy.

Check out the other books in the Heroines of WW II Series:

The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H. McGee

Book description:

 A gifted trainer in a time women are not allowed to race, Nora Fenton prefers horses to men. They're easier to handle, they're more reliable, and they never tell her what to do. After her father's passing, Nora is determined to save her struggling horse farm, starting with entering her prize colt into the harness races at the 1905 Mississippi and West Alabama Fair. If she wins, she may have a chance at independence. But when a stranger arrives and starts asking disconcerting questions, she suspects he may have other motives than unseating her in the training job that is rightfully hers.

Silas Cavallero will do whatever it takes to solve the mystery of his father's death--even if it means training an unwieldy colt for Nora, who wants nothing more than to see him gone. But when mysterious accidents threaten their safety and circumstances shrouded in secrets begin unlocking clues to his past, Silas will have to decide if the truth is worth the risk of ruining everything for the feisty woman he's come to admire.

My review:

  This is the first book that I have reviewed by this author, though I have read a few of her other books since requesting this one for review. I have enjoyed each one, including this. I actually thought this book was a contemporary novel until I started reading it, but would have requested it anyway.

  I would not identify as a lover of horses, but like them well enough. The author wrote a great historical romance with some suspense built in all around horses and made it an interesting and exciting read. 

  There were characters to both like and dislike in the book, and fortunately the two main characters fell into the likeable camp. Silas was on a quest to solve the death of his father from 15 years before, something he felt was connected to Emberwild. Nora was a woman determined not to be bound to what was viewed as proper behavior for a young woman of her age. And there were forces set on stopping both of them from succeeding. 

 I enjoyed the book a lot. The slow moving romance between the drifter/hired hand and the lady of the "manor" was interesting enough, but there was also horse training, an overbearing uncle,  bad guys, mysterious accidents, and the 15 year old murder or mysterious death of Silas' father to solve.

 There were a few surprises along the way, but I had my suspicions about a couple of characters that were correct, and about something else I won't say as to avoid spoilers. The book wasn't what I would call predictable, but I am always happy when I can guess correctly on at least a couple of things.....and I did.

 I will say that Silas became the hero of the story that was evident from page one, and Nora got what she wanted in the end after all, no matter how unlikely it looked for a while.

 This is the author's first book from a major publisher, and she has delivered them a great novel full of romance, suspense, drama......and of course: horses. 

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Stephenia H. McGee is the award-winning author of many stories of faith, hope, and healing set in the Deep South, including The Secrets of Emberwild. When she's not reading or sipping sweet tea on the front porch, she's a writer, dreamer, husband spoiler, and busy mom of two rambunctious boys. Learn more at www.stepheniamcgee.com.

   Secrets of Emberwild will be available October 4 from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

  Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Honor Bound, Love and Honor #1 by Hallee Bridgeman

Book description:

 You can't override the heart

It may seem odd to seek peace by moving to a war-torn African country, but for medical missionary Dr. Cynthia Myers, it provided a way to escape a shallow life of unearned wealth, a philandering fiancé, and a father now square in the public eye as vice president of the United States. At least here she knows her work and life have meaning. But all that is thrown into chaos when she fails to save the life of a local warlord's mortally wounded son.

As part of the Army Special Forces A-Team on a mission to capture and subdue the warlord, Captain Rick Norton is compelled to use deadly force to save Cynthia's life. Enraged at the violence she witnessed and riddled with guilt that men died because of her, Cynthia doesn't want to like anything about Rick and his team--but an unexpected attraction is taking hold.

With two members of his team badly injured and rebels in hot pursuit, Rick will have to draw upon all his strength and cunning to get her out alive . . . because he's beginning to think that, despite their differences, they just may be able to make a life together.

My review:
  I ran across this author a few months ago and downloaded a few free e-books by her, but had not read them yet. Then this book came up for review, her first with a major Christian publisher. I was intrigued, and requested it. It is one of the best first reads by a new-to-me author I have read for a while.

  The two main characters are pure gold. They far from hit it off at first meeting, and are totally opposites. She is a pacifist against killing, and is a doctor who saves lives. He is a soldier who kills to save others. One funny scene: he is going in to see his injured men, and she made him leave his guns outside, and attempted to make him leave his gun also. He replies that he is a weapon, and that anything within his reach can be used as a weapon. "Comes down to it, I could strangle you with my boxers or smother you with my socks. You want me to leave them outside too?"

  I enjoy military fiction, and this author's first (I think) attempt at it was a home run out of the park. I loved the team of guys she created, and found myself chuckling at their nicknames: Swanson was "pot pie", Fisher was "Trout", Sanders was "drum stick". One thing I really like and enjoy in a book is the back and forth between characters, and Bridgeman did an excellent job on that....especially between the two main characters, Rick and Cynthia.

 The drama and suspense were also well done, along with the descriptive writing. I could easily see in my mind the places they were traveling to get out of the danger they found themselves in. I felt pulled into the book, and the action and danger seemed so realistic and well written, that it felt like a true glimpse into what our special forces soldiers face and go through.

  Through the arguing and discussion between Rick and Cynthia about her pacifism and the killing and violence he and his men regularly faced and did, the author addressed the issue of Christian men in the military having to kill. Though fictional, I enjoyed reading about Rick's Christian experience and walk as a special forces soldier, and how he unwound when on leave. And thanks to the author, I have been hungry for a good hamburger because of all  the talk of eating them in the book.

  I loved this book, and it is truly one of the best Christian military type books I have read. If this is an indication of the author's writing talent and abilities, I definitely need to read more of her work.

 The only complaint I have: I felt the ending was a bit rushed, and wished the author had made that part of the story a little more detailed.....maybe included an epilogue. 

 Something unusual about this trilogy: This first novel released this month. The second will release October 4, and the third will release November 1. I am looking forward to reading the other two, and thankfully will not have to wait long.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Hallee Bridgeman is the USA Today bestselling author of several action-packed romantic suspense books and series. An Army brat turned Floridian, Hallee and her husband finally settled in central Kentucky, where they have raised their three children. When she's not writing, Hallee pursues her passion for cooking, coffee, campy action movies, and regular date nights with her husband. An accomplished speaker and active member of several writing organizations, Hallee can be found online at www.halleebridgeman.com.

 Check out her website for a few free e-books, the first ones in a few series.

  Honor Bound is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

                                                     Book #2 releasing October 4, 2022

                                                Book #3 releasing November 1, 2022

A Gem of Truth, Secrets of the Canyon #2 by Kimberly Woodhouse

 

Book description:

Escaping her shattered past is much more difficult than she imagined.

Julia Schultz has a reputation for being a storyteller, or as others see it, a liar. But with her dark and painful past, stories are all that have kept her company throughout her life. Longing for a fresh start and a second chance to earn real trust, Julia takes a job as a Harvey Girl at the El Tovar Hotel, where she's challenged to be her true self.

Learning the trade of a master jeweler is hard work, but Christopher Miller takes pride in running his family's small shop and earning the respect of the people around him. But when he discovers that he has six weeks to buy his building from his landlord before it is sold, he must find a way to save his grandfather's legacy.

United by the discovery of a legendary treasure, Chris and Julia find hope in each other. But when Julia's past catches up with her, doubt creeps into Chris's heart. Can he really trust her and her stories?

My review:

   To me, this author has become synonymous with quality Christian fiction, and I have enjoyed every book of hers that I have read. My favorite genre' is mystery/suspense, but she is one author who has pulled me into the historical fiction genre'. Many of her books do have some kind of mystery or suspense element to it, as this one did.

  A Gem of Truth, just like the book it follows - A Deep Divide - is set in the early 1900's at the El Tovar Hotel at the Grand Canyon. A hotel that I found out by Googling is still in business. (A fact I found cool).

  Though the setting was the same as the first book, the plot was different. This one involved a legend, a treasure, and bad guys who wanted that treasure.

 It also had two different main characters: Julia, a "Harvey Girl" waitress at the hotel.....and Christopher, a jeweler who lived in Williams, a town around 52 miles from the El Tovar Hotel. (Googled that also!)

  One of the main themes of the book was honesty. To cover up her past, Julia had a bad habit of spinning elaborate stories that supposedly happened to her, but did not. On the other hand, Christopher valued honesty. Woodhouse always has spiritual lessons scattered throughout her books, and this was the most predominant one in The Gem of Truth. Using the medium of fiction, and using the Bible in that fiction,  the author showed how important honesty is.

  I enjoyed visiting the historical hotel again through this book, and learning more about the hotel, Harvey girls, and learning about lapidary. (Had to Google the definition of that one.) There is much one can learn from fiction, and especially historical fiction. I have found this author to be one who obviously does a lot of research before she writes a historical novel/trilogy, and she is one who I have learned some things from. All by reading a novel.

  The book had a lot of mystery and suspense, and a few surprises....which I cannot give away, or they would not be surprises to readers.

  And Julia ends up in a bit of hot water where her past dishonesty causes her some problems, a lesson for all.

 Woodhouse has again penned a great historical novel that not only entertains, but inspires, teaches, and even convicts a bit.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Kimberley Woodhouse (www.kimberleywoodhouse.com) is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than 25 fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of 30-plus years live in the Poconos, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandbaby, and research all the history around them.

 A Gem of Truth will be available September 20 from Bethany House Publishers, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

 Thanks to Bethany House for the review copy.

                                                                        Book #1

Book #3, releases January 2023

Deception, Natchez Trace Park Rangers #4 by Patricia Bradley

Book description:

She refuses to let someone from her past define her future.

But does she really have a choice in the matter?

After being forced to kill an FBI agent gone rogue in self-defense, ISB ranger Madison Thorn is happy to be working in the fraud and cybercrimes division. At least numbers don't lie. So she's less than thrilled when she's drawn into a violent crime investigation in Natchez, Mississippi. She could also do without being forced to work with former-childhood-enemy-turned-infuriatingly-handsome park ranger Clayton Bradshaw.

When a woman who looks just like Madison is attacked on the same night Madison's grandfather is shot, it becomes clear that there is something much bigger going on . . . and that Madison herself is in danger. Madison and Clayton will have to work together--and suppress their growing feelings for one another--if they are to discover the truth before it's too late.

My review:

    This may be the best book in this four book series. I had requested it to review, and for some reason kept putting off reading it. Once I started reading it, I could not put it down and read it in one sitting, other than drink and restroom breaks.

   There is a lot that goes on in this book. It is not a slow moving mystery where the characters have a lot of downtime. The suspense and drama are pretty much non-stop, and had me wanting to read as fast as I could. The book seemed long (386 pages), and I felt I would never get to the end to find out the guilty party or parties....yet the ending seemed to come all too quickly.

  The author had a great handful of suspects, and I am proud to say I was right on a couple of things.....but will give no spoilers. Madison and Clayton made a great team, and Clayton was made all the more likable and relatable with the addictions he had to fight. Perfect characters are annoying and unrealistic.

   Deception is a romantic suspense novel, and there was not a ton of that in the book. It was more of a slow burn, and attraction was put out there a lot, though the characters did not act on it as much as is common in these kind of books.

  Even though I guessed correctly on a couple of things, the book was still full of surprises....such as Dani. Read the book to find out why...... 

  I was quite satisfied with the ending, and have that satisfied feeling after reading a great novel. It was time well spent.

 I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author: 

Patricia Bradley is the author of Standoff, Obsession, and Crosshairs, as well as the Memphis Cold Case novels and Logan Point series. Bradley won an Inspirational Reader's Choice Award in Romantic Suspense, a Daphne du Maurier Award, and a Touched by Love Award; she was a Carol Award finalist; and three of her books were included in anthologies that debuted on the USA Today bestseller list. She is cofounder of Aiming for Healthy Families, Inc., and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Sisters in Crime. Bradley makes her home in Mississippi. Learn more at www.ptbradley.com.

Deception is available from Revell Publishing, part of the Baker Publishing Group.

Thanks to Revell for the review copy.

Check out the rest of the Natchez Trace Park Rangers Series:

                                                                              Book #1

                                                     

                                                                         Book #2

Book #3

The Bride of Blackfriars Lane, Blackfriars Lane #2 by Michelle Griep

Book description:

 The Continuing Adventure of Jackson and Kit!

Detective Jackson Forge can hardly wait to marry the street-sly swindler who’s turned his life upside down. Kit Turner is equally excited to wed the handsome detective, and what better way to show her love than providing him with a gift any man of the law would love? She determines to bring to justice the men who years ago maimed his brother—despite Jackson’s warning to leave the past in the past. As she digs into the mystery of what happened, she unwittingly tumbles into her own history and endangers her future happiness with Jackson.

My review:

    I reviewed a book by this author that was described as "Regency-Gothic", and no offense to the author...did not care for it much. I heard rave reviews for The Thief of Blackfriars Lane, and when I had a chance to review this, the sequel, I requested this one, bought and devoured the first one.

  The Bride of Blackfriars Lane showed up this morning in my mailbox, and I immediately started reading it. When it begins, Jackson and Kit are now engaged to be married in just a few short days, and if the readers expect everything to go without a hitch, they will be extremely disappointed.

  Sequels can be dangerous things. A reader may love a book, and the sequel is a letdown. In this case, book #1 was a total delight to read, and book #2 continues in that same vein, just as good or better than #1.

  The Bride of Blackfriars Lane is full of mischief, mystery, romance, and things happening to the hero and heroine that show how different they are, but how suited for each other they are. I read a lot of suspense novels, which is my favorite genre'. Solving crimes and mysteries in the late 1800's is a total different ballgame, and the author does a great job of describing what that might entail and involve. There is a murder to solve, and a thieving racket to stop and find the perpetrators, and that adds to the excitement of the book.

   Jackson again makes a great hero, doing his best to keep his bride to be out of trouble as she gets into trouble and pulls him along. I enjoyed the read, and it was truly a delight to read. I am a fast reader, and I found myself wishing I could read even faster to see what was going to befall the couple next, and if they would ever to to the point of tying the knot. The book ended in a great way with a few surprises and a few things I saw coming.

 I read a lot of books. This book makes #380 for the year. (My goal was 200). I can very easily say that this book and the one that came before it are among the best I have read this year. I am so glad I gave this author another chance. I highly recommend these books, and they defitely should be read in order. My hat is off to the author for again penning a book that deserves the description of "awesome", and deserves more than the allotted 5 stars.

I was provided a copy of this book for review purposes. All opinions in this review are my own.

About the author:

Michelle Griep’s been writing since she first discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. She seeks to glorify God in all that she writes—except for that graffiti phase she went through as a teenager. She resides in the frozen tundra of Minnesota, where she teaches history and writing classes for a local high school co-op. An Anglophile at heart, she runs away to England every chance she gets, under the guise of research. Really, though, she’s eating excessive amounts of scones while rambling around a castle. Michelle is a member of ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers) and MCWG (Minnesota Christian Writers Guild).

Visit her website for more: MichelleGriep.com

The Bride of Blackfriars Lane will be available September 1 from Barbour Publishing. Thanks to Barbour for the review copy.

#1 The Thief of Blackfriars Lane, is available from Barbour Publishing.