Another Day, Another Dali (Serena Jones Mystery #2) by Sandra Orchard

Title: Another Day, Another Dali (Serena Jones Mystery #2)

Author: Sandra Orchard

Pages: 352

Year: 2016

Genre: Mystery

Publisher: Revell

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the book:

     The world of art theft can be a deadly game – one that Serena Jones understands all too well.

     When FBI Special Agent Serena Jones takes on the case of a forged Dali painting as a favor to her grandmother, she assumes it will be a typical investigation. Hopefully collaring the thief will also mean finally measuring up in her grandmother’s eyes. But the deeper she delves into the forgery and the suspects surrounding it, the less typical it becomes.

     The Dali isn’t the only painting that’s fallen prey to the forgery-replacing thief, raising the possibility of a sophisticated theft ring—one with links to dirty cops, an aspiring young artist, and the unsolved murder of Serena’s grandfather. To make matters worse, someone connected to the forgeries seems to be determined to stop Serena’s investigation—no matter the cost.

     Another Day, Another Dali gives the plucky Serena—and readers—a new high-stakes case to crack. You won’t want to miss a single brushstroke!

My review:

     This is another fantastic mystery!

     This book is part of a “true” series. The plotline of Serena’s murdered grandfather continues in this book.

     I love the cast of characters in this book. Many of them are the same as in book one. There are a lot of different quirks and personalities among them. It is fascinating to see how Serena interacts with each of them and tries to keep a balance between her profession and dealing with family.

     I thoroughly enjoyed seeing how Aunt Martha “helps” Serena throughout the book. She is so enthralled with mysteries and trying to solve them herself that she is a riot. Yet at times she does have some good ideas.

     The plot for the separate mystery in this book is wonderful. I was hooked and knew that I had to finish the story to find out how it turned out from early on. There are enough different suspects to confuse things nicely.

     There is a second ongoing story from book one that is very amusing. I can’t wait to see if either Tanner or Nate will end up being a romantic interest for Serena. She keeps insisting that they are both “just” friends.

     I’m looking forward to seeing what happens in the next book. I am highly recommending this wonderful mystery. It gets a 5 star rating from me.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Turbulence (Kennedy Stern #5) by Alana Terry

Title: Turbulence (Kennedy Stern #5)

Author: Alana Terry

Pages: 206

Release Date: December 19, 2016

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Firstfruits Publishing

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a free eBook copy of this story from the author. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the book:

     It’s been another grueling semester at Harvard, and Kennedy can hardly wait to take a break from her premed studies for some much-needed rest and relaxation at her roommate’s homestead in rural Alaska.

     Unfortunately, Kennedy’s great arctic adventure might come to a crashing halt before it ever begins.

My review:

     This is an exciting suspense novel!

     The particular story in this novel is a stand-alone plot. Throughout the book though there are many references to things that Kennedy has been through in her life and I believe some of them are from earlier books in the series. I have to admit I was a little out of the loop since this is the first book about Kennedy that I have read.

     Kennedy is a well-developed character that I was able to really “see” in my mind’s eye as the book went on. She has a number of insecurities that are very relatable. I enjoyed seeing how she was able to evaluate her life and learn from older more mature believers that she meets.

     The suspense of the danger on the airplane is incredible. The different people and how they reacted was very clearly presented and easy to understand and follow.

     I do want to mention that there are very in-depth discussions about Christian living and witnessing. If this is something that you don’t like to read then I suggest that you select something else.

     I am giving this wonderful story a rating of 5 stars and recommending it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

Christmas Conspiracy (First Responders #6) by Susan Sleeman

Title: Christmas Conspiracy (First Responders #6)

Author: Susan Sleeman

Pages: 224

Release Date: December 6, 2016

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Harlequin Love Inspired

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the author. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the book:

     It’s a typical day at Rachael Long’s day-care-center—until a masked gunman tries to abduct one of the children in her charge. First response commander Jake Marsh manages to diffuse the situation before anyone is harmed…but not before Rachael unmasks the would-be kidnapper. Now Jake must lead a manhunt and protect from the criminal who’s turned his focus on her. But the case is reawakening painful memories for Jake, and Rachael’s treating emotional wounds of her own. And with danger mounting as Christmas nears, they must learn to let go of the past in order to outwit a killer…and find the peach that’s always eluded them both.

My review:

     Another incredible romantic suspense!

     This book is a stand-alone suspense story. The character’s lives are moving right along though and if you read the series in order a number of the references to personal lives will make a lot more sense.

     The characters in the book are as well developed as I expected them to be. I love the details that Susan Sleeman puts into each one of them and the way she brings characters from previous books into each additional story within a series.

     I loved finding out so much about what makes the team leader, Jake Marsh, tick. He has a lot of personal heartache that has helped to shape him. I wanted so badly for him to work through his history and be able to move on with his life.

     Rachael has a huge hole in her life that she is working hard to fill with her day-care-center. As I read the details of her pain and loss my heart broke for her. Now she needs to try and determine if that is how she is to fill it for the rest of her life.

     I thoroughly enjoyed Rachael’s belief in God. It was wonderful to find out how she has trusted Him to help her through past trials.

     I am definitely giving this exciting story a rating of 5 stars and highly recommending it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

A Royal Christmas Wedding by Rachel Hauck + A GIVEAWAY

To purchase your copy, click here.

About the Book

  

Genre: Christian Romance/Christmas  

Release Date: October 18, 2016  

Book Format: Paperback & Ebook  





Avery Truitt aches for true love—the kind she once shared with Prince Colin. Can she dare to hope for happily ever after, or is a fairy-tale ending beyond reach?

College volleyball star Avery Truitt has not seen her former flame, Prince Colin of Brighton Kingdom, since he suddenly pushed her away five years ago. But now, the sadness of losing her father and the joy of her sister Susanna’s pregnancy have brought Avery back to Brighton just in time for Cathedral City’s enchanting Christmas season.

Avery knows she can’t avoid seeing Colin—now the Kingdom’s most eligible bachelor—whether or not her heart is ready to relive the pain. But seeing him again might bring her the closure she needs after all this time.

When Colin finds himself at the center of a centuries-old Brighton tradition, he must decide whether to follow the path laid out before him or follow his heart to the only woman for whom he would ring the Pembroke Chapel Bell.

Can Colin convince Avery to meet him at the chapel on Christmas morning—as tradition dictates—or will Avery run back to her St. Simons home and pursue a coaching career as planned?

In the fourth installment of the Royal Wedding Series, New York Times bestselling novelist, Rachel Hauck, weaves a charming story of holiday romance as two broken hearts seek the love they once knew.

My Review

A delightful contemporary Christmas romance!

This is part of a “true” series. I believe that you need to read the books in order to fully follow the story line and get the full enjoyment out of them. I have to admit that I haven’t read the previous books myself. There were a number of times that I felt like I was a little confused because of that.

The setting in Brighton Kingdom is the stuff that fairy tales are made of. The introduction of the history behind the bell ringing just after midnight after the Harvest Ball completely set the stage for me.

I absolutely love these characters. There is a wonderful amount of detail for a number of the characters. This includes Avery Truitt, Prince Colin and those that are closest to both of them.

Both Avery and Prince Colin are dealing with their own emotional conflicts. Their feelings for each other are competing with the desire to live the life they believe they are supposed to live. They are trying to trust God to lead them along the path that He has planned for them.

I am highly recommending this charming story and giving it a rating of 5 stars.

 About the Author

Rachel Hauck is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling, and award-winning author.

A graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Journalism, Rachel worked in the corporate software world before planting her backside in an uncomfortable chair to write full-time in 2004.

She serves on the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers and leads worship at their annual conference. She is a mentor and book therapist at My Book Therapy, and conference speaker.

Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pets, and writes from her two-story tower in an exceedingly more comfy chair. She is a huge Buckeyes football fan.

Guest Post from Rachel Hauck

I don’t think we can ever get enough of royals or Christmas, do you? The two just seem to go together.

The Bible tells us eternity is written on our hearts. (Ecc. 3:11) I wonder if it’s also written on our hearts to be princesses in a grand, beautiful, perfect kingdom.

That being said, welcome to The Royal Christmas Wedding blog tour. My deepest thanks to all the bloggers, reviewers, and readers for hosting and visiting this tour. I’m excited to share this story with you all.

The hero and heroine, Prince Colin and Avery Truitt, first met in Once Upon A Prince at King Nathaniel’s coronation.

I hadn’t planned to write a spinoff story with the two of them. In fact, I didn’t even know Prince Colin existed until Avery walked into the abbey for the coronation and glanced across the sanctuary into his eyes.

Here’s his introduction:  

Lean, aristocratic with an outdoorsman ruddiness, he nearly made Susanna swoon when he winked at Avery.

I liked Colin immediately. So did Avery. As well as a lot of you.

When my publisher asked me to write their story, it would be two years before the book would release. Plenty of time, right?

But “time crunch” is the name of the game with most writers. Between life, rewrites, edits, and promotional activity, we often find ourselves hurrying toward a deadline. Well, at least I do.

In the fall of 2015 I was writing The Wedding Shop and A Royal Christmas Wedding at the same time.

I’d also dealt with a physical issue that left me shaky. Could I write two books in five months? Did I want to even make the attempt?

If I said no, publication dates would be pushed out, causing a year delay on A Royal Christmas Wedding. And I knew that was something I did not want to do.

Publishing is a long game. Books are contracted and due 12 to 18, even 24 months, before release dates. Time must be carved out for rewrites and editing, marketing and promotion. Review copies go out at least five months in advance.

So I agreed to write both books. I told my editor, “Diamonds come from pressure.”

Coming up with Avery and Prince Colin’s story wasn’t as easy as I’d planned. Since they met in Once Upon A Prince as teenagers, I struggled with how to advance their age and relationship, and how to present them as the book opened.

Where had their relationship gone “between the books?”

When I came up with the idea of the Pembroke Chapel bell, the story magic began to happen. One of the things I love in the royal wedding books is the fairytale aspect. Looking for something out of the ordinary.

Even though my writing time was tight, writing Avery and Colin’s story was a joy. Once again I wish I could visit Brighton, eat a puff, and royal watch for the Strattons!

I hope you found a few sweet spots in the story, all wrapped in Christmas holiday cheer, and enjoyed your time with me in Brighton Kingdom.

Merry Christmas!

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card plus a copy of A Royal Christmas Wedding and a copy of The Wedding Shop. Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post to earn 9 extra entries in the giveaway! https://promosimple.com/ps/aaeb

Finding Margo (Finding Home #1) by Jen Turano

Title: Finding Margo (Finding Home #1)

Author: Jen Turano

Pages: 320

Release Date: November 15, 2016

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Gilead Publishing

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy from the publisher. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the book:

     Off the charts and on the run.

     International pop star Margo Hartman could use a night off. A grueling tour and overbearing entourage have sent her over the edge. It’s time for this diva to disappear. And who would think to look for the superstar in a small Dutch town in Ohio?

     Sheriff’s deputy Brock Moore is undercover as well. He knows Margo isn’t who she appears to be, but her uncanny resemblance to a local Amish woman is raising all sorts of questions…the kind that make her a target for a killer.

     Both are determined to find answers, but their mutual attraction stands in the way of either of them doing it alone. Is finding Margo the solution to Brock’s problems or just the beginning…?

My review:

     A wonderful mystery with delightful comedic moments!

     This book is the first in a new genre for Jen Turano. She does a masterful job of creating the characters and the mystery elements in this story. I was thrilled to find that she was able to continue to include laugh-out-loud comedy situations in this new genre. If those were missing then it wouldn’t feel like a Jen Turano novel to me.

     In many ways Margo is very knowledgeable. Yet at the same time she seems to be very clueless about a number of common things that come up. She has been very protected and cared for by others. This is a source of a lot of the comedy in the story.

     Brock is every inch a protector and mystery solver. This is driving him to sort things out and find closure for his brother-in-law and himself. When Margo suddenly shows up in danger and hiding secrets Brock’s natural tendencies kick into overdrive.

     There are many clues throughout the story about an old mystery that has gone unsolved. They have a number of questions that are left to be revealed either near the end of the book or in future novels in the series.

     This story is the first of a new series and I am really looking forward to reading the other two as soon as they are available.

     I was absolutely delighted with Jen Turano’s first venture into contemporary suspense. I am highly recommending this wonderful book and giving it a rating of 5 stars.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

The Shattered Vigil (The Darkwater Saga #2) by Patrick W. Carr

Title: The Shattered Vigil (The Darkwater Saga #2)

Author: Patrick W. Carr

Pages: 464

Release Date: November 1, 2016

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the book:

     A single terrible choice faces the Vigil. Hide in safety and let darkness take over the land or face the growing danger and risk all of their lives.

     Their victory over the dark forces during the feast of Bas-solas should have guaranteed safety for the continent. Instead, Willet and the rest of the Vigil discover they’ve been outsmarted by those seeking to unleash the evil that inhabits the Darkwater. One of the Vigil has gone missing, and new attacks have struck at the six kingdoms’ ability to defend themselves.

     Worse, a deadly new threat has emerged—assassins hunting the Vigil, men and women who cannot be seen until it’s too late. To thwart the perilous new risk, the church makes the drastic decision to safeguard the Vigil by taking the surviving members into protective custody. But there are secrets only the Vigil can unearth, and so Pellin makes the heart-wrenching choice to oppose the church in a race to turn back the evil that threatens an entire continent.

My review:

     This is an incredible good versus evil fantasy novel!

     This is part of a “true” series. For the story to make sense you need to read the first book before starting this one.

     I thoroughly enjoyed returning to the fantasy land that this author has crafted. The characters are so well developed and presented that I connected with them and felt their frustration as they were trying to sort out the mystery of where the danger was coming from.

     The plot was filled with a lot of twists and turns that really made me focus my attention on the story to follow what was going on. This is a great book to get lost in and lose track of time.

     I have to give this wonderful book a rating of 5 stars. I’m highly recommending it. I look forward to seeing what this author comes up with next.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*

The Devoted (The Bishop's Family #3) by Suzanne Woods Fisher

Title: The Devoted (The Bishop’s Family #3)

Author: Suzanne Woods Fisher

Pages: 336

Release Date: October 4, 2016

Genre: Amish Fiction

Publisher: Revell

Format: Paperback (also available in eBook)

Note: I received a free copy of this book from the publisher. I have chosen to write this review to express my personal opinion.

About the book:

     The Amish life is all she’s ever known—but will it satisfy her soul?

     Restless and adventurous, Ruthie Stoltzfus is right on the cusp of leaving her Amish home. Secretly, she’s earned her GED, saved her money—but she can’t quite set her journey into motion. Just as everything falls into place, along comes Patrick Kelly.

     Patrick is a young man on a journey of his own. He’s come to Stoney Ridge to convert to the Amish and has given himself thirty days to learn the language, drive a buggy, and adapt to “everything Plain.” Time is of the essence and every moment is to be cherished—especially the hours he spends with Ruthie, his Penn Dutch tutor.

     Ruthie’s next-door neighbor and cunning ex-boyfriend, Luke Schrock, is drawn to trouble like a moth to a flame. Rebellious, headstrong, defiant, Luke will do anything to win Ruthie back—and Patrick Kelly is in his way.

     Bestselling author Suzanne Woods Fisher invites you back to Stoney Ridge for a story of dreams deferred—and the promise of hoped fulfilled.

My review:

     This is part of a “true” series. You need to read all three books in order to fully understand the nuances within the relationships between the characters.

     This is an incredibly thought provoking Amish novel!

     I really love the depth of the characters in this book. They are so real that I felt like I could meet them in person if I just visited Lancaster County. The emotional problems that many of them are dealing with are things that many people face.

     I really like the connection between Ruthie Stoltzfus and her Aunt Ruth “Dok”. The similar paths and relationship questions are great. I found it very interesting that Dok was the first one of the adults that was able to speak wisdom into Ruthie’s life.

     David Stoltzfus is a wonderful God fearing man. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the time he spent searching the word of God and reasoning out the instructions for life inside it. He is truly a shepherd for the church in Stoney Ridge.

     I am highly recommending this wonderful book. This novel is getting a rating of 5 stars from me.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention/review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I've done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own and I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.*