A Portrait of Loyalty (The Codebreakers #3) by Roseanna M. White

Title: A Portrait of Loyalty (The Codebreakers #3)

Author: Roseanna M. White

Pages: 384

Release Date: September 8, 2020

Genre: Historical Romance, WWI

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: eBook (also available in paperback

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     Zivon Marin was one of Russia’s top cryptographers, until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee after speaking out against Lenin and separated from his brother along the way, he arrives in England driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits.

     Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera—and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and recreating photographs. With her father’s connections in propaganda, she’s recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove.

     After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily. He sees patterns in what she deems chaos; she sees beauty in a world he thought destroyed. But both have secrets they’re unwilling to share. When her photographs reveal that someone has been following Zivon, his loyalties are called into question—and his enemies are discovered to be far closer than he’d feared.

My review:

     This is a fantastic historical romance!

     I love all of the main characters in this book. This includes all of Lily Blackwell’s family. It is easy to connect with them and all of the different emotions that they experience going through the story. 

     One of the things that I enjoyed was the brief glimpses at the characters from the previous books the author set before and during WWI. None of them are central enough that the previous books need to be read first though. 

     At the same time there are a few characters that are working against them and it was just as easy to dislike them. There is just enough intrigue to really keep the reader guessing as to how things are going to work out. I really like how Admiral Hall stays on top of everything that is going on in the intelligence world. 

     I had never realized that the revolution in Russia took place during WWI. This was quite an eye opener for me. It really made me realize how little I know about world history. Part of me wants to study it further. But I don’t want to get bogged down in books filled with historical facts. I love the personality that comes in historical fiction books.

     I am giving this marvelous book a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. 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.*

State of Lies by Siri Mitchell

 

Title: State of Lies

Author: Siri Mitchell

Pages: 368

Year: 2019

Genre: Domestic Suspense (official) / Psychological Thriller (mine)

Publisher: Thomas Nelson

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     One woman is forced to question everything she knows in this domestic suspense novel from award-winning author Siri Mitchell.

     Georgie Brennan may be a world-class quantum physicist, but she grapples with life as a single mother after her husband is killed. When she receives a message from beyond the grave, it leads her to question the details of her husband’s death.

     As she follows the clues he left behind, her discoveries increasingly implicate those closest to her. When her father is nominated as the new United States Secretary of Defense, she must uncover the truth before his confirmation hearing—even as the same people who killed her husband are now after her. Nothing is as it seems. Lies are truth; enemies are friends. Even her child is at risk. As every possibility but one disappears, Georgie may find herself to be the antithesis of everything she’s thought herself to be.

My review:

     A masterfully written domestic suspense novel!

     I love the main character! Georgia Brennan is totally bombarded with heart stopping, terrifying information. I don’t know how she managed to hold it all together. As the story progresses and each tidbit is revealed it only brings up more questions about what is true, and who can be trusted.

     I was completely sucked in and stayed up way later than I should have for two nights in a row. I don’t know how much of this book should be considered suspense and how much is psychological thriller. It is completely filled with incredibly well crafted twists and turns.

     I have to give this wonderful book at least a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. 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.*

Women of Courage: Sojourner Truth: All Men (and Women) Are Created Equal - Compiled by Barbour Staff

Title: Women of Courage: Sojourner Truth: All Men (and Women) Are Created Equal

Compiled by: Barbour Staff

Pages: 208

Year: 2020

Genre: Biography

Publisher: Barbour Books

Format: eBooks (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     They’re bold. They’re fearless. They’re adventurous. They have a faith that can move mountains. They’re women of courage.

     This series of easy-read biographies celebrates the lives of women who lived lives committed to changing the world for better. What set them apart? The willingness to live courageously for Christ, even in the midst of impossible situations.

     In Sojourner Truth, you will meet the tall, powerful former slave and abolitionist whose biblically-based call for equality—for both African Americans and women—secured her a place in American history.

     Wherever she appeared, the wise words and electrifying presence of Sojourner Truth brought audiences to their feet. The lengthy shadow cast by her near-six-foot frame and the challenge to injustice issued by her stinging speeches have secured her a place in American history—a place as a woman of courage.

     Get inspired by her story, celebrate her legacy, and learn that God can use each of us for mighty things . . . if we have courage.

My review:

     A biography that captured and kept my interest.

     I had heard the name Sojourner Truth before. All I knew about her was that she was black and she had been a slave. I’m very glad that I took the time to read this biography about her.

     The descriptions of her life while she was still a slave just broke my heart. I will never understand how some people can treat others as property. I loved reading about her courage in standing up for herself and claiming her freedom. She was an incredible woman and I believe that we can all benefit from reading her story.

     I was fascinated to read all the details about her encounters and meetings with very famous people from her time period. It amazed me that a former slave was able to enter in with high ranking individuals.

     I had to give this wonderful book a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it. I actually picked it up at this time because of all of the unrest and racial tension about the police brutality cases. It truly breaks my heart that in some ways black people are still fighting for equality.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. 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.*

Piecing It All Together (Plain Patterns #1) by Leslie Gould

Title: Piecing It All Together (Plain Patterns #1)

Author: Leslie Gould

Pages: 368

Release Date: August 4, 2020

Genre: Amish Fiction

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     When Savannah Mast’s fiancé dumps her a week before their wedding, she flees California for the safety of her Amish grandmother’s farm near Nappanee, Indiana. She’s not planning on staying long but becomes unexpectedly entangled in the search for a missing Amish girl. She can’t leave—especially not when her childhood friend Tommy Miller is implicated as a suspect.

     When Savannah accompanies her grandmother to Plain Patterns, a nearby quilt shop, the owner and local historian, Jane Berger relates a tale about another woman’s disappearance back in the 1800s that has curious echoes to today.

     Inspired by the story, Savannah does all she can to find the Amish girl and clear Tommy’s name. But when her former fiancé shows up, begging her to return to California and marry him after all, she must choose between accepting the security of what he has to offer or continuing the complicated legacy of her family’s faith.

My review:

     This is a wonderful Amish novel!

     I love the fact that there is a contemporary story with a mystery involved. At the same time one of the secondary characters in this story is telling a historical story verbally to the main character periodically throughout the book. It amazes me how the author managed to switch back and forth without confusing the reader.

     All of the characters are extremely well developed and I connected with them quickly. A number of them had me wanting to just hug them and help them deal with the difficulties that they were dealing with.

     The plot between the two stories had some definite similarities but they were also very different. I was fascinated by both of them and really wanted to see everything work out for all of the characters involved.

     I’m giving this incredible story a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. 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.*

Mind Games (Kaely Quinn Profiler #1) by Nancy Mehl

Title: Mind Games (Kaely Quinn Profiler #1)

Author: Nancy Mehl

Pages: 332

Year: 2018

Genre: Suspense

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

About the book:

     Kaely Quinn’s talents as an FBI behavior analyst are impossible to ignore, no matter how unorthodox her methods. But when a reporter outs her as the daughter of an infamous serial killer, she’s demoted to field agent and transferred to St. Louis.

     When the same reporter who ruined her career claims to have received an anonymous poem predicting a strong of murders, ending with Kaely’s, the reporter’s ulterior motives bring his claim into question. But when a body is found that fits the poem’s predictions, the threat is undeniable, and the FBI sends Special Agent Noah Hunter to St. Louis.

     Initially resentful of the assignment, Noah is surprised at how quickly his respect for Kaely grows, despite her oddities. But with a brazen serial killer who breaks all the normal patterns on the loose, Noah and Kaely are tested to their limits to catch the murderer before anyone else—including Kaely herself—is killed.

My review:

     This suspense novel really grabbed my attention!

     Both of the main characters are extremely well developed. Noah is very by the book and does things the way he was trained to at Quantico. Kaely on the other hand has her own way of figuring out who the UNSUB is. She does start with the standard profiling techniques but then she moves into a different realm that none of the other agents understand.

     I was fascinated by the back story of both Noah and Kaely. I enjoyed finding out both of their reasons for jointing the FBI.

     The plot was incredible! There were a bunch of twists and turns that kept my interest. I was frantically trying to figure out who the murderer was throughout the book.

     I’m giving this wonderful story a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it.

Minutes to Die (Homeland Heroes #2) by Susan Sleeman

 

Title: Minutes to Die (Homeland Heroes #2)

Author: Susan Sleeman

Pages: 384 pages

Release Date: August 4, 2020

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Publisher: Bethany House

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     It’s the intel every agent fear—terrorists have been smuggled into the country, intent on unleashing the most deadly attack since 9/11. With the threat imminent, FBI Agent Kiley Dawson and ICE Agent Evan Bowers are charged with taking down this terrorist cell. The only problem is Kiley blames Evan for the death of her former partner, and she can barely be in a room with him. But with millions of lives on the line, she has no choice.

     If it wasn’t or a bad call Evan made, Kiley’s former partner would still be alive, and Evan has to live with that guilt for the rest of his life. When he starts falling for her, the agent’s death seems an impossible obstacle—but it’s also the last thing he needs to think about. At the terrorist plot targets Kiley’s family, the two are pushed to the breaking point in a race to save countless lives.

My review:

     This is a very intense romantic suspense novel!

     I love both of the main characters in this book. Kiley and Evan are incredibly well developed. They both have things from their past that make it difficult for them to work together. There is self blame and unforgiveness that needs to be worked through. I loved seeing both of them as they progressed through the journey in the midst of the very dangerous case that they are working on that needs their full focus.

     The plot of the case is amazing! It has so many twists and turns that kept me sucked in. I was fascinated by all of the different people of interest that Kiley and the rest of the team were trying to track down to find the actual terrorists involved in their case. The amount of details that were included in the case and the activities each agent was handling was fantastic. It was very apparent that the author did a lot of research before and during the writing of this book.

      This marvelous book is getting a 5 star rating from me. I highly recommend it.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. 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 Mockingbird's Song (Amish Greenhouse Mystery #2) by Wanda E. Brunstetter

Title: The Mockingbird’s Song (Amish Greenhouse Mystery #2)

Author: Wanda E. Brunstetter

Pages: 320

Release Date: August 1, 2020

Genre: Amish Fiction / Romance

Publisher: Shiloh Run Press

Format: eBook (also available in paperback)

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher, through NetGalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All of the opinions expressed are my own.

About the book:

     Where is the hope in grief for a young Amish widow?

     Sylvia has been nearly paralyzed with grief and anxiety since the tragic death of her husband, father, and brother in a traffic accident. She tries to help in the family’s greenhouse while caring for her two young children, but she prefers not to have to deal with customers. Her mother’s own grief causes her to hover over her children and grandchildren, and Sylvia seeks a diversion. She takes up birdwatching and soon meets an Amish man who teaches her about local birds. But Sylvia’s mother doesn’t trust Dennis Weaver, and as the relationship sours, mysterious attacks on the greenhouse start up again.

My review:

     This is a fantastic Amish novel!

     I love the main characters in this book. It was great seeing how all of the members of the King family are progressing through the grieving process. Some of the have made more progress than others. This makes the story very realistic.

     The acts of vandalism that begin in the first book continue. There are a few people that seem to be likely suspects. That just keeps me guessing. I do tend to get frustrated with Belinda’s refusal to report it to the sheriff. I look forward to finding out who the culprit is in the final book of the series.

     I am giving this wonderful book a rating of 5 stars. I highly recommend it. This is part of a true series. You should read the books in order.

Disclaimer: *Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book for free in the hope that I would mention or review it on my blog. I was not required to give a positive review, only my honest opinion - which I have done. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own. 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.*