Wonderful Debut! 'A Dance in Donegal' - by Jennifer Deibel

 

About the book:

All her life, Boston-born Moira Doherty has relished her mother's descriptions of the Emerald Isle. When her mother dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1920, Moira is compelled to fulfill her dying wish--that she become the teacher in Ballymann, the beloved village in Donegal, Ireland, she's heard so much about.

After an arduous voyage, Moira begins a challenging new job in an unfamiliar and ancient country. Though a few locals offer a warm welcome, others are distanced by superstition and suspicion. Rumors about Moira's mother are unspoken in her presence but threaten to derail everything she's journeyed to Ballymann to do. Moira must rely on the kindness of a handful of friends--and the strength of Sean, an unsettlingly handsome thatcher who keeps popping up unannounced--as she seeks to navigate a life she'd never dreamed of . . . but perhaps was meant to live.

My review:

This was a fascinating story that really made Ireland come alive.  It felt like I was there with Moira as she experienced Ireland for the first time, the smells, tastes and scenery so descriptive it felt real to me.  I really liked that there were authentic words thrown in and a glossary in the back so I could understand them!  There was also some of the superstition and culture explained, which also helped flesh out the story.  Moira was a wonderful character with a strong faith, even when she experienced different hardships teaching and from the townspeople. She wasn't perfect, however, as she did struggle with forgiveness.  Sean also had his faith challenged and strengthened seeing how she dealt with hard things.  I like that the gospel was clear.  There was a wonderful couple who were very wise and gave great advice.  There were some sweet romantic moments and a little bit of a love triangle and there were also some very difficult and sad situations but also redemption and hope and purpose.  I would recommend this story if you like historical fiction!

I received this book free from Revell.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

           The Author

1. 

   Jennifer Deibel

   Jennifer Deibel is a middle school teacher whose work has appeared on (in)courage, on The Better Mom, in Missions Mosaic magazine, and others. With firsthand immersive experience abroad, Jennifer writes stories that help redefine home through the...

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Fascinating Police Procedural! 'Network of Deceit' - Amara Alvarez 2 - by Tom Threadgill

 

About the book:

She's following her instincts. They're following her every move.

After her rescue of nearly fifty kidnapped children made international headlines, Amara Alvarez gets what she's worked for: a transfer to San Antonio's Homicide Division. But reality sets in quickly when her first case, the suspicious death of a teenager at a crowded local water park, plunges her life into chaos.

As the investigation moves forward, Amara finds herself stalked online by cybercriminals who uncover her personal life in frightening detail. With few leads, she's forced to resort to unconventional methods to find the killer and prevent her first murder investigation from ending up in the cold case files.

Tom Threadgill is back with another riveting page-turner featuring the detective who is willing to put everything on the line to see justice served and lives protected.

My review:

This was a very interesting case as Amara pulls the threads and finds clues. I loved her toughness and her determination.  She never gave up, even when it seemed like she was stuck.  I liked how she was an introvert and had a pet lizard as you don't see that too often!  Her good friend and fellow detective Starsky added humor to the story as they had funny conversations that made me smile.  There's a little bit of a faith element as there's a couple of prayers said.  Amara also dealt with some hard issues in her personal life and questions about her future.  This worked well as a stand-alone, though I also recommend book one as that was also a fascinating story!  You should try this book if you like police procedurals and suspense!

I received this book free from Revell.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.  

The Author

1. 

   © David M. Humphrey

   Tom Threadgill

   Tom Threadgill is a full-time author and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and the International Thriller Writers (ITW). The author of Collision of Lies, Tom lives with his wife near Dallas, Texas. Learn more at www.tomthreadgill.com.

   Continue reading about Tom Threadgill 

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Wonderful and Unique! Review and Giveaway of 'Cast the First Stone' - The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone 1 - by David James Warren

 

About the book:

One case haunts him. One chance to fix the past. One mistake could cost him everything.

Ex-Minneapolis Police Detective Rembrandt Stone walked away from a career he loved—just the price of being sure he can come home to the wife and daughter he cherishes. But he can’t shake the deep regret over a case left behind.

When his mentor, the former Chief of Homicide dies and leaves Rembrandt with a box of cold cases and a mysterious watch, he finds himself thrust into a world he recognizes—a world from twenty years ago—the same world he’s woken from in a cold sweat a hundred times. But is it a dream, or some kind of twisted reality?

If he solves the case that plagues him, and justice is finally served, will it destroy the life he loves?

Strap in for a mind-bending, time travel thrill ride in Book One of this riveting new series, The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone.

My review:

I absolutely love Susan Mary Warren and James Rubart so I was incredibly excited to see them partnering on a book and it did not disappoint!  This book drew me in right away as I got a feel for the characters and what made them tick.  Rembrandt had a lot of regrets, some personal, some work-related, especially about cases he was never able to solve.  It was fascinating seeing how he dealt with being thrown back in time (or was it a dream) trying to solve a case where he can't really remember all of the details he needed to in order to stop a series of horrific crimes.  He's also just meeting the love of his life and trying desperately not to screw up their relationship or the promise of one, like he felt he did for too many years.  He wanted to be a better man than he had been and I really admired that.  I felt bad for him and the pain he'd gone through, some of his own choosing.  I did like him but I really liked Eve, her toughness and intelligence and that she worked on crime scenes.  I loved that both of their perspectives were given.  This was a mix of police procedural, time travel paradox and romance and it was done incredibly well.  There wasn't much about faith in it, just a prayer here and there and it seemed like it was more of a tradition to them.  There was one swear word but otherwise a clean read.  The ending will make your jaw drop.  I absolutely can't wait for the next one! 

I received a free kindle copy of this book from JustRead Tours.  I was not compensated for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Amazing Debut! Giveaway and Review of 'Roots of Wood and Stone' - Sedgwick County Chronicles 1 - by Amanda Wen

 

About the book:

This historic home holds the keys to their destiny . . . and their hearts

Abandoned at birth, her family roots a mystery, historical museum curator Sloane Kelley has dedicated her life to making sure others know theirs. When a donor drops off a dusty old satchel, she doesn’t expect much from the common artifact . . .until she finds real treasure inside: a nineteenth-century diary. Now she’s on the hunt to find out more.

Garrett Anderson just wanted to clean out his grandmother’s historic but tumbledown farmhouse before selling it to fund her medical care. With her advancing Alzheimer’s, he can’t afford to be sentimental about the family home. But his carefully ordered plan runs up against two formidable obstacles: Sloane, who’s fallen in love with both the diaries and the house, and his own heart, which is irresistibly drawn to Sloane.

A century and a half earlier, motherless Annabelle Collins embarks with her aunt and uncle on the adventure of a lifetime: settling the prairies of Sedgwick County, Kansas. The diaries she left behind paint a portrait of life, loss, and love—and a God who faithfully carries her through it all. Paging through the diaries together takes Sloane and Garrett on a journey they never could have planned, which will change them in ways they never imagined.

This warm, beautifully written split-time novel will resonate with readers looking for stories that reveal the beauty of God’s plan for our lives, and how our actions ripple for generations.

My review:

I absolutely loved this book!  Split-time fiction is one of my favorite genres and I loved the genealogy aspect of finding diaries in your home and not knowing who the person was who wrote them and deciding to figure it out.  It was fascinating learning about life back in the 1800s and discovering who the writer of the diaries was.  I loved the twist of how she was connected.  I also loved how genealogy was brought in with Sloane being adopted and wanting to discover who her birth mother was.  She had issues from being abandoned and had a hard time allowing people or God too close while Garrett was so focused on having a plan that he overlooked what God could be doing.  They were both Christians but were letting their pasts dictate their futures.  The romance in both time periods was wonderfully romantic and I also loved that music was a big part of the contemporary story, especially jazz as you don't see that too often.  This was an amazing debut with wonderful writing and I highly recommend it!

I received this book free from Read with Audra and Kregel Publications.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.

About the author:

Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction. She has placed first in multiple writing contests, including the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity, the 2017 Phoenix Rattler, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions contests. She was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis Contest finalist.

Wen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and regularly contributes author interviews for their Fiction Finder feature. She also frequently interviews authors for her blog and is a contributor to the God Is Love blog. Her debut novel, Roots of Wood and Stone, releases from Kregel Publications on February 2, 2021.

In addition to her writing, Wen is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras, chamber groups, and her church’s worship team. She serves as a choral accompanist as well. A lifelong denizen of the flatlands, Wen lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly Siamese cat.

To find Amanda Wen’s blog and short stories, visit www.amandawen.com. Readers can also follower her on Facebook (@AuthorAmandaWen), Twitter (@AuthorAmandaWen), and Instagram (@authoramandawen). 

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