'Secrets of the Desert Rose' - by Marilyn Turk

 

About the book:

Three Women. Two generations. Their friendship survived the war. Their secret survived even longer.

Monique and Audrey, one French and one British, grow up in French Algiers on the coast of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea. Best friends, they keep each other’s secrets into adulthood when World War II changes their world and Algiers sides with the Hitler-based Vichy government. Audrey joins Charles DeGaulle’s resistance army, the French Foreign Legion, while Monique stays to work in the underground resistance aiding the Allied invasion of North Africa.

In present day, American born great-granddaughter Nicole, a graduate student in archaeology, goes to North Africa for an internship. The now centenarian Monique (Mimi), debilitated by a stroke, urges her to find the Desert Rose. Nicole finds different types of desert roses, but none are the right one until she stumbles onto information that hints the desert rose might not be a flower after all. While Sami, her instructor in Algiers, helps her find the desert rose, he also has to protect her from people who want the heirloom ring Nicole wears which has its own secret.

Will Nicole find the secret before it’s too late?

My review:

This was an interesting dual-timeline story that really made French Algiers come alive!  I could picture the sights and hear the sounds as Nicole gets to finally travel there and experience the place Mimi told her stories about.  I liked following Nicole and Sami from place to place as they explore but I thought there would have been more research or investigation to her quest.  Monique and Audrey's stories were interesting as they both want to help win the war but in different ways.  They experienced a lot of excitement and challenges.  I really enjoyed learning about what was going on during World War II in this part of the world and how they were affected.  Monique had a close family that faith was a big part of while Audrey had distant parents and struggled to understand Monique's faith.  There didn't seem to be much character development; it felt like Monique and Audrey were the same people they were when they were kids.  This was more of an action story where it felt like the three ladies were always on the go.  I was also surprised by a twist and felt like there wasn't really any closure or big reveal to a secret or to what's next for Nicole.  There was some romance.  Overall, this was an interesting story and a very interesting setting I enjoyed learning more about.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I was not compensated for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Fascinating History! 'Fires of Injustice' - by Kendy Pearson

 

About the book:

She is fighting for the innocent.
He is fighting for a second chance.
 
Yakira Mitchell has devoted her life to rescuing the forgotten from the clutches of exploitation, and now her dream of opening a mission home for Chinese girls is within reach. But as anti-Chinese sentiments sweep through the West, Yakira finds herself at the center of a storm of hostility and prejudice. She is building a home for the broken, but her own foundation threatens to crumble with new revelations about her past.
 
Attorney Grant Campbell, the boy who once held Yakira’s heart, returns to San Francisco to atone for his past mistakes and face the secret that drove him away. He is determined to defend Chinese immigrants and to reconcile with his family and Yakira. But old feelings flare—and so do old wounds.

When flames of injustice consume communities, violence rages, and lives hang in the balance. As Yakira fights to protect her girls, she must face the truth of who she really is—and who God has called her to be.

In the ashes of hatred, Yakira and Grant both discover a love stronger than fear and a purpose forged in fire.

For fans of historical fiction, FIRES OF INJUSTICE is inspired by real, untaught horrors of the Chinese Exclusion era—when towns forcibly erased entire communities by fire, expulsion, and boycotts.

Set just twenty years after the American Civil War, this gripping tale of resilience, romance, and courage reveals another dark chapter of division—and the light that defied it.

My review:

This was a fascinating story about a time I didn't know that much about.  I knew that the Chinese weren't treated fairly very much and that they worked on the railroads but I had no idea of the lengths some people and towns went to to make the Chinese leave or that it became such an organized effort.  The author's note says most of her book is true, just a family created to live through it, which I figured as I was reading it and that's what made me angry.  I hate injustice and unfairness so it was very frustrating to see people's livelihoods ruined or them get beaten up just because they were Chinese and for them to not really have any recourse.  There were some victories along the way as we see Grant filing briefs and lawsuits and taking people to court but they felt too sporadic for all of the heartbreak. There were some interesting courtroom scenes and interesting conversations as Grant tried to negotiate and stop some of this madness.  I really liked Yakira's determination and love for these people; her whole family was just wonderful and had such strength and love to endure all they did.  Her father was keeping a secret from her, however, of her origins, so there was some conflict around that.  Yakira had to learn to forgive not only him but also Grant for leaving as they had been best friends.  Grant had to make some difficult choices, first to come back after running and then finally confessing his guilt; he needed forgiveness and to turn back to God.  There was some romance for a few couples and some action.  If you like historical fiction, you'll like this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I was not compensated for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Fun Romantic Adventure! 'The Hidden Key of Brooke Sumner' - Treasures of Halstead Manor 3 - by Susan L. Tuttle

 

About the book:

Will the key unlock more than a vault filled with treasure?

Brooke Sumner has been carefully avoiding Storm Whitlock ever since he betrayed her trust. When he joins Caspar's mysterious treasure-hunting group, she steps away to focus on her antique shop and keep herself busy.

Then Caspar invites her back for one final assignment, and Brooke is torn. Returning to Halstead Manor to help the team find the second half of a key is intriguing. It also means she'd be working with Storm. But she doesn't trust his motives, so she reluctantly rejoins to keep him in check.

As they dive into their expedition, Brooke finds her heart softening toward those she'd once held at arm's length. And is it possible she misunderstood Storm's betrayal of their friendship?

My review:

This was such a fun, romantic adventure story but it also had depth to it and a great message.  I was a little worried that I might feel lost, seeing as this is book three, but other than a few references to the past, it worked well as a stand-alone.  The treasure hunt aspect was fun, especially as they tried to decipher clues to figure out their next step.  There was also plenty of romantic tension as Storm and Brooke used to be best friends who secretly loved each other and now they're enemies, at least from her point of view.  You quickly find out something's up with Storm as he's trying to protect Brooke and maybe his betrayal isn't quite what it seems.  I loved the songs they would send back and forth as messages they were trying to convey, whether silly or serious.  I knew most but had to look up a couple to see what they were and it was fun to have a soundtrack for the book.  I also liked the references to different artwork and also looked up a couple to find out if what they were saying was true about it in real life and it was!  I liked the exciting action but also felt that the deep conversations were well done as both Gertie and Storm, especially, had a lot of wisdom for Brooke if she'd hear it on an emotional and spiritual level.  They had strong faith and Brooke struggled with her identity and worth as she felt abandoned over and over in foster care.  Gertie also pointed out that you need to go by the truth of who God is, not feelings which aren't always reliable.  One thing I still don't understand is why Storm couldn't tell Brooke the whole story sooner and instead had to let her feel betrayed for over a year.  There were some twists, one which I figured out but a bigger one I didn't see coming!  I'm looking forward to reading the first two and I highly recommend this book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I wasn't compensated for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Action-Packed Teen Read! 'Where Your Treasure Is' - by M. Liz Boyle

 

About the book:

Most people assume I’m reckless and have an adrenaline addict’s death wish. That’s not exactly how I see it.

Eighteen-year-old Ruby has grown up in her twin brothers’ shadow. The whole treasure diving community applauds her brothers and abuelo for finding a famous sunken Spanish galleon. Ruby and her best friend and diving buddy Tanner spent hours searching for another galleon with a massive treasure, Dos Hermanos.

Until Tanner died.

Ruby hasn’t searched for Dos Hermanos since Tanner’s tragic death, but when the family’s nemesis Marco tries to convince Ruby to tell him what she knows about where Dos Hermanos might lie, the race is on. Ruby’s competition has too much gall and not enough conscience, but she is ready to fight for the treasure.

When Marco abducts her brothers and abuelo, Ruby is determined to search on her own and beat Marco at his own game.

But the real question is, will Ruby find the sunken treasure or lose her soul?

My review:

I enjoyed this action-packed story about a pretty strong-willed girl who was sometimes frustrating but very brave.  I couldn't believe how stubborn she could be sometimes and I was amazed at some of her choices; she definitely kept you on your toes!  She obviously cared deeply about her family but there was some hurt from feeling abandoned after her boyfriend, Tanner, died.  She also put her dream on hold to find a certain shipwreck and had a hard time letting go of that.  She learned to depend on God more throughout the story and pray and knew she needed to do that in good times, too, not just in hard times.  The story dealt with grief, danger, priorities and purpose and made you think but was also entertaining because you didn't know what Ruby was going to do next.  Sometimes she could be very smart but was also impulsive so it was a wild ride!  I would recommend this if you like action or young adult stories!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I was not compensated for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Another Winner! 'Claire Holloway is Winging it' - by Angela Ruth Strong

 

About the book:

A romance in the skies from an award-winning author and flight attendant

After Claire Holloway's dream of becoming a ballerina plummets, she's left with her boyfriend as her only support . . . until she decides to become a flight attendant for the free travel. Based out of state, she moves into a crash pad with a gaggle of other flight attendants, and her fear of losing Wyatt seems to become a reality.

First Officer Nathan Stuart—a bit cynical since he and his fiancée broke up—meets a somewhat frazzled Claire on her very first day in the Seattle airport. When they end up on the same crew, he takes her under his wing, and they quickly bond.

When Claire's once-supportive boyfriend's attitude sours into resentment, she's left wondering whether her newfound joy is the right way to go. Pulled between two men and her new career, Claire must learn to listen for God's direction the same way her flight crew follows air traffic control.

In this hilarious rom-com, readers will lift off into the turbulent skies of romantic adventures as Claire navigates God's plan for her life.

My review:

Angela Ruth Strong has done it again!  This was humorous and romantic; I enjoyed every minute of this young woman's journey to find a new career after her dream dies but on the way finds her faith and her purpose.  Claire was such a delight and I loved her quirkiness and the predicaments she found herself in sometimes; the friendship between her and Nathan was so cute.  I liked seeing Claire growing throughout the story as she tried to master this new career while mourning her old one.  It was fun to see behind the curtain, so to speak, of what being a flight attendant is really like.  She had some great spiritual conversations with her friends as she pondered her new-found faith and also came to realize what real love should look like.  I loved that she ultimately didn't find her value and worth in a man but in her Heavenly Father.   Nathan wasn't perfect and struggled with forgiving his ex-fiance but he was a good guy who tried to do the right thing and whose faith was very important to him. Nathan had a great mentor who encouraged him and always had great life and love advice and, along with his wonderful wife and Claire's roommates, really rounded out the story and brought such a wonderful sense of family.  Her roommates were a lot of fun and all so different from each other; Angel, especially, became a really good friend and they had some great conversations.  I can't say enough good things about this book; that's why you should go out and experience it yourselves!  I highly recommend it!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I wasn't compensated for my review.  All opinions are my own.

Enjoyable! 'An Arrival of Hope' - Home to Osceola 3 - by Alena Mentink

 

About the book:

She’s resigned herself to a quiet life. He buried his heart with his wife. Neither expects redemption to come calling.

Rosalind Durmond still harbors a heart made for storybook romance—she just knows such tales aren’t written for her. She thought she’d traded those dreams for duty when she agreed to care for her aging aunt. But when that aunt sets off for the Nebraska plains to right an old wrong, Rosalind finds herself knee-deep in family strife—and face-to-face with a widowed farmer whose quiet strength stirs hopes she thought long out of reach.

Zane Hoffman’s learned the hard way that happy endings exist only in fairy tales. Since his wife’s death, he’s sworn off risking his heart again. Yet when a red-haired woman with a knack for finding trouble crosses his path, his conscience won’t let him walk away.

As secrets from the past turn dangerous, Rosalind and Zane must fight for survival—and for the fragile love awakening between them.

My review:

I really enjoyed this story about a woman who longs for adventure and romance but thinks there's not much chance of either.  I liked going with her on the adventure of a new place, even though she had her hands full watching over her aunt, who seemed to not only be stubborn but have some kind of dementia.  There was also a suspenseful element as her aunt seemed to think the fire that killed her family was intentionally set and was trying to find out more.  That led to some action in the story later on as things came to a head.  There was a little bit of romance and an interesting twist as a selfish, conniving woman who had tried to catch a husband previously and repeatedly in this series finally met her match  I liked seeing her transformation as it was funny but also a faith journey.  I actually haven't read the first two books in the series yet but plan to.  It was also amusing seeing some of the situations Rosalind got into and what she tried to do to get out.  Zane had a more sober outlook as he was still grieving and blaming himself for his wife's death plus needing to be mother and father to his young children.  I liked that she was patient and tried to be a friend without expecting more.  There were also some good spiritual conversations about trust in hard things and praying for guidance.  If you like historical fiction you'll like this one!  I highly recommend.

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

Very Enjoyable! 'An Appearance of Impropriety' - by Jayna Breigh

 

About the book:

As the youngest female judge in LA, Mahalia Jackson has her career goals carefully aligned. But when her mentor tells her she needs to break her shell of professionalism and show a little heart by volunteering for the Junior Jurors program, her plans begin to falter.


Attorney JD Cash heads up the Junior Jurors program, a project born out of his own troubled past. He leverages his position as an attorney to fulfill God's calling on his life, supporting the orphans and widows of society who have lost beloved husbands and fathers to TransNation's eighteen-wheeled time bombs roaming America's freeways.


Mahalia's rule—never date a lawyer—is a straitjacket that tightens when she presides over the case where JD serves as a young widow's attorney. But when an earthquake leaves JD and Mahalia in a vulnerable position, her resolve begins to waver and she finds herself opening up to the sad-eyed lawyer. But online, anonymous colleagues and adversaries attempt to destroy Mahalia’s reputation and career.


A legal drama threaded with romance, An Appearance of Impropriety will show readers that real love is worth the risk.

My review:

I really enjoyed this story set in the legal world of courtrooms and trials but that also showed who JD and Mahalia really were outside the courtroom.  JD had a very tough childhood and now helps widows and orphans as they fight the corporate giants against them.  He was such a great guy, from fighting for the underdog to mentoring teens so they know they can break the cycle of poverty.  He was an honorable man of faith but felt he needed to focus on his career and helping as many people as he could to make up for not being able to save his mom.  Mahalia was an incredibly strong woman who's excelled in her career but still hears the voices saying she's too dark or sees how she's treated differently even from within her own community.  I appreciated these glimpses into another community and culture from my own.  She had a certain idea of the man she was looking for and JD did not fit that plan.  She also had walked away from her faith and struggled to give control back over to God.  You also throw in the complication of her presiding over one of his cases and seeing each other in court and it seemed like they had some real obstacles.  

It was fun to see them get to know each other even while thinking there's no way this could ever work.  She really came out of her shell in the mentorship program and connecting with the teens and they brought an extra layer of drama.  There were some cryptic text exchanges between different parties throughout the book that lent an air of mystery because you were trying to figure out who was who and what they meant.  She was hoping to get a promotion but there were rumors and allegations swirling around so there was a sense of suspense.  There was some romance but mainly the buildup of attraction as they both felt the pull but were determined not to act on it.  I would definitely recommend this book from a new-to-me author but will be looking for more from her!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author.  I was not compensated for this review.  All opinions are my own.