Saturday, May 27, 2023
Friday, May 26, 2023
Wonderful! 'The Swindler's Daughter' - by Stephenia H. McGee
About the book:
A surprise inheritance. A cache of family secrets. A choice that will change her life forever.
Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away--in jail--Lillian is startled to find that he has left a business and all his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.
When she arrives at her father's house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by a woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye--and has put a target on her back.
To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she's always dreamed of, she'll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers--and Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.
Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away--in jail--Lillian is startled to find that he has left a business and all his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.
When she arrives at her father's house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by a woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye--and has put a target on her back.
To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she's always dreamed of, she'll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers--and Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.
My review:
I really enjoyed this story about dreams and second chances! Lillian was a wonderful character and it's amazing she turned out as well as she did with the mother she had. She was incredibly brave for thinking she could have a different life from what her mother planned for her. It was fun seeing a dream become a reality and also watching Lillian and Jonah draw closer to each other even though they resisted it at first. Jonah was very responsible and loyal to his mom and sisters but also felt like he'd failed them and that God had failed them to an extent, too. He struggled with having faith whereas Lillian had faith but still needed guidance to know what God's plan was. Jonah's mom and sisters brought some humor to the story and Lillian's extended family were wonderful people who really made this small town home. There was some sweet romance and some action. I can't wait for Stephenia McGee's next book! I highly recommend it!
I received this book free from Revell. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
The Author
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MJHarper Photography Stephenia H. McGee
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...
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Monday, May 15, 2023
Riveting! 'The Long March Home' - by Marcus Brotherton & Tosca Lee
About the book:
Inspired by true stories, The Long March Home is a gripping coming-of-age tale of friendship, sacrifice, and the power of unrelenting hope.
Jimmy Propfield joined the army for two reasons: to get out of Mobile, Alabama, with his best friends Hank and Billy and to forget his high school sweetheart, Claire.
Life in the Philippines seems like paradise--until the morning of December 8, 1941, when news comes from Manila: Imperial Japan has bombed Pearl Harbor. Within hours, the teenage friends are plunged into war as enemy warplanes attack Luzon, beginning a battle for control of the Pacific theater that will culminate with a last stand on the Bataan Peninsula and end with the largest surrender of American troops in history.
What follows will become known as one of the worst atrocities in modern warfare: the Bataan Death March. With no hope of rescue, the three friends vow to make it back home together. But the ordeal is only the beginning of their nearly four-year fight to survive.
Jimmy Propfield joined the army for two reasons: to get out of Mobile, Alabama, with his best friends Hank and Billy and to forget his high school sweetheart, Claire.
Life in the Philippines seems like paradise--until the morning of December 8, 1941, when news comes from Manila: Imperial Japan has bombed Pearl Harbor. Within hours, the teenage friends are plunged into war as enemy warplanes attack Luzon, beginning a battle for control of the Pacific theater that will culminate with a last stand on the Bataan Peninsula and end with the largest surrender of American troops in history.
What follows will become known as one of the worst atrocities in modern warfare: the Bataan Death March. With no hope of rescue, the three friends vow to make it back home together. But the ordeal is only the beginning of their nearly four-year fight to survive.
My review:
I didn't want to put this book down! I was first excited to read this book for the topic and also for Tosca Lee, as I love her books! While I knew this was going to be a difficult book to read because there would be tragedy, it was also a story about three best friends and a first love growing up together in a small town and all of the crazy escapades they got into. The story's told from Jimmy's perspective, a preacher's kid who always tried to do the right thing but wanted to get away from his father's plans for him and from the fishbowl he lived in. He struggled with his faith and had some growing up to do. I liked how the story of their growing up and first love was interwoven with the war years and the incredibly tough experiences they went through so it didn't become too dark. It's just so hard to imagine all they went through and how inhumanely they were treated. They kept hope alive for each other and truly saved each other. The characters were wonderfully written and leapt off the page. I laughed, I cried. I learned so much about what happened to the soldiers and the Filipino people and admire them all the more for what they went through. Freedom truly wasn't free. I highly recommend this book!
I received this book free from Revell. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
The Authors
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© Ben Bender Photography Marcus Brotherton
Marcus Brotherton is the New York Times, USA Today, Publishers Weekly, and Wall Street Journal bestselling author or coauthor of more than 25 books that have been called "fascinating," "brilliantly arranged,"...
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Tosca Lee
Tosca Lee is the New York Times bestselling author of 11 novels, including The Line Between, The Progeny, The Legend of Sheba, and Iscariot. Lee's work has been praised as "deeply human,"...
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Friday, May 5, 2023
Amazing! 'Blind Trust' - The Snap Agency 3 - by Natalie Walters
About the book:
She's risking her life. He's risking his heart. It's unclear which is more dangerous.
Lyla Fox knows she has a reputation at the SNAP Agency for being impulsive, but when she receives a threatening letter from a man she helped put in prison, she can't stop herself from going all in to find out why he's coming after her. Unfortunately, she's going to need the help of the one person who questions her choices more than anyone else.
Explosives and weapons specialist Nicolás Garcia agrees to help Lyla in order to keep her safe, but her recklessness continues to be a major concern, especially when her investigation into a conspiracy puts a target on her back. Dealing with bombs is dangerous. Working with Lyla is proving to be just as treacherous--to both the mission and his heart.
Lyla Fox knows she has a reputation at the SNAP Agency for being impulsive, but when she receives a threatening letter from a man she helped put in prison, she can't stop herself from going all in to find out why he's coming after her. Unfortunately, she's going to need the help of the one person who questions her choices more than anyone else.
Explosives and weapons specialist Nicolás Garcia agrees to help Lyla in order to keep her safe, but her recklessness continues to be a major concern, especially when her investigation into a conspiracy puts a target on her back. Dealing with bombs is dangerous. Working with Lyla is proving to be just as treacherous--to both the mission and his heart.
My review:
I loved this exciting, suspenseful story with plenty of twists and turns and some romance thrown in! The characters were amazing, from Lyla and her dedication to justice, which can make her a little too impulsive for Nicolas's taste, to Nicolas, who's reliable and steady and knows a quick decision can change someone's life in an instant. The other members of their team were great, too, especially Kekoa, a Hawaiian man with a talent for tech and a love for food and goofiness. I loved following the investigation as what they thought was the truth kept changing. There was plenty of great action and some sweet romantic inklings as Lyla and Nicolas realized what the other really meant to them. They're both Christians but Nicolas especially struggled with trust as he'd been burned before. I wasn't lost at all coming in to the series on the third book even though I haven't read the first two but I can't wait to read them! I highly recommend this book!
I received a free copy of this book from Revell. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
The Author
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Emilie Hendryx Haney Natalie Walters
Natalie Walters is the author of Lights Out and Fatal Code, as well as the Harbored Secrets series. A military wife, she currently resides in Texas with her soldier husband and is the proud mom of three. She loves traveling, spending time with...
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Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Expired Hope - Last Chance Fire & Rescue 2 - by Lisa Phillips and Megan Besing
About the book:
What will it cost him to save her from the flames?
Veteran and therapist Natalie Atkinson is all about facing fears and surviving. After all, she’s been there, done that, and she’s ready for a new future in Last Chance County. Even if it includes helping the incoming Fire Chief confront his own issues to lead his fractured team.
Fire Chief Macon James has finally come home to do the job he’s always longed for, and he doesn’t need a therapist interfering with the running of his crew. More, she’s put them in jeopardy by insisting she “train with them”—a liability that might just get them killed. The way he sees it, she’s just another counsellor, interfering in ways that destroy lives.
When an explosion destroys her car it seems Natalie is a magnet for trouble. Is she the target of a stalker? Macon has no choice but to stick around and find out. But getting close to Natalie means discovering her secrets…and risking the chance she’ll discover his.
But her so-called stalker isn’t giving up. And when his worst fears ignite, with Natalie right in the middle, Macon will have to become the leader the team so desperately needs if they hope to save her life.
The second breathtaking book in the Last Chance Fire and Rescue series!
Veteran and therapist Natalie Atkinson is all about facing fears and surviving. After all, she’s been there, done that, and she’s ready for a new future in Last Chance County. Even if it includes helping the incoming Fire Chief confront his own issues to lead his fractured team.
Fire Chief Macon James has finally come home to do the job he’s always longed for, and he doesn’t need a therapist interfering with the running of his crew. More, she’s put them in jeopardy by insisting she “train with them”—a liability that might just get them killed. The way he sees it, she’s just another counsellor, interfering in ways that destroy lives.
When an explosion destroys her car it seems Natalie is a magnet for trouble. Is she the target of a stalker? Macon has no choice but to stick around and find out. But getting close to Natalie means discovering her secrets…and risking the chance she’ll discover his.
But her so-called stalker isn’t giving up. And when his worst fears ignite, with Natalie right in the middle, Macon will have to become the leader the team so desperately needs if they hope to save her life.
The second breathtaking book in the Last Chance Fire and Rescue series!
My review:
I enjoyed this exciting story with a lot going on, from fires to a possible stalker to an explosion and kidnappings! I liked how we got to know the characters at the fire station through a therapist's eyes as she tried to understand the dynamics between them and with Macon as the new chief. She and Macon also felt very drawn to each other but both were running in the opposite direction at first. Natalie really struggled with trying to help everyone, even people who weren't her clients and needed to realize she couldn't save everyone. Macon had similar struggles as he felt immense guilt for past mistakes. I enjoyed watching them realize that only God could be all they need while they also let themselves fall in love and imagine a happily ever after. I enjoyed the action as we saw multiple fires but also some harrowing situations in Natalie's life! I didn't feel lost with this being book two and not having read the first one. I would recommend this book!
I received a free copy of this ebook from the author. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
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