Hi Readers, I hope you are having a wonderful week so far!

I’m thrilled to be a part of another Celebration Tour with Celebrate Lit and this time for Mary Alford’s new Love Inspired Suspense, Dangerous Amish Showdown! So without further ado, let’s head to Amish country and see what lengths two U.S Marshals will go to protect a young 6 year old witness.

The Bookish Details

Book: Dangerous Amish Showdown

Author: Mary Alford

Genre: Amish Suspense

Release date: August 24, 2021

From The Back Cover

Under siege in Amish country…

She must fight for their lives.

Gunshots shatter Willa Lambright’s placid Montana evening—and that’s before she discovers on-the-run lawman Mason Shetler on her doorstep. Willa hadn’t glimpsed her childhood friend since he’d turned his back on Amish country years before. Now the US marshal’s returned with an injured partner, a young witness he must protect at all costs…and vicious Mafia agents dead set on making sure none of them survive.

Click Here to get your copy!!

What Did I Think?

Wow, this is one explosive adventure! The book immediately starts with U.S Marshals Mason Shelter and Eric Timmons facing heavy enemy fire from a group of weapons smugglers who are after their young witness, Samantha King. After narrowly escaping, they find themselves trapped in the home of a childhood friend, Willa Lambright. What follows is a high stakes battle of good and evil as the U.S Marshals and Willa put their lives on the line to protect an innocent child. This book will make your heart pound and have you on the edge of your seat from the beginning to the very end! Seriously, this isn’t a book that you can start and just stop whenever, because it is incredibly hard to put down (and I had to go to work in the morning!) I loved all of the characters, but my favorite was Willa because of her courage and unwavering faith. Overall, this book is so action packed that I have no idea how the author managed to fit it all in such a small book and I would recommend it to anyone who likes Amish suspense. I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Mary Alford loves giving her readers the unexpected. Her titles have appeared on the USA Today list, Publisher’s Weekly bestseller list, and have finaled in the Daphne Du Maurier award of excellence in mystery, The Beverly, The Maggie, and The Selah Awards.

Mary is an avid reader. She loves to cook, can’t face the day without coffee, and her three granddaughters are the apple of her eye. She and her husband live in the heart of Texas in the middle of 70 acres with two spoiled cats and a dog who thinks he owns the place.

More from Mary

When I first heard of the title for my latest Love Inspired Suspense, I smiled. Dangerous Amish Showdown reminds me of the old westerns where the good guys face off with the bad guys and always win. As a child I loved watching them, mostly because my dad loved them so much, and yes, a big draw for me besides sharing the time with him, was seeing the good guys win. It’s what I try to put into every single book I write, and it’s exactly what happens in Dangerous Amish Showdown.

Lately, I find myself reminiscing a lot about childhood things such as watching old westerns with my dad, and smiling at those simpler times.

In Dangerous Amish Showdown, it takes coming back to his simple childhood Amish community for Mason Shetler to realize how special that life once was for him. Through the courage found in a little girl who has lost everything, and the strength of a woman whose future is uncertain, Mason discovered what he had been searching for all along.

I truly hope you enjoy Mason and Willa’s fight to protect young Samantha and the love they find along the way. And I hope their happy ending leaves you with a smile on your face, and maybe takes you back to a simpler time in your life.

Blessings always,

Mary Alford

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Blog Stops

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, September 22

Maureen’s Musings, September 22

Hebrews 12 Endurance, September 23

The Avid Reader, September 23

Genesis 5020, September 23

Texas Book-aholic, September 24

Vicarious Living, September 24

Inklings and notions, September 25

Blossoms and Blessings, September 25

Betti Mace, September 26

For Him and My Family, September 26

Lighthouse Academy Blog, September 27 (Guest Review from Marilyn Ridgway)

deb’s Book Review, September 27

Older & Smarter?, September 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 28

Bizwings Blog, September 28

For the Love of Literature, September 28

Locks, Hooks and Books, September 29

Living the Good Life, September 29

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 30

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, September 30 (Author Interview)

She Lives To Read, October 1

Bigreadersite, October 1

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 2

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, October 2

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, October 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 3

Mary Hake, October 3

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, October 4

Simple Harvest Reads, October 4 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 5

HookMeInABook, October 5 << You Are Here! 🙂

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Mary is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/11b56/dangerous-amish-showdown-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you check out this new Love Inspired Suspense. If you do, let me know what you think by leaving a comment below!

Happy Reading! 

>>Special thanks to Mary Alford, Celebrate Lit and Mills & Boon Love Inspired for letting me read and review this book – all opinions are my own.

Hi Readers, It’s finally October!

I cannot wait to show you my latest “Must Read” to add to your TBR piles and hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did! So, without further ado, let’s take a trip down the dangerous Santa FeTrail in the year 1863 – Let’s go!

The Bookish Details

Book: The Heart of a Cowboy

Series: Colorado Cowboys Book #2

Author: Jody Hedlund

Genre: Historical Christian

Release date: October 5th 2021

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From The Back Cover

When he agreed to guard her, he never bargained on having to guard his heart.

Brilliant scientist Linnea Newberry is on the adventure of a lifetime, traveling the Santa Fe Trail with her grandfather, Dr. Howell, on a botanical expedition to Colorado Territory. She longs to be valued for her contributions and not seen as a helpless liability. But at every calamity she faces, her grandfather threatens to send her home.

After watching his ma suffer and die in childbirth, Flynn McQuaid has sworn off women and marriage forever. Headed west to start a new life, he has his hands full not only taking care of his younger siblings but also delivering cattle to his older brother. He doesn’t need more complications.

When Flynn rescues Linnea from drowning during a river crossing, Dr. Howell promptly
hires Flynn–unbeknownst to Linnea–to act as her bodyguard for the rest of the trip. As
Flynn fights against the many dangers of the trail, he soon finds himself in the greatest danger of all–falling for a woman he’s determined not to love.

What Did I Think?

I love all of Jody Hedlund’s books and this book didn’t disappoint me at all! I especially loved all the details that she includes about the flora and fauna throughout the Santa Fe Trail. The main characters, Linnea and Flynn are so dynamic and relatable and I love how much they grow throughout the story; however, Flynn’s younger sister Ivy may have stolen the show as my favorite character in this book. I found myself laughing out loud at her hilarious commentary and I loved that she didn’t seem to have a filter (she was beyond outspoken). I also enjoyed reading about Linnea’s struggles and triumphs with being a female scientist during a time when only men worked in that field. I found myself rooting for her in multiple areas (her science and her relationship with Flynn) and it made the book incredibly hard to put down! I also loved the last chapter of the book, because it was the perfect ending to this sweet and heartwarming story For me, this story had everything – suspense, a dash of danger and of course romance and I would recommend it to anyone who likes historical fiction.

About The Author

Jody Hedlund is the bestselling author of over 30 historical novels for both adults and teens and is the winner of numerous awards, including the Christy, Carol, and Christian Book Awards. Jody lives in Michigan with her husband, busy family, and five spoiled cats. She loves to imagine that she really can visit the past, although she’s yet to accomplish the feat, except via the many books she reads. Visit her at jodyhedlund.com.

**Also, you can connect with her on Facebook through her group, Jody Hedlund’s Reader Room – hope to see you there!

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Thanks so much for joining me on this trip through the old Colorado Territory — I hope you enjoy the book as much as I did! Let me know what you think about the book, cover, characters, or really anything!

Happy Reading!

>>Special thanks to Jody Hedlund, Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley for letting me read and review this book – all opinions are my own.

Hi Readers, Happy Fall!

I have a wonderful new novella collection to show you and I am thrilled to be a part of Celebrate Lit’s Celebration tour for the Dangerous Pursuits novella collection! I can’t wait to show you this collection that is absolutely perfect for this time of year, so without further ado, let me show you Dangerous Pursuits.

The Bookish Details

Book: Dangerous Pursuits

Author: Alford, Harris, Heckenkramp, Hickey, Holder, Kendig, McCoy, Mentink, Nemeth, Putman, Reed, Terry, Worth

Genre: Christian/Clean Romantic Mystery and Suspense

Release date: October 12, 2021

From The Back Cover

Crisp Days. Cold Nights. Dangerous Pursuits.

The chill of fall brings with it a hint of peril in Dangerous Pursuits, a clean and Christian suspense anthology featuring some of today’s most popular female authors.

Start your fall off right with 15 gripping tales of Clean and Christian suspense from today’s most popular ladies of mystery and suspense. Join Mary Alford, Lisa Harris, Therese Heckenkamp, Cynthia Hickey, Gina Holder, Ronie Kendig, Dana R Lynn, Shirlee McCoy, Dana Mentink, J. Carol Nemeth, Cara Putman, Sharee Stover, Terri Reed, Alana Terry, Lenora Worth on a dangerous journey filled with mystery and suspense that will keep you turning pages until the very. Last. One.

And it only cost .99 cents as long as you preorder by October 12th! To get a copy for yourself click here.

What Did I Think?

There is so much I could say because this one collection has 15 books, but I won’t talk about all of them (I don’t think we have that much time!). My favorite novellas were Consecrated Sacrifice by Mary Alford and The Last Day by Lisa Harris, but really all of them had something I liked. All of the novellas can be read as a standalone, even though some of them are part of a series. Each story was very unique, yet had the same elements of suspense, mystery, faith and a dash of romance and I really loved the wide variety of stories in this collection. In one story, you meet a young lady who is supposed to be the CEO of her company, yet has been hiding because someone tried to kill her shortly after her mom passed away. And in another you meet a CIA agent that was presumed dead 10 years prior! I’ll be honest, this book took awhile to read (because it’s 15 novellas), but each moment was worth it because of the many adventures I read about. Overall, I loved how each of the stories had a suspenseful element, yet each of them had a different level of suspense which made this collection perfect for everyone! (some were creepier then others) I rate the collection 5 out of 5 stars.

Also, this novella collection is the perfect opportunity to find new author’s to add to your favorites list (I found 5 new-to-me authors to add to my must read list!)

About the Authors

The authors of Dangerous Pursuits are excited to present 15 tales of mystery and suspense to readers for a limited time. From suspense to mystery, clean to Christian, these authors have come together to create a collection of tales that will leave you flipping pages until the very last one.

A Word from Mary Alford

Have you ever wondered how a book collection comes to be. Well, it all starts with an idea.

Dangerous Pursuits was the brainchild of author Dana Mentink who reached out to me with the idea of creating a book collection featuring multiple authors. We decided we wanted to try and make the USA Today Bestsellers List with this collection which is quite the challenge.

With the help of Cynthia Hickey, who created the fabulous cover for Dangerous Pursuits, we set out to put together a collection of mystery and suspense books to please our readers.

We reached out to some of our fellow authors who graciously agreed to help, and now we are blessed to have this amazing line-up of 15 wonderful authors. Lisa Harris, Therese Heckenkamp, Cynthia Hickey, Gina Holder, Ronie Kendig, Loree Lough, Dana R Lynn, Shirlee McCoy, Dana Mentink, J. Carol Nemeth, Cara Putman, Sharee Stover, Terri Reed, Lenora Worth, and myself, Mary Alford.

The book is set to release on October 12^th. Cynthia gave the cover a mysterious fall feel that we believe will appeal to readers who love mystery and suspense. Next we came up with a catchy blurb that hopefully adds to the fall suspense theme;

Crisp Days. Cold Nights. Dangerous Pursuits.

The chill of fall brings with it a hint of peril in Dangerous Pursuits, a clean and Christian suspense anthology featuring some of today’s most popular female authors.

And so, Dangerous Pursuits was born.

I am very proud to be part of this collection. With so many talented authors bringing their best, I believe our readers will find something they enjoy, and we look forward to each of you reading it.

Because above all else, it’s all about the story.

Blessings always,

Mary Alford

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 1

HookMeInABook, October 1 << You Are Here 🙂

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 3

The Adventures of a Traveler’s Wife, October 4

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, October 4

Texas Book-aholic, October 5

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, October 6

Inklings and notions, October 7

For Him and My Family, October 8

Blogging With Carol, October 8

deb’s Book Review, October 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 10

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 11

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, October 12

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, October 13

Betti Mace, October 14

Batya’s Bits, October 14

Giveaway

To celebrate their tour, the Dangerous Pursuits Authors are giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and an eBook copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/11dce/dangerous-pursuits-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you check out this awesome novella collection. If you do, let me know what you think by leaving a comment below!

Happy Reading! 

>>Special thanks to Mary Alford, Lisa Harris, Therese Heckenkamp, Cynthia Hickey, Gina Holder, Ronie Kendig, Dana R Lynn, Shirlee McCoy, Dana Mentink, J. Carol Nemeth, Cara Putman, Sharee Stover, Terri Reed, Alana Terry, Lenora Worth and Celebrate Lit for letting me read and review this book – all opinions are my own.

Hi Readers, Happy Friday!

Fall is finally here! I am so excited that the temperatures have been in the low 70’s around here because I LOVE the cooler temperatures. I tried to find a fall themed book, but I couldn’t find any so I found this book by Rachel Dylan in my TBR pile and it looked interesting… and now I can’t seem to put it down! So I wanted to share with you today as my First Line Friday read Out of Hiding by Rachel Dylan — Let’s go!

“Sadie felt the bullet whiz by her head as she crouched down in the wet dirt. ”

First line of Out of Hiding by Rachel Dylan.

From the Back Cover

After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents as a child, Sadie Lane was placed into Witness Protection. Now as an adult, she has a thriving business as a private investigator, but her biggest case is yet to come. Sadie’s on the hunt to find the man who killed her parents—a brutal crime boss running a dangerous and corrupt syndicate.

Her quest for justice collides with FBI Special Agent Kip Moore who is targeting the organized crime network. Sadie can’t trust anyone with her secrets—even Kip, but she must work with him to get the killer who forever changed her life. Sadie must put her faith in Kip even when it seems impossible to trust anyone. The secrets of her past catch up to her when she stares into the eyes of the murderer. Can she keep her true identity secret long enough to bring the killer to justice?

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About the Author

Rachel Dylan is an award-winning and bestselling author of legal thrillers and romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for over a decade, including being a litigator at one of the nation’s top law firms. Her Atlanta Justice series has won the Holt Medallion, the Maggie Award, and the FHL Reader’s Choice Award. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and five furkids–two dogs and three cats. Rachel loves to connect with readers. You can find her at www.racheldylan.com I would also encourage you to follow her on Facebook, she puts out some awesome posts and I love her sing along Tuesdays (she puts out a few lyrics to a hymn, and you need to figure out which one it is)

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What are you reading this week? Do you know of any books that are themed for Fall or perfect for this time of year? Let me know in the comments below! Also, don’t forget to check out what other first lines Readers and Bloggers are sharing by heading over to our host blog, Hording Books!

Happy Reading!

Hi Readers, Merry Christmas!

I know that it’s only September, but Christmas definitely came early for me this year as I read Karen Witemeyer’s new Novella collection! I was honored to be a part of her launch team and I cannot wait to show you her latest masterpiece, so without further ado… let’s go!

The Bookish Details

Book: Under The Texas Mistletoe

Series: As a whole, this book is not part of a series: however, the second novella is part of The Archer Brothers series

Author: Karen Witemeyer

Genre: Historical Christian Romance

Release date: August 31st 2021

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From The Back Cover

Three Charming and Festive Holiday Novellas Spiced with Humor, Frontier Action, and Sweet Romance

In this 3-in-1 novella collection, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer presents the new story “A Texas Christmas Carol,” in which a town’s wealthy, Scrooge-like bachelor finds his world invaded by a woman set on earning his donation for helping the local poor, and by the penetrating questions of three mysterious visitors.

It also includes, for the first time in print, “An Archer Family Christmas.” When the Archer clan gathers for the Christmas holiday, an unexpected request for help leaves Cassandra Archer directly in the path of a dangerous outlaw. Desperate to protect the woman he loves, Jim Archer races to the rescue, only to find that Cassie’s life is not the only one in peril. It will take a Christmas miracle–and the entire Archer clan–to keep a second Archer Christmas from ending in disaster.

In previously published “Gift of the Heart,” a widow and her young daughter move to Hope Springs for a fresh start. But with no money to secure a home, Ruth must convince a wealthy resort owner to accept her heirloom brooch as collateral. Will the pin that brought love to three generations soften the heart of a wounded recluse and give Ruth a second chance at love as the holidays draw near?

Sprinkled throughout the collection, you’ll find a hope-filled Christmas devotion, Witemeyer holiday recipes, and fun facts about nineteenth-century Christmas celebrations!

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What Did I Think?

This book is a collection of three novellas and I truly loved all of them. The first one, A Texas Christmas Carol was my absolute favorite. I personally don’t like the original Christmas Carol story, but I loved the way Karen Witemeyer turned a normally dark/scary story into one that was so heartwarming and inspiring that I found myself wanting to reread it as soon as I finished it! The characters were perfectly written and I loved all of the little details of the original story that she included (such as a dog named humbug or the three “strangers”). I also loved how she included the Gospel and the real meaning of Christmas in the story.

The second novella, An Archer Family Christmas continues the story of one of my favorite fictional families, the Archers. It was heartbreaking to see the struggles that Jim and his wife Cassie were going through, but this is an excellent story of God’s providence and it reminded me that even though we don’t always see it, God can definitely use what men meant for evil, for good.

And finally, in Gift of the Heart we get to meet Ruth and her daughter Naomi who have just moved to a new place hoping to get a fresh start; however, Ruth never expected to use her priceless family heirloom brooch as collateral for a home for her and her daughter. What follows is a sweet and heartwarming Christmas tale of love, hope and family. This book has been published previously in An Old Fashioned Texas Christmas, but I like it in this collection better.

Overall, this has to be one my favorite Christmas books and it’s definitely going to be one that I read every Christmas. One other thing I really liked about the book was the Christmas devotion and the fun few pages of Christmas traditions that she included in between the novellas. I would rate this book 5 out of 5 stars and would definitely recommend it to anyone.

About the Author

Voted #1 Reader’s Favorite Christian Romance Author of 2019 by Family Fiction Magazine, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer (www.karenwitemeyer.com) offers warmhearted historical romance with a flair for humor, feisty heroines, and swoon-worthy Texas heroes. She makes her home in Abilene, Texas, with her husband and three children.

ALSO!! You can connect with her through her Facebook Reader group, The Posse ! This is a fun group full of like minded readers and is a great place for more information on her books, behind the scenes fun, giveaways and fun interactive activities. 🙂

Thanks so much for stopping by and checking out my latest Must Read! Let me know if you’ve read this book or if this is a book you would check out by leaving me a comment below.

Happy Reading! 

>>Special thanks to Karen Witemeyer, and Bethany House Publishers for letting me read and review this book – all opinions are my own.

Hi Readers, Happy Friday!

I’m so happy to see that Fall is coming and with it, cold evenings, because there is nothing better then sitting near the fireplace on a cold night reading a great book, while wrapped in a blanket and drinking a cup of hot tea. So, if you need a new to check out, here is one you might like! I just started reading this book this afternoon and so far I am really enjoying it. So without further ado, my First Line Friday book is The Captain’s Confidant by Ashtyn Newbold.

“Light speckled the dark sky, each star blinking in confusion as the sea threw crests over the horizon line. ”

First line of The Captain’s Confidant by Ashtyn Newbold.

From the Back Cover

An accidental letter, a long-lost love, and a slew of secrets.

For as long as Bridget Northcott can remember, she has loved her brother’s closest friend, Colin Foster. She loved him long before he grew up, became Captain Foster, and long before he left her behind for a life at sea. Although she knows her feelings will never be returned, Bridget cannot help but turn away every suitor in the hopes that one day Colin will come back to Larkhall and see her for what she has grown up to be—refined, elegant, and the precise opposite of the silly girl he once knew.

When family circumstances bring Colin’s unexpected return, he too has changed. Once carefree, he is now cold, hard, and distant. Determined to unravel the mysteries of Captain Foster, Bridget writes her thoughts in a note, one she never meant to send. As a hesitant friendship grows between them through their letters, Bridget determines to keep her heart uninvolved. But when her facade begins to break, she realizes the childhood silliness she abandoned might just be precisely what is needed to pull him back to shore.

Faced with a choice between loyalty and selfishness, love and letting go, Bridget must find the strength to confide her own feelings in Captain Foster before the man she loved is lost forever. But there is only so much she can do when she discovers a match between them is what she has always feared—forbidden.

The Captain’s Confidant is a sweet and clean standalone regency romance novel, book two in the Larkhall Letters series.

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About the Author

Ashtyn Newbold grew up with a love of stories. When she discovered chick flicks and Jane Austen books in high school, she learned she was a sucker for romantic ones. When not indulging in sweet romantic comedies and regency period novels (and cookies), she writes romantic stories of her own across several genres. Ashtyn also enjoys baking, singing, sewing, and anything that involves creativity and imagination.

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What are you reading this week

I’d love for you to join in on the First Line Friday fun by commenting below! Also, don’t forget to check out what other first lines Readers and Bloggers are sharing by heading over to our host blog, Hording Books!

Happy Reading!

Hi Readers, Happy Friday!

Have you ever read a book and when you finished it you were like “Why have I never heard of this author?!?!“, and then your second thought is “Has she written any other books?“, well, that was me with this book. I bought it a while ago and it just sat on my Kindle until the other day when I started it and found that I couldn’t put it down! So anyway, without further ado, my First Line Friday for today is… First Wave by Lisa Phillips!

“Tonight wasn’t the first night Dakota had spent alone in the woods. ”

First line of First Wave by Lisa Phillips

From the Back Cover

Just another Friday night. Or is it?

Homeland Security Agent Dakota Pierce is in the Washington backwoods to sniff out domestic terrorism.

DEA rookie Josh Weber and his dog show up to uncover a mystery of their own. When a young woman’s body is discovered, everything points to a local militia.

The Northwest Counter-Terrorism Taskforce is on the case.

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About the Author

USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author Lisa Phillips is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London. Lisa attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Since then she’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.
Lisa can be found in Idaho wearing either flip-flops or cowgirl boots, depending on the season. She leads worship with her husband at their local church. Together they have two kids and an all black Airedale known as The Dark Lord Elevator.
Find out more at www.authorlisaphillips.com

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What are you reading this week?

I’d love for you to join in on the First Line Friday fun by commenting below! Also, don’t forget to check out what other first lines Readers and Bloggers are sharing by heading over to our host blog, Hording Books!

Happy Reading!

Hi Readers,

I don’t have much time today to write, but I wanted to share with you an out of this world story collection called Wonders of the Galaxy which features story’s from several different authors! So without further ado… let’s go!

The Bookish Details

Book:  Wonders of the Galaxy

Author: Various Elk Lake Authors

Genre: Speculative Fiction

Release date: September 15, 2021

From The Back Cover

We are a people of stories. We use them to entertain, to teach, and to instruct. Sometimes they warn us of the dangers of wandering too far into the woods, or they can be a detailed story to explain how magnificent landscapes came to be. Story has always been the way we pass time, the way we connect to each other, and most importantly, how we promote our values.

Parables, especially, have a dual purpose. Not only do they keep us entertained, but they also make a point. Consider Aesop’s Fables—tales of talking animals who learn valuable life lessons.

Jesus used parables, too. The people who followed him were hungry to understand life and what was beyond. So Jesus did what every great teacher does—he used the power of story. With common characters and conflicts, he wove tales that made complex spiritual issues easier to understand.

Collected for you here are several parables set in far-away galaxies, on fascinating planets, and in the coldest depths of space. Characters. Conflict. Enlightenment.

A series of space tales based on parables from the Holy Bible.

Here’s a Special Sneak Peek!

Wonders of the Galaxy: A Collection of Cosmic Tales Excerpt Six

The Prodigal Pilot by Aaron D. Gansky

(Part Two)

Four fat hands fastened themselves to my ankles and wrists, and with a sharp tug, Carl

yanked me from the bunk to the cold, metal grated floor.

I’d had enough of his name calling and abuse. Scrambling to my feet, I fired a quick uppercut

beneath his smug, pointy chin. He stumbled back on his fat feet; his toes curled, and grabbed the

grating of the floor for support and balance. I punched again, this time in his gut. His greasy fur

tickled my fist as it sank into the soft flesh of his abdomen. But, as hard

as I’d hit him, he didn’t move. Graciously, he let me hit him two or three more times before he hit me back.

Humans should not fight Atraxians.

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Speculative Trades by Brett Heaston

(Part One)

I open my eyes. “You still want to trade?” I ask. Atilio sits

up straight and nods. “We need your help. The Carax system is being plundered.”

“By whom?” I ask. I might as well have some fun.

“We don’t know, but we believe it is the Hyaks.”

I cross my arms and lock my jaw, because he is correct.

“Their cruiser, the Satisfaction, has advanced Corian shields, and it has ion cannons.

Did you miss any of the other stops on the Book Launch Tour? Here’s the links to the other excerpts on the Tour!

Stay tuned – excerpts coming soon!

Purchase Link: https://www.amazon.com/Wonders-Galaxy-Collection-Cosmic-Tales-ebook/dp/B098NDHSQ7

About The Authors

Jason William Karpf is a multitalented actor, musician, professor, and Jeopardy champion whose writing runs the gamut from true crime to speculative fiction.

Aaron Gansky is an award-winning novelist and Dungeons and Dragons whiz who lives for his children, coaching football, and watch Marvel movies.

Erica Marie Hogan’s books range from long ago historical dramas to frozen fantasies on faraway planets. Regardless of where the story originates, it comes from the heart—because Erica believes genres are transcendent.

Brett Heaston is the creator of the Message to Kings podcast and the author of The Resilience Awakening. He lives in the Pacific Northwest, a history nerd, and an adventure junkie.

Steve South is a traveler, a karaoke singer, and a profound believer in the power for stories to move people; his first novel, The Queen of Steel and Fire, won the 2019 Minnesota Author Project Award for YA fiction.

L.G. Westlake lives in the “Land of Enchantment,” but also lives a dream life in far-flung galaxies where she regularly charts the unknown; her previous novels have included award-winning fantasies and thrillers.

M B Dahl is a wife, mother, and award-winning author of dystopian adventures. She loves dressing up like a warrior and fighting dragons, imaginary or real.

T.E. Bradford is an international bestselling author, a Selah award finalist, and a self-proclaimed geek who believes her writing is “a little piece of magic” given to her by God.

Travis W. Inman has been a cowboy, a missionary, a soldier, and more in his multi-storied career, and his stories reflect his diverse background. In his spare time, he searches for hidden treasure, both financial and culinary.

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Thanks for stopping by! Hope you have a wonderful week.

Happy Reading 🙂

Hi Readers,

It’s been WAY TOO LONG since I last posted (not including my F.L.F that I posted yesterday), but it has been a long summer. I’ve been reading a ton of books, but not reviewing as many as I normally do; however, when I saw that Celebrate Lit was doing a celebration tour for this book, I jumped at the chance to read and review it because Darlene L. Turner is one of my favorite LIS (Love Inspired Suspense) authors. So without further ado, let me show you Lethal Cover-Up by Darlene L. Turner.

The Bookish Details

Book: Lethal Cover-Up

Author: Darlene L. Turner

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: July 27, 2021

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From The Back Cover

Some secrets are dangerous…

But uncovering the truth could be deadly.

Border patrol officer Madison Steele knows her sister Leah’s fatal car crash was no accident. Someone’s willing to kill to cover up a pharmaceutical company’s deadly crime of distributing tainted drugs. Now they are after Madison to tie off loose ends. But with her high school sweetheart, Canadian police constable Tucker Reed, at her side, can Madison expose the company’s deadly plan before she becomes the next victim?

Click HERE to get a copy for yourself!

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What Did I Think?

Wow, wow, WOW! I really didn’t think that Darlene L. Turner’s books could get any better, but this may be her best LIS (Love Inspired Suspense) yet! This book is packed full of edge-of-your-seat suspense and it’s almost impossible to put down. Seriously, I read it in just a couple of hours 😋. So the story starts with the horrible tragedy of Border Patrol Officer Madison Steele’s half-sister being murdered because she had evidence that her job was selling an unapproved pain pill that had fatal side effects. Determined to find her half-sister’s killer, Madi teams up with her high-school sweetheart, Constable Tucker Reed, and together they investigate the drug and her sister’s workplace. From the very beginning of their investigation, Madi has received multiple messages to back off, or face the consequences and it seems like Madi has been targeted because of the information her half-sister gave her. Fighting grief from losing her half-sister and wrestling with unwanted feelings for Tucker has Madi stretched to her breaking point – will she be able to find her half-sister’s killer before more people die because of the drug? Will they be able to save Tucker’s mom who has been taking the meds?

The author did a great job writing realistic and relatable characters and I loved reading about them (especially Madi). I also enjoyed the emotional rollercoaster you go on throughout this book, especially when it came to Madi and Tucker’s relationship. I also liked the faith elements that were intertwined throughout the plot and how they all worked together to help Madi see that God wouldn’t leave her… even if she refused to acknowledge his existence. My only negative about the book is that the end seemed a bit rushed, but that’s normal for a book this size. Overall, I loved this book and would recommend it for anyone who wants a suspenseful, kind-of intense, yet quick book to read and rate the book 5 out of 5 stars.

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About the Author

Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.

More from Darlene

The Hidden Staircase, The Secret of the Old Clock, The Sign of the Twisted Candles—these were just some of my favorite Nancy Drew books. I couldn’t get enough of them growing up! My family often saw me with my nose stuck in one of Nancy’s many tales. When I was finished with those, I’d sneak my brother’s Hardy Boy books and devour them too. This is where my love of writing and of a good mystery/suspense began.

Creating stories in the romantic suspense genre was a natural journey for me. I had always wanted to be a policewoman after watching Charlie’s Angels (they even kicked butt while wearing high heels…what could be better than that?!), Cagney and Lacey, Police woman, Murder She Wrote, etc. My love for all-things-mystery carried into my adult life. Who doesn’t love Sydney Bristow and Kate Beckett?

I enjoy creating strong female characters in a law enforcement role. Madison Steele fits the bill head on as she works to bring down a ruthless pharmaceutical company. While she has nerves of steel, I also wanted to make her vulnerable. In the beginning Madison loses her long-lost sister in a heart-wrenching crash. One she knows was not an accident. This thrusts her into a deadly pursuit of the perpetrators with her estranged high school sweetheart, Tucker Reed, by her side.

I wrote this book during the tough year our world faced living in the unknown. Madison and Tucker are stuck in their own fears but eventually find hope. Hope in the unknown and hope in knowing God is in control and with us—no matter the circumstances. We just need to know where to look.

I hope you enjoy reading Madison and Tucker’s story as much as I loved crafting it. I’d love to hear from you. You can contact me through my website www.darlenelturner.com and also sign up for Darlene’s Diary newsletter to receive exclusive subscriber giveaways.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 18

Lighthouse-Academy, August 18

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 19

Genesis 5020, August 19

Simply Susan, August 19

Texas Book-aholic, August 20

Bizwings Blog, August 20

She Lives To Read, August 21

HookMeInABook, August 21 << You Are Here 🙂

Inklings and notions, August 22

Reviewingbooksplusmore, August 22

Mary Hake, August 22

Betti Mace, August 23

Daysong Reflections, August 23

For the Love of Literature, August 24

deb’s Book Review, August 24

Locks, Hooks and Books, August 25

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, August 25

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, August 26

Pause for Tales, August 26

Blogging With Carol, August 26

For Him and My Family, August 27

Simple Harvest Reads, August 27 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, August 28

Batya’s Bits, August 28

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, August 29

Kayem Reads, August 29

Little Homeschool on the Prairie , August 30

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, August 30

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, August 30

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, August 31

Labor Not in Vain, August 31

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Darlene is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paperback copy of Lethal Cover-Up!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Enter the Giveaway here!!

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Thanks so much for stopping by today and I hope you check out this new Love Inspired Suspense. If you do, let me know what you think by leaving a comment below!

Happy Reading! 

>>Special thanks to Darlene Turner, Celebrate Lit and Mills & Boon Love Inspired for letting me read and review this book – all opinions are my own.

Hi Readers, Happy Friday!

It has been SOOOO LONG since I have posted a First Line Friday, but I am very excited to start back again (hopefully posting one every week). I am thrilled to share the first line from the book I’m currently reading, so without further ado, let’s go!

“There was no such thing as a typical day at the White House, but Caroline Delacroix’s morning took a particularly difficult turn the moment she walked into her crowded office ”

First line of The Gilded Lady by Elizabeth Camden.

From the Back Cover

Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of Washington high society in her role as secretary to the first lady of the United States. But beneath the facade of her beauty, glamorous wardrobe, and dazzling personality, she’s hiding a terrible secret. If she cannot untangle a web of foreign espionage, her brother will face execution for treason.

Nathaniel Trask is the newly appointed head of the president’s Secret Service team. He is immediately suspicious of Caroline despite his overwhelming attraction to her quick wit and undeniable charm. Desperate to keep the president protected, Nathaniel must battle to keep his focus fully on his job as the threat to the president rises.

Amid the glamorous pageantry of Gilded Age Washington, DC, Caroline and Nathaniel will face adventure, danger, and heartbreak in a race against time that will span the continent and the depth of human emotion.

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About the Author

Elizabeth Camden (www.elizabethcamden.com) is best known for her historical novels set in Gilded Age America, featuring clever heroines and richly layered storylines. Before she was a writer, she was an academic librarian at some of the largest and smallest libraries in America, but her favorite is the continually growing library in her own home. Her novels have won the RITA and Christy Award and have appeared on the CBA bestsellers list. She lives in Orlando, Florida, with her husband, who graciously tolerates her intimidating stockpile of books

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What are you reading this week?

I’d love for you to join in on the First Line Friday fun by commenting below! Also, don’t forget to check out what other first lines Readers and Bloggers are sharing by heading over to our host blog, Hording Books!

Happy Reading!