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Hi Readers!

Hope you all are having a fantastic week so far. Well, I’m thrilled to be a part of another Celebrate Lit Blog Tour and this time it’s for an author that I’ve never read before – so without further ado, let me tell you about Dead Silence by Robin Caroll

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About the Book

From the Back Cover

Political games can be deadly…

Elise Carmichael is a court sign language interpreter who reads lips all the time. As a widow with a young son who is deaf, lip reading is simply second nature, until the day she reads the lips of someone on the phone discussing an attempt to be made on a senator’s life—a senator who just happens to be her mother-in-law. Before she can decide what she needs to do, she receives the information that her son is rushed to the ER and she must leave. Then she later sees the news report that her mother-in-law has been shot and killed. But when she comes forward, her life, as well as her son’s life, may now be in the crosshairs of the assassins.

Click here to get your copy!

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What did I think?

So my favorite thing about the book had to have been the simple, yet easily forgotten message that even when you feel like God is not listening or you don’t get the answer you prayed for, God is ALWAYS there. listening to your every word, and He has a plan for us – even when we can’t see it. I really liked reading about Elise’s (the main character) spiritual journey , because you can tell at the beginning of the book, that she felt like God had abandoned her and He didn’t care about her and her son anymore. I also loved the support that Elise received from her sister – in – law, Mary Ellen. Here’s a quote that sums up what I liked about the book;

“She’d had a few days to come to terms with everything that happened and how it all worked out. God did always have a plan. Sawyer’s deafness had saved his life.”

Quote from Dead Silence by Robin Caroll

There were also a couple of things that I didn’t like about the book, like that the FBI agents seemed incompetent and weren’t doing their job. Throughout the story, Elise and her family (and Wesson) were the ones who found any leads, the FBI just kind of stood around. The other thing I didn’t care for was that there is no romantic sub-plot. I guess I’m so used to always reading about a hero and a heroine who fall in love by the end of the book, that when it wasn’t there, I really missed it.

All that being said, I did enjoy the book (especially the end) and would recommend the book to anyone who likes to read suspense books, but doesn’t like the romantic aspects (like my brother and sister). I will also check out other books by this author (I just bought two on my Kindle)

Overall, I rated the book 3 out of 5 stars and I only gave it three stars because it “wasn’t my cup of tea”, but I would encourage you to read it and tell me what you think!

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About the Author

More from Robin

Hi, there. . .Robin here. I’m getting so excited for the release of my thirty-fourth novel, DEAD SILENCE. I have to say, I love this book. The heroine is strong, yet flawed. Her love for her son—willing to do anything to protect him is a mother’s instinct I relate to so well, having three daughters and two grandsons. The love of a mother for her child is so ingrained in me that I wanted to share that in a story.

I’ve been asked why I opted for a heroine who is an ASL translator and who has a deaf son. Many years ago, I became friends with someone who is deaf. She shared with me some of her frustrations, but also how her way of life is in comparison to mine. It got me to thinking that being deaf could be thought of as a disability but could also be used as an advantage…it was all in how you looked at it. My friend shared many stories of how she “eavesdropped” by reading lips and learned much about people and how they reacted to issues, enough that it led her into her career field today—a counselor, specializing in providing therapy for the hearing impaired as they live in a hearing world. I hope that I portrayed my characters in this positive light.

While I’m a Louisiana girl at heart, I reside in Little Rock, the capitol city for Arkansas. Since Bill and Hilary Clinton lived here and claimed it home before Bill was President, we have many political plans and posturing here. I saw it as a perfect backdrop for this particular story with the political undercurrents running rampant throughout the story.

I hope that you enjoy reading DEAD SILENCE as much as I enjoyed writing it.

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Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 19

deb’s Book Review, June 19

Texas Book-aholic, June 20

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 20

Emily Yager, June 20

For the Love of Literature, June 21

Rebecca Tews, June 21

By The Book, June 22

Spoken from the Heart, June 22

Genesis 5020, June 22

KarenSueHadley, June 23

Hebrews 12 Endurance, June 23

Betti Mace, June 24

Remembrancy, June 24

Older & Smarter?, June 24

Inklings and notions, June 25

Read Review Rejoice, June 25

Through the Fire Blogs, June 26

Splashes of Joy, June 26

HookMeInABook, June 26

For Him and My Family, June 27

Mary Hake, June 27

Simple Harvest Reads, June 28 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 28

amandainpa, June 28

Worthy2Read, June 29

Pause for Tales, June 29

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 30

Hallie Reads, June 30

Daysong Reflections, July 1

Lights in a Dark World, July 1

Quiet Quilter, July 2

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 2

Maureen’s Musings, July 2

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Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/fcd1/dead-silence-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I’d love to know what you think about the book, the characters, the cover… anything! Just leave a comment below.

>>Special thanks to Net Galley, Robin Caroll, and Celebrate Lit for letting me read and review this book – all opinions are my own.

Happy Reading! 🙂

Hi Readers!

I feel like it’s been forever since Karen Witemeyer (one of my FAVORITE authors) has made a book and I was thrilled when I found out that not only did she write a new book, but it’s the beginning of a new series! So without further ado, here’s At Love’s Command by Karen Witemeyer!

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From The Back Cover

Haunted by the horrors of war, ex-cavalry officer Matthew Hanger leads a band of mercenaries known as Hanger’s Horsemen who have become legends in 1890s Texas. They defend the innocent and obtain justice for the oppressed. But when a rustler’s bullet leaves one of them at death’s door, they’re the ones in need of saving.

Dr. Josephine Burkett is used to men taking one look at her skirts and discounting her medical skills. What she’s not used to is having a man change his mind in a heartbeat and offer to assist her in surgery. Matthew Hanger’s dedication to his friend during recovery earns Josephine’s respect, and when she hears of her brother’s abduction, he becomes her only hope for rescue.

Matt has stared down ruthless outlaws, betrayal, and injury, but when a bossy lady doctor crawls under his skin, his heart is tempted to surrender. And when she is caught in the crossfire, he may have to sacrifice everything–even his team–to save her.

Click here to purchase your copy!

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What did I think…

As I mentioned before, I’ve been waiting for this book for months! And it definitely didn’t disappoint. The plot starts on the very first page and is intertwined with a bit of suspense, romance, betrayal and humor. I love how the main character Dr. Josephine Burkett, is very independent and is making a life for herself by doing something that typically (at that time) only men did and it was awesome to read how she overcame several obstacles in her life to get there. One of my FAVORITE parts of the story was at the very beginning when Matthew Hanger (the other main character) met Dr. Jo for the very first time and I thoroughly enjoyed reading about their interactions throughout the book. Just so you can get an idea of the story, here’s a quote from right after Dr. Jo met Matthew.

“Josephine swallowed. The prospect of having a dictatorial military type under foot should annoy her. So why did the twisting in her belly fell less like annoyance and more like anticipation?

Quote from At Love’s Command by Karen Witemeyer

Another thing that I liked was that the characters are so relatable! Especially Dr. Jo and Matthew. Both of them thought that they could never find love because of their job and they were OK with it, but of course God had different plans for them. Overall, I loved the entire book and can’t think of a single thing that I didn’t like about it, except that it had an end (LOL). At least book 2 should be coming out soon! I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars and would give it more, but I ran out of stars! 🙂

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About the Author

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Well, I hope you’ve enjoyed checking out my latest Must Read and I’d love to know if this is a book you would read or if you’ve ever read any of Karen Witemeyer’s other books.

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

Happy Reading! 🙂

Hi Readers – Happy Friday!

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend so far and are finding time to sit down and read a good book. Sometimes, I like to read YA (young adult) books for fun, especially the YA books from Melanie Dickerson. So that being said, I would like to show you one of her latest creations, The Piper’s Pursuit!

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“Did Katerina dare to stay out hunting past dark?”

First line of The Piper’s Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson

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From the Back Cover

A fairy-tale journey of intrigue and romance that reimagines the classic Pied Piper story.

A plague of rats. A giant beast outside the village walls. A host of missing children. And one young woman determined to save her people.

In 1424 Hamlin, Katerina faces threats from all sides. An outbreak of rats has overtaken the village, a mysterious beast is on a killing rampage of the village’s children, and Katerina’s evil stepfather is a dark presence inside the walls of her own home. Katerina is determined to hunt and kill the Beast of Hamlin herself before more lives are lost.

When Steffan, the handsome but brash duke’s son, comes to town seeking glory and reward, Katerina decides he might be the ally she’s been looking for—even though the only gentle thing about him seems to be the sweet music he plays on his pipe. But there’s more to Steffan than she suspects, and she finds herself drawn to him despite her misgivings.

Together Katerina and Steffan must stop the enemy from stealing the children of Hamlin. But their interference might create an even worse fate for the entire village.

Click here to get your copy!

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About the Author

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What are you reading this week? Would you (or do you) read any YA books? I’d love to know what book you’re currently reading and 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!

Hope you guys have had a wonderful week! It’s been busy in my house this week because my dad finally (after 7 years) got a kidney transplant!! (Praise the Lord!!) So I haven’t had much time to read, but all of the books that I’ve been wanting to read keep going on sale, so I keep adding to my never-ending TBR pile – which I may never finish — but that’s ok. It just means I’ll never be bored

Well, I’ve been wanting to read this book since FOREVER and I’m finally starting it! So without further ado, here is Always Look Twice by Elizabeth Goddard!

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“Harper Reynolds inched forward, hoping she hadn’t made a mistake in coming there.”

First line of Always look twice by Elizabeth Goddard

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From the Back Cover

At the advice of her therapist, homicide survivor Harper Reynolds has traded her job as a crime scene photographer for a more peaceful life taking photographs of the natural world. But her hopes for a life surrounded by the serenity of the outdoors are dashed when she inadvertently captures a murder being committed in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. She flees the scene in fear–and loses the camera.

Former Green Beret Heath McKade is a reserve deputy in an understaffed county who has been called in to protect Harper, a childhood friend he is surprised to see back in the area. When Harper learns that the sheriff’s department can’t find any evidence of the murder she witnessed, she is determined to do what she can to see that justice is done. What neither Harper nor Heath could know is how many explosive secrets from the past will be exposed–or how deeply they will fall for each other.

In this suspenseful page-turner, bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard keeps you on the edge of your seat as you discover that uncommon justice lies just on the other side of fear.

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About the Author

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What are you reading this week?

I would 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!

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Hope you all have a wonderful weekend,

Happy Reading! 🙂

Hi Readers! I’m so excited to be apart of another Celebrate Lit Blog Tour, this time for one of my all time favorite authors, so without further ado, let me introduce you to Storing Up Trouble with Jen Turano.

About the Book

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From the Back Cover

When Miss Beatrix Waterbury’s Chicago-bound train ride is interrupted by a heist, Mr. Norman Nesbit, a man of science who believes his research was the target of the heist, comes to her aid. Despite the fact that they immediately butt heads, they join forces to make a quick escape.

Upon her arrival in Chicago, Beatrix is surprised to discover her supposedly querulous Aunt Gladys shares her own suffragette passions. Encouraged by Gladys to leave her sheltered world, Beatrix begins working as a salesclerk at the Marshall Field and Company department store. When she again encounters Norman on a shopping expedition, he is quickly swept up in the havoc she always seems to attract.

But when another attempt is made to part Norman from his research papers, and it becomes clear Beatrix’s safety is also at risk, they soon discover the curious way feelings can grow between two very different people in the midst of chaos.

Click here to get your copy!

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What did I think…

So I LOVE all of Jen Turano’s books and this one was no exception! This book had me laughing out loud (which of course earned me some funny looks from my siblings) and was SO hard to put down! When I read about Beatrix defending herself from a train robber with a pistol purse, I knew this was going to be a great book. So although this book is part of a series, you can definitely read it as a standalone.

One thing that stood out to me was the characters. First you have Beatrix Waterbury, an independent young women who is very outspoken, but not 100% sure what God wants her to do. She has been involved with the suffrage movement, but because she was privileged and wealthy, she didn’t really understand why it was so important for woman to be able to vote. Then there’s Norman Nesbit, a genius scientist who is super smart in areas of science and math, but is clueless when it comes to any kind of relationship wither friends or family. So when Norman realizes that he might be fond of Beatrix (maybe a bit more then fond), he does what he does best, he researched how to make Beatrix less annoyed with him. Oh I wish I could go into more details and tell you all of the things I’ve bookmarked (there are only 32!), but I don’t want to ruin the story for you and I DEFINITELY don’t want to give any spoilers. So I will give you one of my favorite quotes from Beatrix, just so you can see how hilarious the story is.

“In all honesty, she was beginning to think, what with how often she was suffering demotions, that there might come a day when she was paying the store for the privilege of working there.”

Quote from Storing up Trouble by Jen Turano

So overall, I would say that this is a definite must read if you want a light-hearted story that is both heartwarming and hard to put down – Overall I rate it five out of five stars!

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About the Author

More From Jen

Thank you so much for visiting me on my Celebrate Lit tour as we celebrate the release of my latest novel, “Storing Up Trouble.” I’m delighted to be here, and I reached out to my street team to help me with the questions you’ll find below. I’m hoping the answers to those questions will allow you to learn just a bit about my new book, as well as allow you to get to know me better. With that said, here we go!

Can you tell us a little about “Storing Up Trouble?”

I’d be delighted to tell you about my latest book. “Storing Up Trouble” is the third book in the “American Heiress” series, but you don’t need to read the first two books in that series (“Flights of Fancy” “Diamond in the Rough” to understand what’s going on. I’ve been writing my books more as stand alone stories, and “Storing Up Trouble” is no exception to that. With that said, this book centers around Miss Beatrix Waterbury and Mr. Norman Nesbit. Beatrix, unfortunately, has annoyed her mother to such an extent that she finds herself banished from New York and on her way to Chicago to spend time with her aunt, a lady Beatrix remembers as being a querulous sort. She, being Beatrix, a lady who lands herself in trouble at the most unexpected of times, soon finds herself a victim of a train heist. An unlikely hero in the form of Mr. Norman Nesbit, a gentleman with a brilliant mind but relatively few social graces, comes to her rescue, and from the moment they disembark from the train, they find themselves thrust into one escapade after another.

In “Storing Up Trouble,” is there a character you’d like to be friends with in real life, or better yet, a character you’d avoid at all costs?

I actually have an answer to both parts of that question. Miss Theodosia Robinson is a lady I would love to count as a friend because she’s loyal to a fault, and is a friend who’ll be there for you, no matter if you want to delve into an unusual scientific experiment, or take a jaunt to your local department store to do a bit of shopping. As for who I’d avoid at all cost – Mrs. George Blossom, who has a very small part in the story, but she’s a customer at Marshal Fields & Company who embraces an air of superiority over the sales girls, and I’ve never been one to enjoy people like that.

What do you consider your greatest accomplishment?

That’s easy. Being Dominic’s mom. He was definitely a handful when he was little, which is why he’s an only child, but it’s been incredibly rewarding to watch him grow over the years. He recently graduated from college with a degree in engineering, and seeing him land a grown up job and begin to embrace the whole adulting thing makes me prouder than any book I’ve written or other job I’ve held.

What was the inspiration behind “Storing Up Trouble?”

There were quite a few things that inspired me to write this book. I’d set another one of my books, “Caught by Surprise” in Chicago, and because of the research I did for that book, research I wasn’t able to fit into that story, I knew I wanted to revisit that city at some point. Beatrix Waterbury gave me the perfect excuse to travel back there. I wanted to take her out of her usual setting of NYC, so off she went to Chicago, on a train ride that definitely turned concerning. I had also picked up a few research books about Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison and I’ve been itching to create a character after those brilliant gentlemen. Norman Nesbit turned into that gentleman, although I have to admit that some of the science Nikola and Thomas used was way over my head. My son, the engineer, tried to explain it to me, but I believe at one point I might have been drooling, and not in the good way, but the bored way. That’s when Norman really began to develop because I thought it would be amusing to have a character who was passionate about his field of study, but most of the people he tried to share that passion with had no idea what he was talking about and always got a bit of a dazed expression in their eyes as he waxed on and on about double-electrical currents.

What fun facts did you uncover while doing research for “Storing Up Trouble” but weren’t able to fit into the story?

There was so much fodder for additional storylines just with the research I did on Marshal Field and his department store. Did you know that the main store in Chicago burned down doing the Great Fire of 1871 and…it burned down several times after that? Who knew? There was also a lot of drama surrounding Marshal and his partner for years, Mr. Levi Zeigler Leiter. They had different ideas about how the store should evolve, which resulted in Marshal forcing Levi to sell his shares of the company to him, at which point the store turned from  Field, Leiter, & Company to Marshal Fields Company. It was also interesting to learn that Mr. Fields was notorious for paying his workers low wages, but those workers accepted those wages because of the prestige that came with working at his store. If you worked at any other store, you were considered common, but to work at Marshal Fields was a feather in your cap, even if you weren’t earning as much as you could have earned at another store.

What are quirky little things you keep on your desk?

At the moment, I have one little pig with googly eyes, one cow with googly eyes, and then another small pig that a reader sent me because she really liked Matilda in “A Match of Wits” and thought this little pig she found at a store was exactly what Matilda would look like.

Have you always wanted to be a writer?

Oddly enough, no, it never crossed my mind until Dominic was in third grade and we decided to write a book together after finishing this horrible series about this bird. That book was never meant for publication, but it did have me remembering that I had, at one point in time before I became a stay-at-home-mom, enjoyed using my brain. I started experimenting with different genres and learned everything I could about the publishing industry. It took me five years to find an agent, and then she sold “A Change of Fortune” to Bethany House, and I’ve been writing for them ever since.

Any words of advice for aspiring writers?

I get this question a lot, and I always answer by saying “Have an honest talk with yourself about what you really want to achieve with your writing.” It’s perfectly fine to want to write because you’re interested in turning it into a career. However, with that said, a writer needs to understand that writing and publishing are two different creatures. Publishing is a daunting business, and it’ll take a lot of perseverance to find success with it. With that said, if you have raw talent and are a story teller at heart, you should write all the time and do whatever you can to learn how to improve your craft.

What are you working on next?

I’m working on a new series right now – “The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency.” The first book, “To Steal a Heart” releases in November, 2020. It’s about Miss Gabriella Goodhue, who spent her childhood living on the mean streets in Five Points. She’s currently living in a boarding house on Bleeker Street in New York City, and when a fellow resident gets unjustly accused of theft, Gabriella, along with the other ladies living in the boarding house, take it upon themselves to try and clear her name. That’s the beginning of the Bleeker Street Agency, and hopefully the ladies will enjoy much success as the series continues.

Thank you so much for stopping by today. I hope all of you get an opportunity to read “Storing Up Trouble!”

Wishing you all the best,

Jen

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As I mentioned before, I’m so excited to be a part of this Blog Tour and I definitely recommend you check out the other stops on the Tour!

The Avid Reader, May 23

Godly Book Reviews, May 23

Robin’s Nest, May 23

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 23

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 24

Rebecca Tews, May 24

Texas Book-aholic, May 24

Novelscorner, May 24

Among the Reads, May 25

Inklings and notions, May 25

deb’s Book Review, May 25

Reflections From My Bookshelves, May 26

Hebrews 12 Endurance, May 26

reviewingbooksplusmore, May 26

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, May 27

Losing the Busyness, May 27

For Him and My Family, May 27

Simple Harvest Reads, May 27 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, May 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 28

Inside the Wong Mind, May 28

Mia Reads, May 29

Read Review Rejoice, May 29

Betti Mace, May 30

Breny and Books, May 30

Blogging With Carol, May 30

Life of Literature, May 31

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, May 31

Emily Yager, May 31

Splashes of Joy, May 31

The Collaborative Press, June 1

Stories By Gina, June 1

Hookmeinabook, June 1

Blessed & Bookish, June 2

Older & Smarter?, June 2

The Artist Librarian, June 2

Blossoms and Blessings, June 2

Through the Fire Blogs, June 3

Beauty in the Binding, June 3

Mary Hake, June 3

amandainpa, June 3

Wishful Endings, June 4

EmpowerMoms, June 4

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, June 4

Pause for Tales, June 4

KarenSueHadley, June 5

Raining Butterfly Kisses, June 5

With a Joyful Noise, June 5

Hallie Reads, June 5

>>Giveaway!<<

To celebrate her tour, Jen is giving away the the grand prize package of all three books in the American Heiresses series and a $25 Barnes & Noble eGift card!!

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/fb8f/storing-up-trouble-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Thanks so much for stopping by! I would love to know if you would read this book or if it’s not quite your “cup of tea” and don’t forget to enter the giveaway!

_{>>Special thanks to Jen Turano, Netgalley, Bethany House Publishers and Celebrate Lit for letting me read and review this book – all opinions are my own.}

Happy Reading! 🙂

Hi Readers!

I’m so sorry that I haven’t posted a lot this month, but it has been the craziest month ever! Long story short, we had a leak in the basement and it flooded, my dad is having some major health issues AND of course, we are in the middle of a pandemic, but I am truly blessed to be able to write to you guys again and I’ve been praying for each of you! Well, I wanted to take a moment to share with you the next book on my TBR pile, Airborne by DiAnn Mills, so here we go!

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Vacations offered a distraction for those who longed to relax and rejuvenate, but FBI Special Agent Heather Lawrence wrestled with the decision to take an overseas trip alone.

First line of Airborne by DiAnn Mills

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So this book looks a bit intense since it is about a virus, but it was on sale on Amazon, so I went ahead and bought it for my Kindle. I haven’t read a book by this Author in a while, but I really liked the books that I’ve read so far! So would this be a book you would want to check out?

From the Back Cover

Heather Lawrence’s long-awaited vacation to Salzburg wasn’t supposed to go like this. Mere hours into the transatlantic flight, the Houston FBI agent is awakened when passengers begin exhibiting horrific symptoms of an unknown infection. As the virus quickly spreads and dozens of passengers fall ill, Heather fears she’s witnessing an epidemic similar to ones her estranged husband studies for a living—but this airborne contagion may have been deliberately released.While Heather remains quarantined with other survivors, she works with her FBI colleagues to identify the person behind this attack. The prime suspect? Dr. Chad Lawrence, an expert in his field . . . and Heather’s husband. The Lawrences’ marriage has been on the rocks since Chad announced his career took precedence over his wife and future family and moved out.As more victims fall prey days after the initial outbreak, time’s running out to hunt down the killer, one who may be closer to the victims than anyone ever expected.

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About the Author

DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She is a storyteller and creates action-packed, suspense-filled novels to thrill readers. Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is Director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Conference, and Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

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What are you reading this week?

I would 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 Thursday!

I’m so excited to be apart of Celebrate Lit’s blog tour for one of Christy Barritt’s latest books, because she is one of my favorite authors! So without further ado, let me show you the first book in Lantern Beach Blackout series, Dark Water!

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About The Book

A WIDOW WITH SECRETS

For the past year, Elise Oliver hasn’t been able to shake the feeling that there’s more to her husband’s death than she was told. When she finds a hidden box of his personal possessions, more questions—and suspicions—arise. The only person she trusts to help her is her husband’s best friend, Colton Locke.

THE FIGHT FOR JUSTICE

Someone wants Elise dead. Is it because she knows too much? Or is it to keep her from finding the truth? The Blackout team must uncover dark secrets hiding beneath seemingly still waters. But those very secrets might just tear the team apart.

Click here for your copy!

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What did I think?

So as I mentioned above, I love all of Christy Barritt’s books and this was no exception. Something really cool that I want to point out is that although this book is the first in a series, it’s also part of a book universe! The Lantern Beach Universe so far has 20 books and if you read any of them, you will find some new characters, and some familiar characters (like Ty and Cassidy Chambers). All of the Lantern Beach novels can be read as a standalone, but I definitely recommend reading as many as possible.

So now that I’ve told you about the series, let me tell you about Dark Water. 🙂

This book has an intriguing plot that starts on the very first page and it keeps you glued until the very last chapter. It also has a bit of romance and humor threaded in between each of the chapters. Another thing that I LOVED was all of the characters, especially Colton and Elise. Seriously, the dynamic chemistry between Colton and Elise is yet another thing that made this book so hard to put down. I highlighted a quote so you can see a little bit of the dynamic between the two. This quote was when she found out the truth about how her husband died.

She might be able to forgive Colton, but would she ever be able to forget?” _{– Quote from Dark Water by Christy Barritt}

Now that she knew about Colton’s role in her husbands death, even if she forgives him, can she ever look at him the same without thinking about what happened? Hmmm, I guess you will have to read the book to find out! Overall, I loved this book and give it five out of five stars *****

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About the Author

USA Today has called Christy Barritt’s books “scary, funny, passionate, and quirky.”

A Publishers Weekly best-seller, Christy writes both mystery and romantic suspense novels that are clean with underlying messages of faith. Her books have sold more than two million copies, and two are currently being developed as movies.

Christy’s books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery, have been twice nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers Choice Award, and have finaled for both a Carol Award and Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year.

She’s married to her prince charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious–but only when she’s not trying to be. Christy’s a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado.

Christy currently splits her time between the Virginia suburbs and Hatteras Island, North Carolina. She loves spending time with her husband, her two sons, and her four dogs.

For more information, visit her website: www.christybarritt.com.

More from Christy

Dark Water is the fourth series in the Lantern Beach Universe. When I created the fictional island of Lantern Beach, NC, I had no idea how popular it would be. I’ve fallen in love with the people there, and they feel more like friends than fictional characters.

Dark Water is about a group of former Navy SEALs who band together to former an elite private security firm. But they all share secrets, as well as guilt over the death of their SEAL leader. In order to move on, they must find answers.

I introduced Colton Locke in the last book of the Lantern Beach PD series—Plan of Action. I knew he needed his own book and that I wanted to develop his character more. That turned into a four-book series featuring Colton and three of his friends. Blackout contains suspense, mystery, and romance—all of my favorite things!

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Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, May 1

For Him and My Family, May 1

Reading Is My SuperPower, May 2

Blogging With Carol, May 2

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, May 2

KarenSueHadley, May 3

Read Review Rejoice, May 3

All-of-a-kind Mom, May 4

Genesis 5020, May 4

Through the Fire Blogs, May 4

She Lives To Read, May 5

deb’s Book Review, May 5

Remembrancy, May 6

Britt Reads Fiction, May 6

Emily Yager, May 6

Betti Mace, May 7

Hookmeinabook, May 7

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, May 8

Splashes of Joy, May 8

Inklings and notions, May 8

Simple Harvest Reads, May 9 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Just Your Average reviews, May 9

Locks, Hooks and Books, May 10

Pause for Tales, May 10

Because I said so– adventures in parenting, May 10

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 11

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, May 11

Ashley’s Bookshelf, May 12

Spoken from the Heart, May 12

Lights in a Dark World, May 12

Blossoms and Blessings, May 13

CarpeDiem, May 13

With a Joyful Noise, May 14

Live. Love. Read., May 14

Little Homeschool on the Prairie, May 14

^Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Christy is giving away the the grand prize package of a signed copy of Dark Water and a $50 Amazon gift card!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/fa62/dark-water-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you found a new book to read. If you think you would like this book, I’d love for you to let me know in the comments below!

_{>>Special thanks to Christy Barritt and Celebrate Lit for letting me read and review this book – all opinions are my own.}

Happy Reading 🙂

Hi Readers!

If you are like me, I didn’t realized that it would be May and we’d still be under quarantine. While staying at home has become the new normal, the uncertainty of not knowing if you’ve come in contact with someone who has the virus or how you’re going to pay your bills can way heavy on your heart, but I want to let you know that God knows what’s going on.

He’s not surprised by the Coronavirus, this is a part of His plan! He knows we can be restless, He knows the uncertainty surrounding the virus, but God wants us to be quiet and listen for His still small voice.. He was us to be still – He’s got this!

So I will leave you with a few verses today from Psalms.

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Psalms 46:1‭-‬3

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He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Psalms 46:10‭-‬11

Thanks for stopping by, Have a great week – Happy Reading!! 😊

Hi Readers, Happy Friday!

I have an amazing book for you to check out and maybe add to your TBR pile, This week, I want to feature Nancy Mehl’s latest book for my First Line Friday. So here we go!

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Norman Webber offered his wife a tight smile as he dealt with yet another one of her awful presents.

First line of Dead End by Nancy Mehl

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It’s finally here, the thrilling (intense) conclusion to the Kaely Quinn Profiler series!! If you like edge of your seat suspense, then you have to check out this one! (I finished it in one day)

From the Back Cover

When a body is discovered in a field in Iowa, the police uncover fourteen additional corpses ranging from 20 years old to recent. The remains point to a serial killer with an MO the authorities have seen before–Ed Oliphant, a man who has been in prison for over 20 years . . . and is Special Agent Kaely Quinn’s father. After several failed interview attempts to discover if Ed has been training someone to be a copycat killer, the police turn to Kaely in St. Louis.

Kaely promised herself she would never step foot in her hometown or set eyes on her father again. She’s always refused to confront her past, but if she wants to prevent any more deaths, she must come face-to-face with the man she’s hated for years.
As more bodies are discovered, Kaely races against time and her own personal turmoil to uncover the killer. Will this most personal case yet cost Kaely her identity and perhaps even her life?

About the Author

Nancy Mehl lives in Missouri, with her husband Norman, and her very active puggle, Watson. All of Nancy’s novels have an added touch – something for your spirit as well as your soul. “I welcome the opportunity to share my faith through my writing,” Nancy says. “It’s a part of me and of everything I think or do. God is number one in my life. I wouldn’t be writing at all if I didn’t believe that this is what He’s called me to do. I hope everyone who reads my books will walk away with the most important message I can give them: God is good, and He loves you more than you can imagine. He has a good plan especially for your life, and there is nothing you can’t overcome with His help.”

You can find out more about Nancy by visiting her Web site at: www.nancymehl.com.

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What are you reading this weekend?

Would this be a book you would check out or does it look to intense? I’d love for you to let me know in the comments below!

I would 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!

Thanks for stopping by – Happy Reading!

Hi Readers, Happy Wednesday!

Can you believe that it is already the end of April?!? March seemed so long, but April seemed to pass by so quick, but maybe that was just me. 😉 Anyway, I’m thrilled to be a part of another blog tour by Celebrate Lit and I loved that they introduced me to a new author! So, let me introduce you to Terror in the Skies by Alana Terry.

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About the Book

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From the back cover

A hijacked airplane. A fatal disaster. A desperate soul in need of salvation …

Willow’s spirited, carefree, and far too young to die. Trapped on a hijacked airplane with no promise of survival, Willow’s forced to confront her darkest fear as well as her soul’s deepest need.

Terror in the Skies is the first novella in the Turbulent Skies Christian Thriller series, an unforgettable collection of interconnected novellas about strangers traveling together aboard a doomed flight. Find out why Christian fiction readers can’t stop raving about this heart-stopping, fast-paced series you can devour in a single sitting.

If you like harrowing stories of faith and redemption, spine-tingling adrenaline surges, and heart-pounding Christian suspense, you’ll love these edge-of-your-seat novellas by USA Today bestselling author, Alana Terry.

Dive into the breathtaking Turbulent Skies series today. Just be careful … you may not be able to read just one!

Click here for your copy.

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What did I think?

So this is another case of judging a book by it’s cover. I thought the plot looked good and I really loved the look of the cover, I just wish I liked the book as much as I did the cover. This book is the beginning of the Turbulent Skies Christian Thriller series and can be read as a stand alone, but I would recommend reading Turbulence, book 5 in the Kennedy Stern series first because this book is about the events from that book – just from her roommate Willow’s perspective. The book is written like a journal. The horrible near-death event already happened and Willow is telling the events from her point of view. At first I was confused, because the story seemed a bit choppy, and I didn’t feel like there was a point, but when I read Turbulence, the book made so much more sense to me. There were several things that I liked about the story, such as the Christian lady who gave her life for Willow, and there are a lot of things that make you think.

Like I mentioned before, I think I didn’t care for this book because I don’t really enjoying reading books that are written like a journal, but it’s not a bad story. (it caused me to read 3 of her other books… LOL) Overall, I would rate this book 3 out of 5 stars ***.

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About the Author

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More from Alana

I’m excited to share my new Turbulent Skies Christian Thriller novella series with all of you! The inspiration behind this series came when I was taking a flight a few years ago … and indulging in one of my favorite past times – people watching! As I looked at the various passengers around me, I started to wonder about their lives … and it was from that line of thinking this novella series was born!

I first wrote a book about a terrifying experience on board an airplane years earlier, (Turbulence, Book #5 in the Kennedy Stern series) and because many members of my amazing Readers’ Club had been asking me to write a book featuring Willow, one of their favorite characters from the Kennedy Stern series, it seemed fitting that Willow gets to be the star in the first of these novellas.

Terror in the Skies is Willow’s story. She’s a chic Alaskan college student, a free spirit who finds herself sharing a dorm room with a conservative Christian missionary kid. Willow first makes her appearance in the Kennedy Stern Christian suspense series, meaning that over a hundred thousand readers have met her!

I can’t tell you too much about this life-of-the-party aspiring actress (mostly because I don’t want to spoil anything for you if you happen to still be making your way through the Kennedy Stern books). But I can tell you she is the first main character in this six-book novella series that helps answer the question: “Who are you really sitting next to hundreds of feet up in the air?”

Maybe, like me, after reading this series, you’ll never look at your fellow passengers the same way!

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Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, April 20

My Devotional Thoughts, April 20

Locks, Hooks and Books, April 21

Read Review Rejoice, April 21

Texas Book-aholic, April 22

Just Your Average reviews, April 22

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 23

deb’s Book Review, April 23

Inklings and notions, April 24

Blogging With Carol, April 24

For the Love of Literature, April 25

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, April 25

Ashley’s Bookshelf, April 26

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, April 26

Betti Mace, April 27

janicesbookreviews, April 27

Emily Yager, April 28

Genesis 5020, April 28

For Him and My Family, April 29

Hookmeinabook, April 29

She Lives to Read, April 30

Mary Hake, April 30

Tell Tale Book Reviews, May 1

Maureen’s Musings, May 1

Splashes of Joy, May 2

Book of Ruth Ann, May 2

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, May 3

Bookishly Beverly, May 3

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Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Alana is giving away the grand prize of a $30 Amazon Gift Card!!

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/f8f2/terror-in-the-skies-celebration-tour-giveaway

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Thanks for stopping by guys! Hope you enjoyed checking out this new book – Happy Reading! 🙂

>>Special thanks to Alana Terry and Celebrate Lit for letting me read and review this book – all opinions are my own.