The Kissing Tree

 Bestselling novelist Karen Witemeyer joins award-winning authors Regina Jennings, Amanda Dykes, and Nicole Deese for this Texas-sized romance novella collection. Each of the authors' unique voices is on display in stories where courting couples leave a permanent mark of their love by carving their initials into the same oak's bark.

In Regina Jennings' Broken Limbs, Mended Fences, a small-town teacher has her credentials questioned by a traveling salesman.

Karen Witemeyer's The Kissing Tree Inn tells the tale of an unlikely woman building a very unexpected lover's retreat.

From Roots to Sky by Amanda Dykes follows a young WWII naval airman who heads to Texas to meet the sister of a lost compatriot.

Heartwood by Nicole Deese is a modern-day romance where the aftermath of a giant storm brings changes for the owner of a historic inn.

My Rating: 5 Stars

Regina's story is funny and sweet. Bella and Adam were fun characters full of spunk and stubbornness. The bet between Adam and Bella’s father made for an interesting element as well. Cute romance and a good start to the collection of stories. Karen’s story was charming as always. Her stories have a perfect blend of humor and romance and Barnabas and Phoebe’s story has both. It was an adorable story. Amanda’s story was great, I love World War 2 stories and this one is set during it so that alone made me enjoy it...but Luke and Hannah made me love it even more. Restoring the house was a fun part of the story too. I loved Nicole’s story! My favorite part was the letter written by someone affected by the Kissing Tree, it brought tears to my eyes. Abby and Griffin were fun characters and easy to root for them to find their happily ever after. All in all, this is a superb collection from some of the best authors in Christian Fiction. I can’t even pick a favorite story because I loved each and every one of them. I highly recommend this collection. I received this book from the author and wasn’t required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my honest opinion.

Backlash

 CIA analyst Layla Karam is thrust into a dangerous DEA field operation against a cartel that puts a target on her back. Though Layla never wanted to be a field agent, Langley had other ideas. After one of her team members is murdered because of fallout from the op, Layla is left scrambling to find safety.

At the same time, the CIA opens up an internal investigation against her. Out of options, Layla turns to ex-boyfriend and private investigator Hunter McCoy for help finding out who might want to ruin her career.

Layla and Hunter soon discover a mole inside the DEA has sold out the team's identity to the cartel. She must clear her name with the Agency and protect herself and her teammates from cartel retaliation. With threats on all sides, Layla must put her trust in Hunter--the man who broke her heart--and hope they both come out of it alive.

My Rating: 4 Stars

What a thrilling read! This book has a ton of excitement from the first chapter and it keeps it up throughout the book. The mysteries(there's more than one!) are captivating and full of danger-both emotional and physical. There were a couple surprises along the way and all of it worked nicely for a perfect ending. If you like fast paced mysteries and suspense with a dash of romance, check out this series!

I received this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own. 

A Death Long Overdue

 

When her former director is found dead in the water, librarian Lucy Richardson will have to get to the bottom of the mystery before the killer ends her tale.

It's summertime in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Bertie James's college class is having their 40th anniversary reunion. The opening night reception is held at the Lighthouse Library and Lucy and her colleagues have assembled an exhibit of library artifacts showing how libraries have changed over the years. After the reception, some of the women take a walk down the boardwalk to the pier, using flashlights to illuminate the dark path, but what's scarier than the dark is finding the former director of the Lighthouse Library floating lifeless in the water.

Helena Sanchez, the former director, wasn't much loved and spent the party being rude to almost everyone there. As a result, Lucy finds herself in deep water as she rocks the boat, questioning several suspects. But she'll have to batten down the hatches and fast before she's left high and dry...and right in the killer's crosshairs.

My Rating: 4 Stars

Another fun mystery with Lucy and the gang. This was an interesting story with a present day murder and a bit of a cold case dating back 25 years. I enjoyed reading how it all played out along with some fun relationship stuff for Connor and Lucy too. This is a solid cozy series and this latest installment was a perfect way to spend a relaxing Saturday afternoon. Looking forward to more adventures in this series.

A Body From The Past

A closed room in her newest fixer-upper leads Indiana house-flipper Jazzi Zanders to reopen a chilling cold case involving a high school girl . . .
 
Jazzi, her cousin Jerod, and her husband Ansel are preparing to renovate a charming house that reminds her of an English manor. Before purchasing it, they had inspected the house for structural issues, but now when they do a more thorough walk-through, they discover a teenage girl's bedroom that clearly hasn't been touched in years. Dust covers the pink canopy bed, clothes still hang in the closet, and a hope chest remains full of journals and memorabilia. They've stumbled on a shrine to a dead girl.
 
They learn Jessica was killed in the middle of her high school graduation party. The murderer was never identified, but the brother-in-law of Jazzi’s friend, who went to school with Jessica, was suspected and never lived it down. He implores Jazzi to review the cold case and finally prove him innocent. Now it’s up to the house-flipper to nail a killer who will do anything to close the door on the past . . .

 My Rating: 5 Stars

This mystery was so so good. I enjoy cold case stories and this one was unusual and exciting. There is no shortage of suspects and motives and it kept me guessing throughout the book. I really really enjoyed this cozy! Definitely one of the best of the series. 

Grave Christmas Secrets

Discovering buried evidence

makes her a target.

At a prehistoric site, forensic anthropologist Taya McGill uncovers a recently buried body days before Christmas—and finds herself in a killer’s sights. Now on the run with undercover ATF agent Keegan Stryker, she must rely on him to guard her as they figure out why someone would kill to keep this murder unsolved. But can they unearth the truth before someone silences them both for good?

From Harlequin Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

My Rating: 4 Stars

This was quite an exciting read! Sharee crafts stories that keep the reader entertained while trying to solve the mystery and this book fits that bill perfectly. Taya and Keegan are fun characters and I enjoyed being a part of them trying to catch the bad guys that are tracking them. Very fun read!

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own. 

 

Her Secret Song

After a rough winter spent alone, Ursula Nordegren realizes she must overcome her fears of the outside world and begins a trek down Hope Mountain. Along the way she finds a badly wounded stranger and realizes God may have used her decision to leave as a way of saving the man.

Wax Mosby was climbing Hope Mountain in part to atone for his terrible choices. He was hired to drive out the Warden family and now knows he was duped. But when he's wounded during the climb, the last person he expects to rescue him is a beautiful blond woman with the voice of an angel.

As both Ursula and Wax weigh the costs of living new lives, the two find an unlikely bond. And they're joined by Ursula's sisters and the Warden family as the final showdown over the family ranch looms with the coming of spring.

 My Rating: 5 Stars

What a perfect finale! This is easily my favorite of the series. Watching Wax finally find a happy ending after all the heartache he went through was awesome and Ursula was the perfect match for him. The story kept me so engrossed I had trouble putting it down. I really really enjoyed this book.

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

For Whom The Book Tolls

In this cozy series debut from Laura Gail Black, Jenna Quinn finds her uncle murdered in his antique bookstore, and Jenna--his primary beneficiary--becomes the prime suspect.

Trouble follows Jenna Quinn wherever she goes. Fleeing some unsavory doings in her hometown of Charlotte, Jenna accepts her uncle's gracious invitation to stay with him in small-town Hokes Folly, NC. In exchange, she'll help him out in his antiquarian bookstore. But soon after she arrives, Jenna finds her uncle's body crumpled at the base of the staircase between his apartment and the bookstore.

Before the tragedy even sinks in, Jenna learns that she's inherited almost everything her uncle owned: the store and apartment, as well as his not-so-meager savings and the payout from a life insurance policy...which adds up to more than a million dollars. This is all news to Jenna--bad news, once the police get wind of her windfall. An ill wind, indeed, as a second murder cements Jenna's status as the prime suspect in both deaths.

Jenna can hit the road again, taking her chances that she can elude trouble along the way. Or she can stick it out in Hokes Folly, take over the bookstore, and try to sleuth out her uncle's killer. On the one hand, she's made some wonderful new friends, and she feels she can thrive in the genial small-town environment. On the other hand, trouble knows her address--and so does the killer, who is determined to write the final page of Jenna's story.

My Rating: 5 Stars

I really enjoyed this new debut to what looks to be a fun new cozy series! The mystery was super good and I really like the characters in the story. They are a likable group that I look forward to solving more mysteries with.  Can't wait for the next installment!! 

Take Heart

"In this world you will have trouble," Jesus said. "But take heart, I have overcome the world."

If life hasn't turned out the way you planned, you're not alone. Cancer comes. Loved ones die. Spouses leave. Dreams slip through our fingers. Anxiety and depression steal precious seasons. But what if you knew you weren't alone in your pain, and sorrow isn't in the end of the story?

In this 100-day devotional, the (in)courage community comes alongside you when your heart is grieving, your faith is shaking, or it's just one of those mundane hard days. In these vulnerable stories, you won't find tidy bows or trite quick fixes, but you will find arrows pointing you straight to Jesus. Each day includes a key Scripture, a heartening devotion, and a prayer to remind you that God is near and hope is possible.

Let this book be like a trusted friend, wrapping your heart with comfort and assurance that you are seen. Together we can find ourselves and God again in one another's stories. Together we can take heart!

My Rating: 4 Stars

This is an excellent collection of short devotions that is supremely appropriate for the times we are in. I really identified with many of the devotions and and was impressed with the content the authors compiled for this book. These women have been where I am and expressed words of hope that is always needed especially in these troubled times. Highly recommend!!

I received this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my honest opinion. 

Point Of Danger

 

Radio talk show host Eve Reilly is used to backlash from her pot-stirring on-air commentary and interviews, but now it seems a disgruntled listener is resorting to more than angry words to express their displeasure. When a suspicious package arrives on her doorstep, Eve turns to law enforcement for help.

Police detective Brent Lange can't find any evidence to link the string of unsettling incidents that follows, but he's convinced they're connected. As the harassment grows more menacing, it becomes clear someone wants Eve's voice silenced--permanently.

But unless he can track down her foe, fast, the gutsy woman who is willing to take risks for what she believes--and who is swiftly winning his heart--may not survive.

Bestselling author and three-time RITA Award winner Irene Hannon is back with a heart-stopping new series that will have you turning pages well into the night.

My Rating: 5 Stars

What a fantastic read! I never miss a book by Irene and this one of her best. The mystery was excellent and had me really trying to figure out all the pieces. The story moved well and kept me involved throughout and kept me guessing as I read. I really liked the Reilly sisters and I look forward to Grace and Cate's stories. It was a quick easy read, perfect for a day spent at home. Can't wait for my next adventure with Irene's stories!

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.

Portrait Of Loyalty

Zivon Marin was one of Russia's top cryptographers, until the October Revolution tore apart his world. Forced to flee after speaking out against Lenin and separated from his brother along the way, he arrives in England driven by a growing anger and determined to offer his services to the Brits.

Lily Blackwell sees the world best through the lens of a camera--and possesses unsurpassed skill when it comes to retouching and recreating photographs. With her father's connections in propaganda, she's recruited to the intelligence division, even though her mother would disapprove.

After Captain Blackwell invites Zivon to dinner one evening, a friendship blooms between him and Lily. He sees patterns in what she deems chaos; she sees beauty in a world he thought destroyed. But both have secrets they're unwilling to share. When her photographs reveal that someone has been following Zivon, his loyalties are called into question--and his enemies are discovered to be far closer than he'd feared. 

My Rating: 4 stars

 This is a lovely conclusion to the Codebreakers series! After having been with these characters for 9 books(3 series!) I am sad to say goodbye but this finale was just about perfect. It has been exciting following these characters through World War 1 and their contributions to the war effort. Lillian and Zion were fun to meet and I enjoyed seeing their relationship grow. Lillian’s photography skills were such a cool element and it was neat to see how a skill like that could have been used back then. This was a fun read, that’s for certain. If you like historical fiction, don’t miss Roseanna’s stories. They will not disappoint!

I received this book from the author and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.  

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

The book page for A Portrait of Loyalty can be found on my website HERE.

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The Red Ribbon

 An Appalachian Feud Blows Up in 1912

Step into True Colors -- a new series of Historical Stories of Romance and American Crime

In Carroll County, a corn shucking is the social event of the season, until a mischievous kiss leads to one of the biggest tragedies in Virginia history. Ava Burcham isn’t your typical Blue Ridge Mountain girl. She has a bad habit of courtin’ trouble, and her curiosity has opened a rift in the middle of a feud between politicians and would-be outlaws, the Allen family. Ava’s tenacious desire to find a story worth reporting may land her and her best friend, Jeremiah Sutphin, into more trouble than either of them planned.

​The end result? The Hillsville Courthouse Massacre of 1912.

My Rating: 5 Stars

What a truly captivating story! Pepper weaves the real life facts of the Hillsville Courthouse Massacre of 1912 with the fictional story of Ava and Jeremiah wonderfully. I could not put this book down, it was so so good. Fantastic read!

I received this book from the publisher and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.