Review: Lost in Darkness

Lost in Darkness by Michelle Griep
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

Lost in Darkness was a gothic historical tale which was hopeful, troubling and sad all at once.

This story captured my heart with the adventurous female lead who only had love and wanted the best for her brother who was kept hidden due to a birth defect, and her brother Colin, who had a pure loving heart but not many wanted to look behind the face to find the treasure hidden within.

Colin’s struggle to just live the life he loved versus going through with a new procedure to keep others happy was heartbreaking. I did not like his ending but preferred that to the life he would have had after the dangerous procedure performed.

Graham’s heart to protect others was in constant battle with his drive to evolve medicine, a fight which might have been won too late.

This book gave me hope, had me holding my breath when the doctor took matters into his own hands and broke my heart with an ending which was true to Colin’s unconditional and protective love.

This will probably not be a book for everyone, but readers who enjoy the edge of gothic suspense will be kept on that edge throughout the story.


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About the book:

Even if there be monsters, there is none so fierce as that which resides in man’s own heart.
Enchanting Regency-Era Gothic Romance Intertwined with Inspiration from Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.

Travel writer Amelia Balfour’s dream of touring Egypt is halted when she receives news of a revolutionary new surgery for her grotesquely disfigured brother. This could change everything, and it does... in the worst possible way.

Surgeon Graham Lambert has suspicions about the doctor he’s gone into practice with, but he can’t stop him from operating on Amelia’s brother. Will he be too late to prevent the man’s death? Or to reveal his true feelings for Amelia before she sails to Cairo?

About the author:

I hear voices. Loud. Incessant. And very real. Which basically gives me two options: choke back massive

amounts of Prozac or write fiction. I chose the latter. Way cheaper. I've been writing since I discovered blank wall space and Crayolas. I seek to glorify God in all that I write...except for that graffiti phase I went through as a teenager. Oops. Did I say that out loud?

Review: Warrior

Warrior by Lisa Phillips
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

Rating 4.5

Warrior took us back to the time where it all went wrong for the team. Up to now readers were told what happened, but this was the first time we were there with them. This is also where we meet Kira and where we see there is more than meets the eye.

Two years later they meet again under different circumstances and in a different setting. But the connection they had back then is still evident now.

Saxon is still searching for his own new identity and path in his search for the identity of the person behind the Shadow Syndicate, which we first heard of in book one. The author gives plenty of information to catch readers up if you have not read the first book, but if you read it in order, you will have a better understanding of the back story.

This story had a lot of intrigue and action, with a very climatic suspenseful scene in the prison. There was a lot happening over a short time, some conclusions but also still some unanswered questions. I enjoyed Hammer’s banter where he shares his wisdom with Saxon.

Saxon and Kira grow closer in their search for answers, learn more about themselves on this new journey and learn to be strong, yet vulnerable and how to trust again.

There are some characters we met and I am still not 100% convinced that we can trust them. I guess my answers will be answered as the series unfolds.

Looking forward to book three!

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Book 1: Renegade


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About the book:

★ Some rescues require more than medical training. Some battles are worth the risk. ★

The last person Dr. Kira Yassan expects to walk back into her life is the soldier whose life she saved in a war zone three years ago.

She came to Renegade, Colorado to disappear—to work her ER shifts and forget the classified missions that nearly destroyed her soul. But when US Marshals drag her into a witness protection case, every carefully built wall comes crashing down.

Private investigator Luca Saxon thought the mysterious doctor who patched him up in Syria was just a beautiful memory. Now she's standing in front of him, and the chemistry that burned between them in that refugee camp hasn't dimmed. But someone wants their witness dead, and keeping Kira safe might cost him everything.

When cartel enforcers storm the hospital and prison riots explode across town, there's nowhere left to run.

Their witness is Francisco Abalos—former cartel kingpin with secrets that could topple governments. The shadow syndicate controlling Renegade wants him silenced. And Kira's medical expertise makes her the perfect target.

From midnight shootouts to explosive prison breaks, Luca and Kira race against time to expose a conspiracy that reaches into the highest levels of their small town. But as buried secrets surface and old enemies emerge, they must Can love survive when trust becomes a weapon?

Perfect for fans
Medical suspense with heart
Enemies-to-more reunion romance
Witness protection thrillers
Military heroes with dangerous pasts
Strong heroines with deadly skills
Small-town settings with big secrets
Faith-based romantic suspense


Redemption Trust Healing Justice Second Chances Faith Under Fire Protecting Family Overcoming Trauma Medical Heroes Shadow Conspiracies

Book 2 in the Heroes of Renegade series, written by Lisa Phillips! Created by USA Today bestselling authors Susan May Warren and Lisa Phillips. Complete story with HEA, but the danger continues!

Start the series with RENEGADE (Book 1) and discover why readers are obsessed with Warren and Phillips' most explosive series yet!

About the Author:

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 taken the Apprentice and Journeyman writing courses with the Christian Writers Guild, and 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 children--a sparkly Little Princess and a Mini Daddy--and two bunny rabbits. 

Review: The Lumber Baron's Wife

The Lumber Baron's Wife by Lynn Austin
My rating: 💛💛💛💛💛

This book was added to my list of favourites from Lynn Austin. It included a mystery, character growth and an engaging dual-time story.

In the past, we met Hannah and Kate, two women who are totally opposites but due to circumstances, their paths cross and a friendship builds. Hannah’s story of loss and sadness but journey to healing and happiness were beautifully developed.

Kate was vibrant and I loved reading her POV. There was so much behind this adventurous outgoing woman. The mystery behind her disappearance was interesting and I hoped for so many different possibilities. The real reason was shocking and my heart broke for her, but she also found her true purpose in life and in a way had her own happy ending.

In the modern day story, we meet Ashely and her passion for history easily drew me into the history details. I did not like her husband David at all until around 80% when he started to change. His pushiness was overbearing and he came across as a narcissist. We see the spiritual growth and journey of Ashley, but not so much David. I would have loved to see more of that in his story to show the reason for his growth and change of heart.

This was a story filled with so much love, loss, sadness but also growth. Fans of Lynn Austin will love what the author has brought to them within these pages.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*


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About the book:

When the young wife of a powerful lumber baron vanishes into the wilds of frontier Michigan, her friend is left to unravel the truth in this captivating dual-timeline novel from bestselling author Lynn Austin.

1873

After a devastating loss, Hannah Wagner never imagined she’d leave her comfortable home for the harsh, unfamiliar wilderness near Lake Michigan. But when Henry Abernathy, a friend of her husband John, offers them a fresh start in a booming lumber town—where John’s skills as a doctor are sorely needed—Hannah reluctantly agrees.

There, she meets Kate Abernathy, Henry’s spirited, much younger wife. Kate’s sharp tongue and outsider status have made her unwelcome among the town’s elite. As she begins confiding in Hannah, it becomes clear her marriage is not what it seems—and that a secret from her past could destroy everything.

Present Day

Ashley Gilbert never planned to settle in Michigan, but when her husband lands his dream job as a conservationist, she agrees to follow. While restoring their historic home—built in the 19th century for a doctor and his wife—Ashley becomes captivated by its past and its connection to the nearby Abernathy mansion, now being transformed into a museum.

While volunteering with the restoration, Ashley stumbles upon the unsolved mystery of Kate Abernathy’s disappearance. What begins as curiosity soon becomes a quest for the truth—one that will connect her to two women whose stories and struggles echo and inspire her own.

Standalone historical fiction about marriage, grief, and the power of female friendships from the author of All My Secrets and Long Way Home A richly layered Christian women’s fiction novel with elements of mystery, perfect for fans of Martha Hall Kelly, Kristy Cambron, and Susan Meissner Includes discussion questions for book clubs

About the author:

For many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she'd earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.

Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.

Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.

Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published 27 novels. Eight of her historical novels, Hidden Places, Candle in the Darkness, Fire by Night, A Proper Pursuit, and Until We Reach Home have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. Fire by Night was also one of only five inspirational fiction books chosen by Library Journal for their top picks of 2003, and All She Ever Wanted was chosen as one of the five inspirational top picks of 2005. Lynn's novel Hidden Places has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.

Review: Apollo

Apollo by Ronie Kendig
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

Apollo was a bit different for me than Ronie Kendig’s other military action.

Instead of the main hero being part of a special ops team, he came in as someone from the outside who also felt like he came up short. I missed the banter you always get with being part of the inside of the team, but Owen’s drive to protect Leighton still provided readers with that intense, broody character.

The story kept me interested since you had this feeling something is planned and is going to happen but you never know what or when. The wildlife dangers added to the suspense level.

I am eager to read the final book in the series to see why the Scions are not fans of the Omen team and what Dillon is up to.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

Review book 1: Atlas

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About the book:

When Love Becomes the Ultimate Mission

From award-winning author Ronie Kendig comes a heart-stopping romantic suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page.

HE WAS TRAINED TO SAVE LIVES. SHE WAS BORN TO LIVE A LIE.

Owen Metcalfe thought his military career was over—two failed attempts at becoming an elite operator leave him questioning everything he believes about himself. When a desperate mercenary seeks help to rescue his daughter—a kidnapped princess—from the most dangerous royal family in the world, Owen discovers his true calling isn't about earning a beret or proving his worth to the Army.

It's about saving her.

Leighton Kingslake has spent her entire life guarding a deadly secret far from the Saudi princess who gave birth to her and the brutal king they fled. She’s lived in the shadows, knowing one wrong move could end not just her life, but her mother's as well. When she's violently torn from her safe world and imprisoned halfway around the globe, survival becomes her only goal.

Until a blue-eyed warrior crashes into her world and threatens everything.

This isn't just a rescue mission—it's a collision of two hearts that will either save them both or destroy them completely.

When Owen infiltrates the palace as Leighton's bodyguard sparks fly! She doesn’t want him ruining her plan, and he holds fast to his promise to bring her safely home. But with a vengeful king, murderous princes, and a deadly enemy closing in, they’re forced to set differences aside. Soon, begrudging respect breeds something far more powerful that becomes both their greatest strength and their most dangerous weakness.

"A MASTERPIECE OF ROMANTIC SUSPENSE!"
- Susan May Warren, USA today best-selling author

From the sunbaked dungeons of Saudi Arabia to the breathtaking savannas of Kenya, APOLLO
✦ Pulse-pounding action that will leave you breathless
✦ Sizzling chemistry between two unforgettable characters
✦ Heart-stopping suspense with twists you'll never see coming
✦ Exotic locations that leap off the page
✦ Faith-filled hope in the darkest circumstances

APOLLO is book two in the explosive DISCARDED SCIONS series, but can be read as a standalone. Perfect for fans of Lynette Eason, DiAnn Mills, and Susan May Warren.

Get ready for elephant stampedes, palace intrigue, African safaris, royal weddings, and a love story that will restore your faith in happy endings.

Discarded Scions
Book 1: Atlas
Book 2: Apollo
Book 3: Achilles

About the author:

Also see: Author Discovery: Ronie Kendig

Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author who grew up an Army brat. After thirty years of

marriage, she and her hunky hero are adventuring on the East coast, a short train ride from NYC with their retired military working dog and their Stealth Golden. Ronie’s degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of raw, broken characters.

Since launching onto the publishing scene, Ronie’s Rapid-Fire Fiction has hit the CBA Bestseller List, won the prestigious Christy Award, the RT Reviewers' Choice Award (twice), the HOLT Medallion, the IRCA, and FamilyFiction’s Readers’ Choice Awards.

Ronie loves people and helping other writers through speaking, workshops, and/or mentoring. Find Ronie at www.roniekendig.com, on Facebook (www.facebook.com/rapidfirefiction) , Twitter (@roniekendig), GoodReads, and Instagram (www.instagram.com/kendigronie ).

Review: Find Me in the Blooms

Find Me in the Blooms by Alyssa Schwarz
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

Reading this story gave me that first spring day feeling after a long cold winter - hope and an expectation of good things to come.

Kate and Lincoln had a complicated history and I appreciated that this story did not over complicate their reconnection. Sometimes I find romance stories too predictable and with the same misunderstanding type plot that keeps characters apart. But not with this story or this series. Yes there are issues which make the romance journey a bit more complicated, but the characters deal with these in a timely and mature fashion.

In this story, Kate and Lincoln also grew stronger individually, learning from their struggles and allowing it to shape them and take them on a journey to forgiveness.

I loved Ollie and Dani’s support in this story and Lincoln’s fear of spiders also added for a few LOL moments.

A sweet story of reconciliation among the fragrance of blooms.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*


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About the book:

He ran the night before their wedding. She's been running ever since.

Wedding photographer Kate Sullivan has spent five years proving she's fine. Fine with the panic attacks. Fine being the overachieving sister everyone counts on. Fine that Lincoln St. James called off their wedding and disappeared.

She's not fine. But nobody needs to know that.

When her doctor orders a mandatory break, Kate retreats to charming Jonathon Island to help her family with the spring flower festival. Sun. Blossoms. No stress.

Then Lincoln walks back into her life.

The florist hired for the festival is the man who shattered her heart—and he's more gorgeous than ever. Worse? He's looking at her like he still loves her. Like he never stopped.

Lincoln knows he doesn't deserve a second chance. He panicked and ran, terrified of becoming his absent father. But Kate Sullivan was the best thing that ever happened to him, and he's spent five years regretting the night he let fear win.

Now, working side by side among blooming orchards and island magic, the feelings they buried come rushing back. But trust doesn't rebuild overnight—and some wounds run deeper than either of them knew.

Can a runaway groom prove he's finally ready to stay?

Find Me in the Blooms is a sweet Christian romance about second chances, forgiveness, and discovering that God's timing blooms exactly when it should. Perfect for fans of Denise Hunter, Becky Wade, and Hallmark spring movies.

About the author:

"I can't wait to read more of the Prescott Family Romance series. [Dear Beth] is highly recommended for fans of inspirational contemporary romance, especially for readers who enjoy novels by authors such as Denise Hunter, Becky Wade, Melissa Tagg, and Susan May Warren." -Goodreads Reviewer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Connect with Alyssa via:

Her email newsletter (which includes giveaway alerts and book news - and a free short story):

Her web site: https://www.authoralyssaschwarz.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoralyssaschwarz

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alyssaschwarzauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21846420.Alyssa_Schwarz

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/alyssaschwarzauthor/

Alyssa is a Colorado native who attended the Colorado School of Mines, got her masters in Geological Engineering, and promptly became a watercolor artist and author (as one does). She loves writing heartfelt romances with happy endings, a bit of mystery, faith, humor, and second chances.

Prescott Family Romance Series:

Dear Beth (novella)

The Glass Cottage

The Glass Road

Fields of Glass

Review: Find Me in the Story

Find Me in the Story by Lisa Jordan
My rating: 💛💛💛💛
Find me in the story is a fitting title for two characters who love books and are somewhat involved in getting the book in readers hands.

I love getting back to Jonathan Island and meeting up with some of the great characters we have met in season 1 and meeting new awesome characters to love.

Both Eliza and Oliver’s passion for the industry came through in this story, along with their connection and chemistry, but also their fears and past history which are holding them back. There was a misunderstanding which is sort of expected in this type of story but I loved that the characters were able to resolve it quickly.

I don’t think you really need to read season one to follow along, but you will have a deeper understanding and love for Jonathan Island if you do.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*

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About the book:

PW bestselling author Lisa Jordan returns readers to the beloved island community in Find Me in the Story, the first book in a new Jonathon Island season, Find Me on Jonathon Island.

Review: Renegade

Renegade by Susan May Warren
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

Renegade is the start of a new series, but it features the Trouble boys we have met in a previous series. Hammer was always silent in the background, but now this broody-not-dead military hero had a lot to say.

Sierra was independent, but not by choice. She had to learn to stand strong and move forward when she was the one left behind.

I enjoyed seeing them reconnect, having to forgive and move forward. Hunter was just adorable.

The suspense plot was engaging, with enough action, twists and turns and some periods of allowing readers to breathe.

I look forward to this series.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. All opinions expressed are my own.*


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About the book:

★ He was supposed to be dead. She was supposed to move on. Some loves won't stay buried. ★

The last person Sierra Blackwood expects to see is the man whose memorial service she attended three years ago.

For ten years, she's raised their son alone, told him his father died a hero, and built a life from the ashes of broken promises. Now Rowan "Hammer" Wallace is back—no explanation, no apology, just those devastating blue eyes and a presence that fills every empty space she's tried to heal.

He doesn't know about the boy. And she doesn't know if she can survive losing him again.
But there's no time for second chances when a killer has you in their crosshairs.

Someone wants Sierra's ranch—and they're willing to burn down everything she loves to get it. Poisoned livestock. Mysterious fires. And when armed men kidnap Sierra and her ten-year-old son, Rowan must confront the violent stepfather who drove him away to save the family he never knew existed.

In the mountains of Colorado, the past never stays buried. And some men never stop fighting for what's theirs.

Perfect for fans Second-chance romance with heartChristian romantic suspenseCowboy heroes with dangerous pastsSmall-town settings with big secretsMilitary romance/Wounded warrior storiesFamily drama and redemption arcs

Faith Forgiveness Fatherhood Justice Homecoming Secrets & Lies Redemption Small-Town Community Ranch Life Overcoming the Past

Start the Heroes of Renegade series today and discover why readers can't get enough of this pulse-pounding romantic suspense!

Book 1 in Heroes of Renegade series. Complete story with HEA, but the series continues!

About the author:

Also see: Author Discovery: Susan May Warren

Susan May Warren Short Bio

Susan May Warren is the USA Today bestselling, Christy and RITA award-winning novelist of over sixty-five novels. An eight-time Christy award finalist, a three-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Carol Award.

A seasoned women’s events speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: The Story Equation.

She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, and Novel.Academy, a school for aspiring novelists. You can find her online at www.susanmaywarren.com.