Can't Wait Wednesday! Havoc

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I enjoyed the Breed Apart series by Ronie Kendig and excited for this Legacy series releasing October 2023 as part of the Sunrise Media Publishing projects.

About the book: Havoc

Former Special Forces operator Sergeant Crew Gatlin takes everything in stride, even the career-ending incident that separated him from the Army, half a leg, and his beloved working dog, Havoc K027. Putting his life back together and lying low, he takes a job with A Breed Apart and is unexpectedly reunited with Havoc. It’s too good to be true—and the proof is in their first assignment: to work as a K-9 team for a television drama in Los Angeles. Miffed at being relegated to TV fodder, he’s willing to pay the price when he sees the stuntwoman.
Being a stunt double allows Vienna Foxcroft to fulfill her acting dream—with a side of MMA—and stay out of the limelight. The same one that plagued her childhood and put her through a nightmare scenario. Now, her tight-knit stunt team are the only ones she trusts. Then in walks Mr. Mountain-of-Muscle and his tough-as-nails dog, and Vienna has a bad feeling her life is about to turn upside down.
Ticked as they head overseas for a location shoot in Turkey, Crew guts it up—after all, he has Havoc again. Okay, and yeah—Vienna is going, too. When an attack sends the cast fleeing into the streets of Turkey, Vienna must face the demons of her past or be devoured by them. And Crew and Havoc are tested like never before.


HAVOC kicks off the heart-pounding new romantic suspense series, A Breed Legacy, brought to you by Ronie Kendig and Sunrise Publishing. This is a spin-off from Kendig's action-packed, award-winning A Breed Apart series, featuring courageous military working dogs and their handlers.

What are you waiting on this week?

Top Ten Tuesday: Water

 Join in the Top Ten Tuesday fun! Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

This week's topic of Water should be easy enough, since I love water and usually drawn to any books with covers featuring water. These are all on my TBR and I will be happy if I still get to them this year:

1. When Crickets Cry

2. All that's Fair

3. To the Farthest Shores

4. The Deadly Shallows

5. The Lies We Believe

6. The Sound of Light

7. The Sisters of Sea View

8. Beneath a Peaceful Moon

9. The Juliet Code

10. When Tides Turn

Review: Summer in the Spotlight

Summer in the Spotlight by Liz Johnson
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

Levi Ross intrigued me from book one. It was clear this younger brother had strength behind his silence and in book two readers got a glimpse of his dreams and hopes. Now in his one book we could see even more of this silent gentleman, including his reasons for choosing not to talk unless required.

Talkative Kelsey with her tendency to faint at the sight of blood and who is working through her own fears and regrets was a great friend to Levi.

The mystery around the Ross father was also concluded in this series.

I loved this series about the Ross family and sad to bid them farewell.

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

Review: Beyond the Tides (book 1) 

Review: Last Way Home (book 2) 

View all my reviews

About the book:

A hurricane may have destroyed her livelihood on Prince Edward Island, but she's determined to save her community

Kelsey Ahern has performed at the Victoria Playhouse on Prince Edward Island every summer since she was seven. But when a hurricane destroys the building, it's not just her memories that are in jeopardy. Her future as a teacher and drama coach are too. She teams up with Levi Ross, the facilities director at the high school, to produce a benefit show to raise money to rebuild the theater. He has a reputation for being able to fix anything, and Kelsey is sure there's more to the quiet man than meets the eye.

For his part, Levi has admired Kelsey for years, but he can't seem to find the words to tell her. When a popular weatherman arrives in town to cover the aftermath of the hurricane and takes an interest in Kelsey and her show, Levi realizes that the time has come to speak up--or lose the heart of the woman he longs for.

Join New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson for a season of rebuilding, restoration, and romance with this final book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series.

About the author:

By day Liz Johnson is a marketing manager. She makes time to write late at night—that’s when she thinks best anyway. Liz is the author of more than a dozen novels, a New York Times bestselling novella, and a handful of short stories. She’s a Christy Award finalist and a three-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. She makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona, where she enjoys exploring local music, theater, and doting on her nieces and nephews. She writes stories of true love filled with heart, humor, and happily ever afters.

Weekend Wrap-up: August 27th

 

 

It’s Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Book Date.

This weekend I did what was probably my last half marathon in Cape Town before the big move. I managed a personal best time of 1h48min, so happy to finish with that high.  

On the reading front, some progress on outstanding reviews and kicking up some of the reading, but still not as much as I used to.

Finished

(Reviews can be found under Book Review tag)

Currently reading

Next up:

Not sure what I am in the mood for yet, so this might change as evident from my :

What are you reading this week?

Blog Posts Recap:

Here is my past week's Blog Posts.

Top Ten Tuesday

Can't Wait Wednesday

Book Spotlight Fridays!

Saturday Series Discovery

Adding to the Bookshelf:

Which Avid Reader do not add to their shelves! I try to limit mine to review books since I have so many owned on my TBR to read.  So did I add to my shelf this week? 

None this week

Review: The Hidden Prince

The Hidden Prince by Tessa Afshar
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

Tessa Afshar was only a recent discovery for me, and I love her Biblical fiction.

It is filled with strong faith-filled characters who impacts others and plays a vital role in their walk with God.

This book was no different and I really enjoyed it.

If you still need to pick up a book by this author, do not delay, you are missing out.

*I listened to the audiobook on Scribd.*


View all my reviews

About the book:

From the bestselling author of Jewel of the Nile comes the thrilling tale of a woman who feels she has no future but soon discovers the fate of nations may rest in her hands.

The beloved daughter of Jewish captives in Babylon, Keren is sold into Daniel’s household to help her family survive. She becomes Daniel’s most trusted scribe, while taking lessons and swordsmanship training alongside Daniel’s sons and their best friend, Jared.

But after a tragic accident changes the course of her life, Keren finds herself in a foreign country, charged with a mysterious task: teaching a shepherd boy how to become a lord. When she overhears whispers that hint at his true identity, she realizes she must protect him from the schemes of a bloodthirsty king.

Jared cannot forgive Keren. Still, he finds himself traveling over mountains to fetch her back to the safety of home. When he discovers the secret identity of Keren’s pupil, Jared knows he must help protect him. Love battles bitterness as they flee from the king’s agents, trying to save the boy who could one day deliver their people from captivity.

About the author:

TESSA AFSHAR is a Christy and Christian Book Award winning author of historical and biblical fiction, and

non-fiction. Her books have been on the Publishers Weekly, ECPA, and other bestseller lists, and translated into eleven languages.
Her novel Daughter of Rome is a Carol Award Finalist. Land of Silence won an INSPY Award and was voted by Library Journal as one of the top five Christian fiction titles of 2016. Harvest of Gold won the prestigious Christy Award in the Historical Romance category, Harvest of Rubies was a finalist for the ECPA Christian Book Award in the fiction category, and Thief of Corinth was an INSPY Award finalist. Tessa’s Bible study, The Way Home: God’s Invitation to New Beginnings, based on the book of Ruth, won ECPA’s Christian Book Award in the Bible Study category, 2021.
Tessa was born in the Middle East and lived there for the first fourteen years of her life. She then moved to England, where she survived boarding school for girls, before moving to the United States permanently. Her conversion to Christianity in her twenties changed the course of her life forever.
Tessa holds a master of divinity from Yale University, where she served for one year as co-chair of the Evangelical Fellowship at the Divinity School. She worked in women and prayer ministries for nearly twenty years before becoming a full-time writer. Tessa is a devoted wife, mediocre gardener, and chocolate enthusiast. Visit her online at Tessaafshar.com.

Review: Love and the Dream Come True

Love and the Dream Come True by Tammy L. Gray
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

Love and the outcome were almost like the story of the prodigal son.

Cameron was a character I loved when I met him in book one of the series. But then ambition and disappointments took him on a detour away from family and friends on a path to find himself and his path in life again.

Lexi was vibrant and positive but hiding her fears and troubles behind that glass half full outlook.

I enjoyed seeing how the two, through Lexi’s daughter, Morgan, connected and grew through their friendship and growing relationship.

This final book in the series was a beautiful story about reconciliation of relationships and second chances.

Review: Love and a little white lie

Review: Love and the Silver Lining


View all my reviews

About the book:

The Anticipated Series Finale to the 2021 Carol Award-Winning Novel, Love and a Little White Lie

Their faith will face its toughest test yet.

Four years after getting the biggest break of his life, Cameron Lee's music career has taken a nosedive, leaving him two options: become a sellout or give up on his lifelong dream. He reluctantly returns home for his sister's wedding, hoping to avoid his past and find his love for music again.

Single mom Lexie Walters has suffered her fair share of tragedies and setbacks, but she has finally scraped together the money to achieve her dream of going into business with her cousin as an interior designer. When Lexie's life is at an all-time high, she runs into her teenage crush, Cameron Lee.

Lost in the emotional turmoil of failure, Cameron is immediately drawn to Lexie and her infectious smile and optimistic spirit. Moreover, he adores her mouthy, no-holds-barred daughter. But fantasies only last so long, and soon Lexie and Cameron must face the real world, the one fraught with heartbreak, disappointment, and questions that sometimes can only be answered by a leap of faith.

About the author:

Tammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas, even the erratic

weather patterns. Her nine modern and true-to-life contemporary romances include 2017 RITA award winning, My Hope Next Door, and show her unending quest to write high quality, culturally relevant stories with relatable and flawed characters.

When not taxiing her three kids to various school and sporting events, Tammy can be spotted crunching numbers as the financial administrator at her hometown church. Writing has given her a platform to combine her passion with her ministry all while sharing the messy, yet remarkable journey that is a faith-filled life.

Tammy L. Gray has lots of projects going on. For all the latest info, visit her website at http://tammylgray.com

Book Spotlight Friday! Summer in the Spotlight

Book Beginnings and Friday56

Book Beginnings is a weekly meme hosted by Rose City Reader that asks you to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you're reading. Friday 56 is hosted by Freda's Voice and asks you to grab a book (any book), turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader and share a non-spoiler sentence or two.  First Line Friday is a weekly meme hosted by Reading is my Superpower that asks you to share the first sentence of the book you're reading.

I loved this series about the Ross family and really enjoyed Levi's story.

Summer in the Spotlight

About the book:

A hurricane may have destroyed her livelihood on Prince Edward Island, but she's determined to save her community

Kelsey Ahern has performed at the Victoria Playhouse on Prince Edward Island every summer since she was seven. But when a hurricane destroys the building, it's not just her memories that are in jeopardy. Her future as a teacher and drama coach are too. She teams up with Levi Ross, the facilities director at the high school, to produce a benefit show to raise money to rebuild the theater. He has a reputation for being able to fix anything, and Kelsey is sure there's more to the quiet man than meets the eye.

For his part, Levi has admired Kelsey for years, but he can't seem to find the words to tell her. When a popular weatherman arrives in town to cover the aftermath of the hurricane and takes an interest in Kelsey and her show, Levi realizes that the time has come to speak up--or lose the heart of the woman he longs for.

Join New York Times bestselling author Liz Johnson for a season of rebuilding, restoration, and romance with this final book in the Prince Edward Island Shores series.

*************************************************************

Book Beginnings

Meteorologists could not be trusted.

Friday 56

Kelsey cringed, schooling her face to keep the truth from full display.

My thoughts so far

I really enjoyed this one and how the whole series fit together and concluded in this final book.

                                    ************************************************************* 

Review: Anchor in the Storm

Anchor in the Storm by Sarah Sundin
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

Anchor in the storm was a story about two strong intriguing characters trying to find their way and happy ending in life.

Lillian struggled to find peace in her drive to proof herself after a loss when she was young. Arch struggled to accept his family wealth and dealing with his shakes (PTSD) after the things he endured during WW2.

The mystery plot was captivating and kept me guessing right till the end. I enjoyed following clues about what was going on and was devastated about a loss.

I enjoyed seeing how both characters grew closer while discovering who they really are as well as reconciling some broken relationships.

I am looking forward to Dan’s story in the third book of the series.

Review book 1: Through Waters Deep

View all my reviews

About the book:

One Plucky Female Pharmacist + One High-Society Naval Officer = Romance--and Danger

For plucky Lillian Avery, America's entry into World War II means a chance to prove herself as a pharmacist in Boston. The challenges of her new job energize her. But society boy Ensign Archer Vandenberg's attentions only annoy--even if he is her brother's best friend.

During the darkest days of the war, Arch's destroyer hunts German U-boats in vain as the submarines sink dozens of merchant ships along the East Coast. Still shaken by battles at sea, Arch notices his men also struggle with their nerves--and with drowsiness. Could there be a link to the large prescriptions for sedatives Lillian has filled? The two work together to answer that question, but can Arch ever earn Lillian's trust and affection?

Sarah Sundin brings World War II to life, offering readers an intense experience they won't soon forget.

About the author:

Sarah Sundin enjoys writing about the drama and romance of the World War II era. She is the bestselling author of When Twilight Breaks (February 2021),The Land Beneath Us (2020), The Sky Above Us (2019) and The Sea Before Us (2018), as well as the Waves of Freedom, Wings of the Nightingale series, and Wings of Glory series. Her novel The Land Beneath Us was a 2020 Christy Award finalist, The Sky Above Us won the 2020 Carol Award, The Sea Before Us received the 2019 Reader's Choice Award from Faith, Hope, and Love. Both Through Waters Deep and When Tides Turn were named to Booklist's "101 Best Romance Novels of the Last 10 Years."

A mother of three, Sundin lives in northern California and teaches Sunday school and women's Bible studies. She enjoys speaking to community, church, and writers' groups. Sarah serves as Co-Director for the West Coast Christian Writers Conference.

Can't Wait Wednesday! Shadows at Dusk

Can't Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings that spotlights and discusses the books we're excited about that we've yet to read. Generally, they're books that are yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine.

I enjoyed the first book in this newly released series, and I am looking forward to continue with book two releasing October 2023.

About the book: Shadows at Dusk

Montana Detective Trevor West is desperate to learn what happened to his sister, who went missing in Alaska over a year ago, leaving nothing but a few photographs as clues to her whereabouts. At the advice of Police Chief Autumn Long, Trevor enlists the help of an experienced bush pilot. If Carrie James can't help him find the places in the photographs, no one can.

But Carrie has her own agenda. Grieving the death of her closest friend and the only person she could trust, Carrie will help Trevor find his sister on one condition--that he help her track down her friend's killer.

As the two close in on the answers they crave, they'll face dangers and connections they could not have imagined. They'll have to learn to trust one another--and face the dark secrets of the past--if they are ever to discover the truth and bring a killer to justice.

What are you waiting on this week?

Review: A Beautiful Disguise

A Beautiful Disguise by Roseanna M. White
My rating: 💛💛💛

At the start of a new series, the author delivered another unique plot with unique characters, including a circus, peacocks, and a trained lion.

I found this book a bit slower paced with all the different characters and unique setting being introduced but expect the series to pick up since the backstory was illustrated in book one.

The action at the end was surprising and kept me reading.

I really want to see what the history between Gemma and Graham is, because the few hints given in this book triggered my interest to know what happened.

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


View all my reviews

About the book:

Left with an estate on the brink of bankruptcy after their father's death, Lady Marigold Fairfax and her brother open a private investigation firm marketed to the elite . . . to spy on the elite. Dubbed The Imposters, Ltd., their anonymous group soon becomes the go-to for the crème of society when they want answers delivered surreptitiously. But the many secrets Marigold learns about her peers pale in comparison to her shock when she and her brother are hired to investigate her best friend's father as a potential traitor.

Sir Merritt Livingstone has spent a decade serving the monarch in the most elite guard, but when pneumonia lands him behind a desk in the War Office Intelligence Division just as they're creating a new secret intelligence branch, he's intent on showing his worth. He suspects a man of leaking information to Germany as tensions mount between the two countries, but needs someone to help him prove it, so he turns to The Imposters, Ltd. No one knows who they are, but their results are beyond compare.

Lady Marigold is determined to discover the truth for her friend's sake, and she's more determined still to keep her heart from getting involved with this enigmatic new client . . . who can't possibly be as noble as he seems.

About the author:

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. She and her family make their home in the beautiful mountains of West Virginia. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.
see also Roseanna White

Also see:  Author Discovery: Roseanna M White

Top Ten Tuesday: Genre Freebie: Classics

 Join in the Top Ten Tuesday fun! Top Ten Tuesday was created by The Broke and the Bookish in June of 2010 and was moved to That Artsy Reader Girl in January of 2018. It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together.

Classics I still haven't read:

1. Sense and Sensibility

2. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer

3. A Christmas Carol

4. Northanger Abbey

5. Wuthering Heights

6. The Secret Garden

7. Les Misérables

8. Gone with the Wind

9. Jane Eyre

10. Persuasion

Weekend Wrap-up: August 20th

 

 

It’s Monday! What are you reading? is hosted by Book Date.

A better week of reading and some catching up on my reviews.

Finished

(Reviews can be found under Book Review tag)

Currently reading

Next up:

Not sure what I am in the mood for yet, so this might change:

What are you reading this week?

Blog Posts Recap:

Here is my past week's Blog Posts.

Top Ten Tuesday

Can't Wait Wednesday

Book Spotlight Fridays!

Saturday Series Discovery

Adding to the Bookshelf:

Which Avid Reader do not add to their shelves! I try to limit mine to review books since I have so many owned on my TBR to read.  So did I add to my shelf this week? 

One Arc