Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Monthly Recap: November 2024

 

I first saw this monthly reflections idea on: Christian bookshelf reviews

Life got a bit busy, so my update is a bit late! December will also be busy since we will be visiting family back in South Africa. Looking forward to summer weather and beach days!

 

What I've read:


(Reviews can be found under Book Review tag)


Kindle:





Audio:







Paperback:

Still in progress



What I would like to read in December:



Upcoming reads (hopeful):

This month I just really hope to get us much of my outstanding reads for challenges read.






Did I buy any new books?


Bought: None



Freebies: None



Did I read everything I wanted too?


The following I had to carry over - a bit behind again on my 24 books in 24 challenge:

(crosses I've read this month),





This is a main challenge I want to focus on this year:

Looking at 2024, 24 books I would like to read which I had forever!


I have 12 left for the rest of the year 😇






ARC/Netgalley update:


ARC/Netgalley books downloaded this month:


A bit better this month with the ARCs:






ARC/Netgalley books read and reviewed:


Send feedback on the following:










How was your month?




Can't Wait Wednesday! Jack

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.

So looking forward to this new series by Susan May Warren!


About the book: Jack





There's Trouble in the North...

Meet Jack, a tracker with a past he’s trying to escape the first epic book of the Minnesota Kingston series by USA Today bestselling author Susan May Warren.

Her secret blew apart his life—and now she needs his help? If only he could say no…

Ten years should be long enough for Jack to forget the girl-next-door, his kid sister’s bestie and the woman—no, girl—who derailed his life. Now, he sort of likes his loner world as a missing person’s tracker. Well, mostly. But of course, when he returns home for his sister’s wedding, there she is…
Nope, not forgotten at all.

Of course Jack the Grump has shown up for his sister’s wedding, and by the way he looks at Harper, um, clearly her sins aren’t forgiven. So what—she’s sooo over her best-friend’s brooding, dark oldest brother. Really.

Then a bridesmaid goes missing.

And sure, Harper is a journalist who knows how to sniff out truth, but the clock is ticking and there’s only one person who can help…Perfect. No problem. She’s not going to fall for her childhood crush again. Promise.

Yes, Jack can admit that Harper’s not the girl he used to call Pigtails anymore. She’s all grown up…but he’s not going to get burned again. Still, what’s a guy going to do?

So, find her missing friend, get the bride down the aisle and ditch town before they find themselves in over their heads…or worse.

Dead.

Jack is a best friend’s brother, childhood crush, grumpy-to sunshine, sweet but sizzly romantic suspense about second chances and finding the family you always wanted…

Chance at LoveUnrequited LoveReturn to hometownGrumpy/SunshineSecretsBoy/Girl Next doorKissing only
The Minnesota Kingstons
Jack
Book 2: Conrad
Book 3: Doyle
Book 4: Austen
Book 5: Steinbeck

What are you waiting on this week?

Friday, December 6, 2024

Review: Never Forgotten

Never Forgotten Never Forgotten by Hannah Linder
My rating: 💛💛💛

Rating 3.5

This is a gothic historical and as such there is more of a dark feeling in this story. The author did a great job with contrasting the darkness and light through Simon and Genevieve.

Simon had his internal struggle of seeking revenge while not falling victim to his rage and hatred. Genevieve, while loving Simon, knew she deserved more than what he wanted to give.

When I started this story I expected a prodigal son returned story, but it was a story of trusting that God will seek justice.

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

View all my reviews

About the book:


All He Wanted was Justice. All She Wanted was His Heart.   Georgina Whitmore, not accustomed to any man being unaffected by her charms, is plagued with the disappearance and rejection of Simon Fancourt. Twelve years later, Mr. Fancourt returns to British society with two children and a mad hunger for justice.   Racing against time, Simon works to uncover the men responsible for his wife’s horrific murder, protect his children, and fulfill his father’s unexpected will by marrying Georgina—the last thing in the world he wants to do.   Though her heart throbs to accept, she would rather lose him again than have his name without his love. She denies his proposal of matrimony, knowing it will cost them both. But as tragedies unravel and secret enemies narrow their sights on Simon, Georgina risks her life—and her reputation—to protect him and the children. Will the danger scorch them alive? Or will it, for the first time, open his heart to her?  Enjoy other Gothic Style Regencies from Hannah His Silence When Tomorrow Came Garden of the Midnights The Girl from the Hidden Forest  

About the author:


HANNAH LINDER resides in the beautiful mountains of central West Virginia. Represented by Books &

Such, she writes Regency romantic suspense novels. She is a double 2021 Selah Award winner, a 2022 Selah Award winner, and a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW). 


Hannah is a Graphic Design Associates Degree graduate who specializes in professional book cover design. She designs for both traditional publishing houses and individual authors, including New York TimesUSA Today, and International bestsellers. She is also a local photographer and a self-portrait photographer. 

When Hannah is not writing, she enjoys playing her instruments—piano, guitar, and ukulele—songwriting, painting still life, walking in the rain, and sitting on the front porch of her 1800s farmhouse. To follow her journey, visit hannahlinderbooks.com. 

Review: The Prodigal

The Prodigal The Prodigal by Susan May Warren
My rating: 💛💛💛💛
Rating 3.75

I love Susan May Warren’s suspense and this one took me across the world to Russia. There were spies and smugglers and danger.

I do feel that the author’s work improved over the time with her suspense keeping me 100% engaged till the end. I was still kept in suspense and just before the 75% mark realised who the middle man was.

The story was again filled with scripture which was smoothly interwoven in the story, something I always appreciate about the author’s book.

This book was co-authored and was done without a change in the voice of the writing.

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

View all my reviews

About the book:


A generational secret could change everything...

She came for answers... but found a mission she never expected.

Kat Moore, a determined American, arrives in Moscow only to find herself embroiled in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the KGB. With only a cryptic key and a longing to uncover her murky past, Kat's search for truth drives her deeper into the shadows of a city that holds the secrets of her heritage.

Vadeem Spasonov, a seasoned FSB agent, thrives on the thrill of the chase and the satisfaction of keeping his country safe from smugglers like the elusive Grazovich. When he encounters Kat, he initially suspects her of being a pawn in Grazovich’s schemes. Vadeem's mission swiftly shifts from capturing a criminal to protecting the headstrong American who inadvertently makes herself a target.

Together, Kat and Vadeem navigate the treacherous waters of espionage and betrayal. As they edge closer to unraveling the mysteries of Kat's family, they realize that the stakes are higher than either of them could have imagined. If they fail, Kat might never learn the truth about her past, and Vadeem could lose his chance at capturing a notorious criminal—or worse, lose Kat to the dangerous game they're playing.

About the authors:

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.



SUSAN K. DOWNS resides in Canton, Ohio, where her husband serves as a district superintendent for the Church of the Nazarene. This mother of five and grandmother of one traded her career as an international adoption program coordinator for one as a writer and editor, but she still loves to visit Russia. . .if only by way of her imagination.

Thursday, November 21, 2024

Review: Elinor: A Riveting Story Based on the Lost Colony of Roanoke

Elinor: A Riveting Story Based on the Lost Colony of Roanoke Elinor: A Riveting Story Based on the Lost Colony of Roanoke by Shannon McNear
My rating: 💛💛💛

I enjoy historical fiction mainly because I learn something I have never knew about before.

With this novel I learned about the lost colony of Roanoke and the author brought the characters to life in such a way that I could feel their struggles to make a new home among people who were not always so welcoming.

Some parts of this story was heartbreaking but I enjoyed the hopeful ending.

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

View all my reviews

About the book:


In 1587, Elinor White Dare sailed from England heavy with her first child but full of hopes. Her father, a renowned artist and experienced traveler, has convinced her and her bricklayer husband Ananias to make the journey to the New World. Land, they are promised, more goodly and beautiful than they can ever imagine. But nothing goes as planned from landing at the wrong location, to facing starvation, to the endless wait for help to arrive. And, beyond her comprehension, Elinor finds herself utterly alone. . . .
The colony at Roanoke disappeared into the shadows of history. But, what if one survived to leave a lasting legacy?

About the author:


Shannon has been writing one thing or another since third grade and finished her first novel at age fifteen—

but waited more than thirty years for her first book contract. In the meantime, she graduated from high school, attended college, met and married her husband, birthed nine children, lost one, taught five to drive, revised that first story innumerable times, and completed six others.


Her first published novella, Defending Truth, in A Pioneer Christmas Collection (Barbour, 2013 & 2015), was a 2014 RITA® nominee, and her most recent one, The Wise Guy and the Star in Love's Pure Light was a 2021 SELAH winner. She writes regularly for Colonial Quills, is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith-Hope-Love Christian Writers, and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

Transplanted to North Dakota after more than two decades in Charleston, South Carolina, she loves losing herself in local history. When this homeschooling mom isn't cooking, researching, or leaking story from her fingertips, she enjoys being outdoors, basking in the beauty of the northern prairies.

Tuesday, November 19, 2024

Review: An Honorable Deception

An Honorable Deception An Honorable Deception by Roseanna M. White
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

The author dealt with a very difficult and sensitive subject in a world where women and children had little rights in a way true to the history.

Though this book was heavier due to the subject, Yates with his charming teasing personality brought a bit of light to the story.

I loved that Lavinia was one of the main female characters and how readers could see her inner strength and fighting spirit from her past struggles.

I really enjoyed the paths crossed between two of the author’s fiction world and the promise of a partnership for hopeful future stories.

Everyone got their happy ending in a way which will leave readers with a satisfied sigh and smile.

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

View all my reviews

Review book 2: A Noble Scheme

About the book:


As the leader of elite private investigative firm the Imposters, Lord Yates Fairfax has made an art of concealing his identity. But when his newest client, the beautiful Lady Alethia Barremore, is shot while leaving their meeting, he throws caution to the wind and rushes to her aid. Though Lady Alethia thought she was only looking for her missing former nanny, she has clearly stumbled upon dangerous secrets.

Lady Lavinia Hemming suspects there's more to her oldest friends than they're willing to admit, and when she stumbles upon the truth that they're the Imposters, she recruits herself into the firm. Happy as she is for the distraction of an investigation, Lavinia's own family secrets continue to haunt her. And the one thing to bring laughter back into her life--her friendship with Yates--lands her squarely on the bad side of her best friend, his sister.

Tormented by a past that she doesn't dare to voice aloud, Lady Alethia does what she can to help her handsome host, her new friends, and the investigators. But as clues lead them deeper into the darkest of society's secrets, Alethia, Yates, and Lavinia soon learn anew that the gentry isn't always noble . . . and truth isn't always honorable.

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

Review: Surge

Surge Surge by Ronie Kendig
My rating: 💛💛💛💛

Surge was a fast pace military suspense full of action and a four-legged hero you sometimes want to snuggle because of the cute personality and other times fear his warrior protectiveness.

I was pulled in from the start, with the emotional, heartbreaking epilogue right till the end when the danger was contained.

The chemistry between the characters added a different spark to the chemical threat they had to find and stop.

I enjoyed each and every military hero and their sidekicks I met in this series and sad to see the end.

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

View all my reviews

About the book:


Love and Betrayal in a Race Against Time

Delaney Thompson isn’t just a dog trainer—she’s the key to preventing a disaster. With loyal Military Working Dog, Surge, by her side, she’s ready to prove herself on her first mission…even without military training. Her goal? Help the intense Belgian Malinois track down a specific chemical linked to a dangerous terrorist group before it reaches American soil. But to succeed, she must navigate unfamiliar terrain and an even more unpredictable partner.

Garrett Walker is a seasoned military operator, driven by duty and haunted by tragic losses. Reluctantly, he teams up with Delaney, whose lack of tactical experience makes her a liability as he leads them across Southeast Asia. Yet Garrett knows that mission success and the safety of countless lives back home hinge on his leadership, the Malinois’s special scent training, and Delaney’s unique skills.

The stakes couldn’t be higher: if Delaney and Garrett fail to locate and secure the toxic chemical, hundreds of thousands of Americans could die. As they hunt down the terrorists, their objectives are clear—find the stash, neutralize the threat, and try not to get killed. But with mutual distrust simmering between them, their greatest challenge may be learning to rely on each other.

A gripping tale of suspense, betrayal, and unexpected romance. Dive into this high-stakes adventure where every moment counts…and falling in love might just be the most perilous move of all.

Review: Cornered

Cornered Cornered by Lynette Eason
My rating: 💛💛💛💛💛

In the dark by Lynette Eason - 5 stars

This was my favourite from the collection. I was flipping pages as fast as I could on my kindle and was engaged right till the very last word.

Downfall by Lynn H Blackburn - 4.5 stars

This one started out great and just as exciting as the first novella. The Quinns and Pierce feud continues and Cassie find herself in danger. At the end, the readers were informed of events vs being part of everything as its happens, which is something which I am not fond off.

Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters - 5 stars

This psychological thriller with a stalker around every corner was thrilling and at the end quite scary. I was totally caught off guard by one twist. Just wished we had a bit more Kekoa in the story.

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

View all my reviews

About the book:


Prepare for three times the thrills with these nail-biting page-turners from your favorite romantic suspense authors!

In In the Dark by Lynette Eason, accountant Steph Cross is cleaning out a coworker's desk after her untimely death when she finds cryptic notes that lead her to believe her friend's car accident was no accident at all. Detective Tate Cooper is determined to help her crack the case before someone else gets hurt. But can he protect the woman who has so quickly laid claim to his heart?

In Downfall by Lynn H. Blackburn, chef Cassie Quinn gets an offer she can't refuse: to fill in as chef at an exclusive mountain resort. But when the kitchen is destroyed and it becomes clear Cassie is in danger, she's forced to accept the help of her ex-boyfriend, Detective Donovan Bledsoe, to find the culprit and keep her safe.

In Perilous Obsession by Natalie Walters, teacher Lahela Young becomes the target of someone with a twisted obsession of righting a wrong. The first person she turns to is her good friend Briggs Turner. Briggs may have left his career as a police officer, but he still has the instinct to protect--especially for Lahela.

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

Can't Wait Wednesday! Serial Burn

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 always love a book from Lynette Eason!


About the book: Serial Burn






When Jesslyn McCormick was just seven years old, a devastating house fire killed her parents and two younger sisters. Now the fire marshal of Lake City, Jesslyn is determined to find the person who started the fire that robbed her of her family. As the 25th anniversary of her family's deaths approaches, a string of fires--including at Jesslyn's church--brings up all those old feelings and offers new evidence.

Because church fires are considered a hate crime, FBI Special Agent Nathan Carlisle is called in to work with local law enforcement. Nathan has his own past--one he'd prefer not to revisit. And focusing on helping Jesslyn track down the arsonist is a great distraction.

As both the case and the chemistry between Jesslyn and Nathan heat up, memories will come flooding in from the past to bump up against hopes for the future. And when Jesslyn comes face-to-face with her worst nightmare, she'll have to confront her fears and rely on Nathan and her community of friends in order to survive.

What are you waiting on this week?

Review: I Think I Was Murdered

I Think I Was Murdered I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble
My rating: 💛💛💛

Rating 3.5

This was a different type of suspense with AI in the mix. I am in two minds, because though it did bring a different type of suspense to the plot, I wasn’t totally a fan.

The plot around solving the murder of Jason was intriguing and the action at the end nail-biting. I had one major suspect from the start and was sad to see my suspicions correct at the end.

There was a lot of characters to get to know and I was happy with the way Dylan’s story turned out.

*I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, all opinions expressed are my own*

View all my reviews

About the book:


A grieving young widow. The AI program that allows her to continue to "talk" to him. And a message she never expected: "I think I was murdered."

Just a year ago, Katrina Berg was at the pinnacle of her career. She was a rising star in the AI chatbot start-up everyone was talking about, married with an adoring husband, and had more money than she knew how to spend. Then her world combusted. Her husband, Jason, was killed in a fiery car crash. Her CEO was indicted and, as the company's legal counsel, Katrina faces tough questions as the Feds take over and lock her out of her office. The final blow is the passing of her beloved grandmother.

Her most prized possession is the beta prototype for a new, ultra-sophisticated chatbot loaded onto her phone. The contents of Jason's email, social media backups, pictures, and every bit of data she could find were loaded into the bot, and Katrina has "talked" to him every day for the past six months. She has been amazed at how well it works. Even the syntax and words the bot uses sound like Jason. Sometimes, she imagines he isn't really dead and is right there beside her. She knows it's slowing her grief recovery, but she can't stop pretending.

On a particularly bad day, she taps out: Tell me something I don't know. The cursor blinks for several moments and seems frozen before the reply flashes quickly onto the screen: I think I was murdered.

Distraught, Katrina returns to her cozy Norwegian-flavored hometown in the northern California redwoods and enlists the help of Seb Wallace, local restaurateur and longtime acquaintance, to try to parse out the truth of what really happened. They must navigate the complicated paths of grief, family dynamics, and second chances, as well as the complex questions of how much control technology has. And staying alive long enough to do that is far more difficult than either of them dreamed.

About the Authors:


USAToday bestselling author Colleen Coble lives with her husband, Dave, in Indiana. She is the author of

dozens of novels including the Rock Harbor Series, the Aloha Reef Series, the Mercy Falls Series, the Hope Beach Series, the Lonestar Series and two Women of Faith fiction selections, 
Alaska Twilight and Midnight Sea. She has more than 2 million books in print.















Rick Acker writes novels during his commute to and from his "real job" as a Supervising Deputy Attorney General in the California Department of Justice. His unit prosecutes corporate fraud lawsuits of the type described in the #1 bestseller, WHEN THE DEVIL WHISTLES, which award-winning author Colleen Coble describes as "a legal thriller you won't want to miss!"


Rick has led investigations and lawsuits that made headlines in and out of California. Most recently, he and his team won a string record-breaking judgments and settlements against the Wall Street players who created the toxic mortgage securities that triggered the Great Recession. Before joining DOJ, Rick was a senior litigator at Bingham McCutchen, where he worked on high stakes litigation, including a fight between two owners of the San Francisco Forty-Niners and a multibilllion dollar international fraud case. Rick has law degrees from the University of Oslo and the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated with honors. In addition to his novels, he is a contributing author on two legal treatises published by the American Bar Association.

When Rick isn't writing or lawyering, you can usually find him with his wife, Anette, and their four children. They'll be exploring in the hills east of San Francisco, watching a good movie together, or, of course, reading. You can visit him on the web at www.rickacker.com

Saturday, November 2, 2024

Monthly Recap: October 2024

 

 I first saw this monthly reflections idea on: Christian bookshelf reviews

A lot of reading done, though I still planned a few more books which I did not get time for.

We enjoyed the beautiful autumn weather and beauty all around.

 

What I've read:


(Reviews can be found under Book Review tag)


Kindle:





Audio:





Paperback:




What I would like to read in November:


Currently reading:




Upcoming reads (hopeful):

Will be happy to read these few books this month:





Did I buy any new books?


Bought:









Freebies: 



Did I read everything I wanted too?


The following I had to carry over - a bit behind again on my 24 books in 24 challenge:

(crosses I've read this month),





This is a main challenge I want to focus on this year:

Looking at 2024, 24 books I would like to read which I had forever!


I have 12 left for the rest of the year 😇











ARC/Netgalley update:


ARC/Netgalley books downloaded this month:


A bit better this month with the ARCs:






ARC/Netgalley books read and reviewed:


Send feedback on the following:













How was your month?




Monthly Recap: November 2024

  I first saw this monthly reflections idea on:  Christian bookshelf reviews Life got a bit busy, so my update is a bit late! December will ...