Loving Jenna by Amy Lillard

This was one of my favorite stories by Amy Lillard. I loved how she wrote about a young man with Down Syndrome and a young girl who had a brain injury and almost died. This shows how these characters interacted with their friends and their families. I laughed and cried. I really liked Jenna and Buddy but didn’t always care for either of their mothers. The mothers had to learn that even though Jenna and Buddy had some handicaps they were still becoming adults. I received a copy of this book from the author for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.


Publisher Description

In this new novel set in the beloved Oklahoma Amish community of Wells Landing, three generations of women challenge themselves and each other to make a fresh start in faith, family—and love.

Jenna Burkhart is tired of being “special” and hearing about what she can’t do. Even though she suffered a head injury in a childhood swimming accident, she wants a life of her own just like any Amish woman. But now that she, her mamm, and her mammi have moved to Wells Landing, she’s having a hard time fitting in. . . . Until she meets Buddy Miller, a boy just like her, who gives her the confidence to reach for the impossible . . .

Like Jenna, Buddy is used to being the boy no one expects much from, the one people see as “different.” Still, being around Jenna’s lively, kind-hearted ways makes him strive ever-harder to become the self-sufficient Amish man she deserves. But in the face of family disapproval and their own fears, will Jenna and Buddy’s courage be enough to give them a forever happiness together?

Blessing On The Run by Alana Terry with a giveaway

This is a quick read but the subject matter is intense. Blessing has led a tough life and this book goes in to child pornography and abortions and other hard topics. This is well written and very sad. I wasn’t sure if I really liked Blessing but she had a hard life and at least improved her life. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

About the Book

Book: Blessing on the Run

Author: Alana Terry

Genre: Christian Suspense

Release Date: December 16, 2018

Blessing on the Run coverDanger she can’t escape.
Temptation she can’t ignore.
And the secret that could destroy everything …

Blessing’s worked hard as a single mom. Caring for her son, struggling to pay the bills, and straightening out her life after years on the street … It’s the hardest job she’s ever loved.

Until her ex-boyfriend reappears with a secret that could cost her freedom, her family, even her very life.

Blessing promised herself never to return to the hell she escaped from. But that was before she had a child to worry about.

A child who will die if Blessing makes the wrong choice …

Or the right one.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

alana terryAlana is a pastor’s wife, homeschooling mom, self-diagnosed chicken lady, and Christian suspense author. Her novels have won awards from Women of Faith, Book Club Network, Grace Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. Alana’s passion for social justice, human rights, and religious freedom shines through her writing, and her books are known for raising tough questions without preaching. She and her family live in rural Alaska where the northern lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summer make hauling water, surviving the annual mosquito apocalypse, and cleaning goat stalls in negative forty degrees worth every second.

More from Alana

Are you afraid of anything? Maybe you have a phobia, like a fear of spiders, heights, or (if you’re weird like me) fish. (That’s a story for another day!)

When I was pregnant with our first son, I had some weird nightmares which fueled my fears. One night I woke up my husband in a panic to tell him to pray for our baby because we were being chased by a demonic cheese grater (yes, you read that right – a demonic kitchen appliance!). Regularly in my nightmares, I dream that someone or something is after my kids (and they’re usually not possessed cooking utensils, by the way).

One way I work through my fears as a mom is to turn them into stories. And even though I haven’t found a way to work a demonic cheese grater into my novels, you can read about a mother’s worst nightmare in this novel, Blessing on the Run.

Blessing has worked hard to turn her life around after a rough life on the streets, but in this exciting suspense novel, her past it about to catch up to her.

Join Blessing and her parents (if you’re a fan of the Kennedy series you already know who they are!) for an adrenaline-packed thrill ride you won’t soon forget.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, February 19

Inklings and notions, February 20

A Reader’s Brain, February 21

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 22

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 22

For Him and My Family, February 23

Betti Mace, February 24

Simple Harvest Reads, February 25 (Author Interview)

deb’s Book Review, February 25

Bigreadersite, February 26

Emily Yager, February 27

Artistic Nobody, February 28 (Author Interview)

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, February 28

Blogging With Carol, February 29

Tell Tale Book Reviews, March 1

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 2

For the Love of Literature, March 3 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, March 3

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/f5cb/blessing-on-the-run-celebration-tour-giveaway

A Highlander In A Pickup by Laura Trentham

This seems to be a wonderful small town where real men from Scotland seem to land. It was a great idea for a town named Highland to add a Scottish festival every year to hopefully get tourists in their town. Since they did this Anna is now planning the festival and is a little over her head since she has a job and hopes to run for Mayor of the city. She meets Iain and they have many adventures working together to plan the festival. I really enjoyed the romance. I received a copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will


Publisher Description

A Highlander in a Pickup is the second book in award-winning author Laura Trentham’s romantic comedy Highland Georgia series, full of love, laughs…and highlanders!

When a gorgeous new man–in a kilt–comes to town, life in Highland, Georgia will never be the same…

Iain Connors is the poster boy for the strong and silent type. Growing up a loner at Cairndow Castle in Scotland with only the cliffs and moors for company, it’s understood Iain will assume the mantle of Cairndow groundskeeper when his father is ready to relinquish it. But his stint in Her Majesty’s Armed Forces has opened up a whole new world–and now, rather than settle down, he accepts an invitation to travel to the States to take charge of the Highland Games. After all, he’s led men into battle, how hard can planning a party be?

Anna Maitland is ready to step up for her best friend Isabel Blackmoor, who can’t run the Games in their hometown this year. Surely Anna, a dance instructor with boundless energy, spirit, and charm, is up for the challenge? What she doesn’t anticipate is a man in a kilt who turns up claiming he’s the one in charge. What’s worse about this Iain? He’s so infuriatingly handsome that she can’t help but fantasize about him whispering sweet-nothings in her ear in his rumbly, sexy brogue. . .

Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill

This was the first book I have ever read by Tom Threadgill and it definitely will not be my last. This had many twists and turns throughout the book. I cried a lot while reading this story. I really loved the characters. Amara was great and I hope there might be more books featuring her. I love a good cop story and this was fantastic. I received a copy of this book from Revell for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Publisher Description


Three years ago, a collision between a fast-moving freight train and a school bus full of kids led to devastation and grief on an unimaginable scale. But a fresh clue leads San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to the unlikely conclusion that one of the children may still be alive. If she’s correct, everything law enforcement believes about the accident is a lie.

With time running out, Amara must convince others–and herself–that despite all evidence to the contrary, the boy lives. And she will do everything in her power to bring him home.

A fresh voice in suspense, Tom Threadgill will have you questioning everything as you fly through the pages of this enthralling story.

From Sky To Sky by Amanda G. Stevens

This is a great book filled with wonderful characters. I recommend that you read book one in the series first so that you know who everyone is in book two. This was inspirational and it made me laugh and cry. I don’t think I would care to live forever but that is me. I hope there are more books in this series because I want to know how each of the characters lives continue. I received a copy of this book from Barbour publishing for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.


Publisher Description

Zac Wilson can’t die.

Daredevil Zac Wilson isn’t the first celebrity to keep a secret from the world, but his might be the most marvelous in history: Zac doesn’t age and injuries can’t kill him. What’s more, he’s part of a close-knit group of others just like him.

Holed up in Harbor Vale, Michigan, Zac meets two more of his kind who claim others in their circle have died. Are their lifetimes finally ending naturally, or is someone targeting them–a predator who knows what they are?

The answers Zac unearths present impossible dilemmas: whom to protect, how to seek justice, how to bring peace to turmoil. His next action could fracture forever the family he longs to unite. Now might be the time to ask for help. . .from God Himself. But Zac’s greatest fear is facing the God he has run from for more than a century.

Cold Case Connection by Dana Mentink

I have loved the characters in this series. Each of the books in this series have been so fun to read. I love the suspense and the romance. This was one that I did not want to put down. I needed to find out who was trying to kill Helen. She and Sergio were great together and the twins were so sweet. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this book a five out of five stars.

About the Book
Book: Cold Case Connection
Author: Dana Mentink
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release Date: February 1, 2020
Cold Case Connection CoverConvinced his sister’s death wasn’t an accident, private investigator Sergio Ross is determined to catch her killer. But with all the clues hinting at a connection to another unsolved murder, he has to join forces with Helen Pike—a woman linked to both deaths—to find the truth. Can they follow the cold evidence trail to get justice…before they become the next victims?

Click here to get your copy.



About the Author
Dana MentinkDana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is a national bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming and Harvest House. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the nutty terrier, and a chubby box turtle. You can connect with Dana via her website at danamentink.com, on Facebook, YouTube (Author Dana Mentink) and Instagram (dana_mentink.)

More from Dana
Cold Case Connection was really fun to write because it’s Helen’s story. She’s an intelligent, sensitive woman who is the sister to the men living on the Roughwater Ranch. Liam is her biological brother, but she’s just as close to Chad and Mitch who might as well be blood relatives. In this novel, Helen has to relive the worst moment of her teenage life, the night when a mysterious murder occurred during a teen prank. Helen is going to have to face the past in order to preserve her future. Cowboys, a case gone cold, a coastal ranch and a whole lot of danger…I hope you will enjoy the ride!
Blog Stops
Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 14
Among the Reads, February 14
Through the Fire Blogs, February 14
The Avid Reader, February 15
Texas Book-aholic, February 15
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 16
Inklings and notions, February 16
janicesbookreviews, February 16
Betti Mace, February 17
She Lives to Read, February 17
Genesis 5020, February 17
For the Love of Literature, February 18
For Him and My Family, February 18
My Devotional Thoughts, February 19
Reading Is My SuperPower, February 19
Just Your Average reviews, February 19
Remembrancy, February 20
Older & Smarter?, February 20
Blogging With Carol, February 20
deb’s Book Review, February 21
Bigreadersite, February 21
EmpowerMoms, February 21
Blossoms and Blessings, February 22
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, February 22
Christian Bookaholic, February 23
KarenSueHadley, February 23
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, February 23
Emily Yager, February 24
Christian Bookshelf Reviews, February 24
Pause for Tales, February 24
Simple Harvest Reads, February 25 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 25
Maureen’s Musings, February 26
Hallie Reads, February 26
A Good Book and Cup of Tea, February 26
Livin’ Lit, February 27
To Everything There Is A Season, February 27
Daysong Reflections, February 27
Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a Mentink giveaway bundle, including a bag, a copy of the book, and an 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/f5c6/cold-case-connection-celebration-tour-giveaway

Ishmael Covenant by Terry Brennan

This is a very good political thriller. I especially enjoyed the last half of the book. The first half seemed to be going in to what was happening in these middle eastern countries. I look forward to reading the next book in the series so I can find out if there might be peace and what the prophecy really says. I received a copy of this book from I Read with Audra for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this book a four out of five stars.

https://facebook.us18.list-manage.com/track/click?u=312d9c42859d078a024ef39aa&id=8bf3d82b00&e=0c066064f5

This link will get you a chance to win a copy of the book.

Inside the box is a messianic prophecy about the fate of the world. And a dark enemy known as The Turk and the forces of evil at his command are determined to destroy the box, the prophecy, and the Middle East as we know it. When Ambassador Cleveland gets in the way, his life and his daughter’s life are threatened–and Mullaney must act fast.

Now agents of three ancient empires have launched covert operations to secure nuclear weapons, in direct defiance of the startling peace treaty Israel and its Arab neighbors have signed. And a traitor in the US State Department is leaking critical information to a foreign power. It’s up to Mullaney–still struggling with his own broken future–to protect the embassy staff, thwart the clandestine conspiracies, and unmask a traitor–before the desert is turned into a radioactive wasteland.

Fans of Joel C. Rosenberg, Steven James, and Ted Dekker will relish the deadly whirlpool of international intrigue and end-times prophecy in Ishmael Covenant–and will eagerly await the rest of this new trilogy.

Read an excerpt from Kregel by clicking here!About the author

Chasing Cleopatra by Tina Sloan

This is a very interesting book. It is written in the first person. Each chapter is a different character telling some of the tale from their perspective. I am not overly fond of this style but it works great for this book. I liked the characters. I even liked ones that end up being bad. I like the romance parts a little and really like the suspense. I received a copy of this book from Smith Publicity for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

Cleopatra “Cleo” Gallier, is a gorgeous local TV host in her mid-40s, who is no longer afraid to go after what she wants. This leads to a fast-paced and intimate affair with the much-younger Jake Regan. Jake and his family are staying on the same Hawaiian island for the holidays where Cleo lives, and she soon finds herself entangled with the whole family in order to stay close to Jake—including Jake’s controlling and adoring mother Miranda, his naïve and charming girlfriend Julia who is anxiously awaiting an engagement ring, and the mysterious Tripp, Jake’s father, whose work as a CIA agent could put his whole family in jeopardy.

Little do the Regans know, Cleo is the perfect asset to help keep them safe. A secretly-trained Krav Maga fighter, she gets pulled into joining Tripp’s classified CIA mission that, if blown, could cause a national tragedy on Christmas Day. As tensions flare between Cleopatra and the Regans, secrets are exposed that will not only test their trust in one another but will reveal what it truly means to love with its heart-racing and heart-stopping twists and turns. Sloan’s scandalous and suspenseful writing style, mimicked from her days starring on the soap opera Guiding Light, makes Chasing Cleopatra a must-have for book clubs as the guilty-pleasure read of the season

Isaiah’s Legacy by Mesu Andrews

This is a wow book. I love how Mesu Andrews can take a little portion of a bible story and give the people a life. I loved the characters and I disliked the characters all at the same time. I felt sorry for King Manasseh for having to grow up so fast and not learning how to rule properly from someone with compassion. I felt sorry for Shulle for how she was raised once she was taken to the palace to live. I also understood many of the problems they went through in their lifetime. This book is so well written and flows nicely. This is very inspirational. I received a copy of this book from Waterbrook Multnomah for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this book a five out of five stars.


Publisher Description

The drama of the Old Testament comes to life as Judah’s most notorious king ascends to the throne in this gripping novel from the award-winning author of Isaiah’s Daughter.

At eight years old, Shulle has known only life in a small village with her loving but peculiar father. When Uncle Shebna offers shelter in Jerusalem in exchange for Shulle’s help tutoring King Manasseh, Judah’s five-year-old co-regent who displays the same peculiarities as her father, she’s eager to experience the royal court. But Shulle soon realizes the limits of her father’s strict adherence to Yahweh’s Law when Uncle Shebna teaches her of the starry hosts and their power.

Convinced Judah must be freed from Yahweh’s chains, she begins the subtle swaying of young Manasseh, using her charm and skills on the boy no one else understands. When King Hezekiah dies, twelve-year-old Manasseh is thrust onto Judah’s throne, bitter at Yahweh and eager to marry the girl he adores. Assyria’s crown prince favors Manasseh and twists his brilliant mind toward cruelty, beginning Shulle’s long and harrowing journey to discover the Yahweh she’d never known, guided with loving wisdom by Manasseh’s mother: Isaiah’s daughter, the heartbroken Hephzibah. Amid Judah’s dark days, a desperate remnant emerges, claiming the Lord’s promise, “Though we’re helpless now, we’re never hopeless–because we serve El Shaddai.” Shulle is among them, a girl who becomes a queen through Isaiah’s legacy

The Fifth Avenue Story Society by Rachel Hauck

This was a book I did not want to put down. I loved the five people that get an invitation to join a story society. Each of these people have been living a lie and they need help to confess what is wrong. I love how they became friends even though they were all so different. There were a few twists and turns as we learned each of the characters truths. I also loved the romance. I received a copy of this book from Celebratelit for a fair and honest opinion that I gave of my own free will.

I give this book a five out of five stars.

About the Book

Book:  The Fifth Avenue Story Society

Author: Rachel Hauck

Genre:  Contemporary Romance/ Women’s Fiction

Release Date: February 4, 2020

The Fifth Avenue Story SocietyAn invitation to join The Fifth Avenue Story Society gives five New York strangers a chance to rewrite their own stories.

Executive assistant Lexa is eager for a much-deserved promotion, but her boss is determined to keep her underemployed.

Literature professor Jett is dealing with a broken heart, as well as a nagging suspicion his literary idol, Gordon Phipps Roth, might be a fraud.

Uber driver Chuck just wants a second chance with his kids.

Aging widower Ed is eager to write the true story of his incredible marriage.

Coral, queen of the cosmetics industry, has broken her engagement and is on the verge of losing her great grandmother’s multimillion-dollar empire.

When all five New Yorkers receive an anonymous, mysterious invitation to the Fifth Avenue Story Society, they suspect they’re victims of a practical joke. No one knows who sent the invitations or why. No one has heard of the literary society. And no one is prepared to bear their deepest secrets to a roomful of strangers.

 Yet curiosity and loneliness bring them back week after week to the old library. And it’s there they discover the stories of their hearts, and the kind of friendship and love that heals their souls.

 

Get your copy of the book here.

 

About the Author

rachel-hauck-LR-5Rachel Hauck is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA TODAY bestselling author of The Wedding Dress, which was also named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times and was a RITA finalist. Rachel lives in central Florida with her husband and pet and writes from her ivory tower. Visit her online at RachelHauck.com; Facebook: RachelHauck; Twitter: @RachelHauck; Instagram: @rachelhauck.

 

Read an Excerpt

Read an excerpt here.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 10

The Avid Reader, February 10

Livin’ Lit, February 10

Genesis 5020, February 10

Locks, Hooks and Books, February 10

The Power of Words, February 11

A Baker’s Perspective, February 11

Rebecca Tews, February 11

All-of-a-kind Mom, February 11

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 11

Older & Smarter?, February 12

Seasons of Opportunities, February 12

Texas Book-aholic, February 12

Inklings and notions, February 12

deb’s Book Review, February 12

My Devotional Thoughts, February 13

Just the Write Escape, February 13

For Him and My Family, February 13

The Meanderings of a Bookworm, February 13

CarpeDiem, February 13

Remembrancy, February 14

Christian Bookaholic, February 14

Connect in Fiction, February 14

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 14

April Hayman, Author, February 14

Robin’s Nest, February 15

Mypreciousbitsandmusings, February 15

Britt Reads Fiction, February 15

Just Your Average reviews, February 15

Blogging With Carol, February 15

Batya’s Bits, February 16

Bigreadersite, February 16

A Reader’s Brain, February 16

Worthy2Read, February 16

Stories By Gina, February 16

Back Porch Reads, February 17

janicesbookreviews, February 17

Literary Reflections Book Blog, February 17

Inside the Wong Mind, February 17

Mary Hake, February 17

Through the fire blogs, February 18

Mia Reads, February 18

Baker Kella, February 18

EmpowerMoms, February 18

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, February 18

Maureen’s Musings, February 19

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 19

Coast and Anchor, February 19

Spoken from the Heart, February 19

SPLASHES of Joy, February 19

She Lives to Read, February 20

By The Book, February 20

Wishful Endings, February 20

Moments, February 20

Simple Harvest Reads, February 20 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Andrea Christenson, February 21

Tell Tale Book Reviews, February 21

Pause for Tales, February 21

For The Love of Books, February 21

Lis Loves Reading, February 21

Reader’s Cozy Corner, February 22

Hallie Reads, February 22

Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, February 22

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, February 22

To Everything There Is A Season, February 22

Godly Book Reviews, February 23

Daysong Reflections, February 23

SusanLovesBooks, February 23

Lights in a Dark World, February 23