Review: Fatal Pattern by Kate Angelo

On September 22, 2026 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review2 Comments

About the Book

ISBN-139780800746643

Publisher: Baker Publishing Group

Publication Date: 09/15/2026

Series: The King Legacy

Pages: 368

Synopsis (from the Author’s Website)

A hyper-intelligent stalker attacks behavioral analyst and forensic psychologist Dr. Tori Crew at knifepoint, shattering the fierce independence she’s built since her parents’ unsolved murder. Forced into an off-the-books criminal investigation, Tori must push her expertise—and her fiercely guarded heart—to the breaking point as a killer’s pattern emerges. Homicide Detective Blade St. James has been Tori’s friend and protector since childhood. Haunted by his own past of parental abandonment, Blade is determined to build a stable life and find the peace that always seems just out of reach. But when Tori’s life is threatened, his protective instincts shift into overdrive. As they are plunged deep into a conspiracy with roots in her past, the boundary of their friendship blurs as danger closes in and their hearts reveal a truth they can no longer deny. Can they unmask the sophisticated serial killer before they become the final, fatal piece in the pattern?

My Thoughts

Dr. Tori Crew has a stalker determined to kill her and Detective Blade St. James is determined to protect her at any cost. The city also has a serial killer wreaking havoc and leaving weird clues with fractals and patterns that require the expertise of many on their team at the MMA Academy. The one person that they cannot depend on for help during this novel is Stryker, their mentor and teacher who is lying in a coma in the hospital. So, without Stryker, the team has to follow the clues that lead them on a chase that gets more dangerous as they get closer to the truth. This is a complex and multi-layered romantic suspense with definite elements of thriller interspersed within the compelling story. With family relationships, secrets from the past and a vicious serial killer involved, this book held me captive and kept me turning the pages. I wanted everything to be okay for all of my favorite and very lovable characters, but throughout most of the book, I did not see how that was even possible. There was constant danger and threats, non-stop action and red herrings mixed in with a multitude of possible suspects. I enjoyed following the clues and guessing but it was the big reveal at the end that showed me I was going in the wrong direction, just as I think the author cleverly planned it. This is the second book in the King Legacy series and will be more enjoyable if you read the first book before this one, but it can be read and understood as a standalone. Five stars for action, five stars for drama, five stars for the characters, and ten stars for the ending that you will have to read to believe! Loved this book and highly recommend it for those who enjoy books with a faith foundation that is unputdownable.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Christian Fiction, Rated PG for intense suspense

About the Author

Kate Angelo is the Publishers Weekly bestselling author of Hunting the Witness, Selah Award winner of Deadly Holiday Hijack, and Amazon Top 100 bestseller of Driving Force. She serves on the executive board of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and works alongside her husband championing stronger marriages and families. Her journey from foster care to bestselling author fuels her fast-paced romantic suspense, where flawed characters discover hope and healing through life’s fiercest trials and relationships. When she’s not putting fictional people through the wringer, she’s out creating real-life happily-ever-afters at conferences and events nationwide. Connect with Kate at kateangelo.com.

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Remembering What God Has Done

On September 21, 2026September 20, 2026 By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

The Spiritual Habit of Remembering (Daily Refresh, 9-20-26)

Throughout the Old Testament, God delivers the people of Israel from many different situations. He acts miraculously in bringing them out of foreign nations. He even provides water and bread for them in the wilderness.

However, the nation of Israel grew disobedient and distant from God and His law. They ended up turning away from God, and part of the reason was because they failed to remember.

They failed to remember the great acts of deliverance God did for them. They failed to remember the miracles that He performed in their midst. They failed to remember that He was good and present and loving towards them.

But thankfully, there were also people throughout Scripture who developed a spiritual habit of remembering God’s work from the past. When times became difficult, or when things seemed dark, they took the time to remember how God had previously acted toward them.

The writer of Psalm 9 was one of them. The Psalmist begins this song by doing two things. First, the writer gives thanks to God, and expresses gratefulness for God.

Second, the writer recounts God’s wonderful deeds. Recounting these deeds from the past helped the Israelites remember His faithfulness and goodness toward them even in difficult times.

And the same is true for us.

We are commanded many times in God’s Word to remember what God has done, because remembering what God has done fuels our hope for what He will do.

So take some time today to remember what God has done for you. Think about a season of your life where you knew God’s goodness and love. Tell Him how grateful you are for His goodness and love in your life. Begin to let those memories of God’s love shape your hope for the future.

My Thoughts

In remembering what God has already done, I find hope for the future. When things look the darkest, the light of remembering God’s actions on my behalf in the past makes the darkness dissipate.

In 2015 when I had a stroke, I had a really hard time remembering. I would read a few pages in a book and not remember anything I had read. I would go to the kitchen, struggling to get there with my quad cane and uneven gait, and then forget why I was there. I do recall that when the kids would ask me if I remembered something, my general response would be that I didn’t remember because I had had a stroke. My reality was altered but the presence of God in my life was not.

So after that I made it a point to remember at the end of each day all the small things, big things, everything I could, that God had done for me that day. I enumerated them as I was falling asleep. That is a good habit to follow and I still try to do that every night. I also tell others what God has done, to help their faith to grow.

My stroke was a massive brain bleed, a 19 our of 21 on the stroke scale and my neurologist is always happy to see that I am still around and still moving, thinking and even reading with comprehension now. One of my therapists told me that we are so well made by God that when one part of the brain stops functioning, the brain re-routes those activities to another part. She encouraged me by telling me that “it just takes time” to detour to the new path. I had forgotten how to speak Spanish (and I was a Spanish teacher) but it came back to me slowly as I studied first and second year textbooks. I had forgotten how to walk, but my physical therapist helped me to retrain my brain to take steps. And on and on it went. Today, I can pretty much do all that I did before, just more slowly. And how is that possible? Because God showed up and began the process of healing me. In the ambulance when I could not speak, I was praying for God to be with me and with Harry and our children. I

Remembering what God has done is a good thing for me and I am confident that it will help you in your journey with Him. Journaling helps. Writing answers to prayers in your Bible helps. Whatever it takes, make remembering part of your daily routine so that you don’t forget and you can also help others remember God’s goodness too.

Thanksgiving and Worship

On September 20, 2026 By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

In giving thanks, we are thanking God for what He has done, is doing and will do in our lives.

In worshipping God, we are acknowledging who He is and why He deserves all the praise and glory.

This Sunday, let’s agree that we need to participate in both.

If our Heavenly Father never does another thing for us, just remember He has already done more than enough.

Worship the Lord-Ron Kenoly

Review: High Exposure by Kelly Borjas

On September 19, 2026 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review3 Comments

About the Book

ISBN-139780825452635

Publisher:Kregel Publications

Publication Date: 09/15/2026

Pages: 304

Synopsis (from author’s website)

The riveting start to an adventure-driven romantic suspense series from a debut author

Determined travel blogger Julia Stevens is on her final assignment in snowy Silverberg, Colorado. She’s running from her past-and God-but the charm of small-town life brings little comfort when she’s face-to-face with the winter sport that killed her sister: skiing. Upon her arrival in town, she discovers a dead body and is compelled to research the situation, give justice to the man’s story, and kick off her new career in journalism.

Cade Haskins is back home after a failed mission and his subsequent retirement from the DEA. His father’s declining health has pushed Cade to prioritize family, and he helps at the historic Silverberg Hotel on his dad’s behalf. When Julia shows up at the hotel, Cade becomes her local contact. He quickly realizes she has a knack for sniffing around where she shouldn’t, and he attaches himself to her side.

With the local death connected to a meth ring, Julia’s investigation has unknowingly put a target on her back. As the danger increases and she begins to learn more about Cade and his family, she finds herself trusting the God she was running from. And Cade? He doesn’t want to get dragged back into DEA work, but it seems like he may not have a choice if he wants to protect Julia . . . and his growing attraction to her.

My Thoughts

The intense suspense in this debut novel had me captivated from the beginning. Julia’s story of running from her grief is relatable and relevant and was heart-wrenchingly realistic. In the small town of Silverburg, Colorado, Julia Stevens plans to conquer her fears, face her past and move on with life. What she did not count on was finding a dead body and encountering non-stop threats and danger as a result. Julia attracts the attention of former DEA Agent Cade Haskins who is running the local hotel and also tasks himself with keeping her safe. The plot is a fast-paced race to the bottom of a black diamond ski slope as the two protagonists try to find the source of the threats while also safeguarding their own secrets from the past. The romance is a slow burn and predictable, but such a satisfying and swoonworthy part of the story. The characters were realistic and my favorite was the spunky and fearless Julia who faced fear even when it was foolhardy and perilous for her. the ending was a slam dunk and I really enjoyed the intro to the next book in the series. I will definitely look for Ami’s story as I enjoyed Julia and Cade’s story so much. This book was hard to put down and thought-provoking as Julia and Cade both dealt with feeling responsible for things in their past that they could not change. The genre is Christian romantic suspense and this book hit all the targets for the genre as it enticed me to read with the suspense, entertained me with the romance and filled my need for a book with a faith foundation as the characters struggled with their faith but knew intrinsically that God was in control. I would give more than five stars if I could because this book is a must read for fans of Lynette Eason, Elizabeth Goddard and Nancy Mehl.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Christian Fiction with Intense Suspense, Rated PG

About the Author

Kelly grew up in Southwest Colorado, exploring the outdoors as well as her hometown library. She transplanted to Southern California to attend Biola University, where she earned a degree in communication studies. While working in sales, she met her husband and earned a Master’s in Leadership and Organizational Studies from Azusa Pacific University. In her spare time, she and her husband enjoy boating, camping, and cheering for their kids in their various activities. By day, she’s the queen of her own castle with three active boys. By night (or very early morning), she writes happily ever after stories filled with romance and suspense from the Central Coast of California. Website for more information: https://kellyborjas.com/

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Enjoy the Silence

On September 18, 2026 By vickleaIn Quotation and Citations, Scripture3 Comments

I have learned since I had my stroke that I really like silence more than noisy environments. The cacophony of chaotic noise, whether it is a crowd of people, loud music or a loud television or radio, tend to annoy me. It hurts my brain and causes me to withdraw and look for a quiet place. I think that we all need to learn to enjoy silence. We fill our days with noise. Some of us wake up in the morning and immediately turn on the television or pick up our phones and watch a video. We go out to work in traffic, with honking horns all around us and music or a talk show blaring on the radio. If we are still working, we spend our days with people demanding our attention, some of them all at one time. There is no lack of noise all around us. Thus, I think that enjoying the silence is a good thing, so I practice it when I am doing my devotional and when I am reading. I used to read with the TV on, dividing my attention between the two. Now I can only focus if I read a book and that is all that I am doing at that time. It’s important to focus on God when you are spending time with Him, too.

We can better enjoy God’s presence in our lives if we are quiet before Him and wait for Him to speak to our hearts. He won’t talk over top of all of the distractions around us, or at least He doesn’t in my experience. I have to be quiet to hear Him.

One of the best ways for me to appreciate God is to look around me at the beauty of the creation He gave us to enjoy. And the best part of it is that He didn’t have to make everything so pleasing to our eyes, ears, nose and mouth. It was His love for us that had Him gift us with such delights. So, take a walk alone, look around you and listen for God’s voice talk to you. He created what you see just for you to enjoy. Enjoy the silence!

Thursday Quotation to Ponder

On September 17, 2026 By vickleaIn Quotation and CitationsLeave a comment

Taking the Next Step

On September 16, 2026 By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

If you have ever been around a toddler just learning to walk, you know that they don’t generally take the next step until they scope out the territory and see what they can grasp quickly if they need help to keep from falling. First, they hold tables or couches or chairs. Then, even when they get bold and let go to venture into the middle of the room, they are looking at the adult who holds out their hands or the piece of furniture that they just left behind. Jesus wants us to take the next step with complete faith that He will be there to meet us and catch us if we need it.

I read a devotional today from Jesus.net that I hope you will take the time to read and let it reach deeply into your mind and soul so that you can take the adventure with Jesus of taking the next step. I will admit that I am still fearful but I am choosing faith over fear and hope you will join me. Just click on the link above and read what Deborah has to say. Then take the time to ponder it and apply it to your life.

Jesus said, “Come.” With those words, He gives you all of the encouragement you want or need to step out of your comfort zone, let go of the furniture and move towards the task He wants you to do. I hope this is a good and profitable word for you today. It certainly was for me!

Review: Find Me in the Harvest by Sarah May Warren

On September 15, 2026 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review5 Comments

About the Book

ISBN-139781966463627

Publisher: Sunrise Publishing

Publication Date: 09/15/2026

Series:Jonathon Island Season 2

Pages: 268

Synopsis (from Sunrise Publishing)

Charlotte Sullivan has a PhD, a career she loves, and a heart full of cracks she’s learned to hide. She’s the sister who always shows up—and never gets noticed. When her family needs someone to save the annual harvest festival, guess who they call? Two weeks. That’s all she promised. Two weeks of hayrides, pumpkin patches, and pretending she doesn’t mind being invisible. Then she’s gone.

Callan Carver is just passing through. The firefighter hasn’t called anywhere home since his mother died. Staying means caring. Caring means losing. And he’s lost enough. But something about Charlotte makes him want to stop running.

She’s brilliant. She’s beautiful. And she has no idea. As they work side by side bringing the festival to life, Callan starts seeing a future he never let himself imagine. Charlotte starts believing she might be worth fighting for. Then tragedy hits…and suddenly they’ll both have to discover what it really means to stay.

My Thoughts

Charlotte Sullivan feels as though she is totally unimportant, an afterthought that is usually forgotten. Firefighter Callen Carver is struggling for find the dream that will fulfill him. The two of them meet on Jonathon Island when Charlotte is tasked by her brother to plan the Harvest Festival and Callen is assigned to work with her by the fire chief. With no idea how to plan the festival, the two of them make lists, brainstorm and get to know the townspeople and each other better. Charlotte is a scientist who studies soil, so planning a festival is out of her comfort zone. Callen is more comfortable teaching recruits at the firehouse than planning a festival. Together, the two of them manage to get the townspeople invested in the celebration and to participate in the fun activities that they are planning for it. This is an entertaining and engaging romance with a strangers to friends to more trope and a small town that makes everyone feel welcome. The plot is moderately paced and perfect for the blooming romance. The characters are relatable and lovable and flawed in a perfectly imperfect way. The climax was surprising and emotional because I wasn’t prepared for all of that drama, but it was so good and lent itself to a compelling conclusion to the story. This is a perfect book to read anytime you want to read a feel-good and uplifting story that has a heartfelt message of hope and dependence on God.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author

Growing up in a writer’s household, Sarah May Warrenalways knew she was doomed to catch the writing bug—and she did, right around the time she met and fell in love with her now husband, Neil. She finally started writing her first full length novel while pregnant with their first child, and she hasn’t stopped since. When she’s not writing a story, or adding another book to her endless TBR, Sarah can be found volunteering with her Church’s worship team, coordinating weddings, or cuddling up for movie night with her two amazing daughters—oh yeah, and that scruffy hubby of hers.

Visit her as SEWarrenFiction.com.

Purchase Links for Find Me in the Harvest

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Passing the Baton

On September 14, 2026 By vickleaIn ScriptureLeave a comment

He Will Lead the Way (Daily Refresh, 9-14-26)

Moses led the people of Israel for forty years. He led them out of slavery in Egypt, through the Red Sea, delivered the Ten Commandments from his time with God on Mount Sinai, and walked with them through the wilderness until they reached the edge of Canaan.

But as he neared the end of his life, God showed Moses that it was time to hand off leadership to another. In a final address to the people of Israel, he shares these final words with his successor, Joshua:

“The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
Deuteronomy 31:8 NIV

This is the last record we have of Moses talking to Joshua. Notice he didn’t say, “Good luck, these people are exhausting,” or, “Here’s a situation going on, I would handle it this way.” Moses wasn’t telling Joshua about how to do something, but instead, how to see everything.

Moses drew Joshua’s attention to the most important part of the story: God. Moses had been a crucial leader, but it was only because of God that Israel could move forward. It was only because of God that they made it this far. And because God is the author of the story, His provision would continue after Moses is gone.

Because God was with Israel, Joshua didn’t need to fear anything. And when God is with you, there is nothing to fear. He will lead the way.

My Thoughts

I think the most important legacy that Moses left for Joshua was the promise that God would be with him. That is also the most important advice we can leave behind for our children and grandchildren, for all of our friends and family really. As I have faced one health battle after another, the reality of my humanity and the inevitability of dying has become more real to me. I don’t mean that I expect it to happen at any moment, although it could. But the fact that we will all die is one that should prompt us to get our “ducks in a row” and spend time doing things that need to be done. The most important thing is to let our loved ones know that even after we have moved on to eternity with God, they are still here and God is still with them. Moses could have said something bitter like, “These stiff-necked people aren’t even worth leading. Look at me…they’re the reason I cannot go into the Promised Land.” He didn’t play the blame game or point out the obvious to Joshua. He gave him hope by pointing out that God was still with them. God isn’t the One who leads just one person faithfully; He leads each of us if we will follow, and that is a legacy worth sharing. Sharing in this case is more than caring…it’s offering hope for a future and a promise for a bright tomorrow when life on earth ends. No fear, no discouragement, just move forward with God. Several of my grandchildren participate in track and field events. And when they do the relay race, they don’t pass the baton and say, “It’s really tough out there, so I doubt you can do this.” They pass the baton and say things like, “Go, Fast! You can do it!” Thus they already know how a baton should be passed. Moses knew too. The question is: Do we?