I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
Author: vicklea
I love to read! I’m a retired teacher with a spouse of 45 years, three amazing children and nine wonderful grandchildren. I am blessed!
I remember a math class that I took many years ago. As a logical person who wants everything in its place, I didn’t really understand much of that geometry class, but I did understand the conditional statements. You remember them, too, I’m sure. They are the “if…then” statements. For example, you may say, “If it’s sunny today, then we will go to the beach.” The ‘if” clause has to be true for the then clause to kick in. Well, this Scripture is like a conditional statement. IF you are faithful, then God sets you apart and hears when you call on Him. I think that is is awesome that the God of the Universe takes time to listen to me! Are you faithful? Then He hears you. Blessings, my friends for a day filled with the awesome power of God touching your life and drawing you closer to Him. Choose to be faithful!
The second book in the Justice Seekers series is filled with non-stop action and is a fast-paced thrill ride. The female protagonist, Teagan Ray, is a survivor of a vicious attack and torture at the hands of a man who is supposedly in prison. Teagan was studying for a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice when she was attacked. Stopped in her tracks and working on her own mental health, she has decided that the way to get closure is to find her attacker. She wants the help of former FBI profiler turned Justice Seeker, Bryson Anton. Bryson is way off the grid because he was injured, so he is having a pity party and working on getting stronger. Motivated by Teagan’s persistence, Bryson decides to help her solve the case, if for no other reason than to find out if her attacker is really the Kentucky Ripper or not. The two of them together form an indomitable team. Both are curious, intuitive and have sharp wits with their repartee. The plot is very complicated, but the romance between the two main characters gives breaks from the constant tension and angst over what may happen next. This is a Harlequin Intrigue with the emphasis on “intrigue.” The mysteries are deep and seem to pile up, a part of the book that I really enjoyed since I’m a real mystery buff. I also enjoyed the budding relationship between the two characters and the way they played off each other. Both have injuries and are quick to react because of it and that made both of them realistic to me. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys romantic suspense! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Harlequin via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I would rate this book a PG-13 because it does have extramarital sex and some really intense scenes as well as violence.I’m delighted to be a part of the January Blog Tour for Harlequin.Author Bio: Lena’s heart belongs to the rolling hills of her homestate of Kentucky. But you’re more likely to see her near the ocean these days in northeast Florida where she resides with her hubby and two children. A former Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart® finalist, she’s also a four-time winner of the Daphne du Maurier award and a Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller. When not writing, she can be found sprucing up her flower beds or planning her next DIY project.Author Links: Website: https://lenadiaz.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LenaDiazAuthor GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5026871.Lena_Diaz
Long before the shadow fell across the end of the dock and hovered over Bryson Anton’s wheelchair, he knew the man was there. Motion sensors and security cameras had made Bryson’s watch buzz against his wrist when the man parked his car in the driveway. More messages warned when the man crossed the back patio. And again, when he’d descended the gently sloping lawn that ended at the creek. Bryson didn’t care who was now standing behind him, as long as he didn’t have to engage in conversation.
“Nice place,” the man’s voice rang out. “Probably one of the highest views in the Tennessee side of the Smoky Mountains. I’ll bet at night you can see nearly every light in downtown Gatlinburg from here.”
Bryson sighed but didn’t turn around. “My former boss took pity on me after I got myself hurt on the job. He gave me a boatload of money, and I was selfish enough to take it and buy this property. But that doesn’t mean he can drop by any time he wants.”
“I’m still your boss. I haven’t accepted your resignation.”
“That’s not how it works, Mason. I resigned, whether you accept it or not. I’ll never be a Justice Seeker again. I’m not going back to Camelot. You and your knights of the round table are better off without a washed-up former profiler jacking up your investigations.”
“Is that why you’re sitting out here drinking like a fish, because you think you jacked up everything?”
“Something like that.” Bryson grabbed a can of beer from the cooler beside his wheelchair and popped the top. He took a deep long swallow, more to irritate his unwelcome visitor than because he wanted it.
Mason retrieved a beer and eyed the label, then tossed it back unopened. “Fish biting?”
“Do you see a fishing pole around here somewhere?” Bryson emptied his can in the water and dropped it on his lap before wheeling around. “Enjoy the view as long as you want. You paid for it.” He rolled his chair up the flagstone walkway toward the house.
“Dalton and Hayley missed you at their wedding last week.” Mason fell into step beside him.
“Yeah, well. I didn’t have time to learn the latest dance steps.” He stopped at the sliding glass doors and tossed the empty beer can in the recycle bin. When he reached for the door handle, Mason leaned past him and held it closed.
Bryson swore. “What do you want from me?”
“I want you to do your job. A new client came to Camelot yesterday. She specifically wants to hire you.”
He scoffed. “You expect me to believe she asked for a washed-up former FBI agent to screw up her case so someone else will die? If she did, send her on over. I can accomplish that without lifting a finger.”
Mason leaned back against the door. “That’s a heck of a guilty conscience you’re nursing. Or are you just feeling sorry for yourself?” He waved toward the wheelchair. “If you’d actually go to your physical therapy appointments instead of being a no-show half the time, you’d be out of that thing by now. Don’t look so surprised. I pay your insurance premiums. I see what’s billed. And there’ve been a surprising lack of medical invoices lately. You’ve given up, Bryson. The question is why?”
“Why?” he gritted out. “Let me remind you that when I was the FBI’s golden boy, everyone treated my profiles like biblical text. So when I presented them with a profile for the Kentucky Ripper, they focused all their efforts on Avarice Lowe, the suspect at the top of my list. Meanwhile, Leviathan Finney—the real Ripper—was no longer under surveillance. To celebrate, he kidnapped and gutted another woman. Because of me, he was able to kill again.”
“Because of you, the police were able to significantly narrow their list of suspects much faster than they could have otherwise. The choices they made after that weren’t your fault. Hell, Bryson. If it wasn’t for the work you did, it would have taken far longer to catch the Ripper and put him in prison.”
“Tell that to the family of the last woman he killed.”
Mason shook his head. “I hear someone anonymously sends money to the last victim’s family every month. While I admire the generosity and kindness of the gesture, that person is making payments on a debt he doesn’t owe. The only person responsible for that woman’s death is the man who killed her—Leviathan Finney.”
Bryson fisted his hands on the arms of the wheelchair. “Are we about done here? It’s getting late.”
“Big plans tonight?”
“I have to wash my hair.”
Mason let out a deep sigh. “Just explain one thing, then I’ll go. Why now? You left the FBI over three years ago and started working for me as one of the Justice Seekers. Why is the Ripper case bothering you again after all this time?”
This is a totally clean Christian romantic suspense.
A quick-paced and explosively good book! Hannah Fontaine has returned from the battlefields of Afghanistan where she was a compassionate and caring surgeon. Unfortunately, the war seems to have followed her back to the states since her life is increasingly in danger as the plot progresses. With kidnapping, bombs, threats to friends and total chaos in her life, Hannah accepts the help of Travis Walker, a man who owns his own security company and who is determined to keep Hannah safe. With characters from previous books in the series playing key roles in this one, it was like seeing old friends again. I really enjoyed the intricacies of the plot and the “jump off the page” realism of the characters. I felt as though I was right there in the story with Hannah, with my heart pumping and my feet running. This book was a journey into the dark world of lack of forgiveness and revenge, with a stunning reveal of the villains at the end. My favorite character was a teen named Ryker, a young man with a hard life and a big heart. The author did a masterful job of creating a story that is compelling and riveting from the first page all the way to the end. Fans of romantic suspense mixed with a thriller will really enjoy this book. It can definitely be read as a standalone, but I enjoyed the entire series. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from #Revell via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Instead of making resolutions for the New Year and asking God to bless them, my plan is to ask God what the “new thing” is that He wants to do in my life and to follow His path. I have made so many resolutions, but I hardly ever kept them. So, my new thing to do is to wait for God’s “new thing” and to expect Him to act miraculously on my behalf throughout the year. I’m almost seven decades old, almost forty-eight years with the Lord as my Savior, and He hasn’t ever failed me. Hardships? Yes, of course. That is a part of life. Disappointments? Too many to name. But not one time have I ever been abandoned by the Lord and left alone in a wilderness. So, my word for this year is “obey.” I want to obey where and when the Lord leads me and know that He is the light for my path and the river in my wasteland. This is the Scripture that I will use as my theme this year. In a new year, I’m expecting new things from the Lord. He never disappoints. After all, He is the Creator!
Since God knows all of our days, I think it’s an excellent idea to give Him control of our calendars. We can rest in His purposes for our lives and know that He always wants what is best for us. Happy New Year, friends! May God bless you and keep you and watch over all of your days!
This is the best way that I can think of to end this remarkably strange year. Let’s praise the Lord together, remembering that nothing that happened this year has caught Him by surprise. Our God who loves us is still on His throne and in total control. Bless His Holy Name! I pray for God’s blessing on each of you as you enter a new year, with its challenges and its answered prayers. Remember to keep track of the answers! There is always so much to praise God for, isn’t there? See you in 2021!
This is the Scripture that I have held on to many times when I was facing hardship. Much like Psalm 91, protection is promised. This is specifically protection from evil. Is there evil in today’s world? Yes. There is division and hatred and so much sin that is disguised as pleasure. May God protect me and all of His believers from the evil that is rampant in the world. I am blessed to know that God is protecting us. No matter what happens in the world, God is there. He has always been there; it’s just a matter of accepting His love and protection for us. So much evil, but God….You complete the sentence. I complete it this way: But God is there to stand in front of and beside and behind me, protecting me in every way because I put on His full armor every day and then I go out to face the world. Whatever you are facing today, remember, but God….
Blessings, my friends, for a day that is filled with the knowledge of His love and protection over your heart and life.
The title of my blog today refers to a poem by Robert Frost, one of my favorite poets. Two roads…one choice…a whole lifetime is changed. This morning, as I drove to my doctor’s appointment, I was just going down the road towards the main highway and the thought popped into my head that there were several routes I could have chosen. I chose this one because of the lack of traffic and because it didn’t go by the school zones. We have choices every day, roads to choose. Some of them are the roads that are best for us, the way that God wants us to go. How do we know which way to go? God speaks to our hearts because God takes pleasure in our calling on Him, in reverence, in all things. He has mercy on us, knowing that we are fragile with a limited lifespan. I was thinking about my family members who have been traveling down the wrong road for many years, seeking success and pleasures from the world. Or, maybe they are just getting busy with their own lives and not acknowledging the sovereignty of God. I’m happy that God showed me clearly the way I should go and continues to show me daily, but I am saddened by all the people going the wrong way on a one-way street to destruction. I pray for them, that their eyes will be opened to see the right way, the only way to God. I pray for God to have mercy on them and that one day soon they will come to fear His awesome power and presence in their lives.
I got to my medical appointment just fine because I chose the right route. Everyone can choose the right way; God didn’t make the road to Heaven just for me. He created it for all of mankind. He sent His Son as a sacrifice for all mankind. We have to choose to believe and purposely travel on the road towards Heaven. I hope that you will pray with me during this Christmas season when so many are forced to be inside and away from loved ones that they will be captured by the love of their Heavenly Father and truly come to believe in the One who made a way for them in the wilderness. Let them take the road that not all take, but those who do will be blessed beyond measure and have a peace of mind that no one can understand. I hope in the mercy of the Lord, and I pray that you do, too. Blessings for a wonderful season of celebrating the birth of the Lord!
This was an excellent book that dealt with the topics of love and loss and finding your place in the world again. Hannah shows up unexpectedly in Eternity Springs and when Boone finds her at Lover’s Leap, apparently ready to take her own life, she finds a shelter that she never thought possible to find again. Boone accepts Hannah just as she is, a broken woman who needs love and healing. Providing that at his estate in Eternity Springs is easy; not so easy is protecting his heart from her vulnerability that draws him to her. This book drew me in and was a quick read with compelling, magnetic characters in the little town. My favorite character was Celeste Blessing, an older woman who is wise and intuitive about Hannah’s needs and her wants. I thoroughly enjoyed reading as the relationship between Boone and Hannah evolved and I loved the patience that Boone displayed with her. The camping scenes were awesome! I have camping, but I wouldn’t mind “glamping” at all as it’s described in this novel. All in all, this was a satisfying and absorbing romance that allowed me to lose myself in its pages all the way to the end. Fans of romance will enjoy the book and you don’t have to read the other books in the series to enjoy this one. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
This photo just wants you to step right into the story, doesn’t it? I would rate the book a hard PG-13 because of extra-marital sex. A fun and fast read with humor and realistic details.Photo from the author’s website:
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Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 