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!

Review of FIRE MOUNTAIN by Dana Mentink

On By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review2 Comments

About the Book

In the shadow of a threatening volcano, long-haul trucker Kit Garrido wakes up in her crashed big rig, unable to recall what happened or why she’s suddenly in possession of someone’s baby. Fiercely independent, she has to admit that perhaps this time she could use a little help.

As the threat of eruption grows, former cop Cullen Landry refuses to leave his cabin in the evacuation area, which is why he’s the only one left who can help Kit escape the crumpled cab of her truck. He doesn’t want to get tangled up in the mystery of the beautiful woman with an abandoned infant, but when he sees the bullet hole in the windshield and the bloody handprint on the interior, he realizes that he’s in this thing, like it or not. 

When two armed men with ill intent approach, the race is on to stay alive, discover the truth, and find the baby’s missing mother–all while a deadly mountain rains fire from above. 

More Details

ISBN-13:9781493450664 Publisher:Baker Publishing Group Publication date:07/01/2025 Series:Elements of Danger , #1 Pages:320

My Thoughts

The pace of this book is so fast that I could not flip through my Kindle pages quickly enough! The characters are regular people who are faced with insurmountable challenges and who rise to the task, the biggest one to take care of an infant while fleeing a volcano and avoiding bad guys who want to kill all of them. Kit Garrido is a semi-truck driver who is dedicated to her business and not looking for anything except success. Cullen is fixing a roof of his cabin when he sees Kit wreck her truck, so he rushes to her aid. Thus begins the story of the two intrepid warriors against nature and evil! When Cullen discovers a baby in the living compartment of Kit’s truck, Kit is flabbergasted about how she got there, since the accident that wrecked her beloved truck also stole her memory. Discovering that the accident was a purposeful action of sabotage since a bullet hit the truck, Cullen makes it his goal to keep Kit and the baby safe from whomever is trying to harm her. I loved the way the two of them bonded with the baby whom they called “Tot” and I was totally invested in the realistic character of Archie, a veteran who is a friend of Cullen’s and who is wise and snarky, too. The race to save themselves from the volcano and from the villains is realistically portrayed, with all kinds of extra dangers along the way and problems like no shelter and limited food, along with horrible air quality due to the erupting volcano. The twists keep coming and just when I thought Cullen and company were safe, another threat arose and had my heart pumping and my pulse racing. The plot was complex with multiple layers that were expertly woven together into a satisfying conclusion. The romance is one that simmers since the hero and heroine are a little busy running for their lives and watching over Tot. This is a powerful, breathtaking story of honor and sacrifice as well as a propulsive thriller that took off like a jet plane from the first chapter and flew high for the entire book. With escalating tension and a gripping story, combined with nail-biting suspense and unique, relatable characters, this book is a real winner for me in the Best Books of 2025 category. The author did a remarkable job of including faith and the tough topic of human trafficking all while staying on course to captivate me with the active volcano and the bad guys who were nothing short of pure evil. If I could give this book more than five stars, I would because it didn’t just entertain, but it also educated and made me think about life choices and consequences.
Disclaimer: 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-13

About the Author

Dana Mentink lives in California where the weather is golden and the cheese is divine. Her family includes two daughters (affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo.) Papa Bear is retired from the fire department and he met Dana doing a dinner theater production of The Velveteen Rabbit. Ironically, their parts were husband and wife.

Dana writes in two genres, cozy mystery and romantic suspense. She’s a USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly, and Amazon bestselling author as well as a two time ACFW Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion recipient. Her suspense novel, Betrayal in the Badlands, earned a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. She is honored to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell, and Poisoned Pen Press

Purchase Links

Purchase Links

bit.ly/3ToBtWt(Baker Book House)

https://bit.ly/4nrSmNQ(Amazon)

bit.ly/3ZUq6cL (Target)

bit.ly/3FWlCLM (Books-a-Million)

bit.ly/3HFO2Ky(Christian Book)

bit.ly/4e4AcgU (Barnes and Noble)

adbl.co/4lcywEt (Audible)

God’s Provision

On By vickleaIn promises, Quotation and Citations, Scripture, YouVersion App2 Comments

We can trust God to always provide even when we don’t know how it can possibly happen. God is always there, always desiring the best for His children.

Times can get hard because life is hard. But no matter what, before the hard times come, we need to purpose in our hearts that we will trust God’s provision and continue to rejoice. He has given us a Savior, the gift of eternal life and a relationship with our Creator. Everything else is just extra, as they say, the cherry on top.

Do we look at all we have and have confidence that we will continue to have it tomorrow and all of the tomorrows to come? Do we recognize that all we have comes from the God who is blessing us. Thus we learn to depend on God and not on things. The things we have may vanish, but God remains steadfastly beside us.

Just Read Publicity Tour: Midnight Offensive by Elle E. Kay

On By vickleaIn blog tour, Book Review, JustRead Publicity Tour8 Comments

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Midnight Offensive by Elle E. Kay, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Midnight Offensive
Series: Toxic Truths #1
Author: Elle E. Kay
Publisher: Faith Writes Publishing
Release Date: May 14, 2025
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense / Thriller

Former Navy SEAL Craig Malone is now a Tactical Operations Leader for Homeland Security with a critical mission: protect the only antidote to Viper-X, a stolen bioweapon about to be sold to the highest bidder. But the mission becomes dangerously personal when the investigation leads him to Sadie Kline—an emergency room nurse and his best friend’s little sister. He’s always kept his distance, but now her life is on the line.

As a ruthless enemy closes in, kidnapping their loved ones and setting deadly traps, Craig must protect the woman he can’t get out of his head while stopping a catastrophic attack.

Duty and a decade of unspoken feelings collide in a race to stop a traitor before it’s too late.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Buy from the Author | Amazon | BookBub

My Thoughts

This is my first book by Elle E. Kay and I am a definite new fan, hooked by her sharp writing, constant action and satisfying romance that was enchanting and believable. Sadie is an ER nurse caught in the crossfire with a bio-weapon at stake. Her former neighbor is the Homeland Security agent in charge of safeguarding the nation from the bio-weapon and protecting the man who is developing the antidote. Craig and Sadie together make a formidable team to take on the saboteurs, but the head-spinning twists keep coming at them fast and furiously. From one place to another, Sadie and Craig seem to be chasing down leads while danger is chasing them and is right behind them at all times, sometimes catching up with them at unexpected times. This is a gripping story that is addictive and fun to read and try to piece the clues together. Infused with spiritual truth and romance simmering under the surface, this book grabbed hold of my imagination and would not let go. I was captivated by the courage of the characters who were the good guys and thought that all of the characters were realistic, original and dynamic. The plot flowed well from beginning to end in this edgy, page-turner that kept me on the edge of my seat and fascinated with the twists. It is a well-crafted book that hit all of the high notes for me in suspense, drama and romance.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book. I was not required to write a positives review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Also Available

_____________________________________________________________________

About the Author

Elle E. Kay is an Angel Award–winning Christian author known for her gripping suspense and engaging romance. She lives on a hobby farm in Central Pennsylvania near Red Rock Mountain with her husband, three dogs, and a variety of farm animals. A devoted follower of Christ, Elle is active in her church’s youth ministry and shares her love of Jesus through music.

Since her debut novel Shadowing Stella released in 2016, Elle has written over two dozen books spanning romantic suspense, contemporary romance, historical fiction, and children’s literature. Her award-winning Pennsylvania Parks series blends faith and thrills against the backdrop of the state’s stunning natural landscapes. She’s also the author of the Endless Mountain series and a contributor to several multi-author projects, including the Lawkeeper, Blushing Brides, Heroes of Freedom Ridge, and Christmas in Redemption Ridge collections.

Elle writes children’s books under the pen name Ellie Mae Kay and connects with readers through her blog, newsletters, and social media. Whether writing fiction, singing in church, or caring for her animals, Elle lives out her faith—and crafts stories where love, hope, and perseverance prevail.

Connect with Elle by visiting elleekay.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

______________________________________________________________

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a Romantic Suspense Prize Pack which features 5 of Elle’s most recent romantic suspense releases, including Midnight Offensive, along with a tote bag and swag!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 30, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on July 7, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

______________________________________________________________

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Gardening

On By vickleaIn Admonition, promises, Scripture1 Comment

Isn’t this lovely? Well, that is no thanks to me because I kill all the plants. In fact, I joke that they just go ahead and wither when they see me coming around. My husband Harry is the gardener and this is the rose bush he planted for me after my stroke. He put it just outside the window next to the chair where I sit daily. Since then, he has added all kinds of other flowering plants as well as bird feeders. He is truly a gifted gardener. We also have a bounty of fresh veggies that he plants for us each year. As my dietary requirements have changed, he has changed what he has planted. That means fewer tomatoes and more things like squash and cucumbers and even some melons. He takes what we can’t use to share with the people in our Monday Bible study group, so it all gets used. Anyway, he is the gardener and I benefit from his talent.

Let’s break this verse down in relationship to what I just said about my husband being the gardener around our house. In this verse, Jesus clearly states that He is the true vine. God is the gardener and we are the branches. What does God do as the gardener in our lives? The same thing my husband does to keep things growing properly in our yard. God weeds out the bad things, prunes back the unproductive growth and fertilizes and waters. We cannot produce fruit unless we allow God to be the gardener. We can keep weeds, those pesky little sinful habits that we know we should not have around, but they will keep the plant that God is working on inside our hearts from flourishing. We can say that pruning hurts and we don’t want to cut things out, even if they are killing the plant inside us. But, again, the plant won’t grow properly unless it is pruned, and it may even die without this process, no matter how painful it may be. We can say that today is not a good day for fertilizer and water. Since our plant food (fertilizer) and water is the Word of God, every day is a good day to feed the plant. God is a good Creator who knows just what He is doing in the garden of our hearts. He sowed seed, our mentors watered it until it began to grow and now God is the gardener who continues to take care of it. His desire is for us to produce good fruit for His kingdom, but for that to happen, we actually have to remain still and let Him work on us from the inside out. Our root system has to be healthy for the rest of the plant to grow as it should. We need to keep in mind that we will wither and die without our Father as our gardener. God’s desire is to help us flourish here on earth with Him in charge of weeding, pruning, feeding and watering. Let’s let go and allow God to be the Great and Loving Gardener!

A close up of my a beautiful rose from my rose bush in the front of the house. Harry worked hard on this bush to make it continue to grow and look the way it does. That is what God wants for us, beauty from ashes and a new life in Him.

Peacemaker or Peacekeeper

On By vickleaIn Admonition, Scripture3 Comments

When I saw this word in my devotional this morning, this is what came to my mind.

For those of you who do not recognize it, this is the Peacekeeper Missile that was used starting in the 1980’s and from what I found online until 2005. It was tasked with “keeping peace through strength.” You know how it works? Neither do I. But I do know that someone, a person, has to push a button or set a computer or turn on a switch to launch it. This missile has no mind of its own; it is a weapon that does the bidding of the operator. And it keeps peace because of the underlying threat that it is pointed at those who dare to disrupt peace.

This was my scripture this morning. Keeping the peace is more of a passive role. You can keep peace by remaining silent instead of starting arguments or being disagreeable. But making peace is active; it requires stepping into the middle of a situation where there is no peace and speaking peace to it. It’s the person who says, “Can we just calm down and look at a solution together?” The key is to work towards peace between those who are disagreeing. When it is another person or several of them involved, this seems to be a much easier task than when it is between countries, But the same principle is involved because whether there are nations or individuals “at war” with one another, the peacemaker steps in and attempts to find a middle ground on which they can agree and move on.

We cannot be peacemakers or peacekeepers unless we know the peace of the Lord. What we do in and of ourselves will only be superficial unless the Lord leads us and gives us the wisdom to deal with touchy situations. So, before we can do either, I think we need to have a deep sense of peace within ourselves, not about every situation. The peace that I am talking about comes only from the Lord and resides within us as part of our relationship with Him. When the whole world around us is rocking and seems ready to collapse under arguments and demands, we can maintain our peace and be the peacemaker to help others become peacekeepers.

This is the song that spoke to me this morning. It’s about finding personal peace in the Lord and is something we need to seek daily. My days start busy and I usually hit the ground running, with a medicine schedule to keep and blood pressure to take and more meds and my devotional time. But, through it all, even though sometimes, my head is throbbing and my body aches, I am learning to lean into the peace that only comes from God. I realize that my schedule doesn’t seem so hectic to those of you still in the workforce. As a retiree, I generally don’t have to rush around unless I have an appointment that day, but at my age small tasks seem to take longer, movements to open medicine bottles are challenging at times, yet God is there, in all of the big ways for all of the small things.

Peace-Bethel Music

Praise Him!

On By vickleaIn praise, Scripture, Song3 Comments

Every day is a good day to praise the Lord, and since praise is in my heart and on my lips today, I wanted to share with you.

Just take a minute or tow and give God thanks. I am focusing on who He is today, not what He has done for me. Sometimes I just need to focus on His character instead of His gifts.

A Mighty Fortress-Grace Community Church

Praise the Lord-Micah Tyler

Praise the Lord-Phil Wickham

Please feel free to comment with your praise song for today. Let’s share our love of the Lord with each other and then go out and share it with others who need to know the power of an Almighty God in their lives.

As my southern pastor from many years ago said, “May God bless you real good!”

Fill ‘Er Up

On By vickleaIn prayer, promises, Scripture2 Comments

When I was growing up, my dad ran a gas station, which in the south we called a “filling station.” It was also during a time when the employees filled up the gas tank and the customer didn’t even get out of the car unless they wanted to go into the station and grab a soda or a pack of cigarettes. I actually worked at my father’s filling station for several years when I was in high school. I was his unofficial bookkeeper and worked in the office, which was really a desk inside the station. Since there was no air conditioning there, the door usually stayed open and I would hear the bell ring as the cars ran over the alert that there was a customer. I also got used to hearing, “Fill ‘er up!”

Today’s scripture verse reminded me of my time at the gas station. No one ever said, “Just give me a little, please. I just have to make it home.” Some people did ask for half a tank, a feat that I had no idea how the employees figured out how much to put in, but I didn’t ever hear a customer complain that they got too much in their tank. Keep that in mind as we explore today’s verse.

This is a promise to be filled, but did you read what is required in order to be filled? You have to actually hunger and thirst for righteousness! I know food cravings as every day just before dinner, I really want a snack but I know I should not have one because it will spoil my appetite for dinner. I am hungry but not to the point that I just cannot do without it. This last week has been a really hot one here in Virginia, with temperatures in the 100’s daily and humidity high. That has resulted in my feeling extra thirsty. I always keep water with me, next to my chair or in my hands as I travel from room to room. My nephrologist has advised me to drink at least six cups of water a day, and I have been meeting his expectation all week without any problem because I have been thirsty. Physical hunger and thirst are not what the verse is talking about though.

So what does it mean to hunger and thirst for righteousness? I think it means a soul-deep craving to have a closer walk with God, a longing for others to have a relationship with Him, and a deep desire for Jesus to come again and set everything right in this topsy-turvy world. It means that when I am tired and irritable, I open my Bible and read. Or I go to my memory verse cards and work on them. Or I listen to praise music. I need to know that God is close, so I move closer to Him because I am hungry and thirty for more of what He offers, a right-standing and acceptance from Him. I don’t know that I have all of this correct, but it’s correct enough for me to say that I think I am on the right track. I cannot know all things, but I can know what I learn daily from God’s Word, and I know without a doubt that spending time with the Lord gives me peace and gives Him pleasure. So, my words to God are, “Here I am again today, Lord, at your filling station. Fill ‘er up!”

From the YouVersion Bible App, Daily Refresh

Echoes of Darkness by Darlene L. Turner: Author Interview and Giveway

On By vickleaIn blog tour, Book Promo, JustRead Publicity Tour10 Comments

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Echoes of Darkness by Darlene L. Turner, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Echoes of Darkness
Author: Darlene L. Turner
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Release Date: June 24, 2025
Genre: Christian Suspense/Romantic Thriller

A serial killer stalks a small town, and a police officer must face her family’s dark past to catch him.

The sleepy community of Kenorapeake Falls in northern Ontario seems like somewhere Constable Oaklynn Brock can finally outrun her violent past. That is, until she’s assigned to investigate a series of suspicious deaths. She can’t reveal that she knows how serial killers think because she grew up with one. Yet the eerie similarities between these murders and those committed by her father, known as the Suicide Slayer, hint at a copycat in their midst. But why here and why now?

Caleb Greene of the Canadian Watchers Squad, a special task force, has his own reasons to be wary of working alongside Oaklynn. But with rumors of a local cult known as the Light Paragons gaining power, the stakes are too high to refuse.

As they explore connections between the killings and cult, Oaklynn and Caleb are forced to confront old secrets…and a terrifying new threat. Someone is watching Oaklynn’s every move. They know exactly who she is and what she might be capable of. And soon her biggest fear isn’t just having her past exposed, but that a killer will turn whatever days she has left into a living nightmare…

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Harlequin | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available

______________________________________________________________

About the Author

Darlene L. Turner is a Publishers Weekly bestselling author known for her high-octane stories and riveting twists. Sparked by Nancy Drew, she’s turned her love of solving mysteries into her writing, believing readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message. Dubbed “the plaid queen” for her love of everything plaid, Darlene resides with her husband Jeff in Ontario, Canada. You can connect with Darlene at www.darlenelturner.com where there’s suspense beyond borders.

______________________________________________________________

Author Q & A

1. What kind of research did you do for this book? What was the most interesting thing you discovered in your research?

DLT: Lots! Haha! I researched writing to inmates within Canada, different types of drugs, guns, law enforcement procedures, cults, K-9s, military, medical information. I think the most interesting—and scary—is just how many cults are out there. Yikes. We need to shine Christ’s light!

2.What was your favorite part of writing this book?

DLT: I loved adding a third POV. With my regular Love Inspired Suspense books, I can only have two, so it was fun to add the Protégé’s POV.

3.Did anything in the story end up surprising you? 

DLT: I’m a pantser, so I’m always surprised by some of the rabbit trails my characters take me on. Haha! Sometimes they work out, but not always. 

4. When did you know that you wanted to be an author? 

DLT: From the time I picked up my first Nancy Drew book as a little girl! I fell in love with not only a good mystery/suspense story, but the idea of wanting to create my own!

5. What is your writing process like? Do you know the ending when you start writing? 

DLT: I start with an idea and then decide on my hero and heroine’s vocation. Then brainstorm it into a plot line. I develop my characters through a character sketch, establishing their backstory. I don’t always know how the book ends but have a general idea. 

6.  What would be your advice to new authors? 

DLT: Don’t give up or compare yourself to other authors. Every author has a different journey. Also, don’t be scared to reach out and ask other authors questions. We can learn from each other.

7.  If you could have a luncheon with a group of authors, whom would you invite and why? 

DLT: Jaime Jo Wright, Jessica R. Patch, Natalie Walters – we’d have so much fun brainstorming our stories together! Maybe too much fun. haha

8.  What is your favorite thing to do when you are not writing or reading a book? 

DLT: Tole painting (painting on wood), watching movies, going on walks with my hubby.

9. If you could travel to anywhere in the world and cost was not a problem, where would you go and why?

DLT: Easy. Hawaii. I love it there. It’s paradise!

10. Your new book is a trade paperback thriller. Was it more of a challenge to write? Do you plan to write more books in this genre? 

DLT: I loved writing this thriller. It’s fun to go deeper into relationships, storylines, adding subplots, another POV, etc. Yes, I hope to write more thrillers!

With many thanks to Darlene L. Turner for graciously answering my questions!

______________________________________________________________

Tour Giveaway

(4) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon eGift Card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight June 23, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on June 30, 2025. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Open internationally. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

______________________________________________________________

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!