Review: THEIR SURPRISE REUNION by Shelley Shepard Gray

On May 1, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review1 Comment

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781335051493 Publisher:Harlequin Publication date:04/29/2025 Series:A Matchmaker Knows Best Romance , #1 Edition description:Original Large Print Pages:336

Friendship can turn to more…

When you least expect it!

Kayla Harding knew she’d reached rock bottom when she forced herself to walk through the front doors of Loaves of Love, the food bank in Medina, Ohio, one Saturday morning. Happily, what she finds there is a loving community of people who offer her not just food, but friendship and hope. She also finds Sean Copeland, a former crush, father to six-year-old Jackson and small-town football coach, who volunteers at the food bank. But Kayla is still reeling from her divorce, and Sean is a recent widower. Can they find it in their hearts to fall in love again?

My Thoughts

This is a clean romance with some drama built into the story that kept me fully engaged. Kayla Harding returns to her hometown of Medina, Ohio after a rough divorce. There she finds herself needing to use a food bank because her resources are low and her cupboards are almost bare. At Loaves of Love, Kayla meets a former friend from high school, football star Sean Copeland who is now a widower and an assistant coach. Raising his six-year old son Jackson alone since the death of his wife Danette the previous year, Sean is kind-hearted and jumps right in to help Kayla learn how to make a loaf of bread at the food bank. Their friendship progresses normally, with Kayla hiding secrets and Sean leery about a new relationship. I enjoyed the humility that Kayla showed and also the realistic scenes in which she was ashamed to have to ask for food. I really liked the character of Edna, the lady who ran the food bank and who helped Kayla feel more comfortable about needing help. There were a lot of characters in this sweet romance, including Kayla’s demanding boss and Sean’s teasing family. The cast of characters added to the drama as well as the character development of the protagonists. The novel was an entertaining read that also presented the truth about what can happen when you are starting over and have little recourse but to ask for help. Told with compassion and a lot of love, this is a memorable story of a couple who find each other in the most unlikely place and who help each other to discover truths about themselves and each other.
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.

About the Author

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray writes Amish and Inspirational romances for Simon & Schuster, and Kensington, Harlequin, and contemporary women’s fiction for Blackstone Publishing. With over a million books in print, and translated into more than a dozen languages, her novels have been Holt Medallion winners and Inspirational Readers Choice and Carol finalists.

Shelley has been featured in the Philadelphia Enquirer, Washington Post, Time Magazine, and USA Today. She has also been interviewed on NPR as well as numerous regional radio stations. Publishers Weekly calls her Walnut Creek series “A slow-burning, enjoyable romance… Embedded in this quaint story is a poignant message about the importance of community, compassion, and doing what’s right rather than what’s easy.”

Shelley has hosted several well-attended ‘Girlfriend Getaways’ for Amish reading fans. Her most recent Girlfriend Getaway, hosted with bestselling novelists Amy Clipston and Suzanne Woods Fisher in Sugarcreek, Ohio, was filmed by BuzzFeed and highlighted on NetFlix’s Follow This episode on the popularity of Amish fiction.

Before writing romances, Shelley lived in Texas and Colorado, where she taught school and earned her bachelor’s degree in English literature and later obtained her master’s degree in educational administration. She now lives in southern Colorado near her grown children, walks her dachshunds, bakes too much, and writes full time.

Website: Shelley Shepard Gray

Purchase Links

Review of TO LIGHT THE WAY FORWARD by Nancy Naigle

On April 30, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book

ISBN-13:9780593601044 Publisher:PRH Christian Publishing Publication date:04/29/2025 Series:A Shell Collector Novel Pages:368

Feeling adrift after the loss of her husband, Rosemary sets out to visit an old friend on Whelk’s Island, undeterred by the threat of a hurricane. Before the storm hits, she finds herself at Tug’s Diner where she quickly connects with the owner, Tug.

But the storm destroys the diner, compounding Tug’s grief from losing his love the previous year. The longer Rosemary stays, the more she sees Tug’s deep sadness and resolves to help him. Together with Tug and friends Amanda and Paul, they all pitch in to help the close-knit community recover and rebuild.

As Amanda and Paul reconnect after losing touch during the storm, their plans to take things slow seem increasingly impractical. While Rosemary and Tug help the young couple navigate their relationship, they also find themselves building a friendship that begins to restore them both. But can that friendship convince them that love is possible for anyone who’s willing to take a risk—even those who never hoped they’d find it again?

My Thoughts

Rosemary is a widow who is searching for a new purpose in life, but she doesn’t know where to begin to find it. She is just fairly certain that living with her newly divorced daughter Nina is not going to fulfill her, so she sets out on a trip to visit Whelk Island, a little town in the Outer Banks where she can visit her high school friend Kathleen and have some time on the beach to reflect on her past and her future. Having spent almost fifty years with her husband in Hawaii, Rosemary hears the call of the ocean and really thinks that time there will ground her and show her what she should do to continue her life without her beloved husband Kai. Once there, she meets Tug, the owner of a renowned diner and an all-around good guy and friend to everyone. The two hit it off immediately, and their friendship is encouraged when a hurricane comes through and forces people to work together to prepare and then to clean up. I really enjoyed the realistic setting of the beach town facing a natural disaster and the fact that the characters all pulled together and watched out for each other. I also liked the dual romances in the story and the way the author seamlessly wove the two stories together in an engaging and moderately paced plot. My favorite parts were the humor and the ones where the characters just enjoyed being together, enjoying a meal and dancing or strolling on the beach. I also liked the themes of a hopeful future and living in the present instead of dwelling in the past. Forward together is a good and memorable theme for this novel and I enjoyed how this happened for the youngest to the oldest characters. This book is a sequel to the first novel set on Whelk Island, The Shell Collector, but this one can be read and enjoyed as a standalone as new characters and a whole new story is told here.
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.

Contemporary Christian Fiction, Clean Read, Rated G

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle whips up small-town love stories with a dash of suspense and a whole lot of heart. She began her contemporary romance series, Adams Grove, while juggling a successful career as an SVP for Bank of America and life on a seventy-six-acre goat farm.

Now enjoying an early retirement from the financial industry, she devotes her time to writing, antiquing, and the occasional spa day with friends. A native of Virginia Beach, she now calls the small town of Franklin, Virginia home.

Download a printable list of Nancy’s publications here.

Nancy’s 2021 release of The Shell Collector debuted in the top #20 on the ECPA Bestseller list and was optioned in a book-to-movie deal as the first Fox Original movie. The Shell Collector can be watched on FOXNation.

Several of Nancy’s books have inspired made-for-television movies. Watch Christmas Joy, Sand Dollar Cove and The Secret Ingredient on the Hallmark Channel and Hope at Christmas on Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Nancy also wrote the novelization for the first three Hallmark Original Movies in the popularChristmas in Evergreen series.

Purchase Links

With appreciation to WaterBrook and Netgalley for the ARC to read and review!

Review of SUMMER IN A BOTTLE by Annie Rains

On April 29, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book

ISBN-13:9781496740892. Publisher:Kensington. Publication date: 04/29/2025. Pages: 320

Dumped by her fiancé, opinion columnist Lyla Dune returns to small-town Echo Cove to heal, and to help her parents prep their house for sale. When she decides to open a time capsule she buried in high school, past memories lead her to a diary filled with memorable moments from the last summer she spent at home, right before college. Some of the events feel like they happened yesterday. That’s normal. Not so normal is that they actually start happening all over again . . .

Lyla gets a flat tire in the same spot and is saved by the same person. The same movie is playing at the theater. Her house has the same leak it once had. As her current summer increasingly mirrors that last one, Lyla worries it will end just as disastrously: with a category 3 hurricane—and with losing Travis, the best friend she was always secretly in love with. If only she hadn’t been too scared to admit it.

She revisits other fears too, like the fear of rejection that led her to abandon her passion for fiction writing. And when she reconnects with Travis, Lyla becomes certain that unless she does what her younger self was unable to do, she’ll suffer the same regrets. But if this time around she can gather her courage, maybe the life that was falling apart when she arrived will fall back together—even better than before.

My Thoughts

This entertaining novel has some deep truths in it and I really enjoyed the way the author brought them to the forefront as she weaved the tale of Lyla and her life. Lyla, dumped by her boyfriend, returns to Echo Cove, North Carolina, a small town that she gladly fled when she graduated from high school. She had great plans to be an author and she has kind of met that goal by becoming an opinion columnist who is well-known for her columns. Once she is back in Echo Cove, with the task of helping her parents sell their home there, Lyla is confronted with her past and her present dilemmas and has to decide what she will do about her future. I thoroughly enjoyed the light-hearted banter between Lyla and her friend Amanda and Lyla’s gung-ho attempt to win over Bernadette as a friend. The friendship between Travis and Lyla was realistically portrayed as was their gradual realization about their romantic feelings for each other, even if they didn’t want to pursue those feelings. I loved Lyla’s compassionate nature and how she reached out to Amanda when she knew she was hurting from all of her losses. Bernadette was feisty and reluctant to accept friendship, but her fun-loving and warm heart won me over. All of the characters were relatable, so much so that I just wanted to go into the pages of the book and tell them what they needed to do. The novel’s plot is fast-paced and engaging, with some complex elements woven into the simple tale of a girl who just wants to escape from her small town and never look back. The author masterfully creates a story around the central characters of Lyla and Travis and even includes snippets of Lyla’s opinions, some of which are humorous and others that are thought-provoking. I especially enjoyed the magical element that was included with the fireflies, noting that Lyla needed those little guys to point the way for her. What a clever way to get Lyla to pay attention and what a great reminder of the fun I had with those little bugs in my childhood! I loved everything about this book and even ordered my own copy so that I have one to keep and re-visit Lyla’s story.
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.

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Annie Rains lives in a small, coastal North Carolina town, full of lovable folks, scenic downtown areas, and breathtaking nature—similar to the towns she writes about in her books. Annie’s love of reading and writing grabbed hold of her at a young age and never let go. Her first book was published in 2015, and she’s been writing heartfelt, page-turning stories ever since. When Annie isn’t writing, she’s reading from her never-ending TBR stack on her bedside table, taking long walks while plotting her characters’ happy endings, and living out her own happily ever after with her husband, three children, feisty rescue cat, and mischievous dog. Website: AnnieRains.com

Purchase Links

Just Read Publicity Tour: The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch

On April 26, 2025April 26, 2025 By vickleaIn blog tour, Book Promo, Book Review8 Comments

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for The Other Sister by Jessica R. Patch, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Other Sister
Author: Jessica R. Patch
Publisher: Love Inspired Trade
Release Date: April 22, 2025
Genre: Thriller, Domestic Thriller, Psychological Thriller

She thought she was the only one lying about her identity. Until she stepped into her sister’s life.

Charlotte Kane has always dreamed of a different life, one where she isn’t living paycheck to paycheck. An existence worlds away from the chaos of her own. Then her estranged mother dies, and Charlotte makes a stunning discovery—she has an identical twin who was given up for adoption.

Acelynn Benedict is polished, successful and seems to have everything Charlotte yearns for—a wealthy, doting family in Savannah, a handsome boyfriend, a great career. She’s just as surprised as Charlotte to learn she has a sister. But when tragedy hits and Charlotte is forced to assume Acelynn’s identity in a desperate moment, she uncovers something altogether darker…

No one in her sister’s life is quite who they seem to be. And every discovery leads Charlotte deeper into a web of deadly secrets. Charlotte may have wanted Acelynn’s life, yet now that she’s living it, she wants out. But if she reveals the truth about herself, it will mean returning to her old life—and she’s already a dead woman there.

My Thoughts

This book sets a standard for high-intensity psychological thrillers with a foundation of hope and faith. Charlotte finds out that she is a twin and circumstances thrust her into Acelynn’s life. Charlotte thought her life was messed up until she stepped into the dumpster fire that was Acelynn’s life. What a wild ride this book is, from beginning to end! The twists just kept coming, along with serial murders, suspects and lots of family drama. I loved the interactions between the realistic characters, mostly high society and full of themselves, with little desire to lower themselves to common people. Charlotte is basically a hot mess who has no idea what she is doing in Savannah, but she is determined to hide there for a while since she is running away from a murder in her hometown. So much action happens so quickly that I couldn’t take my eyes off the page and was on the edge of my seat for much of the story. The faith factor is one of hope and redemption, undeserved mercy and grace and offered a welcome respite from all of the dark parts of the story. A child who is manipulative and dangerous is in the center of the story. So many secrets in this brilliantly written and cleverly executed complex story! I cannot write a lot more without giving something away, but let’s just say, run to get a copy of this book and prepare to read all night with all of the lights on.
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.

Also Available

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About the Author

Publishers Weekly Bestselling Author, Jessica R. Patch has penned over 27 novels and is known for her dry wit and signature twists whether she’s penned a romantic suspense or a dark, twisty thriller. When she’s not getting into fictional mischief with her characters, you can find her cozy on the couch in her mid-south home reading books by some of her favorite authors, down the street at the Mexican restaurant, or collecting recipes to amazing dishes she’ll probably never cook.

Connect with Jessica by visiting jessicarpatch.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to her email newsletter “Patched In” updates and receive a FREE short thriller.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of The Garden Girls & a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 22, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 29, 2025. Winner 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

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

First Line Friday

On April 25, 2025April 25, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, First Line Friday1 Comment

I don’t usually participate in First Line Friday, but I have a lot of books releasing next week, so I thought I would put a few of them on your radar.

I will not write my entire review here, but I will tell you that this book is humorous and offers practical advice that really makes you ponder how you do things. The main character, Lyla, is a newspaper columnist who writes her opinion about everyday circumstances and in so doing, she discovers truths about herself.

First Line: “Lyla Dune turned in to her parents’ driveway and parked, her gaze moving to the FOR SALE sign on the front lawn.”

Barnes and Noble has a 25% off sale now, so if you want to get this book at a good price, it’s a good time to get it. The sale ends today and requires the coupon code PREORDER25.

This quick read had me reading as fast as I could to find out what would happen to Florene. At the beginning of the story, she is tossed out of the car by her boyfriend, in the middle of nowhere and during a blizzard. What happens to her is God’s providence for sure!

First Line: “She’d made a mistake. And she was going to die. Florene Schroder lay on the hard, cold ground. Twisted and limp, she didn’t move.”

This quick read takes place in the Allegheny forest of Pennsylvania and is a book with riveting suspense and compelling characters. Eli is an FBI agent who hunts down cybercriminals and the focus of the story is that one of the bad guys doesn’t like being hunted so he is chasing down Eli and his young daughter who are on vacation in the Alleghenies.

First Line: “‘Daddy, why do you keep looking at the trees?’”

This story grabbed at my heart and wouldn’t let it go! It is the story of a young woman who has been rejected by her husband and is trying to start a new life for herself in a new town. Unfortunately, she has few resources and fewer items in her pantry and fridge, so she ends up at a food bank, much to her embarrassment. There she meets some welcoming and kind strangers who show her the way to acceptance and real love. Sigh! Great story!

First Line: “Kayla Harding had walked by the building at least a hundred times. She’d even dropped off items in the back on occasion. Back in another life.”

Again, if you would like to purchase any or all of these new releases, you can check them out at your local retailer. They all release on Tuesday, April 29th.

Question for you: Which book would you really like to see a blog about here on my page? Give me your opinion and I will try to accommodate your wishes, depending on my schedule.

Thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed my first First Line Friday!

Review of THE ACCUSED by Cara Putman

On April 17, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book

ISBN-13:9780825448058

Publisher: Kregel Publications

Publication date:04/15/2025

Pages:360

Chase Crandall is a burned-out defense attorney ready to extricate himself from the grind of criminal law. After he loses a client to tragedy, he’s ready for an in-house corporate position.

When Chase is assigned to Anneliese’s case, Margeaux is horrified. She doesn’t want him to provide legal counsel—not after what happened to his past client. And not with the evidence incriminating Anneliese.

Despite their mutual misgivings, the lawyer and professor pair up to find the killer and prove Anneliese’s innocence. Will they be able to untangle the mystery—and navigate their growing interest in one another—before the wrong person is charged with murder?

My Thoughts

This is a legal suspense/thriller with lots of unexpected twists and a whole cast of possible suspects to keep you reading. Annaliese is a college student in the U.S. who is from Germany and who is the central focus and the title character. She is almost a loner, not making friends easily and that makes her an easy target for the justice system when they begin to look for the person who killed her roommate. Lost in the maze of legalities, Annaliese depends on her professor Margeaux Robbin to help her. Margeaux unexpectedly becomes part of her legal defense team and insists persistently to Chase Crandall, her defense attorney, that Annaliese could not possibly have killed anyone. I loved the surprises within the story that were breathtakingly complex and completely engrossing. The story of Chase’s dogged determination to represent Annaliese well was gripping and fascinating as the author realistically portrayed he investigation leading up to the trial as well as the courtroom scenes themselves. All of the action rolled like a movie in my head and included some nail-biting suspense as well as a budding romance. I liked getting to know the characters and found them to be likable and relatable. Annaliese was a sympathetic character, far from home and totally dependent on others to get her out of her predicament but not able to offer much of an alibi that would help her legal team. My favorite character was Margeaux, the professor who related well with her students and thus was able to befriend Annaliese and to help in her defense. This story is expertly crafted and led me on a merry chase to find clues and figure out what was happening within the ranks of the police department as well as the office of the commonwealth attorney. The plot was fast-paced with authentic details about the legal process that were fascinating and that kept me immersed in the unfolding drama. The intricate plot threads were well woven together at the end, making this a totally satisfying and richly entertaining story.
Disclaimer: I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions are my own honest thoughts about this book.

About the Author

The award-winning, best-selling author of more than 35 books, Cara Putman graduated college at 20 and completed her law degree at 27. FIRST for Women magazine called Shadowed by Grace “captivating” and a “novel with ‘the works.’” Cara is active at her church and a full-time Clinical Associate Professor on business and ethics to undergraduate and graduate students at Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management. Putman also practices law and was a second-generation homeschooling mom for twelve years. Putman obtained her Master’s in Business Administration from Krannert and her J.D. from George Mason University Antonin Scalia School of Law. She serves on the executive board of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), an organization she has served in various roles since 2007. She lives with her husband and four children in Indiana. You can connect with her online at: caraputman.com.

Purchase Links

Review of THE VOICE WE FIND by Nicole Deese

On April 16, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review7 Comments

About the Book

ISBN-13:9780764241208

Publisher:Baker Publishing Group

Publication date:04/15/2025

Series:A Fog Harbor Romance

Pages:416

Two voices. One story. A chance to rewrite their future.

Sophie Wilder returns home to California with nothing more than a failed Broadway career and a geriatric cat. Stuck working at the family winery with her egotistical brother and desperate for a way to revive her acting dreams, she takes a side gig as an audiobook narrator with Fog Harbor Books. But getting mixed up in the life of her reluctant sound engineer was never a part of her plans.

August Tate is still reeling from taking on guardianship of his teen sister. Determined to find a solution to her degenerative hearing loss and to prevent his private recording studio from going under, he agrees to produce audiobooks part-time. When Sophie breathes new life into his creativity and forms an unexpected bond with his sister rooted in their common faith, he must confront the reasons he turned away from his own or risk losing the second chance he’s only just started to believe in.

My Thoughts

This book has multiple layers as well as a great cast of characters, all dealing with their own emotional baggage. I enjoyed the moderate pace which was perfect for the story since it allowed me to really think about what I was reading and how I would handle a similar situation. I also enjoyed the way the characters were so well developed, in a very methodical way as they conversed and interacted. The story flowed together just as the characters ran into bumps in their interpersonal relationships. I really enjoyed the way the author brought the three stories of Sophie, August and Gabby’s stories, with details that quickly got me invested in their lives and wanting the best for each of them. Sophie is an actress who has problems being on the stage and performing, August is feeling guilty about his parents’ deaths and Gabby is dealing with being left deaf in the same accident that took her parents. I was amazed by the strong characters and the layers of the story that peeled apart like an onion skin, revealing the heart of the problem and the hopes of each character in a believable and compassionate way. This is my first book that I have read by this author, but I definitely plan to look for others since I had difficulty putting this one down and had to tell others about how great it was right after finishing it. With the themes of self-discovery and forgiveness, this is a book that lends itself to group discussions in book clubs.
Disclaimer
I 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. (FTC, 16th CFR, Part 255)

About the Author

Nicole Deese is a Christy and Carol Award-winning, bestselling author of hope-filled, humorous, and heartfelt contemporary romance novels. When she’s not sorting out character arcs and story plots of her own, she can usually be found listening to an audiobook and multitasking at least four different chores at once. She’s a hoarder of sparkling water, a lover of long walks and even longer talks with friends, and a seeker of fun and adventure at all times. She lives in small-town, Idaho with her happily-ever-after hubby, two freakishly tall teenage sons, and one princess daughter with the heart of a warrior.

Purchase Links

Amazon

Christian Book

Barnes and Noble

Baker Publishing Group

Apple Books

Audible

Just Reads Blog Tour: Waylaid by Jerusha Agen

On April 14, 2025April 14, 2025 By vickleaIn blog tour, Book Promo, Book Review6 Comments

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Waylaid by Jerusha Agen, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Waylaid
Series: Windy City Westons #1
Author: Jerusha Agen
Publisher: SDG Words, LLC
Release Date: March 27, 2025
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Someone wants to kill her. She wants the killer to finish the job.

Spring Weston will do anything to rise in the ranks of pro cycling and prove she isn’t the one failure of the five Weston siblings. Anything except cheat. When she learns of doping on her cycling team, she’s determined to uncover the truth. But she can’t if she’s dead.

Sergeant Torin Cotter may not be the hero the public thinks he is, but he recognizes fear when he sees it. When he takes over the investigation of the collision that landed Spring in the hospital, he’s compelled to protect her from whatever danger she’s in, even though he knows he might fail. Again.

Spring’s faith in God isn’t enough to help her face the living nightmare she awakened to after the accident. But neither she nor the handsome sergeant see the greater threat that’s coming until it’s too late.

If they’re going to survive, Spring and Torin will not only have to confront their worst fears—they’ll have to find a reason to live.

Waylaid is the first installment in the thrilling Windy City Westons series that features five siblings who encounter danger and love in the city of Chicago.

My Thoughts

What a stellar beginning to a new series by the talented Jerusha Agen! The story of Spring Weston, a rising star in pro cycling until she is paralyzed in a hit and run accident is heartbreaking and totally absorbing. The police officer assigned to investigate her case, Detective Torin Cotter, is suffering himself from a past that he can’t change and a future that he considers hopeless. The two of them have to come to grips with their present reality and decide if they want to accept God’s will for their lives or just give up on life. When Torin is faced with having to keep Spring safe in spite of his challenges with hearing gunfire, he is forced to face his demons or suffer another unimaginable tragedy. The choices in this novel are realistically portrayed and the characters and storyline are compelling. This is a story of forgiveness that seems impossible and self-discovery that leads to a chance at grabbing onto hope for the future. I loved every minute I spent with Torin and Spring as their characters popped from the page into my heart and I found myself giving both of them advice and even praying for their safety. The entire story was well written with compassion and a heartfelt understanding of injuries, both mental and physical. Fans of fantastic romantic suspense will want to dive into this book and not surface until the satisfying conclusion!
Disclaimer: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

More in this Series

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About the Author

Jerusha Agen imagines danger around every corner but knows God is there, too. So naturally, she writes suspense infused with the hope of salvation in Jesus Christ. With a B.A. in English and a background in screenwriting, Jerusha is a speaker, writing instructor, and Fear Warrior who sounds the call to battle against fear in our everyday lives. Jerusha loves to hang out with her big furry dogs and little furry cats. You’ll often find her sharing irresistibly adorable photos of them in her newsletter and on social media.

Connect with Jerusha by visiting jerushaagen.com to follow her on social media, subscribe to email newsletter updates, find more of her thrilling, fear-fighting novels and get a free suspense story.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed paperback of Waylaid, a $25 Barnes and Noble gift card, and a Waylaid mug, notebook, and magnet!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 14, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 21, 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

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

Watch Your Back Blog Tour from Just Read Publicity Tours

On March 6, 2025March 6, 2025 By vickleaIn blog tour, Book Promo, Book Review, JustRead Publicity Tour11 Comments

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Watch Your Back by Kristen Hogrefe Parnell, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Watch Your Back
Series: Crossroads Suspense #3
Author: Kristen Hogrefe Parnell
Publisher: Mountain Brook Ink
Release Date: March 5, 2025
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

You can’t watch your own back.

Private Investigator Avery Reynolds leads the charge to expose Tampa’s supposedly “extinct” mob. The crime boss responsible for her foster brother’s death is within her grasp—until she hits a wall in the form of Ethan Bridger, a Coast Guard veteran who unknowingly derails her sting operation. When the elusive “Big Eddie” comes out of hiding, he targets their mutual friends about to tie the knot.

Avery sets aside her angst toward Ethan to focus on ending the crime boss’s reign of terror. But working together exposes her trust issues and his PTSD stemming from a comrade’s tragedy. When Avery goes solo into a prisoner exchange operation, she discovers her vulnerability too late—and must lean on Ethan and the God she thought had abandoned her. But will that help reach her in time?

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

More In This Series

My Thoughts

This faith-filled and compellingly suspense-filled novel had me on the edge of my seat and kept me totally engrossed in the story. The basic plot had lots of elements that made it entertaining and realistic, including a kidnapped child, a powerful crime boss, and a team of private investigators who are doggedly determined to carry out their responsibilities. Avery Reynolds is on the trail of “Big Eddie” but cannot quite catch him when he turns the tables on her by kidnapping her godchild. All bets are off when Ethan Bridger, a security specialist, finds out what is happening and makes it his personal mission to keep Avery safe and to help her capture the crime king. The characters were perfectly portrayed, especially Avery and her reluctance to accept the Lord as her Savior. Ethan and Avery are both on the same road, seeking salvation, kind of, but mostly just wanting to live their lives without interference. The action is non-stop with a quick pace and an amazing attention to details in the main plot as well as the sub-plots. I enjoyed the wedding scenes at the beginning that introduced the characters and allowed me to get to know them again. So, even if I had not read the previous books in the series, this one could have been enjoyed as a standalone. I like the way faith is included in the book and all of the loose ends are tied up, including bringing refugees from Cuba. There were a lot of twists and some really surprising developments as the story progressed. This is Christian romantic suspense at its best.
Disclaimer
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book which I received from the author. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

About the Author

Kristen Hogrefe Parnell writes suspenseful fiction from a faith perspective for women and young adults. A former English teacher, she now designs curriculum for a Christian academy and spends most of her time at her favorite assignment to date: being a mom to her toddler. Her books have won the Selah Award and the Grace Award, among others. She lives in the Tampa, Florida area with her husband and son.

Connect with Kristen by visiting kristenhogrefeparnell.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Watch Your Back & a $25 Amazon e-gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight March 5, 2025 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on March 12, 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.

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Review of STORM WARNING by Elizabeth Goddard

On February 18, 2025 By vickleaIn Book Promo, Book Review4 Comments

ABOUT THE BOOK

Product Details

ISBN-13:9780800746148

Publisher:Baker Publishing Group

Publication date:02/18/2025

Series:Hidden Bay , #1

Pages:352

Synopsis

Haunted by a half-forgotten past, former army photographer Remi Grant is working at an isolated storm-watching lodge on the rocky Washington coast when she receives a mysterious puzzle piece. The piece may be the catalyst to unlock a disturbing incident she struggles to remember—the event that sent her into hiding. But with heavy storms rolling in, she must focus on the present, not get caught up in the past.

When a mysterious man at the lodge saves her life—more than once—Remi becomes suspicious and confronts him. After a catastrophic event in his own life, former military pilot Hawk Beckett is trying to get some perspective at the suggestion of his former commanding officer. Faced with the fiercest storm to hit the coast in a decade, Remi and Hawk are forced into survival mode.

But they’re not alone at the lodge. Someone doesn’t want Remi to remember what happened—and they will stop at nothing to see her dead.

MY THOUGHTS

The setting of a stormy coast in Washington state is perfect for the suspense that ramps up constantly in this book, even as the intensity of the storm increases. Remi Grant has lost a significant part of her memory and has sought refuge in a lodge on the coast, helping to manage the lodge while she tries to recover from amnesia. When she realizes that someone wants her to remember what happened on that army helicopter, she also starts to face danger from an unknown assailant. Hawk Beckett is staying at the lodge while he recovers from his own mishap in a helicopter and becomes Remi’s rescuer from several life-threatening situations. Together, the two of them set out to determine what has made Remi a threat to unknown powers and how they can neutralize that threat. The pace of this book is as fast as the powerful storm in the story and the characters are realistically portrayed and dynamic. I particularly enjoyed the research that the author included about the possible source of the villains and why they were coming after Remi. These details enriched the story with authenticity and added to the immersive drama. There are so many head-spinning twists and well-placed red herrings that I was thrilled to read a book that I could not guess what would happen next. The author is known for her riveting suspense and this heart-in-your-throat book did not disappoint. The romance is woven well into the story, but the main thrust of the book is the gripping suspense and the escalating tension that kept me completely engrossed by the story from beginning to end.
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, and all opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16th CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Elizabeth Goddard is the PW, ECPA, and USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of over sixty novels, including the Missing in Alaska and Rocky Mountain Courage series. Her books have sold more than 1.5 million copies. She is a Christy Award, Carol Award and two-time Reader’s Choice Award winner and a Daphne du Maurier Award and HOLT Medallion finalist. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, traveling to find inspiration for her next book, and serving with her husband in ministry. For more information about her books, visit her website at http://elizabethgoddard.com

Purchase Links

Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/598766

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4hHBtfc

CBD: https://tinyurl.com/StormWarningCBD

B&N: https://tinyurl.com/StormWarningBN

BAM: https://tinyurl.com/StormWarningBAM

Powell’s : bit.ly/3WcFI9g

Audible: adbl.co/427nxFT

Apple Books: apple.co/40qNBdN

Note: I highly recommend this new book in a brand new series by Elizabeth Goddard. She is a master of romantic suspense and writes compelling novels.