Category: Book Review

Review of EVERYTHING SHE FEARED by Rick Mofina

On By vickleaIn Book Review2 Comments

About the Book:

Author: Rick Mofina

Publication Date: April 11, 2023

ISBN: ‎ 978-0778333401

Paperback Original 

Publisher: MIRA

Synopsis:


Every mother worries about their child. But Sara Harmon fears hers…

When a teen falls while taking a selfie at the edge of a cliff, the last thing she sees before plummeting to her death is Katie Harmon, the nine-year-old girl she was babysitting, looking down at her.

Investigators gather at the scene, and Katie’s mother, Sara, rushes to comfort her daughter. Yet there’s a small, secret ping of alarm in Sara’s heart that she cannot share—though rookie detective Kim Pierce senses it.

For years, others have tried to unravel this secret. From true-crime podcasters to a haunted journalist searching for a killer who vanished after being released from prison several years ago. And now, with detectives tightening the focus of their investigation, Sara is consumed by her darkest fear—that the babysitter’s death was not an accident.

My thoughts on the book:

My mind is blown away at the talent of this author whom I had never read before now! (How did I miss this one?!?) The plot is so intricately woven, the suspense so intense and the message so powerful that I literally had difficulty putting this book down. Sara Harmon has a secret past, one that terrifies her and keeps her awake at night. Her one goal in life is to protect her young daughter Katie from the truth about the past and how it could affect her future. Unfortunately, when Katie’s babysitter Anna dies in a freak fall at a local park, the protection starts to unravel as does Sara and her hiding from the truth. There are so many facets to this multi-layered story, but I think my favorite was the one about Ryan Gardner, an investigative reported determined to find out what happened to his older sister Carrie. His queries take him into a dark world of serial killers, secrets, lies and manipulation and is totally intriguing. I enjoyed meeting the characters and felt as though I were reading a true crime novel, so detailed were the descriptions of the police procedures and the settings. This book is part thriller, part suspense, part police procedural and all entertainment rolled up into one propulsive story that has depth and head-spinning twists. I cannot recommend this book highly enough for those who really enjoy thrills that are edgy and somewhat gritty. I know that this is an author that I can count on for crackling tension and a brilliantly woven plot.
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. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

A definite rating of M for mature readers due to the subject matter being a serial killer and the victims.
Rick Mofina is a former crime reporter and the award-winning author of several acclaimed thrillers. He’s interviewed murderers face-to-face on death row; patrolled with the LAPD and the RCMP. His true crime articles have appeared in The New York Times, Marie Claire, Reader’s Digest and Penthouse. He’s reported from the U.S., Canada, the Caribbean, Africa, Qatar and Kuwait’s border with Iraq. This is his 31st book. For more information please visit www.rickmofina.com
Social Links:
Author Website: https://www.rickmofina.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RickMofina
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rick.mofina.1
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickmofina/
GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/93666.Rick_Mofina

Excerpt:

Near North Bend, Washington

SEVENTEEN-YEAR-OLD ANNA SHAW didn’t want to die.

Adrenaline surged through every nerve ending, her fingers digging into the tree branch jutting from the cliffside.

This was a nightmare. It couldn’t be real.

But it is real.

Anna had been atop the cliff, taking in the breathtaking panoramic view of the river, forests and mountains. Then in a heartbeat she was falling, falling some twenty feet, crashing into the big twisting branch sticking from the cliff face, catching herself, seizing it, struggling to hang on as it bent, now threatening to give way.

Gasping, she looked in horror a hundred feet straight down to the rocks at the banks of the rushing river below.

Wind gusted up, nudging her dangling legs. As she hung on for life, the branch cracked, her body jolted.

“Oh God!”

Anna glanced up at nine-year-old Katie Harmon looking down at her from the clifftop.

“Katie! Get help!”

Transfixed, Katie stared in wide-eyed silence.

Anna strained to move along the weakening branch closer to the cliff face to find a hold on the craggy rocks.

But pulling herself caused the branch to bob and shake, crackling more under her weight. Her hands landed on short branch spikes, like protruding nails piercing her palms with electrifying pain.

Suddenly the branch split and Anna jounced a few feet lower, clawing, clinging on to the fibrous remains.

“Katie!” she shrieked. “Oh God!”

Anna looked up.

Katie was gone.

The branch cracked again.

Run!

Every part of Katie’s brain screamed at her to run.

She flew along the trail, twisting, turning through the dense woods, hoping to catch up to the others who had continued moving ahead.

Anna’s fall had happened in a terrible instant.

So real and so frightening.

And no one else knows! No one was with us to see!

Katie willed herself to run fast, faster than she’d ever run in her life.

She felt like she was moving in slow motion but she blazed along the trail, coming to the clearing where her group from the Sunny Days Youth Center was setting up.

Katie glimpsed the joyful calm, nearly thirty kids and a sprinkling of adults supervising the day trip from the city, oblivious to the horror now on the cliff they’d all just passed. The boys were moving picnic tables together, others tossed a Frisbee. The girls were opening backpacks,

tearing into snacks and drinks while others took pictures. 

It all stopped when Katie screeched: “Help!”

Heads turned, smiles melted, the Frisbee crashed.

“What’s up, Katie?” said Jackson, one of the supervisors.

“Anna fell!” Katie’s chest heaved; she was gasping for air. “Taking a selfie. Fell off the cliff! Hanging on to a tree!”

It took a moment for Jackson and the others to absorb the alarm and snap to attention.

“We’ll need ropes,” he said, glancing at the other supervisors, Adam and Connie, who’d grabbed a canvas bag, unzipped it and yanked out tent ropes. They turned to Katie, who’d already fled back on the trail, her sobbing echoing in her wake.

“Everyone stay here!” Connie said, starting to run with the two men as she called to another adult with the group: “Dakota, keep everyone here!”

The supervisors struggled to keep up with Katie, all of them racing back on the trail to the area of the cliff. Two backpacks on the ground marked the point where it happened. Katie stood there horrified when she looked down.

Only spear-like remnants of the branch reached from the cliffside.

Katie stepped back while Jackson, Adam and Connie, breathing hard, looked down, their eyes ballooning in disbelief.

“Oh God!” said Connie, her voice breaking.

“No! No! No!” Adam yelled.

Anna’s body was splayed on the rocks of the riverbank.

Ribbons of blood were webbing to the water.

******

IN THE TIME that followed, events unfolded like a tragic opera.

Connie’s 911 call went to the King County Communications Center. Panting with panic, she struggled to report the emergency.

“A girl fell off a cliff! We need—please, we need—”

“Take a breath,” said the operator, calm, professional, taking control. “Tell me exactly where you are and what happened.”

Connie collected herself, answering questions and following instructions, enabling the operator to dispatch paramedics and deputies from the King County Sheriff’s Office North Precinct. The deputies then made a callout for Search and Rescue, setting the response in motion.

“I can’t look anymore.” Katie covered her face with her hands. Sobbing and trembling, she lowered her hands and asked: “Is Anna dead?”

“We don’t know.” Connie put her arm around her. “Help is coming.”

For their part, Jackson and Adam had found a safe route to hurry down from the cliff. Moving as fast as they could along the rugged riverbank, they came to Anna’s motionless body.

Her arms and legs were bent and twisted like a rag doll. She was lying faceup with her eyes open, staring skyward, blood dripping from the back of her neck. Jackson and Adam knelt next to her.

“Anna!” Adam said, knowing the worst but saying her name again.

Her stillness terrified them. They heard nothing but the river’s rush while Jackson felt her neck, warm but no pulse.

He began CPR.

Adam saw her palms, bleeding from branch fragments projecting like quills in testament to her fight to hang on. Gently holding her hand, Adam surveyed Anna, almost glowing on the rocks in her bright yellow T-shirt. He didn’t know that her mother had had it custom-made for her last birthday with the embroidered motto crowned over her heart: All We Have Is Today.

A small tattoo on her inner right wrist said Fearless, and on her inner left wrist was a small heart. Her jeans were faded, stylishly torn at the knees. One of her pink sneakers had been ripped away by the impact.

Anna’s head nodded in time with Jackson’s rhythmic pumping. But both men knew that the effort to save her was in vain.

Still Jackson refused to quit.

Adam’s phone rang—it was the emergency operator. She’d gotten his number from Connie.

“Yes… A lot of blood… No pulse… We both have CPR and First Aid… He’s doing CPR… Unconscious… Not responding… Tell them to hurry.”

Staying on the line to provide directions to the scene, Adam held Anna’s still-warm hand while watching Jackson’s unrelenting CPR. Blinking back tears. His gaze went from Anna to the rock face, his stomach lifting at the magnitude of the drop, his focus traveling up beyond the broken branch to the cliff, seeing Connie looking down at him.

Adam shook his head slowly.

Connie’s hand flew to her mouth. She turned, nearly doubling over before somehow getting enough control to pull Katie closer, comforting her. Slowly they started back to be with the others at their day camp.

Connie’s mind swirled as they returned to the clearing; twenty-four kids, aged nine to fourteen, were in the Sunny Days excursion, along with four adult supervisors and three older teen assistants—now, only two.

Moments ago they were all starting a blissful outing, only to see it turn into a day of horrible heartbreak, a day they would remember for the rest of their lives, Connie thought. Everything at their day camp came to a halt when Connie and Katie emerged.

“Is Anna okay?” asked Dakota, one of the supervisors.

Connie searched the group, meeting anxious, expectant faces, feeling Katie’s sobs against her. Holding her tight, Connie brushed at her own tears.

“Anna fell,” Connie said. “She’s hurt bad, really bad.”

“Did Anna die?” one of the girls asked.

Connie stared at her.

“I want to see!” said Dylan Frick, a boy who was also in Katie’s class at school.

“No!” Connie said loudly, then softened her voice. “We don’t know anything yet. We just have to wait.”

Some of the kids got on their phones, texting and calling their families, while a few of the girls rushed to Katie and Connie, encircling them in a group hug, their sobbing soon mingling with the tragic operatic chorus of distant sirens echoing over the treetops.

Excerpted from Everything She Feared. Copyright © 2023 by Rick Mofina. Published by MIRA Books.

This is a new release and is available now. Purchase Links:

HarperCollins: https://www.harpercollins.com/products/everything-she-feared-rick-mofina?variant=40616325480482 

BookShop.org https://bookshop.org/p/books/everything-she-feared-a-suspense-novel-original-rick-mofina/19780672?ean=9780778333401 

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/everything-she-feared-rick-mofina/1141722031

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Everything-She-Feared-Suspense-Novel/dp/077833340X/

I sincerely appreciate HTP Books inviting me to participate in the Winter 2023 Mystery and Thriller Blog Tour.

Review of THE SEASIDE LIBRARY by Brenda Novak

On By vickleaIn Book Review1 Comment

About the Book:

Format

400 pages, PaperbackExpected publication

April 11, 2023 by MIRAISBN

9780778333517 (ISBN10: 0778333515)Language

English

Synopsis:

There are secrets that bring friends together, and others that drive them apart…

Mariners Island is barely ten miles long, but when Ivy, Ariana and Cam were teenagers, it was their whole world. Beyond the pristine beaches and iconic lighthouse lies the beautiful old library that belongs to Ivy’s family. While that bound Ivy to the island as an adult, Ariana could not leave Mariners behind fast enough. The town holds too many… memories . Not only her unrequited feelings for Cam, but the tragedy that left a scar on the community.

When a young girl went missing, a teenage Cam was unthinkably the prime suspect. Ariana and Ivy knew he couldn’t have hurt anyone, and they promised to protect him—even if it meant lying on his behalf.

Now, twenty years later, Ariana returns to Mariners just as new evidence emerges on the case, calling into question everything the three friends thought they knew—and everyone they thought they could trust. What really happened that night? Over the course of one eventful summer, Ariana, Ivy and Cam will learn the truth—about their pasts, their futures and the ties that still bind them as closely as the pages of a book…

My Review:

This is the story of friendship, secrets, lies, loyalty and murder on a small island. Mariners Island seems like the ideal place to vacation but Ivy, Ariana and Cam grew up there. Ariana left for a while to work in the big city but has returned when the body of a young tween who was killed when the trio were teens was discovered after almost twenty years have passed. Ariana, Cam and Ivy have a connection to young Emily and they are hiding a secret that they are desperate to keep hidden. The characters in the book are vividly portrayed with complicated personalities as well as relationships. They have believable flaws and are dynamic and well-rounded. The plot moves along at a quick and satisfying pace, capturing me from the beginning with the underlying mystery and drawing me further into the story with the brilliantly written character studies. The plot is just complex enough to have kept me engaged from beginning to end and also to keep me guessing about who young Emily’s killer was and the motive behind her death. There were absolutely no unlikable characters, no small feat when there are so many involved in the storyline, all contributing to the central focus on one way or another. The intrigue was captivating and the setting was picturesque, described so well that I could easily place myself into the book. Filled with suspense, a touch of romance and with a satisfying conclusion, this book is proof that the author is a masterful storyteller who has crafted a compelling story that is readable, engrossing and intricately woven.
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. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

I would rate this book a PG-13 due to more mature content.

About the Author:

It was a shocking experience that jump-started Brenda Novak’s bestselling author career.

“I caught my day-care provider drugging my children with cough syrup and Tylenol to get them to sleep while I was away,” Brenda says. “It was then that I decided that I needed to do something from home.”

However, writing was the last profession she expected to undertake. In fact, Brenda swears she didn’t have a creative bone in her body. In school, math and science were her best subjects, and when it came time to pick a major in college, she chose business.

Abandoning her academic scholarship to Brigham Young University at the age of 20 in order to get married and start a family, Brenda dabbled in commercial real estate, then became a loan officer.

“When I first got the idea to become a novelist, it took me five years to teach myself the craft and finish my first book,” Brenda admits. “I learned how to write by reading what others have written. The best advice for any would-be author: read, read, read….”

Brenda sold her first book, and the rest is history. Now a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, she continues to publish two or three novels a year, in a variety of genres.

Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. Now that they are empty-nesters, she spends her free time babysitting her two grandchildren.

When she’s not with her family or writing, Brenda is usually raising money for diabetes research. To date, she’s raised almost $2.6 million. Her youngest son, Thad, has diabetes, and Brenda is determined to help him and others like him. She also enjoys traveling, watching sporting events and biking–she rides an amazing 20 miles every day!

Releases on 4-11-23. Purchase Links:

Harlequin

Amazon

Apple Books

Barnes and Noble

Books-a-Million

Bookshop

Walmart

Target

Powells

https://fb.watch/jPMNN1KALZ/ (See a video of Brenda’s amazing RV, “The Bookstream”, in which she is traveling 8000 miles in two months to meet her fans!)

Meet Brenda Novak in person as she tours the country in her RV! Go here for more information and to register to attend:

https://brendanovak.com/events/the-seaside-library-book-tour-2023/

From the publisher:

Review of WINDSWEPT WAY by Irene Hannon

On By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book:

Windswept Way  (Book 9 —Hope Harbor)
Revell, ©2023, ISBN 978-0800741914 

Buying a haunted house was never in Ashley Scott’s plans, but when an intriguing opportunity drops into her lap after a major life setback, she finds herself trekking cross-country to Hope Harbor on the Oregon coast to launch a new life. Wounded warrior Jonathan Gray isn’t sure what to make of the attractive woman on his reclusive older neighbor’s isolated property, but her presence is none of his business—until she enlists his help with an ambitious project. When Jonathan finds his interest in the new arrival becoming more personal than professional, however, his defenses go up. There’s no room in his life—or his heart—for romance. Yet as these two hurting souls join forces to restore life, laughter, and love to a historic estate, might they also find healing, hope, and happiness themselves?

My thoughts:

Ashley, Rose and Jonathan are three people going though life in survival mode, all of them injured by their pasts and each of them struggling in different ways to forge a new and hopeful future for themselves. When they meet in Hope Harbor, their lives are irrevocably changed and leave a lesson behind for each reader. The characters were lovable as well as relatable. I especially liked the elderly Rose, a recluse who needs encouragement to come out of her shell. The plot is original and thought-provoking, dealing with love and loss as well as with acceptance of one’s injuries and the ability to move past them. The story captured my heart and mind as I was enraptured by the developing romance between two injured souls who hardly dared to hope for a future. All of my favorite characters from previous books in the series made an appearance, and I was especially glad to see Charlie and his taco truck dispensing his wisdom in a timely manner as always. And the seagulls were there, too, playing on the beach near the historic estate that Ashley and Rose are renovating as an event venue. I loved everything about this book, from beginning to end, but nothing more than the tale of being storm tossed but not destroyed. With a well-crafted story and a good pace, this is a book to savor the fruits of its lessons and to share with others, whether it be in a book group or with friends.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley as part of the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

A clean read with lots of good feelings and plenty of emotion!

About the Author:

Irene Hannon is a bestselling, award-winning author who took the publishing world by storm at the tender age of 10 with a sparkling piece of fiction that received national attention.
Okay…maybe that’s a slight exaggeration. But she was one of the honorees in a complete-the-story contest conducted by a national children’s magazine. And she likes to think of that as her “official” fiction-writing debut!
Since then, she has written more than 60 romantic suspense and contemporary romance novels. She is a seven-time finalist for and three-time winner of the RITA award—the “Oscar” of romance fiction—and a member of the Romance Writers of America elite Hall of Fame. She has also received a Career Achievement award from RT Book Reviews for her entire body of work. Her many other awards include Daphne du Maurier, Carol, HOLT Medallion, National Readers’ Choice, Retailers Choice, Booksellers’ Best, and Reviewers’ Choice from RT Book Reviews. She is also a two-time Christy award finalist.
Irene, who holds a B.A. in psychology and an M.A. in journalism, juggled two careers for many years until she gave up her executive corporate communications position with a Fortune 500 company to write full time. She is happy to say she has no regrets!
In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, gardening and singing. A trained vocalist, she has sung the leading role in numerous musicals, including “South Pacific,” “Brigadoon,” “Oklahoma” “The King and I” and “Anything Goes.” She is also a soloist at her church.
When not otherwise occupied, Irene and her husband enjoy traveling, Saturday mornings at their favorite coffee shop and spending time with family. They make their home in Missouri. Information is from the author’s website at http://www.irenehannon.com

Available Now! Purchase Links:

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Christian Book

Books-A-Million

Target

Walmart

Powells

Baker Book House

I am blessed to get the opportunity to read some of the best books out there! Thank you, Revell!

Review of THE NATURE OF SECRETS

On By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment
Book Details:
ISBN-13: 9781662508820
ISBN-10: 1662508824
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Publish Date: March 2023
Dimensions: 8.19 x 5.35 x 1.02 inches
Shipping Weight: 0.79 pounds

About the Book:

From USA Today bestselling author Debra Webb comes a thrilling installment in the Finley O’Sullivan series about a well-connected woman who stands accused of her husband’s murder. She’s innocent—unless Finley proves otherwise.

Legal investigator Finley O’Sullivan has had a difficult year in the wake of her husband’s murder. But in her line of work, there’s no time to grieve. Her job is to protect the firm’s clients and defend their innocence through grueling investigative work.

Ellen Winthrop is a force to be reckoned with in the financial world. In a male-dominated industry, she shattered the glass ceiling by empowering and promoting women. But now her husband is dead, killed in the Winthrop family home—and she stands accused of his murder.

Finley, as the investigator at the firm Ellen Winthrop hired to defend her, has a clear objective: prove that Ellen didn’t do it. But the deeper Finley digs into the Winthrops’ marriage, the more she starts to doubt Ellen’s story. The uncomfortable truth is that Ellen Winthrop may in fact have killed her husband.

And he might not have been the first.

My Review:

The second book in the Finley O’Sullivan series explained a lot of loose ends and was a totally satisfying read. Finley and Jack are hired by wealthy Ellen Winthrop to represent her when she is suspected of murdering her philandering husband. On the path to investigating Ellen’s case, Finley makes astonishing discoveries about the murder of her own husband Derrick as well as uncovering secrets about Jack and her mother, the Judge who barely speaks to her. The characters were credible and fascinating, with backstories that were riveting and complex. The plot was fast-paced and equally complicated, with brilliantly woven twists and clever details thrown in as clues. I really enjoyed this book, especially finding out more about the characters and how determined Finley is to get at the truth about Derrick’s death. There were sub-plots and secondary characters in the mix, too, all insightfully included into the main plot and giving the plot an edgy feel, with the accompanying misdirection that is appreciated by mystery fans like me. This is a story rich in detail and even has some romance peeking it. Those who enjoy a good whodunit with some breath-stopping suspense will enjoy this book.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and the author 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, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Rated PG-13 due to content and subject matter.
DEBRA WEBB is the USA Today bestselling author of more than 150 novels, including reader favorites the Faces of Evil, the Colby Agency and the Shades of Death series. She is the recipient of the prestigious Romantic Times Career Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense as well as numerous Reviewers Choice Awards. In 2012 Debra was honored as the first recipient of the esteemed L. A. Banks Warrior Woman Award for her courage, strength, and grace in the face of adversity. Recently Debra was awarded the distinguished Centennial Award for having achieved publication of her 100th novel. With this award Debra joined the ranks of a handful of authors like Nora Roberts and Carole Mortimer.
With more than four million books sold in numerous languages and countries, Debra’s love of storytelling goes back to her childhood when her mother bought her an old typewriter in a tag sale. Born in Alabama, Debra grew up on a farm and spent every available hour exploring the world around her and creating her stories. She wrote her first story at age nine and her first romance at thirteen. It wasn’t until she spent three years working for the Commanding General of the US Army in Berlin behind the Iron Curtain and a five-year stint in NASA’s Shuttle Program that she realized her true calling. A collision course between suspense and romance was set. Since then she has expanded her work into some of the darkest places the human psyche dares to go. Visit Debra at www.debrawebb.com.

Available NOW! Purchase Links:

https://amzn.to/3l6PQBn

https://www.powells.com/book/the-nature-of-secrets-9781662508820

http://bit.ly/3TdzLGL (BN)

http://bit.ly/3JcpXIq (Book Shop)

http://bit.ly/3YKjkmm (Target)

http://bit.ly/3YCFx5G (Books-a-Million)

Books in the Series:

THE NATURE OF SECRETS is the second book in the series and may be read as a standalone. I recommend, however, that you start with the first book in the series so you get to know Finley O’Sullivan and what makes her search for the truth in THE NATURE OF SECRETS. Here is a link to the series: Amazon

Review of NO MORE SECRETS by Kerry Lonsdale

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About the Book:

No More Secrets

No More Trilogy (book #3)

For a last shot at redemption, a young man must finally face the past in the third novel from the No More trilogy by Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Kerry Lonsdale.

After serving six months in a juvenile detention center, Lucas Carson returns home irrevocably changed by what happened there. Traumatized, Lucas shuts himself out from everyone he loves, even his younger sister, Lily, who ran away from home when she was pregnant at sixteen. When Lily resurfaces years later, Lucas can’t cope with his guilt about not being there for her. He takes off, only to cross paths with Shiloh Bloom—fifteen, homeless, and, like Lucas, escaping the past.

All Lucas sees in her is the little sister he neglected. Believing this is his chance to absolve past mistakes, he takes Shiloh in. He gives her food and shelter. She gives him a purpose. Together they invent a background for her and form a bond. But the risk of discovery grows. Lucas’s sisters aren’t the only ones looking for him. So are Shiloh’s mother and the police. If Lucas wants to heal and have a future, he must stop running and face everything he’s left behind.

My Review:

This book is the perfect ending for the trilogy about the Carson siblings. Lucas, the brother who ran away, is featured in this heart-wrenching story about finding truth and moving on towards a more hopeful future. Luc ran away from a past that still haunts him and has to deal with the discovery about what really happened before he can move on and grasp a bright future. I especially enjoyed how much emotion this book included, especially with the friendships that Luc makes and what a kindhearted person he really is. He is such a vulnerable soul that he just puts himself right out there and ends up getting hurt. All of the action is very realistic and thought-provoking. I enjoyed that this book brought all three siblings together in some very surprising and unexpected scenarios. Mostly, I’m delighted to have a conclusion to Luc’s story because his is the most compelling and the most dynamic, with plenty of action and drama. The entire book was well paced and introduced some secondary characters that I really enjoyed meeting, especially the teen survivor Shiloh. The mystery of the Carsons and all that happened to them is resolved, making this an extremely satisfying book to read with no loose ends and lots of tears. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the “No More” trilogy so that the entire story of the Carsons is enjoyed and all of the puzzle pieces fit together so well. A masterpiece of a family saga that is not to be missed!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Easily a 5-star book, rated PG-13 due to content.

About the Author:

Kerry Lonsdale is the Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and #1 Kindle bestselling author of the Everything series, No More trilogy, and multiple standalone domestic drama novels. Her books have sold more than two million copies and have been translated into twenty-seven languages. She lives in Northern California with her husband, two adult children (when they’re home from college), and three cats.
Photo by Chantelle Hartshorne. Photo and Bio from the author’s website at http://www.kerrylonsdale.com

Releases on March 14th. Purchase Links:

https://amzn.to/3T5n0h8 (Amazon)

Barnes and Noble

Powells

Bookshop (Indie)

A note to my readers: Although this book can be read as a standalone, I feel that reading the trilogy will really be better, so below are the links to purchase the other two books, in order:

No More Words, Amazon

No More Lies, Amazon

Review of NO MORE SECRETS by Kerry Lonsdale

On By vickleaIn Book ReviewLeave a comment

About the Book:

No More Secrets

No More Trilogy (book #3)

For a last shot at redemption, a young man must finally face the past in the third novel from the No More trilogy by Amazon Charts and Wall Street Journal bestselling author Kerry Lonsdale.

After serving six months in a juvenile detention center, Lucas Carson returns home irrevocably changed by what happened there. Traumatized, Lucas shuts himself out from everyone he loves, even his younger sister, Lily, who ran away from home when she was pregnant at sixteen. When Lily resurfaces years later, Lucas can’t cope with his guilt about not being there for her. He takes off, only to cross paths with Shiloh Bloom—fifteen, homeless, and, like Lucas, escaping the past.

All Lucas sees in her is the little sister he neglected. Believing this is his chance to absolve past mistakes, he takes Shiloh in. He gives her food and shelter. She gives him a purpose. Together they invent a background for her and form a bond. But the risk of discovery grows. Lucas’s sisters aren’t the only ones looking for him. So are Shiloh’s mother and the police. If Lucas wants to heal and have a future, he must stop running and face everything he’s left behind.

My Review:

This book is the perfect ending for the trilogy about the Carson siblings. Lucas, the brother who ran away, is featured in this heart-wrenching story about finding truth and moving on towards a more hopeful future. Luc ran away from a past that still haunts him and has to deal with the discovery about what really happened before he can move on and grasp a bright future. I especially enjoyed how much emotion this book included, especially with the friendships that Luc makes and what a kindhearted person he really is. He is such a vulnerable soul that he just puts himself right out there and ends up getting hurt. All of the action is very realistic and thought-provoking. I enjoyed that this book brought all three siblings together in some very surprising and unexpected scenarios. Mostly, I’m delighted to have a conclusion to Luc’s story because his is the most compelling and the most dynamic, with plenty of action and drama. The entire book was well paced and introduced some secondary characters that I really enjoyed meeting, especially the teen survivor Shiloh. The mystery of the Carsons and all that happened to them is resolved, making this an extremely satisfying book to read with no loose ends and lots of tears. Although this book can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend reading the “No More” trilogy so that the entire story of the Carsons is enjoyed and all of the puzzle pieces fit together so well. A masterpiece of a family saga that is not to be missed!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

Easily a 5-star book, rated PG-13 due to content.

About the Author:

Kerry Lonsdale is the Amazon Charts, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post and #1 Kindle bestselling author of the Everything series, No More trilogy, and multiple standalone domestic drama novels. Her books have sold more than two million copies and have been translated into twenty-seven languages. She lives in Northern California with her husband, two adult children (when they’re home from college), and three cats.
Photo by Chantelle Hartshorne. Photo and Bio from the author’s website at http://www.kerrylonsdale.com

Releases on March 14th. Purchase Links:

https://amzn.to/3T5n0h8 (Amazon)

Barnes and Noble

Powells

Bookshop (Indie)

A note to my readers: Although this book can be read as a standalone, I feel that reading the trilogy will really be better, so below are the links to purchase the other two books, in order:

No More Words, Amazon

No More Lies, Amazon

Review of GRANDPA’S WINDOW by Laura Gehl

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This is a lovely, tear-inducing story of the love between a child and her dying grandfather. She and her grandfather make plans for when he is better but when he dies, Daria has to deal with the loss in the only way she knows how. She still feels his touch. Heartwarming and intuitive story that deals with love and loss and how a child may grieve. Beautifully illustrated and simply told story that should be read to every child who has experienced or will experience a loss of someone dear to them.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

This is a children’s book, rated G.

Available on March 14th. Purchase Links:

https://amzn.to/3ZRGLv6

https://www.christianbook.com/grandpas-window/9781947888401/pd/88840X?event=ESRCG

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/grandpas-window-laura-gehl/1141899401?ean=9781947888401

This is a thoughtful gift for a child on your list, especially if they have lost a dear one or have a dear one dying.

Review of SECOND TIME AROUND by Melody Carlson

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What a lovely story with all of the good feelings that come with happily ever afters! Mallory Farrell decides to upend her comfortable life when she inherits her grandmother’s tourist shop in a small town in Oregon. She decides to renovate the shop and the apartment above it, open the shop to feature her home design and move to the quaint little town. Once there, she meets mega-rich and super handsome Grayson Matthews, a widower who is not convinced that her business will succeed but he is willing to watch her try. The relationship between these two is puzzling at first as neither of them seemed to have the time to build a relationship together. I loved the interactions between the main characters and the plot that was woven so well around the themes of building and designs. The inspirational themes of redemption and hope were well interwoven into the plot and seemed a natural part of the storyline. With a quick pace, lots of humor, plenty of drama and characters that popped off the page, this is a book that is light-hearted with a deep underlying message that resonated with me. I especially loved the design tips from Mallory and her repartee with Grayson’s assistant Corinna. We could all learn from Mallory’s patience and resilience and her positive attitude in spite of one obstacle after another!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley as part of the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

A clean read for all!
Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including Romantic Time’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/ (Bio from author’s page at Amazon)

New release on March 7, 2023! Purchase Links:

https://amzn.to/41LGsn9 (Amazon)

http://bit.ly/3YlpGZ3 (Christian Book)

http://bit.ly/3mrQzgH (Powells)

http://bit.ly/3ZIgoaB (Target)

http://bit.ly/41QSI5K (Baker Book House)

http://bit.ly/3yhTMlQ (Barnes and Noble)

http://bit.ly/3ZN6c0J (Walmart)

https://amzn.to/3KZciXq (Audible)

Many thanks to Revell for including me in their Blogger Program and giving me early access to great books!

Review of UNDER FIRE by Lynn H. Blackburn

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The story of Zane Fletcher and Tessa Reed is one that had to be told. Their attraction to each other in previous books in the series was apparent but they had decided just to remain friends. Their decision is brought into question in this final book in the series in which Tessa is the lead agent in charge of protecting the President when he plans a trip to Raleigh. The President’s plans bring Zane back to Raleigh in order to liaison with Tessa. The chemistry between these two alternated between humorous and deadly serious as Tessa’s life is endangered because of events from her past. The characters are realistic, presenting a fascinating character study that pulled me into the story quickly. The plot is well-crafted with multiple layers involving the keeping the President safe, the President’s old friendships and reason for his visit and Tessa’s past that she thought was buried but has come to haunt her. The twists are clever and satisfyingly complex, creating a plot that is tightly woven and constantly crackling with tension between Zane and Tessa. With a fast pace and witty dialogue, this book kept me engaged with its intricate plot threads that were brilliantly woven together into one action-packed book. This is an addictive suspense that includes a developing romance that sparkles with laugh-out-loud banter between the two protagonists. Filled with warmth, humor and the creative complications that add to the pleasure of reading, this book is one not to be missed by fans of action-packed romantic suspense. Although it is part of the Defend and Protect series, this book can be read and enjoyed as a standalone.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author as part of her launch team. I also received an e-copy of the book from Revell via Netgalley as part of the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was not required by either entity to publish a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

An intense-filled suspense rated G for all audiences
Lynn H. Blackburn believes in the power of stories, especially those that remind us that true love exists, a gift from the Truest Love. Her Dive Team Investigations series includes Beneath the Surface and In Too Deep (a Fall 2018 Okra Pick and 2019 Selah finalist). The conclusion to the series, One Final Breath, releases in September 2019. She is also the author of Hidden Legacy and Covert Justice which won the 2016 Selah Award for Mystery and Suspense and the 2016 Carol Award for Short Novel. (From author’s website at www.lynnhblackburn.com

New release on March 7, 2023! Purchase Links:

https://amzn.to/3w4tOkz (AMZ)

https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/465108 (Baker)

http://bit.ly/3WkFsTe (Barnes and Noble)

http://bit.ly/3IPJD6f (Books-a-Million)

Christianbook.com (Christian Book)

I have the privilege of being part of the Revell Reads Blogger Program. I was also chosen to be part of the advanced review team for the author. Reading and reviewing this fantastic conclusion to an awesome series has been a double pleasure!

Review of SHATTERED by Lisa Harris

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This is a fast ride on a bullet train as the series concludes with the story of Chase and Hope. Introduced in the first book, with Chase transporting a prisoner and Hope remaining behind to provide medical care in the little town of Shadow Ridge, these two characters needed to have a conclusion to their tale and this book not only finishes the story but it also wraps everything in the entire series up in a neat bow. Very satisfying conclusion with some happy surprises along the way as well as some extremely unexpected twists that added to my enjoyment of the story. The characters were well-developed and so realistic that I wanted to comfort Hope as she had a melt down from all of the pressure she has been under since the grid went down. As I read, I kept thinking to myself what a good series this would make, with its lessons on forgiveness and redemption and its story that is heart-wrenching and soul-touching as so many lives have to change to adapt so quickly to a new reality without any electricity or modern conveniences like cars and technology. I cannot recommend this series highly enough. It is scary at the same time as hopeful with an underlying theme that God is always in control no matter what is happening in your world. A clean read with some thought provoking scenes that made me wonder how I would survive under similar circumstances. The series is concluded but the message that it teaches will long stay with me and is a series that I know that I will re-visit in the future as it teaches the eternal lesson of gratitude, family and faith.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I 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. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guidelines Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”

A clean Christian read that with intense suspense

About the Author:

Photos and Bio are from Lisa’s page at http://www.lisaharriswrites.com Check out her page and sign up for her newsletter to get a free copy of her prequel to the Fallout Series!

The entire series is available to read free on Kindle Unlimited!

The Fallout Series, in order! Read and enjoy a trip to Shadow Ridge where crime and investigation mimics the old west!

If you’re like me, you will want your own copy to keep. Here’s the purchase link for SHATTERED:

Shattered on Amazon

I hope that you enjoy your visit to Shadow Ridge as much as I did!