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Review of CRITICAL THREAT by Lynette Eason

On By vickleaIn Book Review3 Comments

About the Book:

Author: Lynette Eason
Series: Extreme Measures, Book 3
Genre: Revell
Publisher: Revell
Publication Year: January 3 2023
ASIN: B0B6Q42PHH
ISBN: 0800737342

Working with the son of a serial killer? That’s a first.

FBI Special Agent Grace Billingsley tracks serial killers, using her skills as a psychiatrist and behavioral analyst to get dangerous people off the street and safely behind bars. But prison psychiatrist Sam Monroe knows that just because a killer is incarcerated doesn’t mean they’re not a threat. His own father, Peter, is a serial killer—in prison but certainly not out of Sam’s life, as much as he wishes he was.

When bodies start showing up with Peter’s MO, Sam and Grace are both called in to consult. They’ve met before, and though Grace thought they’d made a real connection, Sam ghosted her. They’ll have to get past the awkwardness and mistrust to solve this case—especially because it’s about to get personal.

My thoughts about CRITICAL THREAT:

The story of Grace Billingsley and Sam Monroe is one that is a fascinating character study as well as a fast-paced suspense thriller. The clever way the author builds the story, with layers and unexpected twists, is absolutely brilliant and addictive. I enjoyed getting to know the characters who were the FBI agents and was intrigued by the personality of the villains. Sam’s father, an inmate in prison and a serial killer, was a complicated character who added to the terror that unraveled in the plot. The plot was tight, with misdirection in just the right places and a satisfying mixture of romance building just as the suspense ramped up. I also enjoyed the signature humor of the author, like the dinner date that seemed to always get interrupted. This is a compelling book to read with edge-of-your-seat action and uniquely complicated relationships that are explained well and thoroughly. The suspense gets intense at times, but that must made the story more enjoyable for me. With well-developed ideas and clues throughout the novel, this book kept me guessing and absorbed. I did not like all of the characters but all of them were fleshed out and made me see them for who they were created to be. I enjoyed the resilience of Grace and her reliance on her faith and her colleagues. And I enjoyed seeing Sam develop into a man who deserved her trust. Unpredictable and heart-pounding suspense make this book the perfect addition to the series! It can be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend the entire series and getting to know all of the characters who are friends and who support each other in their quest for justice.
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell via Netgalley and from the author as part of her launch team. 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 but I would rate it PG-13 because of content concerning a serial killer.

Purchase Links:

https://amzn.to/3Ycpg8x (Amazon)

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

http://bit.ly/3Fkjl8L (Google Play)

http://bit.ly/3FG1bjh (Baker Book House)

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

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

http://bit.ly/3Yh0rIq (Bookshop)

Lynette Eason is the best selling, award winning author of almost forty books including the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, the Hidden Identity Series and the Elite Guardians series. She writes for Revell and Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line. Her books have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists. She has won several awards including the 2013, 2016 and 2017 Carol Award in the Romantic Suspense category. She’s also the recipient of the Christian Retailing’s Best 2017 Award. She placed in the top ten (out of thousands of entries) in the James Patterson 2016 co-writer contest. Her Stolen Past was recently made into a Lifetime Movie Network movie and will air February 2nd, 2018. Lynette teaches at writing conferences all over the country. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), Romance Writers of America (RWA), Mystery Writers of America (MWA), International Thriller Writers (ITW), and Faith, Hope, and Love chapter of RWA as well as the Kiss of Death (KOD) chapter. Lynette can be found online at http://www.lynetteeason.com and http://www.facebook.com/lynette.eason and @lynetteeason on Twitter
Many thanks to Lynette Eason for allowing me to be on her launch team and to the Revell Reads Blogger Program for providing an e-copy of the book for me to read and review. Once again, Lynette has outdone herself with plot, characters and suspense and Revell has published a sure bestseller!
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No Condemnation

On By vickleaIn Scripture2 Comments

I don’t know about you all, but I personally have a tendency to kick myself repeatedly and hard about my shortcomings, especially the things I can no longer accomplish because of my physical problems. For example, since I will be staying in Maryland doing childcare again, I have been very anxious about what I cannot do for the toddler in my care. It’s hard for me to keep up with his activity level, so I have just been doing the best that I can and praying that God guards him from danger.

When I take time to ponder what’s in my heart (anger at the woman who let my son down again for the second year in a row) and to repent and ask forgiveness for my unrighteous feelings, I know that God doesn’t condemn me. He knows what is is my heart and how I long to go home to my normal routine. God doesn’t condemn me because of me and my actions or thoughts; He doesn’t condemn me because of the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross. It is truly finished, so that I can feel confident in my ongoing relationship with the Father.

Have a blessed day, knowing in your heart and mind that God does not condemn you but forgives and welcomes you as a beloved child. Not perfect, just forgiven!

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Why I Like to Read

On By vickleaIn Uncategorized36 Comments

I think that I have always enjoyed reading, or at least I cannot remember a time when I did not like it. I was born with asthma so I was limited in the number of activities I was allowed to do, and reading was a safe one for me, so I immersed myself in books from a very young age.  I read all of the Bobbsey Twin books, then went on to read Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.  I shared my mother’s love of Victoria Holt and Phyllis Whitney.  For a while, when I was a young wife, I read a lot of romance, including Danielle Steel and others.  I now read a lot of Christian fiction, mysteries, thrillers, and some non-fiction occasionally.  I read a lot of books from the library and post reviews on Goodreads.  I also read for Netgalley and love to be chosen to read some of the latest books before they are available to the general public.  So, I will share some reviews here as well as some of the happenings of my daily life that keep me reading as an escape.  I relax with a good book and forget that I had a stroke and could die any day, or maybe not.  I count my blessings daily that I have lived this long and that I have lived to see the birth of eight grandchildren and have enjoyed so many books. I am just taking one day at a time and one book at a time and loving the life that God has given me.

 

God Is in Control

On By vickleaIn Scripture5 Comments

In my daily struggles with moving around and just living, I find myself talking myself into doing things. I’m sure you know what that is like. I say to myself, ”Self, it’s only a few steps so you can do it. You just have to balance yourself and move forward.” I also find myself talking to God and asking Him to help me remain upright. Before my feet touch the floor in the morning, I am already expressing my dependence on God to help me get up and moving.

I go to a lot of different specialists, but never have I entertained the thought that they are the answer to all of my problems. They PRACTICE medicine, but God IS our help. He made me and He can fix me, and if He doesn’t, then He will help me keep on keeping on in this earthly frame. I appreciate the doctors and their attention to details and their advice, but ultimately, God is my source of strength and healing.

The battle is always the Lord’s, whether it is in your marriage, for your children, in your neighborhood or for the world. I think sometimes that I am fighting this battle all alone, but then God reminds me of the scriptures where angels were all around, just not visible to the servant until God showed them to him. As the Bible says, “we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.” Can you imagine their jubilation when we make the right choices and persevere instead of turning away in frustration?

This is the lesson that God is bringing to my mind frequently these days. I just need to be still. God will give the doctors wisdom and give me peace. God will fight the battles. God is my help, all the time and in every situation.

I am sure many of you are facing temptations, battles and maybe even an uncooperative body as I am. God is all we need during this time. Praying friends help. But they aren’t the answer. Attending church and hearing the wise words of the pastor and leaders help, but that is not the answer. All of these things contribute to our waiting, but they don’t provide the source of life that we need to press into. Only God has the final answer…He always gets the final word in our lives if we are just still and waiting. I’m not going to pretend that waiting is easy because it isn’t. But I have found through decades of serving the Lord that waiting for God’s answer is worth it since His answer is the only one that will actually help and carry me through to the end.

May God bless and keep you close to Him as you persevere and wait.

The Cost of Inflation and Free to All

On By vickleaIn Scripture1 Comment

I must first confess that I took two economics courses in college, neither of which I understood very well or enjoyed at all. But I am watching gas prices rise and paying more for groceries, so I know that prices have increased but my retirement pay has not. That means I have to be a much more aware shopper and buy things on sale or look for bargains in different stores. Here is what I found online about prices:

Please don’t ask me to expound on any of these diagrams because I just don’t have the knowledge to do so. I can tell that these charts indicate an upward trend, with some falling somewhat but perhaps prices not being passed on to the consumers (us). This kind of information can be mind-boggling and somewhat discouraging at times. But, you know what price has never changed?

SALVATION!!!

Jesus paid the price for our salvation once and for all and his sacrifice is not affected by oil prices, the stock market or even wars. It has always been free for those who accept it.

Free!

If you were driving by a gas station and saw the word FREE on the marquee, you would probably drive right in and get in line for your free tank of gas. So, why do we hesitate to accept the free gift of salvation from a God who only wants our best and loves us so much? I don’t know why, but I do know that today is the day to accept the free gift of God’s grace and mercy and there is no line to wait in, no interest to be charged and the cost is the same today as it was yesterday and even years ago. The cost is your willingness to confess your sins and accept Jesus as the Savior who gave His all so that you could have a relationship with our Heavenly Father. No gimmicks, tricks or sleight of hand. Free with Jesus is exactly what it says…free!

So, the next time you are driving by a gas station and gasp at the price or rolling a cart around a grocery store carefully choosing items that are in your budget, remember to thank Jesus that He never has and never will raise the cost you pay for eternal salvation. Free to you and to me and to all who call upon His name! Good news, isn’t it?

Near to God

On By vickleaIn Scripture, Song, Video8 Comments

I have been pressing into God lately, mostly because of life changes but also because I want a closer relationship with Him. I have had some physical challenges lately that have let me know that I need to depend on God or I just won’t make it through all of this.

This scripture is comforting to me…He is already near me when I call. He is not a distant God that I have to yell to be heard. He is right there all the time whenever I want to talk to Him.

Talking to God is like second nature to me. The doctor says my spine might collapse so I can’t lift over five pounds. I talked to God. The same doctor says that I have a better than average chance of breaking my hip in the next year, especially if I fall. So, before I get up to walk around, I talk to God and ask Him to keep me upright and stable. My neurologist is sending me to a neurosurgeon because he says that I need spine surgery. You better believe I am talking to God about this one! In fact, I think God and I have a constant conversation going and instead of this being odd or new, it is actually commonplace. I used to talk to Him a lot about our children and their needs and my problems disciplining them. They are all grown, and now I am older, so most of my conversations deal with medical issues that God knows about but that I need to address the issue to the only One who can truly help me persevere.

I hope and pray that you have daily conversations with God, all day long, just as if your best friend were there in the room with you. He is God and He is to be adored and praised and lifted up. But He is also the friend who is close by and also available when I call out to Him for wisdom, relief from pain or safety as I walk from room to room. I really enjoy talking to God because I can be honest with Him and tell Him anything, including that I am unhappy with the situation, even as I ask Him for His grace to get through it. Tell God what you’re thinking and then step out of His way so He can work in your life. He is as close as your next breath and He desires to bless you and to let you know how much He loves you.

Draw Near to God-Russ Taft and Leigh Nash

Is God Your Crisis Manager?

On By vickleaIn Scripture3 Comments

We were called to have a relationship with our Heavenly Father, but some of us treat Him as though He is our personal and sometimes effective crisis manager. What is a crisis manager anyway? That’s the person within a business structure who prepares for and makes “quick and informed decisions” in order to mitigate damages during an unforeseen crisis. (Wikipedia) This person is paid for his skills in managing crises in order to keep the unexpected event from affecting the business in a damaging way. In treating God like a crisis manager, I think many wait until the unexpected thing happens in their lives and then expect God to stop whatever He is currently doing and immediately address their issue in a way that would have a satisfactory outcome for them. In other words, they want to tell God what to do and when to do it in order to fulfill their expectations of what and who God is supposed to be in their lives.

I have said it before and I will say it again. God is NOT a genie in a box at our beck and call for when we decide we need Him. He is our Heavenly Father who desires an everyday, in every way, relationship with Him. Having a good day? Tell Him and praise Him. Having a so-so day? Tell Him, talk to Him about what is making it not so great and praise Him. Having a bad day? Tell Him you need His help making it through the day and praise Him. God helps in crises, but His primary focus is being with us all the time, whether we are calling on Him constantly or not. If the only time I spoke to my husband was when there is something that I want him to fix right away, we would not have a relationship but a business contract or something similar. I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to enter a business contract with God. I am in a covenant relationship with Him instead and that is so much better. We limit God when we try to make Him our crisis manager. We only want Him to come around when bad things are happening and we want His intervention. God is omnipresent, always there. He is omniscient, all knowing, and He is always loving and faithful. He wants what is best for us whether we agree with Him about what is best or not.

I appeal to you all that you form an ongoing relationship with God, one in which He is your “all in all” and that includes your crisis manager because you have established a relationship with Him. So, is God your crisis manager? I hope so, but He is so much more if you will allow Him to be your Father who created you and loves you more than you can ever understand.

Dear God-A Raw Prayer

Review of Operation Guard Your Heart by Alicia Gilliam

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About the Book

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0GZ7ZPP8D
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently published
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 30, 2026
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 269 pages
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8255593149

Synopsis (from author’s website)

They don’t call Genealogy 1101 the “death class” for nothing. 

Peter’s out to save his job as history professor from fatal budget cuts. His only hope is to enroll students for the least attended course on campus. Who could convince vacationing teenagers to spend a semester studying their grandparents?

Julia, his wife. Er, ex-wife. Wife on hold?

Julia drafts a list of rules to keep their relationship strictly professional but agrees to take on the project. Peter will research and portray members of his family tree. She’ll photograph him and flood the school’s social media with a unique marketing campaign. 

Never mind that Peter’s allergic to the limelight. Or that Julia’s keeping secrets about her mother’s dementia. They’ve signed the contract, for better or worse.

When the unsuspecting ex-couple stumble into a family mystery, survive a dreaded road trip, and welcome home a matchmaking daughter, their carefully-laid ground rules are tested in all the right ways.

My Thoughts

This is a clean romance with drama and humor dealing with a couple who are separated while the wife contemplates what her next step should be. Julia and Peter tell the story in a dual narrative that adds interest to the story since both have reasons for their choices that need to be expressed. Since Peter is an assistant professor of history and Julia works as an adjunct professor, they still see each other, but their relationship is not stable. When Peter’s job is threatened, Julia agrees to help him save it with social media posts to gain interest in his new class. The pace is moderate, a pace that is perfect for the story being told and the reflection that both adults have to do. It also allows for them to be seen in their own environment without the presence of the spouse in order to better understand how they got to the point of separation to begin with. The book has a somewhat complex plot as Julia’s mother Eileen is suffering from dementia but also desperate to find out what happened to her father. Peter, who is good at historical research, agrees to help find the information for Julia to present to her mom. That whole backstory is a glimpse into the history of a soldier who dedicated his life to serving his country. There is another story of Addison, the daughter who is leaving for college and really wants her parents to get back together. Her getting ready to leave the nest adds another layer to the reason Peter and Julia are having trouble with their relationship. This is a book with layers, family drama told in a realistic and heartfelt way and a history that needs to be discovered before Julia can move on into whatever the future holds. With hope and a big dose of forgiveness and desire to really love, this story was beautifully told and memorable. The characters are relatable and dynamic as they discover truths about themselves in their journey to rediscover the love they once had for one another.
I voluntarily received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. I was not required to write a positive review, and all opinions expressed are my own.

Clean romance, Rated PG

About the Author

Alicia Gilliam creates character-driven stories, dipped in romance and mystery, always aimed at deepening readers’ faith in God. After teaching writing and literature for twenty years, she reversed roles and became a student of indie publishing. Her other job, managing a resource center for foster parents, pays for her education and a weekly ration of chocolate chip cookies. For more information, check out the author’s website: aliciagilliam.com

To Purchase Your Copy:

Amazon

Not An Exclusive Club

On By vickleaIn Scripture4 Comments

Calling Out for Rescue (Daily Refresh, 5-07-26)

Do you remember a moment—maybe dramatic, maybe quiet—when you realized you needed help? Not just a little assistance, but rescue?

Romans 10:13 gives us this promise: “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

These words were written by the apostle Paul to the people in Rome, explaining how anyone can begin a relationship with God. Just before this verse, Paul describes trusting in Jesus—believing in Him and calling out to Him. There are no prerequisites, no religious background, no good behavior, nothing else required. It is about turning to God and asking Him to save.

At its heart, this verse is about calling out for help—admitting a deep need, a need you cannot solve yourself. And it’s about trusting that God hears and responds.

This promise is for every person.

In God’s eyes, there are no insiders or outsiders, and no one is too far gone. There is a Rescuer available to all—and His name is Jesus.

Maybe you can look back and see a time in your life when you called out to God, and He answered. But so often, there is more to the story. God loves to use people to accomplish His will. Did someone share God’s hope with you, or encourage you? Did someone show you kindness or point the way forward?

There are so many who don’t yet know about this wonderful promise of God. They don’t know that there is a Rescuer, offering salvation and new life.

This message of hope is meant to be shared. You can be the one to share it. And it can be as simple as saying: There is someone who cares and is able to save you. This promise is real. And it is for you.

Who in your life might be one step away from calling out for help? Will you take a step of faith today and share the hope you’ve found in Jesus?

My Thoughts

I used to think that being a Christian was an exclusive club for those who were “good enough” to be accepted by God. Then, my neighbor shared with me the truth of the gospel message, gave me a NLT Bible to read and shortly after reading the book of John, I prayed and gave my life to the Lord. I remember being on the floor in the bedroom of my small apartment. I didn’t know what to say or how to talk to God, but I just told Him that I needed Him in my life and wanted to accept His free gift of salvation. The next morning when I saw Verna (my neighbor), I shared with her what had happened. She hugged me, prayed with me and invited me to church. Thus began a lifetime of praying and talking to my Heavenly Father.

But life with God is a journey and a commitment. When I accepted His mercy and grace, I also committed to be a soldier on the battlefield of life, to help others to recognize the truth that I had found. I try every day to share a word from God on my social media pages. I give encouragement and tell others that God is in control. I don’t think I am doing enough, but I am doing something.

I would love for you to share your testimony with me, the person or people who introduced you to Jesus as your Savior, whatever you want to share. In addition, please think of several people with whom you can share that testimony personally and make a difference in how they see God. Someone cared enough about you to sow a seed in your life. May you go forth in joy sowing seeds in the lives of others. Being a Christian isn’t an exclusive club…it’s for everyone!

Review: Five-Star Summer by Sarah Morgan

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About the Book

ISBN-13:9781335013231

Publisher:MIRA Books

Publication date:05/05/2026

Pages:368

Synopsis

Running a five-star Cornish hotel should have been Evie Hamilton’s dream job. But restoring it to its former glory is going to take a miracle. All Evie has is grit, and a hoard of unruly staff who love to speculate about her love life. She needs back-up, and fast.

Enter Abby Jones. Parachuted in by the hotel’s umbrella company for the summer, Abby thinks Evie could be the best friend she never had. But Abby has her own agenda for being in Cornwall. If her real motives are uncovered, their friendship is going to melt away faster than an ice cream in the summer sun.

Yet Abby’s arrival starts a chain reaction. With the help of a charming chef and a gruff pub owner, they begin to embrace their true selves and the bonds that unite them. But it’s not just the hotel’s five-star reputation that needs rebuilding – Evie and Abby will also have to brave tearing down their lives in order to reshape their futures…

My Thoughts

This is a cozy romance set at a gorgeous, historical inn in Cornwall, with characters that jumped off the page into my imagination. Evie is the manager of the inn by default since the previous manager got ill and had to step out of the picture. What Evie finds when she takes over is a beautiful place that is hemorrhaging money and she is determined to save it, if she can. Help arrives in the form of a young woman from “headquarters” Abby Jones. Abby can and does work wherever she is needed and becomes Evie’s right arm as well as a friend in whom she confides. Abby’s secret mission there at the inn may derail their friendship, so she has to make sure that Evie doesn’t find out who she really is. There are great family dynamics, a lot of drama, multiple secrets and romance, too in this well-written and compelling story of living through circumstances beyond your control and tackling challenges as they come. There are lessons to be learned here as well as a fantastic story and relatable characters.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from HTP Books via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Contemporary Fiction, Rated PG

About the Author

Sarah Morgan is a #1 Sunday Times and USA Todaybestselling author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She has sold over 25 million copies of her books, and her trademark humour and warmth have gained her fans across the globe.  Her books have been translated into 28 languages and have earned her starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Booklist and Library Journal.

Sarah lives near London, and when she isn’t reading or writing she loves spending time outdoors, walking or riding her mountain bike. She frequently stops to take photographs, much to the annoyance of her family. For more information about Sarah and her writing, please visit her website at Sarah Morgan.com

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