I am a Christian, a retired teacher, a mother and a grandmother. I love to read and I love the Lord Jesus Christ! Unless otherwise specified ,all visual illustrations are from the YOU VERSION APP of the Bible.
Jonie Smitley was called to be a missionary from a young age and this book is the testimony of her life there. She spent time in Iraq, Afghanistan, Italy during the Covid-19 outbreak, Ecuador, and many other places. Basically, she traveled wherever and whenever she was needed, waiting for God’s call. I was fascinated with her close walk with the Lord and how she witnessed to His grace and love in each chapter. The love and dedication that she feels forward the Lord is portrayed in each chapter, with true stories of reaching out to those who need God in their lives. She definitely shows that she has a heart for serving God and the willingness to follow through. Her courage and love and skill are a wonder to behold. This is a very fast read, with short chapters and an amazing true story in each. Christians who want to feel uplifted and encouraged as well as challenged to serve will enjoy this book. And non-Christians can learn from its pages what unselfish devotion is like. I purchased my copy of this book from Amazon. I was not required to write a positive review.
The opinions expressed are my own. I am happy to say that my daughter Hope is a personal friend of Jonie’s and is part of Jonie’s prayer team when Jonie is on the missions field. So, although I have never met this remarkable woman myself, I have heard many times to pray for Jonie because she is headed out again to do God’s work.
This is a totally clean read that is good forall audiences.
Please note that I am aware that there are various grammatical and spelling errors in this book. However, take it as a testimony of a dedicated Christian, one devoted to going to work for God no matter the cost, and enjoy the book! I know that I did!
I was beyond delighted when I was invited to review Debbie Macomber’s new Christmas book since I love her books, especially the Christmas ones that I look forward to each year. The story of Everly and Asher is an old as time, and so well-written that I laughed, I cried and I rejoiced as I read. Just the feelings I wanted as the holiday approaches! Everly is a real estate executive who is tricked into going on an Amazon River cruise. There she meets naturalist Asher, a young man dedicated to telling everyone about all of the mysteries of the Amazon. I laughed aloud at some of the escapades that Everly got into. She may have been a very capable real estate mogul, but she was definitely out of her element in the wilds of the Amazon. It was amusing to read about Asher’s attempt to thwart her getting seriously injured while also teaching her about the place he loved so much. The conflict comes when the two fall in love and they have no idea to believe that their love can continue since they live worlds apart. I always enjoy how Ms. Macomber resolves the conflict and I think that her readers will recognize her fine hand in this wonderful Christmas story. It’s all about family, love, talents and compromise. Fans of romance and Debbie Macomber will thoroughly enjoy this story. And, bonus! I learned a lot about the Amazon, too! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Rated G for all audiences who enjoy romancePhoto and bio from author’s website at Debbie Macomber
Lisa Jewell’s latest book is the story of misfits in society, the story of desiring acceptance and love, the story of betrayal and lies and deception, and the story of secrets. It is a multi-layered story told from the point of view of three main characters. Cat Fours, the wife of Roan and mother of self-centered Georgia and spoiled Josh, is a woman who knows something is wrong but chooses to ignore it rather than confront. Saffyre Maddox is a teen who was abused as a young child and is still suffering from that physical assault. She sat under the therapy of Roan Fours, but since he didn’t cure her, she has decided to stalk him. The final narrator was the most unreliable but also the most interesting. Owen Pick is a complete misfit, a thirty something who has yet to find his place in the world. Fired from his job as a geography professor, Owen lives with Tessie, a relative who seldom interacts with him. Owen is part of an online group known as the incels, a group of involuntary celibates, something that I had never heard of before and I’m not sure that I want to know more about them now. Dark! Very dark! When Saffyre disappears, Owen is naturally the first suspect and is picked up, questioned and finally charged. Owen continues to declare his innocence, Cat continues to turn the other way and refuse to acknowledge that evil may exist under her roof, and Saffyre is still missing. This is not really what I would call a thriller, but rather a psychological family drama. It was thought-provoking throughout, especially at the end, when I closed the book and continued to reflect on the deceptive appearances that are a central theme. Who is in my life who wears one face and hides the real person inside? I really enjoyed this book, but not with a happy feeling at the end. The book is too dark with multi-faceted themes to leave me with contentment at the end. However, it left me with a lot to ponder. Fans of Lisa Jewell and psychological mysteries will really enjoy this fast-paced book. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Very entertaining but extremely dark content and themes, so not recommended for teens. Mature audiences only! Photo from the author’s website at Lisa Jewell
This was a superb addition to the Brenda Novak Silver Springs series! With many of my favorite characters poised to take part in the story of Dallas and Emery, I was mesmerized by the way the story was intricately woven around the town and people of Silver Springs. Emery is a wounded young woman who is invited to stay at the ranch with Aiyana while she finds her bearings again. There, she meets Aiyana’s sons, most importantly Dallas. Emery has some healing to do, but so does Dallas and it takes the whole novel before the two of them figure out how to go about it. I particularly enjoyed the details about Aiyana’s wedding to Cal and how helpful her sons were determined to be. Family working together and supporting each other was a main theme of the book. Another theme was forgiveness and just letting things go so you can move on with your life. I was outraged at how Emery had lost her job through no fault of her own, but I also liked how she ended up handling the whole situation. I also enjoyed seeing Susan and her bakery in the story this time as she was one of my favorite characters previously. For her to play a role in Emery’s decision to forgive was like icing on the cake. This book can be read as a stand alone, but I highly recommend that you read the series so that you are familiar with all of the characters and the many positive vibes from living in a small town like Silver Springs. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the Mira via Netgalley. I also purchased my own autographed copy via the Brenda Novak Reader Boxes. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
Highly entertaining romance. Rated a hard PG-13 for content as there are some definitely “hot and spicy” bedroom scenes. Nothing was too graphic, though, so if you enjoy a good romance with some bedroom antics, then this is the book for you! I really enjoyed it and I have been called a “prude” by more than one person. I got to meet Brenda in 2019 at an event in Hopewell. Here I am with my son and Brenda in the middle. She is just as friendly and sweet as she looks! For more information about her or her books, go to Brenda Novak. And if you want to join her Facebook group, go to Facebook with Brenda Novak.This is book seven in the series, but it can be read as a standalone.
Available on Tuesday, October 13th wherever books are sold. Purchase Links:
The third book in the Global Search and Rescue series was intense, gripping and absolutely amazing! It can be read as a standalone, but why miss out on the adventures in the other books? This book focuses on Hamilton Jones and his wife Signe who disappeared years ago. Now Ham is focused on finding her and he ends up finding her and trouble…the terrorist kind. THE PRICE OF VALOR was so fast-paced that at times I felt like I had whiplash. With a plot that was easy to follow and mind-blowing, I think this was my favorite book of the series. I really enjoyed the easy camaraderie that Ham had with his team as well as their loyalty to each other. The scenes in Italy were unbelievable and totally awesome! One rescue scene after another! I also enjoyed the brilliant repartee between Ham and Signe, childhood friends who became sweethearts and lovers. Such a sweet combination that showed the plans that God has working out in someone’s lives. This is Christian romantic suspense that will take you into another world, a world of spies and subterfuge and horror and love. I highly recommend it and can’t wait for the next high-octane thriller from this talented author! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
A totally clean read with a lot of intense action. PG rating because of content but nothing was explicit or objectionablePhoto was taken from the author’s website at Susan May Warren
This was a sweet romance that had me cheering for the couple to be. Piper is running the diner that her beloved father used to own before his untimely and unexpected death. Unfortunately, the diner is operating way in the red and Piper needs a way to save it. Braden North, her childhood friend who disappeared from her life shortly after her father’s death, suddenly reappears and has a suggestion that may help save the diner. The relationship between the two of them sparkled like the Alaskan snow and was so evident to me as I read that they were destined to be together if both of them would just realize that no relationship is without hardships. I enjoyed reading the story of Piper and Braden, and the setting for the tale was perfect! I could so easily conjure up an image of the little Alaskan town in my mind that it became real to me. The author did a wonderful job of establishing the setting, lovable but flawed characters and a plot that just flowed. I especially enjoyed that it was a clean read that I can recommend to any of my friends who enjoy reading romance. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
A clean romance suitable for all who enjoy this genre
Author bio: Belle Calhoune lives in Connecticut with her college sweetheart husband and two daughters. After a thirteen year career as a Federal Investigator, she chose to pursue a writing career. An avid lover of romance novels since she was a teen, she enjoys writing love stories and reading them. She loves spending summers in beautiful Cape Cod and traveling to new places. A dog lover, she has a mini poodle and a chocolate lab. More than anything, she believes in happily ever afters.
Excerpt, ALASKAN CHRISTMAS REDEMPTION by Belle Calhoune
Braden watched as Piper’s eyes widened with surprise. The shock on her face made him want to laugh out loud, but he knew the situation was far from humorous. The Snowy Owl Diner was at stake, and although he’d agreed to provide his assistance, he wasn’t sure if Piper even believed it could be saved. From this point forward, she would have to tell him everything about her situation. He would have to look over the books with a fine-tooth comb. If he was truly going to help her, he needed to understand exactly what she was facing. The good, the bad and the ugly. “A-are you serious?” she asked, sputtering. “Completely,” he said, a smile twitching at the corners of his mouth. “Whatever you need is what I’ll do.” She pressed a hand to her chest. “You will? Really? You were so decisive last night. What made you change your mind?” Braden paused before answering. “Because I owe you, Piper.” “For what?” she asked, confusion radiating from her eyes. Telling her the truth wasn’t an option. She wouldn’t want to know why he would forever be indebted to her. “For a million different things. You’ve always being in my corner. How could I say no to you when you’ve always said yes to me? No matter what trouble I got into or the problems I laid at your feet, you always jumped in to help me. There’s no way I could do any less for you.” Tears slid down Piper’s face, and she made no attempt to wipe them away. She bowed her head, and he could see her lips moving. When she raised her head back up, Braden saw pure happiness emanating from her eyes. “Thank you, Braden. I’m so grateful that you changed your mind. I know it’s complicated, but in my heart I truly feel that I was meant to carry on Daddy’s legacy. I just can’t imagine my life without this place in it. I’m willing to do just about anything to save it.” Braden couldn’t envision Piper losing ownership of the restaurant either. It would be agonizing for her. Not to mention Trudy and Hank. They were all invested in it. The townsfolk would be both saddened and upset. Piper would be the subject of endless gossip about the circumstances of her losing ownership of the Snowy Owl. She wouldn’t be able to bear it if the townsfolk discovered that the diner had been struggling since before her father’s death. He knew Jack’s reputation was important to Piper. People would sympathize with her as well, but he knew she would be inconsolable. If there was even a small chance of them reversing things, he wanted to give it his all. It would be his penance for shaving years off Jack’s life. If it hadn’t been for him, Jack might be here today, doing everything he could to boost the restaurant and spreading his effortless charm throughout the establishment. “We should meet up so you can give me an opportunity to look over the books and all of your monthly bills along with revenue. That’ll at least give me a snapshot of what’s been going on.” Piper made a sad face. “Sure thing. I hope you see something in there that I missed, but I crunched the numbers over and over again. It’s not looking good.” “We have to look at all your options. You might need a lawyer or a consultant.” She shook her head. “I don’t have money for an attorney. It’s a lack of money that’s gotten me into this situation in the first place.” Piper let out a frustrated groan. “Why don’t we meet this evening to try and sort some of this out?” he suggested. From what he’d initially gathered, they had only a short window of time to get things dealt with before everything imploded. That needed to be prevented at all costs. “That sounds good. Come by after I close up,” she told him. “I have to get back out there, but I’m so thrilled you changed your mind about helping me.” She flashed him a smile. “In case you didn’t realize it, I’m super grateful.”
Lisa Unger mixes Hitchcock’s “Strangers on a Train” with her own brand of twisted murder mystery to create a fascinating look at what happens when your problems suddenly disappear in a way that makes more problems for you. Selena is a hard-working wife and mother who leaves work late one evening, then the train stalls on the track and she starts to converse with her seat mate Martha. Martha, strangely enough, confesses that she is having an affair with her boss. Not to be outdone, Selena confesses to Martha that her nanny Geneva is having an affair with her own husband Graham. Honestly, Graham was probably my least favorite character, but I am certain that was by design by the author. He was weak-willed and lazy but seemed to have some kind of special charm that attracted women. Anyway, once Selena meets and talks to Martha, the action really begins and the plot twists and turns in so many ways that it was hard to keep follow at first. There are three POV’s and the identity of two of the women was hard for me to discern at first, as was whether the time frame was in the present or the past. Once I discerned who was who and when things were happening, I was a much happier reader! This book was filled with intrigue, murder, infidelity and deception (which kind of goes along with infedelity, doesn’t it). And as if there were not enough going on in this complex story, add blackmail to the mix. None of the narrators is totally trustworthy and that contributed to the magnetic pull for me as a real mystery buff. Fans of Unger and those who really enjoy a good mystery will not want to miss this one! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I would rate this book a hard PG-13 because of content. More mature readers will enjoy it, but it is not a clean read.
Lisa Unger is the New York Times and internationally bestselling author of eighteen novels, including CONFESSIONS ON THE 7:45 (Oct. 2020). With millions of readers worldwide and books published in twenty-six languages, Unger is widely regarded as a master of suspense. Her critically acclaimed books have been voted “Best of the Year” or top picks by the Today show, Good Morning America, Entertainment Weekly, Amazon, IndieBound and others. Her essays have appeared in The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and Travel+Leisure. She lives on the west coast of Florida with her family.
Q&A with Lisa Unger
Q: Please give the elevator pitch for Confessions on the 7:45.
A: Selena Murphy is a young mother who is having a terrible day. When she gets on her commuter train home, it stalls, dying on the tracks. The beautiful stranger sitting next to her strikes up a conversation with a confession. Maybe it’s her awful day, or the drink she shouldn’t have had, or the dark of the train, but, whatever the reason, Selena shares a secret of her own. When the train comes back to life and Selena is finally headed home, she’s embarrassed. What would lead her to confess her darkest secret to a complete stranger? She hopes she’ll never see the mysterious woman from the train, ever again. But, of course, she will.
Q: How do the ideas come to you for these bestsellers?
A: Every novel begins with a germ. A little zap of interest that starts me on an obsession for a particular topic. It could be a news story I read, or a sentence I hear or just an image that inspires me. One time it was even a piece of junk mail! Then, if that obsession connects to something larger that’s going on with me, I start to hear a voice or voices.I follow those voices, and they carry me through the narrative.
Q: Can you explain the popularity of the psychological thriller genre?
A: People have a deep and abiding desire, a need even, to understand themselves and those around them. This includes having some insight into the darkest aspects of human nature. Crime fiction is the perfect place to explore some of the big questions people have about what makes people who they are. Also, in difficult times, crime fiction provides a story with a beginning, a middle, and an end where some type of justice is delivered. Not so with the real world. So I think there is some comfort to be found even in the darkest and most suspenseful novels.
Q: There are so many twists in the story. Did you know the ending before you plotted all of the surprises?
A: When I sit down to write, I have no idea what’s going to happen, who’s going to show up or what they’re going to do day to day. And I certainly have no idea how things will end. It’s kind of a crazy way to write a book, but I’ve never done it any other way. I write for the same reason that I read, because I want to know what’s going to happen.
Q: What would you like to do if you were not an author?
A: I don’t know! I’ve never wanted to be anything other than an author. Psychology has always fascinated me, so maybe being a psychiatrist or counselor.
Q: If Confessions on the 7:45 were made into a movie, which actors would you choose to play the lead roles?
A: I would cast Scarlett Johansson as Selena and Gal Gadot as Martha. The supporting cast would be important, too, and Anne Hathaway would be perfect as Geneva and I’d love to see Bradley Cooper as Graham.
Q: Which of your books would you like to see televised or produced by Hollywood as a movie?
A: Any of them! Currently, THE RED HUNTER and UNDER MY SKIN are under options. So fingers crossed there! If I had to choose some others, I’d pick FRAGILE or INK AND BONE. I’d love to see my fictional town The Hollows come to life on the big or small screen.
Q: Which came first: the characters or the plot line?
A: The characters, always. My stories always begin for me with a voice, someone with a story to tell.
Q: Why do you love Selena and why should readers root for her?
A: As most of my characters are, Selena is imperfect. The pressures she experiences from the world around her are matched by those she places on herself. She is struggling, but she also knows she has reserves of strength from which to draw to overcome the obstacles she faces, some of which are catastrophic. I think we’re all stronger and braver than we believe ourselves to be, so when we’re rooting for Selena, we’re really rooting for the warrior within us all.
Q: How do you come up with your stories? Is anything based on or influenced by real life?
A: Everything in fiction is autobiographical — and nothing is! If we’re writing from a deep and authentic place, then all of our experiences, our observations, the people we meet, the situations we observe, the conversations we have and overhear, inform our fiction. Sometimes inspiration comes from the news, from travel, from questions I have about people and the world. My fiction is always influenced by my real life but in really layered and mysterious ways.
Q: What was your last 5-star read?
A: I’ve read so many fantastic books recently! GOOD GIRLS LIE by JT Ellison, IF IT BLEEDS by Stephen King, and LITTLE SECRETS by Jennifer Hillier are some of my favorite recent reads.
Q: What is one thing about publishing you wish someone would have told you?
A: I worked for a publisher before I became an author, so I was lucky to have a lot of insight into the business of publishing. So I suppose I’d like to share what I knew going in that a lot of writers don’t. I knew that the book contract was not the end of the journey, but the beginning of the writing life. And that no matter where you are in your career — an aspiring writer, or a published writer just starting out, or a mega bestseller, it never stops being about the writing. What you do on the page is always the most important element of your career, so never stop trying to get better.
With a dual timeline and two sets of main characters, this is a heart-tugging and warm Christmas story about family, friends and finding your purpose in the world. The first timeline is 1972 with John Creighton and his wife Joan. They have two young children and Joan has cancer that she is battling bravely. John wants to do something special for his wife, so he decides to build a kitchen table for the family. Flash forward to 2012 with Lauren Mabrey, a young woman who has just discovered that she is pregnant. She and her husband have just started housekeeping, so they need to establish a special place for their new baby. Lauren gets the assistance of her helpful friends at Glory’s Place to find a new kitchen table and to decorate the baby’s nursery. The table is what draws the two timelines together. I really enjoyed reading Joan’s recipes that she got from her mother and that she is trying to pass down to her own daughter before the horrors of cancer take her away from her family. When Lauren discovers the recipe cards in the Christmas table, she starts learning how to cook, but she is also determined to find the one who wrote the recipes to begin with, knowing that they are a legacy. What a wonderful story this was of hope and love and what we leave behind! The story lines were engaging, and each time I read about Joan and then switched to Lauren, I was eager to go back to the other character, whoever it was at the time, in order to continue their story and discover the end of the story. There was a lot of emotion in each chapter, building to the end that was satisfying and also tear-bringing. Fans of VanLiere’s Christmas tales will find a lot of love within the pages of this book. Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
This was the most delightful, positive and happy romance that I have read this year! With just enough conflict to keep me interested and just enough romance to tantalize me, SEASON OF JOY is a book that started out my holidays with a jingle and a tingle. Joy Benson has been hurt by love and is not looking for another entanglement. What she does want to do is start her own art gallery. But without the encouragement of her parents, Joy has to strike out on her own to find a way to fund it. Enter Granger Fields, a single father of two who needs someone to watch his two young daughters while he works on the family’s Christmas tree farm. Joy agrees to give the two darling little girls art lessons and so the real story takes off. I absolutely loved the independence and self-confidence that Joy displayed in her own abilities. With parents too self-absorbed to even notice how talented she was, Joy’s determination was admirable. I think that my favorite characters were the two young girls, Abby and Willow. Abby was precocious and Willow was so needy of a mom that my heart just went out to that little sweet heart. All of the characters were portrayed so realistically that it was like I was watching a well-made movie. (Attention, Hallmark! This book would make a great Christmas movie!) The plot had just enough twists in it for me to want to keep reading until the satisfying and happy conclusion. I really enjoyed the setting of the Sweetwater Springs and the Merry Mountain Christmas Tree Farm. Visiting with old friends who had been in previous books was like a visit home again for me; there was Jack and Dawanda and Emma…lots of favorites. Although this book is part of a series, I feel that it can be enjoyed as a Christmas standalone. I highly recommend this feel-good book that will start out your season with positive vibes, ready to decorate, celebrate and ring in the joyful season! Disclaimer Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hachette Book Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I would give this book a PG-13 rating because of the romantic scenes. Nothing explicit but may not be appropriate for younger readers. Photo and Bio from the author’s website at Annie Rains
Available on October 13th, but you should pre-order NOW! Purchase Links:
I did read the other two books in the series, but I think that this third book in the series can definitely be read as a standalone. It is a fun, quick-paced and very light romance, with some humor and intense love scenes. Claire Smythe has chosen Highlands, Georgia, to hide from her past. She does a fairly good job of hiding until she meets farmer Holt Pierson, a young man who is trying to find what he really wants from life and is thrown into a tailspin when he meets Claire. I enjoyed the romance, but I thought it all happened a little fast. The characters in the town were just quirky enough to keep me reading. I liked that Claire sought a friendship with Anna and that they supported each other. I also really liked the character of Ms. Meadows, Claire’s employer who is like a mom or grandmother to her. Ms. Meadow’s has suffered loss herself and is also very wise in her advice to Claire. The story was well-developed, with just enough complications in the characters’ lives to keep me engaged all the way to the end. Great addition to the series! Those looking for a light romance will enjoy this book. 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. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
I would rate this book a hard PG–13 with the comment that I would not want my teen granddaughters to read this book because of the sexual innuendo that is almost a kind of foreplay.
Vickie's Book Nook and Meditation Corner 