The Divine Proverb of Streusel by Sara Brunsvold Book Review

About the Book:

Shaken by her parents' divorce and discouraged by the growing chasm between herself and her serious boyfriend, Nikki Werner seeks solace at her uncle's farm in a small Missouri hamlet. She'll spend the summer there, picking up the pieces of her shattered present so she can plan a better future. But what awaits her at the ancestral farm is a past she barely knows.

Among her late grandmother's belongings, Nikki finds an old notebook filled with handwritten German recipes and wise sayings pulled from the book of Proverbs. With each recipe she makes, she invites locals to the family table to hear their stories about the town's history, her ancestors--and her estranged father.

What started as a cathartic way to connect to her heritage soon becomes the means through which she learns how the women before her endured--with the help of their cooking prowess. Nikki realizes how delicious streusel with a healthy dollop of faith can serve as a guide to heal wounds of the past.

My Review:

I enjoyed this novel following a young woman finding her way in relationships within the context of exploring her ancestry. I liked all of the recipes and wise sayings Nikki finds in her grandmother's notebook. These recipes are in the text of the novel rather than listed at the end. They look delicious and remind me of my own Dutch heritage. I like how Nikki's experiences during the summer knits together relationships that had unraveled.

Brunsvold is an entertaining writer. The characters are developed well and there are several family and romance issues that must be faced and grown through. While the plot was predictable and was nicely tied up at the end with a kind of fairy tale ending, It was an entertaining read.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Sara Brunsvold is the author of The Extraordinary Deaths of Mrs. Kip. She creates stories that speak hope, truth, and life. Influenced by humble women of God who find his fingerprints in the everyday, she does the same in her life and her storytelling. Sara's recognitions include the 2020 ACFW Genesis Award for Contemporary Fiction. She lives with her family in Kansas City, Missouri, where she can often be spotted writing at a park or library. Learn more at www.SaraBrunsvold.com.

Revell, 336 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

No Matter What by Jennifer Carr Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book

Book: No Matter What

Author: Jennifer Carr

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: October 14, 2022

Jess Hayley, with her exceptional skill of deciphering people’s thoughts and emotions through body language and microexpressions, encounters Bryan Carsen, a member of the U.S. Army Cyber Force, setting her on an unforeseen path that challenges her beliefs and abilities.

As Bryan becomes embroiled in a covert investigation, Jess comes to grips with the consequences of his actions, which are further complicated by the arrival of a mysterious box of evidence that endangers everything she holds dear. Caught in a perilous web of intrigue, trust becomes elusive, and Jess must navigate a world turned upside down, even questioning the trustworthiness of those closest to her.

In the midst of turmoil, Jess confronts the unsettling possibility that someone she trusted deeply may have harbored long-hidden secrets. Despite enduring numerous challenges, she must summon the strength to open her heart and rediscover the capacity to trust.

Amidst the uncertainty and concealed truths, Jess’s journey unfolds, marked by twists and turns, self-discovery, resilience, and the intricate interplay between perception and reality, showcasing the deep impact of unexpected encounters and the courage needed to move forward in the face of pain.

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

This is a touching romance novel. It explores the love at first sight phenomenon and a romance developing intensely and very quickly. A focus is put on the struggle with tempting thoughts and remaining abstinent until marriage. There is a bit of suspense but the danger disappears quickly.

Other issues are covered in the novel, such as Christians helping each other when in need and the problem of marrying an unbeliever. There is a good faith message and a clear presentation of the gospel. I like to learn something when I read fiction and in this case is was the skill of reading others based on body language and a developed intuition.

Carr's writing style is clear and easy to read. The characters were well developed. The story is told from three first person viewpoints. Each viewpoint was clearly identified at the beginning of the chapter but I do find that technique of telling the story a bit distracting.

I am invested in the characters in this novel and look forward to their continued lives in a sequel.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

 

About the Author

A wife, mom, author, marriage and family counselor, a former AP Psychology teacher, and a podcaster, Jennifer draws from her life experiences and imagination to connect with her readers and listeners through the written and spoken word.

Married to her childhood best friend and the mom of a creative daughter, Jennifer enjoys a quiet life on their farm in Alabama.
When she’s not wearing one of her many hats, you’ll find her tucked away with a book and what’s likely her third coffee of the day.

More from Jennifer

I loved writing this book. There were days that words poured out of me as though a dam had broken. Other days I stared at the screen until my eyes felt crossed and only touched the keyboard to text my husband how absolutely uninspired I was.

The day before I clicked PUBLISH, I reread the entire book cover-to-cover, word-for word and just as I had the first time through, I smiled, I cried, my heart swelled, and it shattered into pieces. Then it was gently put back together as I was reminded of the hope that is always waiting for us, no matter what. 

One of my favorite quotes from the book:

“…if you will let God redeem your losses, you might find that he restores you, too…”

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, January 20

Texas Book-aholic, January 21

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, January 22 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 23

Artistic Nobody, January 24 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 25

Beauty in the Binding, January 26 (Author Interview)

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 27

Guild Master, January 28 (Author Interview)

Exploring the Written Word, January 28

Cover Lover Book Review, January 29

A Reader’s Brain, January 30 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 31

For Him and My Family, February 1

Through the Fire Blogs, February 2 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, February 2

 

My comments are an honest and independent review. The rest of the copy of this post was provided by Celebrate Lit.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Hunted by Proxy by Manning Wolfe Blog Tour Book Review

 

Hunted By Proxy

by Manning Wolfe

January 15-February 2, 2024 Virtual Book Tour

Synopsis:

In this lawyer on the run action suspense, can attorney Quinton Bell hang on to his new life as he hides in plain sight?

Hunted By Proxy takes you on a heart-pounding journey through the life of a criminal defense attorney, whose world, as he knew it, was wiped out by the very client he tried to save.

Quinton establishes a new life and law practice in Houston and thinks he’s outrun the dangerous adversaries who chased him there. Just as he begins to relax, he receives a mysterious note that proves to him that he’s still in danger and running from a powerful and relentless adversary. But who?

With each passing moment, the noose tightens, and he must draw on every ounce of wit to outsmart those who still want him exposed, or worse, dead.

Will Quinton Bell find a way out, or will he forever be a target in a deadly game of cat and mouse?

My Review:

This is a very interesting novel of legal procedure that revolves around the life of the lawyer more than courtroom activities. There is a lawsuit involved and Quinton 's commitment to an equitable outcome provides one plot thread. The other thread concerns present danger to Quinton because of past activities found in the first book in this series. The lawsuit provides enough material to enjoy the novel but to understand the other part of the plot, the first book should be read.

I like the emphasis Wolfe made on the human aspect of a lawyer desiring to serve the best interests of the client, especially when there are others just interested in the money they can earn. While there is a little courtroom drama, this is not a book for readers who like a heavy dose of courtroom scenes. Wolfe's writing style and emphasis lends itself to getting a good feel for the personal life of a lawyer. This novel is an engaging character study.

We are left with a hint of further adventure for Quinton. I am invested in his life so I will be looking for the next in the series.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

Book Details:

Genre: Legal Thriller
Published by: Starpath Books, LLC
Publication Date: January 2024
Number of Pages: 300
ISBN: B0CFWWCX7F
Series: Proxy Legal Thriller Series, Book 2
Book Links: Amazon | Goodreads

Read an excerpt:

Quinton heaved a box of thick books onto the conference room table in the new Law Office of Quinton Lamar Bell in Houston, Texas. He’d recently moved to The Galleria area around Westheimer and Post Oak and opened a solo practice. Quinton was now what they called a loop lawyer, one who offices around and outside the 610 Loop. It circled the city from Interstate 10 to Highway 45 to Highway 59 surrounding the downtown high-rises poking out of the ground in the middle of the ring. He had been working downtown for the last year but, seeking distance and maybe a little safety from the legal community, found his perfect new office and began to make it his own.

Clients were not hard to come by as Quinton had created a reputation on his last big case, a murder involving the defense of his friend and lover, Joanne Wyatt. That seemed a lifetime ago, and he had become a loop lawyer in part to get a fresh start, but also to protect his former firm, Jamail, Powers & Kent, from his past life in New York City. That’s another story, for another day, but it involved Quinton’s pseudocide off the Staten Island Ferry.

Quinton Lamar Bell was not his real name, it was Byron Douglas, but only he knew that and one other person. A potentially dangerous person. When Quinton had opened his new office, he thought he was the only one on earth who knew he had faked his own death in New York and come to Houston to hide in plain sight. He looked different with a little plastic surgery, and had assumed not only the face, name, and demeanor, but the entire life of a childhood friend. He did so, not because he hated his prior life but because it was too dangerous to live it anymore. Besides, Q, as he’d dubbed his friend and benefactor, no longer needed his name or his face as he had been cremated and sprinkled in the Gulf of Mexico. So, in essence, Quinton had been killed twice, and he wasn’t even dead.

The new Quinton had worked for a downtown Houston firm at the insistence of his faux father, Judge Sirus Bell, who was also now deceased, in order to establish himself as Quinton. When he’d left the downtown firm, on good terms, he’d agreed to split any profits fifty-fifty on the files that were open prior to his departure. Any new cases were all his, even if they were referred by the old firm. It was generous to Quinton. He’d been supported a great deal by the three women partners in his prior office and would not forget their kindness. It was one of the reasons for the separation and move, to protect them, and to get out of their hair.

The women’s firm didn’t really want criminal cases running through their office and Quinton didn’t want the firm to get caught in the crossfire, in the event that his past came back to haunt him. And his past did haunt him. He could never go back. He’d broken the law, lied, cheated, stole, and taken Quinton’s legacy as his own. Now, he went through each day hiding in plain sight and living the life of a dead man.

After Judge Bell’s death, he’d found that he, as Quinton, was the sole heir of the Bell estate. He’d put most of the inheritance into a charitable trust, but had kept one asset, and only one asset. He loved the Bell house in Galveston, a beautiful Victorian home near the beach, that he could not bear to part with. It was the source of many childhood memories with both his friend, Q, and mentor, Judge Bell.

Giving the bulk of the estate to charity was the right thing to do, but if the authorities found out about his true identity, his altruism would not stop them from charging him with crimes from fraud to murder. Yes, murder. That’s the aforementioned part of the long story for another day.

With the help of Judge Bell, Byron had stolen Quinton Bell’s persona, deliberately adapted to his new life in Houston, and felt that he had truly escaped the danger he’d left behind. After a while, it felt to the new Quinton like he’d learned another language and was now immersed in it. He actually became the new Quinton Bell, a fusion of his former self and new persona speaking the acquired language as if he’d been born to it. Still, he’d walked on proverbial eggshells every day for months, finally settling in, to what he thought was a fairly safe place.

That is, until a strange card arrived in the mail at his new office. It revealed his former name, Byron Douglas, shook him to the core, and left him wondering who knew about his past and what they wanted from him. It had been several weeks since the card had been delivered. One side was adorned with a photo of the New York skyline and the Staten Island Ferry. The other side had a cryptic note: “Hello, Byron. I know who you are, and I know what you’ve done. Be seeing you.”

No demands, no further contact, and no requests of any nature. It was like waiting for the proverbial ‘other shoe’ to drop. Was he going to be blackmailed? If so, why send the card? The sender wanted something, but what? Would Quinton one day be arrested without further notice? Law enforcement wouldn’t send a warning. Who was the sender, and what did they have planned for him?

“Be seeing you.” It gave him a chill. Waiting to find out was worse than the many scenarios he imagined would flow from his discovery.

***

Excerpt from Hunted By Proxy by Manning Wolfe. Copyright 2024 by Manning Wolfe. Reproduced with permission from Manning Wolfe. All rights reserved.

 

Author Bio:

MANNING WOLFE, an award-winning author and attorney residing in Austin, Texas, writes cinematic-style, smart, fast-paced thrillers and crime fiction. Manning was recently featured on Oxygen TV’s: Accident, Suicide, or Murder.
* Manning's legal thriller series features Austin attorney Merit Bridges, including Dollar Signs, Music Notes, Green Fees, and Chinese Wall.
* Manning's new Proxy Legal Thriller Series features Houston attorney Quinton Bell and includes: Dead By Proxy, Hunted By Proxy, and Alive By Proxy.
* Manning is co-author of Killer Set: Drop the Mic, and twelve additional Bullet Book Speed Reads.
As a graduate of Rice University and the University of Texas School of Law, Manning’s experience has given her a voyeur’s peek into some shady characters’ lives and a front-row seat to watch the good people who stand against them.

Catch Up With Manning Wolfe:
manningwolfe.com
Goodreads
BookBub - @ManningWolfe
Instagram - @manningwolfe
Twitter/X - @ManningWolfe
Facebook - @manning.wolfe

 

Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway!

Click here to view Hunted By Proxy by Manning Wolfe Tour Hosts

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

I received a complimentary egalley of this book through Partners in Crime Book Tours. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Death at a Scottish Wedding by Lucy Connelly Book Review

About the Book:

Finally feeling like Sea Isle, Scotland is becoming her new home, American doctor Emilia McRoy is delighted when she is invited to a wedding at Morrigan’s Castle. Her friends have warned her that it’s a three-day party and it’s bound to get wild, not to mention the impending snowstorm. Constable Ewan Campbell, owner of the castle, ensures their safety with the blizzard. What he didn’t ensure, is that all of his guests would survive the night alive. When Emilia explores the impressive castle, she finds a dead man in one of the turrets.

 The snowstorm hits and the local police can’t reach the castle until it lets up. With no one able to leave, the family insists they carry on with the wedding, which makes Emilia’s job as the coroner a bit easier—the suspects are in one place­––and complicated because the killer has Emilia in his sights. The fact no one claims to know the victim isn’t helping. Why would someone no one knows be murdered at a castle in the middle of nowhere?

My Review:

This is a fun cozy mystery of the locked room variety. The the snowy Scottish countryside is fun setting for winter reading. There is even a old and huge castle to get lost in. Emilia make for a good amateur sleuth. Even though she has been in Scotland for a short time, she has developed many friends who help her solve the murder. There are plenty of suspects and it is not until Emilia's life is in danger that the villain is identified. While this is the second in a series, I felt it read well on its own. A fun winter cozy mystery read.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Lucy Connelly loves traveling the world, but her favorite place is at home with her dogs and family. That said, she's always up for adventure and is constantly on the lookout for killer inspiration--as in who will be the next killer in her books?

She has a master's degree in humanities and enjoys learning all the things.

Crooked Lane Books, 272 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Practicing the Way by John Mark Comer Book Review

About the Book:

We are constantly being formed by the world around us. To be formed by Jesus will require us to become his apprentice.

To live by what the first Christian disciples called a Rule of Life—a set of practices and relational rhythms that slow us down and open up space in our daily lives for God to do what only God can do—transforms the deepest parts of us to become like him.

This introduction to spiritual formation is full of John Mark Comer’s trademark mix of theological substance and cultural insight as well as practical wisdom on developing your own Rule of Life.

These ancient practices have much to offer us. By learning to rearrange our days, we can follow the Way of Jesus. We can be with him. Become like him. And do as he did. 

You can read an excerpt here. You can watch the book trailer here.

My Review:

I am quite impressed by this book. I have read a number of books on Christian growth and spiritual formation and I would put this one at the top. Comer reminds us we are being formed whether we realize it or not. If we want to be formed into the people God wants us to be, we must be intentional to that end.

Comer encourages to become followers of Jesus. We are to be whole life apprentices to Jesus. He gives information and practical strategies to do that. He gives three aspects: Be with Jesus, Become like Him and Do as He Did. It is a long process for us to become the people God had in mind when He willed us into existence.

I like Comer suggesting we take an audit, an honest look at the forces now forming us. He presents a working theory of change to help us understand how we are transformed. And finally, he encourages us to form a Rule of Life, intentionally ordering our lives around what matters most: God.

I really like the informative and practical nature of this book. While I am familiar with some of the material, Comer has insights I've never seen before. If you read only one book this year on spiritual growth, make it this one.

My rating: 5/5 stars.

 

About the Author:

John Mark Comer is the founding pastor of Bridgetown Church in Portland, Oregon, a teacher and writer with Practicing the Way, and the bestselling author of The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry plus four previous books.

WaterBrook, 288 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

A Bird Alone by Ericka Clay Book Review

About the Book:

Marge Marksmen lives in a world beyond her control. As the widow of a once struggling traveling vacuum salesman, Marge faces motherhood in a single-wide trailer in the mid-eighties, barely able to keep her teenage daughter in line, not to mention her autistic son. She lives retreated within herself, having once given life a second chance with a new man and a new job, only to have both taken away savagely by the hands of a stranger one summer evening in the seventies. Marge has since convinced herself that God is not to be trusted, relying on her weekly welfare checks and political affiliation to keep her afloat.

Her daughter, Whitney, lives in a separate reality. Her hope is in her boyfriend, Jamal, and the baby she's recently conceived. She's convinced it's her ticket out of the trailer park and into a more normal existence that doesn't involve an out-of-touch mother or a brother she doesn't understand. But when her dream of a happy family peters out, and Whitney discovers a heartbreaking secret Jamal has been keeping from her, Whitney takes fate into her own hands, changing the course of her life forever.

Told through the perspectives of a combative mother and daughter and the people who love them, A Bird Alone shows how God's grace seeps through the cracks of even the most hardened circumstances and how His hand steers life's outcome, not our own.

My Review:

Clay is not afraid to write about serious subjects. This novel includes autism, racial prejudice, homosexuality, single motherhood from extramarital sex and difficult family relationships. She is great at exploring the feelings of broken and dysfunctional people. The characters in this novel are well developed.

Clay is a word smith and is very creative in the use of language. Generally that makes for a captivating read. I felt, on occasion, the creativity was too much. One example, “The feeling was an overwhelming sweep that must have been residing in the same dirty corners as all her other emotions.” (1294/3662) That sentence is evidence of Clay's creativity yet I have no idea what an “overwhelming sweep” is. Another area where the writing style was distracting is in the chapter divisions. An example was Chapter 19 featuring Stacey. Chapter 20 begins with “she” sentences but it is not until well into the paragraph we find that Marge is now the female of reference.

This is an engaging novel exploring the choices people make how God can redeem the damage and provide a future. Clay's writing style may be distracting at times but the overall work is engaging. 

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Ericka Clay is a traditionally published novelist and poet formerly represented by Robyn Russell. She graduated from the University of Arkansas Creative Writing Department and is the author and publisher of several books. Her latest novel, A Bird Alone, is due to be published early 2024.

She's working on a new book project called Letters to My Former Self, an epistolary memoir that features letters she's writing as a believer to the old her, an atheist woman in the 21st century.

Ericka has been awarded several times by Writers Digest for various short fiction pieces. She has written four novels (one of which placed as a quarter-finalist in the 2010 Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award contest) and has had the privilege of sharing her craft, teaching writing classes, and holding writing workshops in the South Texas area.

Ericka lives in Northwest Arkansas with her husband and daughter and an insatiable need to push buttons, both figuratively and literally.

You can find out more at www.erickaclay.com. 

Independently published, 250 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

The Way of Gratitude by Hannah Rowen Fry Blog Tour Book Review

About the Book:

“May we rest in goodness, gratitude, and wonder all the days of our lives.” Hannah Rowen Fry writes

thoughtful reflections on Scripture, inviting you to marvel at God’s character in The Way of Gratitude.

The Way of Gratitude features:

21 original devotionals based on Scripture

Space to be curious and to be in awe of the Word of God

Prompts to reflect, pray, and journal

Beautiful, minimal design

21-day tracking sheet

Additional resources including more devotionals and accompanying music playlist are available on www.hannahrowenfry.com.

Experience greater joy in the present moment as you learn about gratitude as a lifestyle. Allow the Holy Spirit to transform your life through reading Scripture and responding to the Word of God without legalism, judgment, or guilt. Slow down and choose simplicity; rest in God’s goodness.

ISBN-10: 8988895411

ISBN-13: 979-8988895411

ASIN: B0CFD748BP

Print Length: 84 pages

You can purchase a copy on Amazon, Bookshop.org, or Barnes and Noble.

Enter for a chance to win a copy of the book here.

My Review:

Gratitude should be a way of life for the Christian and this book offers the opportunity to refocus our attention on it. The layout of the book lends itself to being interactive. There are Bible passages and devotions upon which to meditate. There is plenty of space in which to journal.

The devotion I liked the best was the one most challenging for me. It is based on the Last Supper and reminds us Jesus gave thanks for the meal even though He knew He was sharing it with His betrayer. What an example of giving thanks (gratitude) for all things.

This is a good book encouraging Christians to develop a life of gratitude.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Hannah Rowen Fry is a writer, speaker, and encourager. Her writing consists of observations of daily life, and uses daily reflections to guide others to live out their God-given purpose. Hannah's passion is to help others experience greater joy in the present moment. She shares practical tips, helpful resources, and clear purposeful steps to abide in Jesus daily without legalism, judgment, or guilt. Her thoughtful reflections on Scripture invite those who have felt overwhelmed with their lifestyle, thoughts, or schedule to slow down and choose simplicity.

Guided by encouragement, generosity, gratitude, and a healthy dose of responsibility, readers are invited to experience freedom as they find spiritual rhythms that cultivate faith and help them step into their God-purpose. Hannah lives in Jacksonville Beach, Florida with her husband Matt, and spends most of her free time walking on the beach, frolicking around Disney World, and listening to Taylor Swift. Read more about her and her work at www.hannahrowenfry.com.

Find her online at:

Her website: https://www.hannahrowenfry.com

Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/hannahrowenfry

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hannah.rowen

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book through WOW! Women on Writing. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)

Double Take by Lynette Eason Book Review

About the Book:

She survived a murder plot and her attacker is dead--isn't he?

Detective James Cross has been honorably discharged from the Army's Criminal Investigation Division due to wounds sustained when an IED blew up near him. Now with the Lake City Police Department, he's rooming with his good buddy and partner, Cole, while he figures out his family dynamics.

Physician Assistant Lainie Jackson is eighteen months out from an attempted murder perpetrated by her ex, which ended when she managed to grab the weapon and shoot him. When he appears to have survived and is back to finish the job he started, Lainie insists it's not possible. But someone keeps trying to kill her, and she keeps seeing his face.

Together, Lainie and James must work together to find out who exactly is after her and why he wants her dead. And failure is not an option.

You can read an excerpt here.

You can watch the book trailer here.

My Review:

This is the first in a new series from Eason. The plot is quite involved and seemed almost beyond belief. The villain's motive was reasonable but the amount of planning and work and the number of people that went into exercising the nefarious deed was a bit much. Eason said in her notes this was a difficult plot to flesh out and I believe it.

Nonetheless, it is a good psychological thriller. We are kept in the dark about the truth of who is out to kill Lainie and why. There are some good suspense scenes. The romance aspect is subtle, done well, and takes a back seat to the mystery. I like that. The characters are developed well and Eason's writing style is a pleasure to experience. A faith message is present but mostly vague.

I liked the novel, even if I thought too much work and too many people were involved in the villain's work. I do enjoy a good inspirational romantic suspense and look forward to more in this series.

My rating: 4/5 stars.

About the Author:

Lynette Eason is the USA Today bestselling author of Double Take, as well as the Extreme Measures, Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master's degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband. They have two adult children. Learn more at LynetteEason.com.

Revell, 320 pages.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)