Book Review: Fragments of Fear

Fragments of Fear
by Carrie Stuart Parks

Thomas Nelson–FICTION

Thomas Nelson

Christian , Mystery & Thrillers

Pub Date 23 Jul 2019

I am reviewing a copy of Fragments of Fear
through Thomas Nelson Fiction and Netgalley:

Carrie Stuart Parks is a FBI Certified Forensic Artist! She infuses her real life expertise into her suspense novels.

After the Suicide of her fiancé Evelyn McTavish’s world comes crashing down around her. Just as she is struggling to
Put her life back in order she ends up getting a call telling her, her dog is about to be destroyed at the pound. The problem is she doesn’t own a dog. The shelter is adamant that the microchip embedded in the canine with her name and address makes it hers.

Evelyn does recognize the dog, and knows it’s owner is John Coyote, she knows this because she was commissioned to draw dog and owner. She knows the solution is to return the dog to his owner, but when she gets to John Coyote’s place she discovers he was murdered!

Soon Evelyn herself becomes a target she crosses paths with undercover FBI agent Sawyer Price. The more he gets to know her, the more personally invested he becomes in keeping her safe. Together, they’re desperate to find the links between so many disparate pieces.

Will Sawyer be able to keep Evelyn safe from whoever is out to get her? Find out in Fragments of Fear.

Book Review: The Painted Castle

The Painted Castle
by Kristy Cambron

Thomas Nelson–FICTION

Thomas Nelson

Christian , Historical Fiction

Pub Date 15 Oct 2019

I am reviewing a copy of The Painted Castle through Netgalley and Thomas Nelson:

How do a lost painting of Queen Victoria, a library bricked off from the world, and thank Green women separated by time, whose lives are forever changed connect?

Librarian Keira Foley is hired to authenticate a painting at a centuries old East Suffolk manor. She hopes that this will be the thing that puts her life and career back on track. The problem is that from the time she arrives at Parham Hill Estate and begins working alongside rumored art thief Emory Scott, she’s left with far more questions than answers. Is it possible that this lost painting of Queen Victoria be a duplicate of the original Winterhalter masterpiece, and if so, who is the artist?

When Keira begins to unravel the mystery of the painting, two women from the estates forgotten past begin to emerge. In Victorian England it was talented sketch artist Elizabeth Meade who was engaged to the owner of Parham Hall at the time, Viscount Huxley. But Elizabeth’s real mission at Parham Hall has nothing to do with art or marriage She’s determined to avenge her father’s brutal murder even if it means a betrothal to the very man she believes committed the crime.

Skip ahead a century and there was Amelia Woods who was a World War 2 Widow whi turner Parham Hall and it’s beloved library into a boarding school for Refugee Children, and receives military order to offer shelter to a troop of American Pilots, she remains determined that this children’s lives will remain untouched by the war, but it is proving to be hard while officers take up every square inch of their world . . . and one in particular vying for a space in Amelia’s long-shut up heart.

The Painted Castle is a beautifully told story, set in three time periods, the rapid change of Victorian England, the peak of England’s home-front tensions at the end of WWII, and modern day. In this book stories of heartache and hope are told, and secrets lost for generations are brought to light!

I give The Painted Castle five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Number of Love

The Number of Love
by Roseanna M. White

Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers

Christian

Pub Date 04 Jun 2019

I am reviewing a copy of The Number of Love through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:

The Number of Love will transport you three years into the Great War taking you on a journey back to 1917 where we meet England’s greatest assets, their intelligence workers, threes field agents risk their lives to gather information, and the code breakers are able to crack every German Telegram. One that thrives in the secret environment of Room 40 is Margot De Wilde, she spends her time in that room deciphering intercepted messages. But afrer her world is turned upside down by her Mothers Murder, she finds for the first time in her life numbers aren’t enough.

After Drake Elton returns wounded from the field, an enemy that just won’t give up, is following him. He also finds that he has become quickly smitten by the intelligent Margot, but he does not know how to begin convincing Margot who lives entirely in her mind, that sometimes you need to seek the answers with your heart.

Amidst the biological warfare, encrypted letters, and a German spy who wants to destroy not just them but those that they love Margot and Drake find themselves having to Work together to save themselves from the same secrets that brought them both together.

If you love clean historical romance with a dose of adventure and intrigue then The Number of Love is just the ticket.

I give The Number of Love five out of five stars, happy reading!

Book Review: Under the Stars

Under the Stars
by Carolyn Twede Frank
Covenant Communications
Christian , Historical Fiction
Pub Date 01 Jan 2020

I am reviewing a copy of Under the Stars through Covenant Communications and Netgalley:

After the New Marshall in town lets it be known he needs volunteers, one of the first people to sign up is Miss Rosie Decker. This sharpshooting horse taming tomboy is out for revenge. Marshal Hank Walker is forming a posse to find the man who killed her sweetheart, and Rosie is determined to help track him down. When the marshal refuses her service on account of her being a woman, Rosie is undeterred. If it’s a man Marshal Walker wants, it’s a man he’ll get.

Once the Pose is assembled, Hank Walker is confident he will be able to track down the criminal. His confidence grows even more as he recognizes the incomparable skill of one young man in his posse—Ross. That is until the day Ross ‘s mustache falls of revealing “his” true identity. Rosie Decker duped him Banished back to town, it’s time for Rosie to prove her mettle. Though working alongside the unwilling marshal is complicated, it is the unexpected tenderness she feels for him that proves most problematic. How can she demonstrate her skill while also setting out to win the heart of the man who seems bent on keeping her out of his way?

If you are looking for a great work of historical fiction, with a spunky female lead then Under the Stars Is just the ticket.

I give Under the Stars five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Understanding Stacey

Understanding Stacey

by Kimberly Adams

Zimbell House Publishing

Independent Book Publishers Association

(IBPA), Members’ Titles

Christian , Teens & YA

Pub Date 07 Jan 2020

I am reviewing a copy of Understanding Stacey through Zimbell House Publishers and Netgalley:

It’s Summer vacation and Emily is ready to enjoy long, relaxing days relaxing by the pool, until she finds out that her weird cousins are going to stay with them, including there cousin Stacey who is critical, snobby and obsessed with art and music and even more obsessed with God. Emily can’t understand how she can put her trust in a God that allowed her to be in a wheelchair.

Emily does not want to spend time with Stacey, let alone share a room with her, but news that Aunt Jaycee has something called Munchausen syndrome by proxy and she intentionally made her daughters sick, makes Emily see Stacey in a new light.

Emily Learns not to underestimate what Stacey is capable of when ultimately Stacey saves her from drowning when she trips over deck chairs, and falls into
the pool unconscious.

I give Understanding Stacey five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: I Wish

I Wish
by Toon Tellegen

Archipelago Books

Elsewhere Editions

Children’s Fiction

Pub Date 31 Mar 2020

I am reviewing a copy of I Wish through Archipelago books/Elsewhere Editions and Netgalley:

In this book the imaginative Dutch Author Toon Tellegen matched 31 Imaginative prose poems with the Statement I Wish, and uses famous, luminous, old fashioned face paintings by Ingrid Gordon.

In I Wish, each poem is paired with faces faces from a time that has long since gone by, the portraits are inspired by photographs from long ago. Among the paintings are young children, men and women, and babies, speaking through Toon Tellegen’s longing language. Among the pages are dozens of confessions and the writing presents a kaleidoscope of wishes, from imagined feats of heroism to reciprocated human love.

I give I Wish Five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: End Game

End Game
by Rachel Dylan
Bethany House

Bethany House Publishers

Christian
Pub Date 07 Jan 2020

I am reviewing a copy of End Game through Bethany House Publishers and Netgalley:

Those who are fans of the television series N.C.I.S, will love the End Game!

After the murder of some elite members of the military are murdered on the streets of Washington D.C, F.B.I Special Agent Bailey Ryan and N.C.I.S Special Agent Marco Agostini must work together in order to bring the killer, or killers to justice. The only problem is all evidence points to the guilt of a Navy Seal Sniper that Bailey refuses to believe is guilty.

When Bailey and Marco start to connect the dots between the victims, including the link to a powerful defense attorney and contractor, which leaves them to wonder if they are dealing with a deeper cover up. After Bailey I’d targeted it becomes obvious that there is something deeper at play, that someone is willing to do anything including killing Bailey to keep their dark secrets.

As the stakes get higher and higher by the moment in a twisted conspiracy, there’s a rush against the clock to determine whom they can really trust. Allies turn to enemies, with the biggest secret yet to be uncovered, it could be the end of all of them.

I give End Game five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: Full Circle

Full Circle
From Hollywood to Real Life and Back Again

by Andrea Barber

Kensington Books

Citadel

Biographies & Memoirs , Nonfiction (Adult)

Pub Date 12 Nov 2019

I am reviewing a copy of Full Circle: From Hollywood to Real Life and Back Again through Kensington Books and Netgalley:

You may recognize Andrea Barber from her role as Kimmy Gibler from Full House and most recently Fuller House, but Full Circle is by no means a typical celebrity biography, nor is it a behind the scenes expose of her co-stars, it is a book written with love and respect and deals with very real issues.

This book deals with the very real issues Andrea Barber faced with anxiety, and crippling depression reminding us that these things do not discriminate against celebrity or non celebrity, rich or poor.

Andrea speaks of the importance of seeking out help when that is necessary, and of not letting stigma’s that come along with mental illness stop you from doing that.

Andrea openly talks about the struggles she faced and how for the longest time she thought they were just normal, but in time she would learn that she in fact had a mental illness, one that though it could not be cured, it could in fact be treated, she talks about the good days, not only that, the tough days when her anxiety is so crippling she could barely move.

Often times celebrity biographies can ring about mud slinging and that is what is so impressive about this book, she refused to do that, she talks about her time on Full and Fuller House with love and respect for her co-stars, and though she does talk about her divorce and how it affected her, she does not turn that into a mud slinging campaign either.

I feel that in Full Circle Andrea Barber has given us the opportunity to address mental illness in a way that does not leave room for the stigmas often attached to such conversations, in fact she encourages others to share there stories and reminds us that when you see someone in such a dark place they cannot reach out to you, then reach out to them.

Sadly even in this day and age Mental illness and its many forms are not talked about in the same way as other illnesses and in this book we are reminded that needs to change.

Full Circle isn’t solely about Mental Illness, it is about life, love, loss, motherhood and so much more.

I give Full Circle a well deserved five out of five stars, and would highly recommend this book.

Happy Reading…

Book Review: Until Niagara Falls

Until Niagara Falls
by Jennifer Maruno
Dundurn Press

Dundurn

Children’s Fiction , Middle Grade
Pub Date 25 Feb 2020

I am reviewing a copy of Until Niagara Falls through Dundurn Press and Netgalley:

Brenda is afraid of things that some may find strange like heights, being in the dark and dog poop. When she meets the rule breaking Maureen she realizes that friendship is kind of like walking on a tight rope, exciting but dangerous. Maureen encourages Brenda to step out of her comfort zone, by using fire escapes, sleeping outside in tents and walking through strange back yards.

When Maureen makes fun of Harvey, Brenda’s neighbor who has special needs, the friendship strains. And it strains farther when Maureen borrows Brenda’s Grandmother’s bracelet and lies about returning it, the friendship strains even farther, making Brenda realize she needs to be as brave as The Great Blondin, the man who walked across the falls to get it back.

Until Niagara Falls is a story of Friendship, of acceptance of learning to step outside of comfort zones and of being brave.

I give Until Niagara Falls five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!

Book Review: The Grumble-Free Year

The Grumble-Free Year
Twelve Months, Eleven Family Members, and One Impossible Goal

by Tricia Goyer
Nelson Books
Thomas Nelson

Christian

Pub Date 05 Nov 2019

I am reviewing a copy of The Grumble-Free Year through Nelson Books and Netgalley:

Can a family of eleven including eight kids, and a Grandmother with dementia really take on a grumble free year? A family that is never without noise or mess, and is often dealing with complaining.

But can your family take on this challenge, can you see your family having real communication more often, and grumbling far less? In this book you will see that it is possible. The Goyer family decided to move out of survival mode and into growth mode, taking on The Grumble Free Challenge proved to be challenging for this large boisterous, loving, family.

Loud grade schoolers, teenagers and having a Grandmother who believed that Children should be seen and not heard, made the challenge, a difficult one, but it was a challenge the family was determined to meet this challenge, and they did by the leading of the Holy Spirit.

The Grumble Free Year is your invitation to fill your heart with gratitude instead of grumbling, it encourages you to let go of the complaining and replace it with gratitude.

I give The Grumble Free Year five out of five stars!

Happy Reading!