My First 100 Bible Words Board Book

About the Book

 A way for toddlers to learn their first words through beloved Bible stories

My First 100 Bible Words introduces children to Bible stories and language at the same time. Little ones will learn words for colors, animals, objects, shapes, numbers, emotions, and more!

Toddlers will discover language and faith through memorable Bible scenes like Noah's ark, Moses and the burning bush, David and Goliath, Daniel and the lions, and more, all the way to Jesus's birth.

The bright colors and simple stories will capture a toddler's attention and guide them from creation to Jesus.

Purchase Here

My Thoughts

This is such a great board book! My toddler instantly was interested in this because of the bright colors and pictures. It takes you through the main Bible stories and some pages have counting words (Daniel and the Lions), colors (Genesis), food (the Last Supper), etc. Each topic includes the Bible verses and references so you can look it up in the Bible to go along with the book if you wanted. It is a sturdy board book that can withstand care of a toddler. It states that it is good for ages 0-2 but I would say even older. This would make a great gift or addition to your board book library. I highly recommend! 

Five Stars. 

"I received a complimentary copy from Kregel. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

A Scheming in Parliament Review + Giveaway

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for A Scheming in Parliament by Erica Vetsch hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

 

Title: A Scheming in Parliament 

Series: Of Cloaks & Daggers #2 

Author: Erica Vetsch 

Publisher: Kregel Publications 

Release Date: August 26, 2025 

Genre: Regency Mystery Romance 

 Evil is masquerading in the halls of Parliament, and Sir Bertrand Thorndike is tasked with investigating from the inside. With his new position as a member of the House of Commons, he has access to the power brokers of English government. His tactic is to listen and learn, careful not to reveal his true motives, and he's quickly inducted into the mysterious Theban Club. 

Miss Philippa Cashel's mission, the Princess Charlotte Eleos School for Women in Need, is thriving with donations, and the students are learning skills to help them earn their livings in honorable ways. But when a dear friend's past is revealed by blackmail, Philippa must wrestle with the question, Is it ever right to do the wrong thing? 

Bertie's and Philippa's missions collide when Bertie uncovers a dangerous plot involving vulnerable women. He and Philippa join forces against the corruption threatening to topple England's government, all while navigating their outward reputations and inward feelings for each other.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookBub

More in this Series:

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About the Author

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner, and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She loves Jesus, history, romance, and watching sports. This transplanted Kansan now makes her home in Rochester, Minnesota. Learn more about Erica at ericavetsch.com.

Connect with Erica by visiting ericavetsch.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of A Scheming in Parliament and a $20 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight September 3, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on September 10, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

 My Thoughts

This is the second book of this series and I recommend you read book one first. I was eager to see where we would find Philippa and Bertie and I was delighted to find them amidst mystery once again! Many things are afoot and there is an interesting blackmail situation that carries through. There is also a delightful goat scene that made me giggle, along with a very subtle and light romance thread. I am very curious on what happens in the next book with how things are left in the last chapter..no spoilers here but eek!! Truly the best part of this story is not only Philippa's redemption from her past, but how it carries forward in how she helps others. She shines such a light on how God makes us new, even after we have lived in such darkness. He is the only One who can do this and it is so evident in Philippa's own life. I love how God's grace is portrayed in these novels and it really adds to the storyline. 

I enjoyed this book and I look forward to the next!

Four Stars.

"I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own."

A Thieving at Carlton House Review

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for A Thieving at Carlton House by Erica Vetsch hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: A Thieving at Carlton House 

Series: Of Cloaks & Daggers #1 

Author: Erica Vetsch 

Publisher: Kregel Publications 

Release Date: September 17, 2024 

Genre: Regency Mystery Romance

Unlikely alliances form when a killer is on the loose... but who can be trusted?

The Home Office has asked Sir Bertrand Thorndike to head an investigation into stolen royal jewels. And as with everything concerning the Prince Regent, discretion is paramount. 

It's the perfect chance for Bertie to step out of his brother's long shadow. Unfortunately, his superior, The Duke of Haverly, has a plan that makes him balk: in order to sell his cover, Bertie must play the part of a man looking for love, ready to reform his rakish ways. The duke is willing to let Bertie name his own investigative team, but his recommendation that the team include 

Philippa Cashel has Bertie on his guard. Does the duke--known for his behind-the-scenes machinations--have an ulterior motive? Philippa Cashel escaped her life as one of society's best-known courtesans, devoting her life to helping other women in dire straits. So when Sir Bertrand Thorndike approaches her about joining his team as an agent of the Crown, she is skeptical. Why her? She's focused on getting her school for underprivileged women up and running, not in cloak-and-dagger skullduggery. Her hope is that if she labors hard enough at her charity work, she might begin to feel worthy of God's forgiveness of her past. 

When one of Philippa's rescued girls is arrested for stealing the royal jewels and another is murdered, Philippa will risk partnering with Bertie to find the loot and stop the killer. 

Two brilliant minds--with two wary hearts--and one cunning deceiver are on a collision course in Regency England. 

Beloved Regency author Erica Vetsch begins this new series with all the elements that keep her readers coming back. From historical accuracy to rousing mystery to deep character faith journeys, A Thieving at Carlton House will please Regency lovers--and anyone else who loves a great story.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook | Bookshop | BookBub

Also Available:

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About the Author

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner, and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She loves Jesus, history, romance, and watching sports. This transplanted Kansan now makes her home in Rochester, Minnesota.

Connect with Erica by visiting ericavetsch.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of A Thieving at Carlton House and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight September 16, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on September 23, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. International prize ebook and egift card. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

My Thoughts

I am so excited about this new series! While there are ties to the authors previous books (and a really awesome family tree in this book!) you can read this one as a stand alone. BUT it is fun to tie all of the people together from her previous books if you want to read those at some point. This story is really great and I love Philippa Cashel's character. As a previous courtesan (prostitute), Philippa has quite a story of redemption and forgiveness that carries over into her desire to help others. There is terrific mystery and intrigue throughout this novel that I found to be well written. Personally I thought it was a bit obvious about half way through who the "bad guy" was but the details and the "why" didn't fully make sense until the end. There is a lot going on in this book and the reader really has to pay attention to fully grasp the story lines and different characters. I bet I could read it again and find things I missed the first time around! All that to say this is an enjoyable read and I highly recommend to those who enjoy a little mystery set during the Regency time period in England!

Four Stars. 

"I received this book from Kregel Publishers for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Coal Black Lies Review

About the Book

 Believing the bitter lies you tell yourself leaves little room for the sweetness of truth

Coal miner Joshua Morgan managed to do the impossible--he broke away from the stranglehold of the iron-fisted Barton family and the Company Store, to whom all the miners in the Appalachian Mountains are indebted. But it cost him the life of his young daughter, who was run down by a posse led by Thomas Barton while coming to collect Joshua's payment to the store.

Five years later, a sweet but slow-witted young girl lands on his doorstep, and Joshua’s desire to protect her from the clutches of the Bartons increases his thirst for vengeance. Joshua sets out to discover where the girl came from in order to take down the Barton family once and for all.

His journey leads him to the truth about the day his daughter died, a reality he finds hard to accept. But when confronted by Thomas Barton himself, Joshua is forced to rethink the dark lies brewing in his heart. If he broke away, could Thomas have also? Despite his misgivings, can Joshua join forces with a man he once despised to free the miners from the tyrannical Barton family and forge a future of peace for both the young girl and himself? (Goodreads)

BUY HERE

My Thoughts

Every book by this author tackles subjects you least expect and this one is no exception. This story takes you right into the heart of Appalachia and the hard life of those that lived there in coal country. There is heartbreak and bitterness that comes with death right from the first page. The anger and jealousy and greed for money seeps through the pages as the bad guys try to destroy a family just trying to survive. A young girl who we would consider special needs today is one of the best characters in this book and the author did an excellent job in writing this plot line. There are so many wonderful things that make this book what it is but overall it shows the human condition and struggles and how hard it is to move on and forgive and cling to Jesus. I found it to be quite the page turner because there is a bit of mystery and trouble within the pages and the ending has a twist you might not see coming. 

The author doesn't shy away from the dark things but I would still consider it a "clean" read. 

I highly recommend! 

Five Stars. 

"I received this book from the publisher for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Millstone of Doubt Book Review

 

 

About the Book

 Regency London's detective duo is back on a new case--and this one is going to be a killer. Caught in the explosion of the Hammersmith Mill in London, Bow Street Runner Daniel Swann rushes to help any survivors only to find the mill's owner dead of an apparent gunshot.

Even though the owner's daughter, Agatha Montgomery, mourns his death, it seems there are more than a few people with motive for murder. But Daniel can't take this investigation slow and steady. Instead, he must dig through all the suspects as quickly as he can, because the clock is ticking until his mysterious patronage--and his job as a runner--comes to an abrupt and painful end. It seems to Daniel that, like his earthly father, his heavenly Father has abandoned him to the fates.

Lady Juliette Thorndike is Agatha's bosom friend and has the inside knowledge of the wealthy London ton to be invaluable to Daniel. She should be in a perfect position to help with the case. Still, her instructor in the art of spy craft orders her to stay out of the investigation. But circumstances intervene, dropping her into the middle of the deadly pursuit.

When a dreadful accident ends in another death on the mill floor, Daniel discovers a connection to his murder case--and to his own secret past. Now he and Juliette are in a race to find the killer before his time runs out. (Goodreads)

 

BUY HERE

 

My Thoughts

I really do love the little historical details that Erica Vetsch adds to her stories and this book is peppered with them. This is the second in the series though you could read it as a stand alone. The story moved a tad slow for me even though there was a lot happening. I really can't decide why but for some reason I just had a hard time clicking with these particular characters. I did enjoy the over arching mystery though and there are some fun scenes that add some humor and depth. The latter part of the book I fully enjoyed and I am curious where the next book will take us. While I did enjoy the first book more, this one was still well worth reading. 

Four stars. 

 

"I received this book from Kregel for free. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

The Sound of Falling Leaves

About the Book

 After aspiring opera singer Tessa loses her voice in a fire, she needs both a place to heal and a way to keep music in her life. She retreats to her aunt's apple orchard in rural North Carolina to collect folk ballads. But amid the autumn splendor of this isolated Appalachian community, she uncovers an unnerving connection between a murder case and a long-ago disappearance. Tessa gets a glimpse into an almost-forgotten world, encounters a corrupt, small-town political dynasty, and finds superstition and prejudice at every turn.

She's also drawn to Zeke, the handsome but enigmatic orchard caretaker, who shows her that mountain justice is neither impartial nor just. But battling a conspiracy of silence, Tessa isn't sure if she can trust him. Yet somewhere in the mists of the Blue Ridge Mountains, evil lurks, and a killer is determined to keep the past where it belongs--dead and buried. (Goodreads)

BUY HERE

My Thoughts

 

The story line of this book intrigued me so I thought it would be a great book to read this time of year. The characters are all very strong willed and add a certain flair to the book. The story was a tad slow for me at times. I really enjoyed the history of the rural North Carolina area and there are some great secondary characters that make this story all the better. Zeke had me puzzled for a while and I just wasn't so sure about him but by the end of the book I thought his character developed nicely. I wasn't on the edge of my seat reading it but I still enjoyed the book. 

Four Stars. 

"I received this book for free from the publisher. All opinions are my own and I was not required to write a positive review."

Liar's Winter Book Review

 

About the Book

The choices you make determine who you are. No no mark." Lochiel Ogle was born with a red-wine birthmark--and it put her life in jeopardy from the moment she entered the world. Mountain folks called it "the mark of the devil," and for all the evil that has plagued her nineteen-year existence, Lochiel is ready to believe that is true. And the evil surely took control of the mind of the boy who stole her as an infant, bringing her home for his mother to raise.

Abused and abandoned by the only people she knows as family, Lochiel is rescued by a peddler and given the first glimpse of love she has ever known. The truth of her past is gradually revealed as is the fact that she is still hunted by a brother driven to see her dead. Unsure if there's anyone she can truly trust, Lochiel is faced with a series of choices: Will she continue to run for escape or will she face her past and accept the heartbreaking secrets it reveals? Which will truly free her?

Set in the wild and beautiful Appalachian Mountains of nineteenth-century East Tennessee, Liar's Winter is an unflinching yet inspirational exploration of prejudice and choice. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

 I have so many mixed feelings after reading this book. I LOVED Cindy's previous book with a similar setting. This book deals with messy life stuff, at times it was just plain difficult to read because there was so much hate and pain. Lochiel is a young woman who has been treated horribly because of a birth mark on her face. The way people treated her is awful, though not hard to believe either. I kept waiting for the horrible things to stop happening and see the light at the end of the tunnel. The end cut it really close for that to happen and I feel like perhaps everything was tied up a little too fast. Edna is a wonderful secondary character and the true shining light in this book. This book is full of action and kept me wanting to read, and it certainly makes you think about life from a different perspective. 

I give this book four stars because I am a bit unsettled on the ending. Otherwise I did like this book, just keep in mind it is not a light book to read. 

Four stars. 

"I received this book from Kregel for free. All opinions are my own."

The Elusive Miss Ellison Book Review

 About the Book

Pride, prejudice and forgiveness...
Hampton Hall's new owner has the villagers of St. Hampton Heath all aflutter--all except Lavinia Ellison. The reverend's daughter cares for those who are poor and sick, and the seventh Earl of Hawkesbury definitely does not meet that criteria. His refusal to take his responsibilities seriously, or even darken the door of the church, leave her convinced he is as arrogant and reckless as his brother--his brother who stole the most important person in Lavinia's world.

Nicholas Stamford is shadowed by guilt: his own, his brother's, the legacy of war. A perfunctory visit to this dreary part of Gloucestershire wasn't supposed to engage his heart, or his mind. Challenged by Miss Ellison's fascinating blend of Bluestocking opinions, hoydenish behavior, and angelic voice, he finds the impossible becoming possible--he begins to care. But Lavinia's aloof manner, society's opposition and his ancestral obligations prove most frustrating, until scandal forces them to get along.

Can Lavinia and Nicholas look beyond painful pasts and present prejudice to see their future? And what will happen when Lavinia learns a family secret that alters everything she's ever known? (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

The cover of this book captures your attention and makes you want to peek into the pages. While I liked the characters in this story, the overall book moved a bit slow for me. There are some amusing conversations between the two leads but honestly it was a struggle for me to totally get into this book. I really wish that wasn't the case, as I have read many other positive reviews. So simply stated you might enjoy this book a lot more than I did! 

Three stars. 

"I received this book from Kregel for free. All opinions are my own."

A Cup of Dust Review

About the Book

Where you come from isn’t who you are
Ten-year-old Pearl Spence is a daydreamer, playing make-believe to escape life in Oklahoma’s Dust Bowl in 1935. The Spences have their share of misfortune, but as the sheriff’s family, they’ve got more than most in this dry, desolate place. They’re who the town turns to when there’s a crisis or a need—and during these desperate times, there are plenty of both, even if half the town stands empty as people have packed up and moved on.
Pearl is proud of her loving, strong family, though she often wearies of tracking down her mentally impaired older sister or wrestling with her grandmother’s unshakable belief in a God who Pearl just isn’t sure she likes.
Then a mysterious man bent on revenge tramps into her town of Red River. Eddie is dangerous and he seems fixated on Pearl. When he reveals why he’s really there and shares a shocking secret involving the whole town, dust won’t be the only thing darkening Pearl’s world.
While the tone is suspenseful and often poignant, the subtle humor of Pearl’s voice keeps A Cup of Dust from becoming heavyhanded. Finkbeiner deftly paints a story of a family unit coming together despite fractures of distress threatening to pull them apart. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

To be honest I don't have a ton of thoughts on this book. I was so looking forward to it but this was so difficult to get through.I love the setting bu the characters just didn't grab me. The point of view from Pearl is unique but at the same time I feel like things didn't flow as good through the story line. I'm sure there are many who will enjoy this book but from my personal perspective this just wasn't the book for me.

"Thanks to Kregel for offering me a free copy in exchange for an honest review."

Direct Hit Review

About the Book

The jagged blast of high explosives rips through the evening air. In the sky over East London the searchlights criss-cross in search of the enemy.

On the first night of the Blitz, a corpse is discovered in a van in the back streets of West Ham. Detective Inspector John Jago recognizes the dead man as local Justice of the Peace Charles Villiers. But a German bomb obliterates all evidence.

Villiers was not a popular man, both powerful and feared. As the sirens wail, the detective must start matching motive to opportunity – and it doesn’t help when his boss foists an intrusive American journalist on him.

Jago soon discovers the dead man held many secrets, some reaching back to World War I. A lot of people wished Villiers dead – and an air raid is a good time to conceal a murder. (Goodreads)

My Thoughts

I'll be honest, this book was not the book for me. It sounded exciting but for me, it was a slow mover and hard to get into.

The setting is good and the mysterious storyline is there but the way it's written doesn't keep the reader engaged in my opinion. It's difficult to understand what all is going on. So many others have loved this book so I suggest that if you like this type of book/story line go ahead and give it a try!

Three stars.

"I received this book from Kregel for free in exchange for an honest review."

       

The Lost Garden Review -So Enjoyable!

About the Book

Marin Ellis is in search of a new start after her father and his second wife die in a car accident, and at thirty-seven she is made guardian of her fifteen-year-old half-sister Rebecca. They leave Hampshire for the picturesque village of Goswell on the Cumbrian coast, and settle into Bower House on the edge of the village church property. When a door to a walled garden captures Rebecca’s interest, Marin becomes determined to open it and discover what is hidden beneath the bramble inside. She enlists the help of local gardener Joss Fowler, and together the three of them begin to uncover the garden’s secrets. In 1919, nineteen-year-old Eleanor Sanderson, daughter of Goswell’s vicar, is grieving the loss of her beloved brother Walter, who was killed just days before the Armistice was signed. Eleanor retreats into herself and her father starts to notice how unhappy she is. As spring arrives, he decides to hire someone to make a garden for Eleanor, and draw her out of - or at least distract her from - her grief and sorrow. Jack Taylor is in his early twenties, a Yorkshire man who has been doing odd jobs in the village, and when Eleanor’s father hires him to work on the vicarage gardens, a surprising - and unsuitable - friendship unfolds.(Goodreads)



My Review


This book is beautiful is inside and out. I loved every page and really didn't want the story to end. I feel like this storyline could have kept going chapters more and I felt it ended too abruptly. The setting is wonderful as Marin and Rebecca move into a new village and start a new life. The book switches between 1919 to present day and I enjoyed both sides. The past takes you more into the "lost garden" and how it came about. Eleanor's family is still reeling from the war and losing her brother, I love the history part! There are so many issues and personalities that blend these pages together.  The only thing is the name of every male in the book starts with J and made it really confusing as to who was saying what.
I loved it and highly recommend this book and the author!

Five stars!

"Thanks to Kregel for offering me a free copy in exchange for an honest review."

Mercy's Rain Review

 

About the Book

 

When your life is built around a father's wrath, how can you trust in the love of Father God?

Mercy Roller knows her name is a lie: there has never been any mercy in her young life. Raised by a twisted and abusive father who called himself the Pastor, she was abandoned by the church community that should have stood together to protect her from his evil. Her mother, consumed by her own fear and hate, won't stand her ground to save Mercy either.

The Pastor has robbed Mercy of innocence and love, a husband and her child. Not a single person seems capable of standing up to the Pastor's unrestrained evil. So Mercy takes matters into her own hands.

Her heart was hardened to love long before she took on the role of judge, jury, and executioner of the Pastor. She just didn't realize the retribution she thought would save her, might turn her into the very thing she hated most.

Sent away by her angry and grieving mother, Mercy's path is unclear until she meets a young preacher headed to counsel a pregnant couple. Sure that her calling is to protect the family, Mercy is drawn into a different life on the other side of the mountain where she slowly discovers true righteousness has nothing evil about it--and that there might be room for her own stained and shattered soul to find shelter. . . and even love.

Mercy's Rain is a remarkable historical novel set in 19th century Appalachia that traces the thorny path from bitterness to forgiveness and reveals the victory and strength that comes from simple faith. (Goodreads)

My Review

This is a tearjerker storyline. The first few pages will squeeze your heart and you will want to yell and scream and be angry. At least that was my reaction....

Mercy is a young woman and we enter her life while her dad is preaching and trying to make a point about God. His twisted sick mind and actions end up killing a man. This leads into the life of Mercy who escapes her life and finds a refuge. There are many flashbacks to her life from when she was younger and these are the gut wrenchers. I don't want to giveaway many details but there is abuse, murder, rape, and serious pain. This isn't not a light read by any means. BUT the author splendidly captures the love of God and healing. What I liked the most about this book is that it took a lot of time for forgiveness and love to happen. It took time for peace and I think that's more realistic.

I love the message portrayed and the characters. This is a new author to me but I do hope she writes more. Also, the cover is beautiful and so simple! 

Must read!

5 stars!

"I received this book from Kregel for free in exchange for an honest review."

Dead Gorgeous Book Review

 

 

 

 

 

 About the Book

Fashion model Kirsty Manners is young, beautiful, and recently dead

Kirsty Manners is trying to make it as a model. As the in-house model for the Ivano King fashion house and girlfriend of Ian King, the man behind the label, she believes she is well on her way. But Kirsty is found dead in her flat one Sunday afternoon and D. I. Angela Costello is called to the scene.

First enquiries center on the local gym where Kirsty, her dangerous ex-boyfriend, Darren Carpenter, and her jealous flatmate, Sandra Hodges, worked out. But things are more complicated. Ian King is considered to have lost his edge. Why then is he so buoyant about his latest collection for London Fashion Week? What about his new girlfriend, Eleanor Chandler, who openly admits to having a reason to wish Kirsty dead?

Behind the gleaming smiles and flawless makeup of the glamorous fashion world, Angela's enquiries uncover theft, drug-addiction, prostitution, and imprisonment--and suddenly her own life could be in danger. (Goodreads)

My Review

 

I really enjoyed this book!! I wasn't sure what to expect this is a first from this author for me but it had good suspense that kept me turning the page. Set in the drama of the modeling world, a murder might seem like it started from a love triangle but did it? I really wasn't sure where the book was leading and the story seemed to get more and more detailed. I loved the details and Angela Costello is a great character. The story didn't seem over the top just more realistic. There are a lot of layers to this book so sometimes I had to re-read a few sentences. I enjoyed the dialogue and there is a bit of humor as well. I think this book is a well rounded read and for some suspense I highly recommend!!

 

"I received this book from Kregel for free in exchange for an honest review."  

 

 

If You Follow Me Book Review

 About the Book

In the parish of Dunbridge, the news is out--Claire and Neil are engaged! And yet, almost before the celebrations have begun, Ben, the father of Claire's son, appears back on the scene--keen to pick up where he and Claire left off.

As Neil reels in the face of Claire's confusion, Wendy always seems to be there to provide support and comfort. Little does he know of Wendy's involvement in Ben's reappearance . . .

However, Neil has little chance to ponder his love life as the whole weight of running the church and parish descends upon his inexperienced shoulders. His mother, Iris, who has never hesitated to share her opinions, has just moved to be near him and Neil's time as a curate in Dunbridge is coming swiftly to an end. Where should he go next, and just who will go with him? (Goodreads)

My Review

 This book has a great setting and fun characters. This is the first book I have read by this author and while I enjoyed the complexities of the story line, it was a bit slow for me. There is drama and there is sweetness but it didn't always draw me in. I liked Neil's character and running the church I did like this part of the book. I like how the book ended and while slow, it was still a decent read with a hometown feel. This book reminded me a lot of Jan Karon's books so I know this series will be well liked by others!

Follow this link for a discount!

"I received this book from Kregel for free in exchange for an honest review."

 

Making Marion Book Review

via

She had been looking for somewhere to stay, but instead Marion Miller finds herself on the wrong side of the reception desk at the Peace and Pigs campground and, despite her horrible shyness, promptly lands herself a job.

Marion came to Nottinghamshire--home of Sherwood Forest--to discover her father's mysterious past, but all she has to go on is a picture of her father dressed up, it would seem, as Robin Hood.

Life on a busy campground challenges Marion's formerly controlled life--the pigs roam free, the resident chickens seem determined to thwart her, and an unfortunate incident with a runaway bike throws her into the arms of the beautiful, but deeply unimpressed, Reuben.

Yet, Marion's would-be boyfriend Jake, and Reuben's stunning fiancee Erica, conspire to leave little room for Marion to daydream about the twinkling eyes of her rescuer . . . Will Marion ever find peace, and perhaps even love, among the pigs?

Including a large cast of memorable, colorful characters, Making Marion is an outstanding debut romantic comedy that touches on issues of identity and family with a natural ease.

My Review

First of all I love the cover on this book, it sucked me in and then I started reading about Marion. She is such a unique character that I could very easily relate with. The book goes between her past and present. There are some funny parts but I found it to be more serious than I was expecting. It takes you into life at Nottinghamshire and creates a Robin Hood fun that really makes the book have a great story line. All of the characters that Marion is around at her new appointed job are fun but all have depth and unique personalities. Marion is on a journey of self discovery and what better place to do that than by Sherwood Forest? There is a bit of romance but the book mainly focuses on Marion and her newly discovered life.

I really enjoyed this book though the last little bit seemed to drag out a tad.

Four stars.

"I received this book from Kregel for free in exchange for an honest review."

The Vicar's Wife Book Review

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About the Book

 Jane Hatton and her British husband Andrew relocate from New York City to a small village on the Cumbrian coast. Jane has been city-based and career-driven but when her fourteen year old daughter Natalie falls in with the wrong crowd at school in Manhattan, she and Andrew decide to try country living. However Jane has trouble getting used to the silence and solitude of a remote village. Natalie hates her new school, and eleven-year-old Ben struggles academically. Only seven-year-old Merrie enjoys country life. Has Jane made a horrible mistake? The Hattons have bought the old vicarage in the village. When Jane finds a scrap of shopping list, she grows curious about Alice, the vicar’s wife who lived there years before. As we follow the twin narratives of Jane, in the present, and Alice in the 1930s we discover that both are on a journey to discover their true selves, and to address their deepest fears.(Goodreads)

My Review

This book is pure delight!! I would say this is in the top ten books of the year for me. I loved everything about this book. The cover is beautiful and the characters very easy to relate with. The book is split between two women, one from the past and one in the present. Jane and her family move from New York City to a small village in England on the Cumbrian coast. They move into a very old vicarage where she finds an old shopping list that leads to the past of the last young woman(Alice) who lived there. I loved the story of Alice, and the author does a great job going from Jane to Alice and connecting the two stories. Both stories very realistic, it's not all fluff and romance, which I think is why I loved it all the more. I couldn't put it down, while it is not suspenseful, I was so wrapped up with the characters and the stunning setting! This book had the same type of feel as Letter's From Skye. I highly recommend!!

"I received this book from Kregel for free in exchange for an honest review."

Peril Book Review

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About the Book

Dr. Thomas Reeves is at the pinnacle of his career. The Department of Defense has awarded him a lucrative contract for his new research into superior autobiographical memory, which promises the ability to create combat troops able to quickly learn complex battle plans and enact them perfectly under the most demanding battlefield scenarios.

An elite unit has received neural grafts from fetal cadavers of genetically altered brain cells with enhanced NMDA receptors. The results are remarkable . . . until the recipients begin suffering hallucinations, nightmares, paralysis, . . . and death. Dr. Reeves searches for answers, but DOD insiders want him to stop the search.

The situation becomes public when pediatric ICU nurse Morgan Adams, Dr. Reeves’s daughter, is taken hostage by three research subjects in an attempt to force Dr. Reeves into disclosing why they are sick. If answers aren’t revealed within twenty-four hours, patients in the pediatric ICU will be killed.

This spine-tingling conclusion to the Bloodline Trilogy raises spiritual and ethical dilemmas torn directly out of today’s headlines. When does life begin? How far does commitment to family go? And can the sins of the father ever be forgiven?(Goodreads)

My Review

Peril is the third book in the Bloodline Triology. I have read the second book Poison and I really enjoyed it. This book I didn't like as much because of all the medical details. I like many books that include medical nurses or testing but for some reason this book just didn't jive with me. I did like how the author uses current events (shooting in Aurora) to interlink her character and story line. Very intense book that had me cringing and suspenseful. For those who have read the previous books, you need to read this one. These books can be read together or separately. 

 "I received this book from Kregel for free in exchange for an honest review."

The Reichenbach Problem Book Review

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About the Book

Arthur Conan Doyle is on the run from his own fame. Taking a much-needed holiday, Doyle escapes to a picturesque village in Switzerland nestled beneath the imposing Reichenbach Falls. There he hopes to find anonymity, but even in this beautiful rural setting, peace eludes him when he finds himself immediately recognized and involved in the investigation of a mysterious death of a fellow traveler.

All too soon, Doyle s somewhat unwilling, gentle probing into the case causes the finger of suspicion to turn towards him. But can the creator of the famous detective actually do the sleuthing himself? As Doyle learns more and more about the famous character he penned, he finds he is less like Sherlock and more like his sidekick, Watson. Can the sidekick see enough of the picture to solve the case for once?

Sherlock Holmes has fascinated readers since he first burst into fiction, over one hundred years ago. In this novel, the first in a trilogy, we meet his author and discover the difficult relationship between them. (Goodreads)

My Review

I was excited about this book, who doesn't love Sherlock Holmes? The start of the book had me engrossed for the first few chapters, then it took a nose dive for me. This was a difficult book to finish, it would drag on and on, there would be a funny part, then drag on. I think the main idea for the story is great, I think it could have been written in a different more upbeat way.

I can't recommend this book, though I wish I could. The cover is wonderful, I just wish I could have gotten into the story. 

"I received this book from Kregel for free in exchange for an honest review."

Red Dawn Rising

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 Red Dawn Rising by Sue Duffy is the second book in the Red Returning Trilogy.

Twenty-seven-year-old Cass Rodino is a hardworking, dedicated set designer on Broadway. But, like the actors who take the stage every night, she is masking a different reality. Her secrets lie deep within past wounds too severe to expose to anyone.

Evgeny Kozlov has secrets of his own. A former KGB assassin, he is trying to outrun the underground revolution he once served. Trying to right his wrongs, he's in a race against time and against a former colleague, Ivan, who has sinister plans to bring down the United States, including an assassination attempt on famed pianist Liesl Bower.

As Cass and Evgeny separately set out to save Liesl from an impending doom, both are hurled into a fierce CIA/FBI dragnet, not knowing that their formidable opponent--a most unlikely predator--is already closing in on them.

Book 2 of the Red Returning Trilogy, Red Dawn Rising mixes suspense, action, and romance in a tale of personal tragedy and triumph that will keep readers pivoting between the evil desires of world powers and the redeeming powers of personal faith, life, and love. (Goodreads)

The first few chapters of this book got me interested, Cass's character I love and the author did an amazing job with her character. Aside from that, I did not enjoy this book too much. I really wanted to and the first part of the book had me hooked, but my interest could not be held. I really liked the setting and characters but the overall plot of the book was not for me. 

"I received this book from Kregel for free in exchange for an honest review."