Into the Fire Review

 

 

 

 About the Book

 As a former smokejumper, arson investigator Bri Tucker knows her way around fires. But after a mysterious blaze takes the life of a former colleague, Bri inherits a curious puzzle from him that raises questions about several fiery deaths. Someone, however, doesn't want her picking up where he left off in search of answers.

When she teams up with ATF Special Agent Marc Davis to solve the puzzle, the danger escalates. But will they manage to track down the person behind the mysterious deaths before their budding romance--and maybe even their lives--go up in flames?

The bestselling and award-winning queen of romantic suspense is back with a brand-new series that is sure to get your adrenaline pumping as you burn through the pages to discover the truth. (Goodreads)

BUY HERE

My Thoughts

I was excited to read this story because it is the start of a new series. The cover is pretty great and it is even better when you hold the paperback copy. The font just shimmers! All that to say that I went into this book with pretty high expectations and it wasn't my favorite. I really liked the overall plot. I think that arson as murder is more unique and different from a lot of suspense novels especially as it carries through the entire book. So this book is fresh and different from that perspective. The romance side of things is what really took me out of the story. Don't get me wrong, I love romance stories. But for some reason in this story I just had a hard time buying it all. The instant love/attraction and continual reference to how each other looked was just really distracting and didn't seem to flow for me. But that is just my personal opinion. I have read most of Hannon's novels and many I have loved. The mystery side was pretty good and it wasn't as suspenseful as I would have expected but still an intriguing read. I know many will love this book! 

Three Stars.

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

Shadows at Dusk Review

 

 

 About the Book

Montana Detective Trevor West is desperate to learn what happened to his sister, who went missing in Alaska over a year ago, leaving nothing but a few photographs as clues to her whereabouts. At the advice of Police Chief Autumn Long, Trevor enlists the help of an experienced bush pilot. If Carrie James can't help him find the places in the photographs, no one can.

But Carrie has her own agenda. Grieving the death of her closest friend and the only person she could trust, Carrie will help Trevor find his sister on one condition--that he help her track down her friend's killer.

As the two close in on the answers they crave, they'll face dangers and connections they could not have imagined. They'll have to learn to trust one another--and face the dark secrets of the past--if they are ever to discover the truth and bring a killer to justice. (Goodreads)

BUY HERE

My Thoughts

I love reading books set in Alaska and this story takes you on the path less traveled. The book starts with a bang and you can't help but turn the pages late into the night. The characters are real and interesting. The setting is terrific and the plot keeps you hooked until the last page. I really enjoyed imagining the flying over the wilderness with Trevor and Carrie. There is a romance plot thread but it wasn't the main point of the book and honestly I think it would have been good without it. The suspense was really well written and I enjoyed it immensely. I think this is the author's best book yet! 

 

Five Stars. 

 

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

On Moonberry Lake Review

 

 

About the Book

 Cora Matthews has long wondered why her mother stopped taking her to visit her grandparents' lodge in the small Northwoods Minnesota town of Moonberry Lake. Now, after burying her mother and breaking off her engagement just two weeks before her wedding, Cora has a chance to find out. Once there, she is stunned to learn that the old lodge is her inheritance--with a surprising condition attached. Maybe some time to regroup on the shores of a beautiful lake is just what Cora needs to figure out what's next for her.

But Cora's days on the lake are anything but relaxing. The only thing that's a bigger mess than her own life is the dilapidated building she's living in. Add a cantankerous handywoman, an angry neighbor, and an elderly woman who spends all her time talking to the "residents" in the cemetery and Cora's not sure she can stick it out. But if she can, she may find a love she never expected--from the most unexpected people imaginable. This homespun tale of new friendships, sweet romance, and ordinary miracles will have you wishing you could spend a summer (or a lifetime) on Moonberry Lake. (Goodreads)

BUY HERE

My Thoughts

 I just love reading debut novels and this story proves why. This book is like a breath of fresh air when it comes to fiction. It is considered contemporary romance but that isn't the main plot point which I appreciated. I loved this story for all of the quirks of a small town and the people within it. The eccentric characters are so real to life that I just grinned when a new one hopped on the page. Small towns are my favorite mostly because I am from a small town and also live in one. I love how the story shows a group of people (who might drive you crazy) but who also step up to help each other when it is needed. The author does an excellent job at writing friendship and kindness and it just warms my heart. I loved this book and I can't wait to get back to Moonberry Lake. 

FIVE STARS! 

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

 

Lady of Disguise Revew

 

 

 

 About the Book

Only the hidden treasure will allow Louisa and her sister to gain their freedom. England, 1388. All her life, Louisa’s dreamed of finding the rumored “Giant’s Treasure,” a collection of ancient, lost riches said to be hidden on a mountaintop in Scotland, guarded by a fierce monster. It’s a story her father used to tell her, and when he dies and she and her younger sister have to go live with their shiftless, greedy uncle, Louisa is determined to find that treasure. It’s the hope that has kept her defying her uncle’s efforts to marry her off to the highest bidder. After her uncle starts to parade Louisa’s twelve-year-old sister Margaret in front of potential husbands, Louisa realizes she has no time to waste. She disguises herself as a boy and takes off for Scotland. But the road is a harsher place than she’d imagined, and she is relieved to find a friend in the knight, Sir Charles, who goes along with her on her journey. Charles is intrigued by this young woman who claims her name is “Jack” and is set on going to Scotland. He goes along, pretending to believe she is a boy, in order to make sure nothing bad happens to her. As they meet new friends along the road, and as Louisa comes clean about her identity, the pair find themselves falling in love. But what will happen when they reach Scotland? Will they find their independence and the freedom to marry in the form of a buried treasure, or will the monster from Louisa’s own past keep the young couple apart? (Goodreads)

 

 Pre-Order HERE

 

My Thoughts

 

I have read a handful of books by this author so I was excited to read her up and coming novel. It is considered to be young adult which I think holds true. The main plot point is the romance and I didn't find it to be inappropriate for teens. The book starts off with a bang and I truly had no idea what would happen. There is a lot that takes places right at the start that had me cheering. By the middle of the novel I slowly started to lose interest mostly due to the fact that I didn't love Louisa who is the main character. The best part of the story is the collective group of people who end up on a journey together. I loved the secondary characters and they add SO much to the middle of this book. Sir Charles is a decent hero and all that you would expect in such a retelling. The setting is delightful and the ending wrapped up rather quickly. It is a fluffy easy read that will take you to another world for a short time. It is not my favorite story but still an entertaining read. 

Three Stars. 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abigail's Secret Review with Celebrate Lit

 

 

About the Book

Book: Abigail’s Secret

Author: Marilyn Turk

Genre: Dual Time

Release Date: August 15, 2020

 

Newly widowed mother Abby Baker goes home to Hope Harbor to help her ailing mother and restart her life. Weighed down by grief and fear of failure, she wishes she had the strength of her grandmother, who raised a young child alone while taking on the role of lighthouse keeper after her husband drowned. What was the secret of Granny Abigail’s strength?

Carson Stevens is a lighthouse enthusiast who has bought the deteriorating Hope Island lighthouse to restore it and turn it into a bed-and-breakfast. When he meets Abby, he wants the attractive granddaughter of the former keepers to be part of the restoration.

As Abby and Carson work together, they uncover clues to a family secret that threatens to change Abby’s life forever. But someone is trying to sabotage their efforts at restoration.

Renovating the old lighthouse is Abby and Carson’s goal, but as they grow closer, they discover that what they’ve really needed is a renovation of their hearts.

 

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

 

Award-winning author Marilyn Turk writes historical and contemporary fiction flavored with suspense and romance. Marilyn also writes devotions for Daily Guideposts, Walking in Grace, and contributes to other Guideposts publications. She and her husband are lighthouse enthusiasts, have visited over 100 lighthouses and also served as volunteer lighthouse caretakers at Little River Light off the coast of Maine.

When not writing or visiting lighthouses, Marilyn enjoys reading, walking, boating, fishing, gardening, tennis, and playing with her golden retriever. She also sings in the choir at her church and leads a women’s Bible study group. Marilyn and her husband have a combined family of four sons, one daughter, and four grandsons. She’s still hoping for a granddaughter someday.

She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Faith, Hope and Love Christian Writers, Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Word Weavers International, and the United States Lighthouse Society.

Marilyn is also the director of the Blue Lake Christian Writers Conference.

More from Marilyn

When I fell in love with lighthouses, I wanted to read all about them and see as many

in person as I could. Lighthouse Digest magazine was an answer to prayer. I inhaled every story in the magazine and used the information to write my lighthouse blog. https://pathwayheart.com/lighthouse/.

One blog post I wrote was about an opportunity to be a volunteer lighthouse keeper at a  lighthouse, such as the Little River Lighthouse in Cutler, Maine. When my brother read my blog post he suggested that my husband and I do it. It had never occurred to me that I could be one of those people I wrote about! My husband jumped on board the idea, so we filled out the application, along with character references and proof we could drive a boat, and we were selected! The next summer, we arrived in the tiny town of Cutler, Maine, for our 10-day stay, and  were met by the couple who arranged the lighthouse stays, who just happened to be the editors of Lighthouse Digest! I was awestruck.

They loaded us up in a boat in the harbor and took us out to the small island. We were charmed, and as a history buff, I was in heaven. The lighthouse and keepers’ house had been completely restored by a local non-profit organization which included a former Coast Guardsman who was once stationed there when the Coast Guard managed the property, as well as descendants of the last keeper family and the magazine editors.  Beforehand, the keepers’ house had been abandoned for years, and it took months of work to tear out the old and restore it to livable again. Notebooks with before and after pictures showed the extensive work they’d done.

Obviously, I could talk a long time about our experience on the island, but I’ll spare you. The point is, the story of Abigal’s Secret had its origin there, and I knew what Carson and Abby went through to restore the lighthouse property in the book.

My husband and I fell in love with Maine while we were there, so the story had to be set there among the many islands and lighthouses. Maine has the second most lighthouses in the United States (over 50). We also stayed in Bar Harbor a few days before we went to Cutler, so the town in the book is loosely based on Bar Harbor. (Cutler isn’t that big.)

And of course, being the historian that I am, I knew Abby had to be connected to the lighthouse and that she would discover how her own life was similar to her grandmother’s, who just happened to be the lighthouse keeper during World War II, another era in history that fascinates me.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 4

To Everything There Is A Season, October 5

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 5

Texas Book-aholic, October 6

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 7

Mary Hake, October 7

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 8

Cover Lover Book Review, October 9

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 10

Life on Chickadee Lane, October 10

The Book Club Network, October 11

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 12

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, October 13

Books I’ve Read, October 13

Blogging With Carol, October 14

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, October 15 (Author Interview)

For HIm and My Family, October 15

Holly’s Book Corner, October 16

Pause for Tales, October 17

Lily’s Book Reviews, October 17

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Marilyn is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

 GIVEAWAY

 

 

 My Thoughts

I really love lighthouses and this book has a lighthouse enthusiast! Renovating a lighthouse sounds amazing and I LOVED reading bits and pieces of how that works in this book. There are many layers to the characters and I really enjoyed Carson most of all. I struggled a bit with getting fully engaged in this story aside from the lighthouse details. Abby's character grows a lot and I was pleased with the ending but this book was just okay for me. There is a mystery element that flows through the book but I wasn't completely invested in that story line either. All that to say there are some fun details sprinkled throughout the pages and overall it is a sweet story. Very fun lighthouse ideas!

Three stars.

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