Tag: Christian Romantic Suspense

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Purchase

Framed in Death Valley, #1 Desert Justice by Dana Mentink

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book:  Framed in Death Valley

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Suspense

Release date: March 1, 2021

framed in death valle

Framed for a murder he didn’t commit, firefighter Beckett Duke gave up on everything—including his marriage to spirited Laney Holland. That is, until Laney’s life is threatened. Knowing the real killer is still at large, Beckett now has one purpose: protecting the woman he loves…and their unborn child. But sometimes an innocent man’s second chance comes with a deadly price.

Click here to get your copy!

My Impressions

They call him “Monster, a title he’d earned in high school.” Now, Beckett Duke can’t outrun his past or present nightmarish realities. Instead of starting over with his new wife, Laney, he feels forced to give up… right after he warns her of the danger she now faces.
Laney Duke thought she finally found a forever family in Beckett when they married a few weeks ago. Little did she know life would become so ghoulish and dangerous.
Mentink brings two characters together that you want to nurture and rescue right from the start. Then she piles on unjust disasters, enemies, and an unforgiving environment. What could be more unforgiving than a small town and Death Valley?!


I really enjoyed this nerve-wracking, nail-biting novel from page one. Mentink deftly weaves God’s unconditional, accepting love into a very temperamental, mercurial environment. Highly recommended.
My fave quote:
“You are who God says you are.”


I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit, plus I bought my own copy. I am voluntarily leaving my thoughts. All opinions are solely my own.

My Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Magnificent!!

About the Author

Dana Mentink is a two time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author of over forty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Harlequin Heartwarming and Poisoned Pen Press. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with Papa Bear, teen bear cubs affectionately nicknamed Yogi and Boo Boo, Junie, the  nutty terrier, and a chubby box turtle.

More from Dana

What’s up in Death Valley?

As the desert vistas opened up in front of Papa Bear and me, I felt an amazing sense of peace. Mind you, we were visiting Death Valley in the fall. No braving the 130 plus summer temperatures for this couple! I simply cannot describe to you the wonder I felt, as a  suburbanite from a bustling, noisy Northern California city. There is never a moment at home when I see only open horizon, when I hear nothing but quiet breezes. I was, quite simply, stunned.

I had done some research about places to visit as potential series settings, and Death Valley was at the top of the list. The websites did not disappoint. Artist’s Palette, the gorgeous peak painted in a rainbow of rock colors? Check! Badwater Basin, the lowest point in North America, glistening with salt and not so lifeless as one might think…check! How about my favorite moment…jouncing along the precarious trail through Titus Canyon? Check! Would all of these incomparable locations be suitable for a six book suspense series? Roger that!

It’s ironic that I felt so welcomed by such an inhospitable locale. Visiting is one thing, but it takes a certain rugged breed of individuals to live in such a hostile climate. What fodder for fiction! I simply could not wait to get home and start creating the Duke family. And you know what? When this pandemic is over, Death Valley is the first place I want to return…in the fall, of course! Do you have a place near and dear to your heart? What’s first on your travel list after the world opens up again?

Blog Stops

Hebrews 12 Endurance, March 16

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 16

Among the Reads, March 16

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 17

Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, March 17 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, March 18

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, March 18

Genesis 5020, March 18

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 19

Betti Mace, March 19

Lighthouse Academy, March 20

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 20

Bizwings Blog, March 20

Texas Book-aholic, March 21

Reviewingbooksplusmore, March 21

Inklings and notions, March 22

Remembrancy, March 22

Simple Harvest Reads, March 22 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

For Him and My Family, March 23

Blogging With Carol, March 23

Older & Smarter?, March 24

Fiction Book Lover, March 24 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)

KarenSueHadley, March 24

She Lives To Read, March 25

deb’s Book Review, March 25

Through the Fire Blogs, March 26

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 26

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 26

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 27

Labor Not in Vain, March 27

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 28

Pause for Tales, March 28

Blossoms and Blessings, March 28

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 29

Daysong Reflections, March 29

Hallie Reads, March 29

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away  the grand prize of a $30 Amazon gift card, a set of six mini cactus candles, and a signed 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.

https://promosimple.com/ps/1093d/framed-in-death-valley-celebration-tour-giveaway

BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, PB

Alabama Days, #2 A Southern Saga, by Daphne Self

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book:  Alabama Days

Author: Daphne Self

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Release date: June 16, 2020

updatedcoverAD

How could a loving God hurt so many people?

Paramedic Scott Wilson believes he can chase death away, but his spirit is shattered when people he loves are taken from him. As a paramedic, Scott sees every day the pain that people suffer, and he wants no part of a God that would allow bad things to happen to good people. As a result, he hides behind his work and addiction to ease the pain within his soul.

But once newspaper reporter Angela Mabry and her son, Max, move into town, Scott can’t help but notice the feisty redhead. Angela is determined to uncover the town’s seedy underbelly and reveal the strange coincidences of so many car accidents at one location.

When a prominent city official dies in a car wreck, Scott and Angela find themselves tangled in intrigue and deception. Together they search for the truth and discover that not all is what it seems.

Click here to get your copy!

My Impressions

Troubled, young paramedic Scott Wilson wants nothing to do with a God Who would take both his parents and his best friend. Newspaper reporter Angela Mabry has relocated to the town of Garrettville to get away from her hurtful past. But she moves right into Scott’s painful past, literally. As the two get to know each other, they are attracted, but Scott refuses to turn to Angela’s God. I loved following Scott and Angela as they grow and discuss God while fleeing from an enemy that gets bigger with time. I also loved Tom, the small-town newspaper editor, and the relationship he has with his granddaughter. Nana Debbie is a gem.


This is a suspense story of “eminent domain” gone terribly sideways, and a God-hater discovering that he has misinterpreted his need of the Almighty.
We know we’re in for real trouble when we read Angela’s statement, “Every town has secrets, and it’s my job to discover them.”
Nana Debbie and Angela are both so patient with Scott’s obstinate disbelief:

“God doesn’t demand our praise. He wants our love; and when you love with all your heart, you can’t help but praise, even through the bad times!”
I received a copy of the book from the author and publisher via Celebrate Lit. I am voluntarily leaving my thoughts, which are only my opinions.

My Rating

Rating: 5 out of 5.

Magnificent!






About the Author










“I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me” (Psalm 119:119). This verse is Daphne’s life.
“Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, ‘Peace, be still!’ And the wind ceased and there was a great calm” (Mark 4:39). This verse is the promise made to Daphne.





Daphne Self, formerly published under the name D.M. Webb, resides in Iowa. As a Mississippian transplant, she spends her days in the Midwest state writing, editing, reading, antiquing, and planning adventures with her husband and sons. She pursues her dream as an editor and author with one goal in mind: To Glorify His Name. Daphne is also an avid reader who devours books in many genres.





More from Daphne





Why Did I Write What I Wrote?





One question that is always asked of me: “How did you come up with your book?”





Well, it is simple and complex. Like the helix shape of a DNA strand that holds four proteins in an infinite combination, my ideas are a lot like that. My first book, Mississippi Nights, started off as a book from my childhood. I wrote One Big Happy Family when I was about 16. It was buried and put aside for so many, many years. And after the line-of-duty death of my husband in 2005, the idea of resurrecting that novel percolated for some time. Finally in 2010, I took the story, revamped it, and drew from life to create a story about the prodigal son who returns home to family. It wasn’t just his story, but a story about his brother, a family friend, and a little girl. Mississippi Nights brought to life the story of alcoholism and how a person can fall into that addiction.





After that book was published, I started thinking: “What if someone saw death, hurt, and sorrow on a daily basis? What if that person didn’t have Jesus to lean upon? What would he do?”





And that’s how Alabama Days was born. While Mississippi Nights dealt with alcoholism, Alabama Days dealt with drug abuse, and in this case, prescription drug abuse.





Yet it was much deeper than that. What if the person was a really good guy? He was likable, generous, loving, yet he lacked that one relationship that would bring him peace. If he were someone who did what was right, no matter what, what would happen if he committed a wrong act only to find that his wrong act saved the life of another?





I had so many ethnical questions thrown at my characters. How would a Christian and a non-Christian react to certain circumstances. Because life isn’t always clear-cut, yet the Bible is, I wanted to show the messiness of being human.





We know that as Christians, we all fall short. We all sin at times. The difference is that when we sin, we know we can receive forgiveness and “Go and sin no more.” But how would a person who ran from God think? How would I react if I were like him?





Writers play around with what-ifs. We see the many facets of humanity. And that’s how our stories are born. And why we write what we do. For me, I want to show the many sides of human nature and behaviour and show that in all things, Jesus is the answer. Jesus is there for us all.





So, why do I write what I do? To bring glory to His Name and hope that through my words, people will come (or return) to Christ.





Blog Stops





Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, February 17





lakesidelivingsite, February 17





Among the Reads, February 18





Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, February 19





Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, February 19





Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, February 20





Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 21





Older & Smarter?, February 22





Sara Jane Jacobs, February 22





Betti Mace, February 23





Texas Book-aholic, February 24





Blogging With Carol, February 24





Inklings and notions, February 25





For Him and My Family, February 26





Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 26





deb’s Book Review, February 27





Locks, Hooks and Books, February 28





Pause for Tales, February 28





Artistic Nobody, March 1 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)





Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 2





Giveaway










To celebrate her tour, Daphne is giving away the grand prize package of a copy of Mississippi Nights, a copy of Alabama Days, a floral mug, a leather Is. 40:31 bookmark, 2 mini notebooks, and a Paramedic Prayer keyring with velvet pouch!!





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










https://promosimple.com/ps/10867/alabama-days-celebration-tour-giveaway

		


			
		
	






	
	

		BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Purchase
Mountain of Peril, #1 Faith in the Parks, by J. Carol Nemeth, Review and Giveaway
	


	

							

			 Babbling Becky L		
		
		

			






About the Book





Book: Mountain of Peril





Author: J. Carol Nemeth





Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense





Release Date: January 25, 2018





Mountain of Peril





When Molly Walker graduated from college, she was thrilled to be hired on as a ranger at Deep Creek Campground in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. She arrived ready to begin her career and to enjoy all the aspects of her new job, but the one thing she hadn’t counted on was the local poachers and their illegal shenanigans. Molly and fellow ranger Jake Stuart try to put a stop to the escalating poaching problem while protecting the animals. In the meantime, Molly finds the handsome ranger, who is also a local, is a great partner to have on her side. She also finds she’s losing her heart to him when she’d planned to stay focused on her career. Can she give her heart and have a career? She and Jake find themselves in a battle against a group of men with a hidden agenda far more sinister than poaching. Can they be stopped before Molly’s life is snuffed out?





Molly and Jake are in a battle against a group of men with a hidden agenda far more sinister than poaching. Can they be stopped before Molly’s life is snuffed out?





Click here to get your copy!








My Impressions





“The Smokies, in particular, hold a mystical appeal, like they’ve held secrets and tales for centuries just waiting for folks to discover. They have…personality.” This personality of the Smokies is very well brought to life in Mountain of Peril by J Carol Nemeth. It was a book I really looked forward to reading. Having visited there, I am very interested to read about descriptions of the natural beauty and wildlife, and Nemeth did not disappoint. Bear, wild boar, and elk all make appearances, and Nemeth shares a lot of pertinent information about poaching and trapping. The novel was very informational while being easy to read in and a fun story.















I enjoyed the occasional snarky humor that made me smile.
I enjoyed Jake and Molly’s story, especially Molly as a new ranger. I certainly could identify with her need to put her career ahead of her romance, since this is her first job.











I liked that prayer is an integral part of the story. Salvation is clearly presented, but I would have liked to have seen it woven into the story in smaller, more natural bites.
I also enjoyed how the ending came together. I hope we get to read Cal and Pam’s story soon.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit. I am voluntarily leaving this review. All opinions are my own.















My Rating






	




	



	




	



	




	



	




	



	




	

Rating: 4 out of 5.




Great!










About the Author










A native North Carolinian, J. Carol Nemeth has always loved reading and enjoyed making up stories since junior high school, most based in the places she has lived or traveled to. She worked in the National Park Service as a Park Aid and served in the US Army where she was stationed in Italy, traveling to over thirteen countries while there. She met the love of her life, Mark Nemeth, also an Army veteran, while stationed in Italy. After they married, they lived in various locations, including North Yorkshire, England. They now live in West Virginia, where, in their spare time, Carol and Mark enjoy RVing, sightseeing and are active in their church. They have a son, Matt, who serves active duty Army, a daughter, Jennifer, her husband Flint, who serves active duty Air Force, and three grandchildren, Martin, Ava and Gage. Their four-footed kid, Holly, a black Lab, loves traveling in their RV, and when they pack up to go, she’s waiting inside for them to head out.





More from J. Carol










I worked for the National Park Service at the Great Smoky Mountains National Park many moons ago before I met my husband. The setting for Mountain of Peril, Faith in the Parks Book 1 is in that park. I met a lot of interesting people and there was never dull moment. Something was always happening. I was either helping trap wild boar, riding horse back for back country patrol, or doing search and rescue for missing persons. I used several of my own experiences in the story, tweaking them a bit here or there to fit with the flow of the narrative. This book is near and dear to my heart just as the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is. Working there was the best job I ever had, other than writing of course, and I loved it. I hope my love of the park flows through my characters and spills out for readers to experience and enjoy.





Blog Stops





Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 4





Bizwings Blog, November 4





Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 5





For Him and My Family, November 6





Blogging With Carol, November 6





Texas Book-aholic, November 7





For the Love of Literature, November 8





Artistic Nobody, November 8 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)





deb’s Book Review, November 9





Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 10





Betti Mace, November 11





Labor Not in Vain, November 11





Inklings and notions, November 12





Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 13





Mary Hake, November 13





Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 14





Locks, Hooks and Books, November 15





Pause for Tales, November 15





Sara Jane Jacobs, November 16





Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 17





Giveaway










To celebrate her tour, J. Carol is giving away the grand prize a $25 Amazon gift card!!





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





https://promosimple.com/ps/10330/mountain-of-peril-celebration-tour-giveaway






		


			
		
	






	
	

		BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Purchase
Certain Threat, #3 Protection Inc, by Kimberly Rose Johnson Review and Giveaway
	


	

							

			 Babbling Becky L		
		
		

			






About the Book





Book: Certain Threat





Author: Kimberly Rose Johnson





Genre: Romantic Suspense





Release Date: October 6, 2020





certain threat





Katrina White’s garage explodes and she fears someone is out to get her.





Not long after Katrina overhears two people talking about robbing the bank where she works, her attached garage explodes. With the help of her neighbor, Frank Davis, she escapes the burning home after a storage shelf falls over, trapping her beneath it.





The co-owner of Protection Inc. has one thing on his mind for the week of Christmas—rest and relaxation, but when his favorite neighbor needs his help he calls in his team. Unable to turn their backs on someone Frank clearly has feelings for, the co-owners agree to help out Katrina.





When things escalate, Frank is certain of two things—he cares a lot for Katrina and he can’t let anything happen to her.





Join the team of Protection Inc. this Christmas where love is in the air even in the midst of danger.





Click here to get your copy!





My Impressions





The perfect title. Kimberly Rose Johnson nailed her title in this intriguing finalé of her romantic suspense series, Protection, Inc.
Certain Threat. It certainly is. And it is the only thing that is firmly established.
As Frank Davis, a retired Seattle police veteran, and his coworkers try valiantly to safeguard his neighbor Katrina White, many questions arise. Why is Katrina being targeted? What did she really overhear? Can she be trusted? The conclusions came with relief after being tossed back and forth with so many viable theories I couldn’t decide which I would personally choose. 















I enjoyed the stories of Frank and Katrina and Marc and Carissa along the way. It was neat getting more backstory on Frank and Carissa’s time on the Force. And the conclusion was just perfect. I often talk about a reader having to set aside a certain amount of disbelief for a story to work. Not so here, the conclusion was very satisfying and realistic. That always brings points from me. Romance, faith, real life, and dangerous mystery. Ms. Johnson created the perfect storm. Hope you enjoy the book as much as I did.










I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit. I voluntarily leave these thoughts and all opinions are my own.










My Rating






	




	



	




	



	




	



	




	



	




	

Rating: 5 out of 5.




Magnificent!










About the Author










Award winning author Kimberly Rose Johnson married her college sweetheart and lives in the Pacific Northwest. From a young child Kimberly has been an avid reader. That love of reading fostered a creative mind and led to her passion for writing. She especially loves romance and writes contemporary romance that warms the heart and feeds the soul.





Kimberly holds a degree in Behavioral Science from Northwest University in Kirkland, Washington, and is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers.
















More from Kimberly





Certain Threat was one of my favorite books to write. There are three point of view characters. Two have been in the series from book one and the third is a new addition in this book.





I adore Frank, the hero of this book. The man is tough, honest, and always does his best to do the right thing. He’s a good example for his younger business partners who like to do things their own way, especially Carissa.





For me the most fun part about writing this book was getting inside Frank’s head. He comes across as tough and sometime gruff, but he is a marshmallow on the inside when it comes to Katrina, his neighbor. Katrina brings out a side in Frank we haven’t yet witnessed and it was a blast to write—no pun intended. LOL you’ll understand when you read the book.





I look forward to writing future books in this series and going deeper with the rest of the Protection Inc. team and their friends.















Blog Stops





Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, October 19





Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 19





Worthy2Read, October 20





21st Century Keeper at Home, October 20





Texas Book-aholic, October 21





Inklings and notions, October 22





deb’s Book Review, October 22





Betti Mace, October 23





Gina Holder, Author and Blogger, October 23





Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 24





Mary Hake, October 24





Sara Jane Jacobs, October 25





April Hayman, Author, October 25





Splashes of Joy, October 26





Artistic Nobody, October 26 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)





Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, October 27





mypreciousbitsandmusings, October 27





Aryn the Libraryan, October 28





CarpeDiem, October 28





For Him and My Family, October 29





Daysong Reflections, October 29





Locks, Hooks and Books, October 30





Bigreadersite, October 30





Ashley’s Bookshelf, October 31





Blossoms and Blessings, October 31





Simple Harvest Reads, November 1 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)





Bizwings Blog, November 1





Giveaway










To celebrate her tour, Kimberly is giving away the grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!





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





https://promosimple.com/ps/10266/certain-threat-celebration-tour-giveaway






		


			
		
	






	
	

		BLOG, Purchase
The Fault in Firelight, #2 Hometown Holiday Heartstrings by Emily Dana Botrous
	


	

							

			 Babbling Becky L		
		
		

			






About the Book





Title: The Fault in Firelight





Series: #2 Hometown Holiday Heroes





Author: Emily Dana Botrous





Publisher: Emily Dana Botrous





Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense





Released: September, 2020





He knows the pain of betrayal. She has a past that could ruin her future. What can heal their brokenness?

Tony Coniglio loves being single again and the freedom that comes with it. But when he’s pressured to ask out the next available woman, he agrees, just to get his family off his back—even though she’s the town’s all-too-serious cop.

Officer Stacy Kallisto is by the book. Maybe it’s because she once broke the rules and has regretted it ever since. When trouble around town leaves Stacy searching for the culprit, she keeps running into Tony, the one man who wants to know more about her than she wants to share.

As sparks fly and secrets are revealed, Stacy wonders if there’s room in her heart for a man so different from herself—and for the God she wrote off long ago.










My Impressions





Having earlier read The Trouble with Tulips, I jumped at the chance to read Emily Dana Botrous’s next book, The Fault in Firelight. After losing a brotherly bet, divorced Tony Coniglio is told he has a week to ask out the next single woman who walks through the door. Unfortunately, that lady is policewoman Stacy Kallisto, who promptly refuses Tony. Now that her storage unit has been vandalized, he’ll have to contact her again.
“Relationships required trust. Trust and secrets made for a poor mix, and she’d sacrificed too much to let the truth out for a man.” Stacy is a superior police officer, and next in line for the police chief’s role, but her private life is a mess. Torn by regrets, insecurities, and bitterness, she has built a wall around her heart.











Tony is a deeply caring and fun guy who finds himself surprised at his attraction to Officer Kallisto. Working with her to find out who burglarized her storage unit, he falls harder and harder, only to have Stacy hold him at arm’s distance.
I enjoyed this novel. It contains elements of a contemporary romance, mixed with romantic suspense, mixed with a bit of a psychological study. ( Why do people do what they do? How and why does that affect the character so deeply? ) And most importantly, can Stacy and Tony break the repeated cycles and shackles that bind them and find the love they yearn for?











If you enjoy contemporary romance and romantic suspense with tidbits of faith to guide you, this is a book for you. Plus there are more coming. Marcy’s story is up soon. I’ll be here.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.










My Rating






	




	



	




	



	




	



	




	



	




	

Rating: 4 out of 5.




Great!










About the Author





Emily Dana Botrous lives in San Diego, California with her husband and their four children. She lived in 10 states before she settled on the West Coast where she plans to stay for awhile. She started writing short stories at age 10 and studied English in college. The only thing she enjoys more than writing is motherhood. While there are a lot of things that matter to Emily, nothing is more important to her than Jesus Christ. It is her goal to point anyone who reads her writing toward Him. When Emily isn’t writing, she enjoys cooking, long walks, music, and playing with her kids. “A New Shade of Paint” is her first book.





 

		


			
		
	






	
	

		BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour
Rescued Hearts by Hope Toler Dougherty with Giveaway
	


	

							

			 Babbling Becky L		
		
		

			






About the Book





Book:  Rescued Hearts





Author: Hope Toler Dougherty





Genre:  Romantic Suspense





Release Date: September 19, 2017





Rescued Hearts cover





Children’s clothing designer Mary Wade Kimball’s soft spot for  animals leads to a hostage situation when she spots a briar-entangled kitten in front of an abandoned house. Beaten, bound, and gagged by the two thugs inside, Mary Wade loses hope for escape when a third villain returns with supplies.Discovering the kidnapped, innocent woman ratchets the complications for undercover agent Brett Davis. Weighing the difference of ruining his three months’ investigation against the woman’s safety, Brett forsakes his mission and helps her escape, the bent-on-revenge brutes following behind.When Mary Wade’s safety is threatened once more, Brett rescues her again. This time, her personal safety isn’t the only thing in jeopardy. Her heart is endangered as well.





Click here to get your copy!




















My Impressions





“You can’t judge a book by its cover.” Hmm, maybe not, but you sure can increase the chances of a reader picking it up if it has an enticing look to it. I chose Rescued Hearts by Hope Toler Dougherty first because of the irresistible cover. The kitten, the rundown cottage, and sinister clouds produce just the right effect.
Mary Wade Kimball is house-sitting when she stumbles into an undercover operation and finds herself kidnapped by two fiendish characters. What happens next is incredible, but works for this romantic suspense novel.











Unfortunately for me, I couldn’t really connect with the characters until about 40% of the way through.
Once I got that far, I began to enjoy the novel much more, and the relationship, or possible relationship, between Mary Wade and Brett Davis. Brett has been hurt before and is super cautious, confusing Mary Wade. Mary Wade tries hard to forget him, but circumstances conspire against her.
Gigi, Brett’s grandmother, is a wonderful source of support for Brett. She is a great cook and has a sharp mind and impeccable timing. She’s a card well-played.
I liked the end but wasn’t really comfortable with the settling of one of the problems. It seemed a little simple, give the amount of time spent on setting up the conflict.











Still, a fun read all in all. The road to true love is never smooth. Try an afternoon with Rescued Hearts and be ready for a bumpy ride.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit. All opinions are my own. No positive review was required.










My Rating






	




	



	




	



	




	



	




	



	




	

Rating: 4 out of 5.




Great!










About the Author





Hope holds a Master’s degree and taught at East Carolina University and York Technical College. Her novels include Irish Encounter and Mars…With Venus Rising, Rescued Hearts, and Forever Music. She’s a member of ACFW and RWA. Residing in North Carolina, she and her husband enjoy visits with their daughters and twin sons.















More from Hope





I live in the country on land my great grandfather owned. For exercise, I ride my bike on our two-lane roads. One afternoon a few years ago, I took a detour off the paved road and onto a dirt path not too far from my house.





The lane meanders by the location of a distant cousin’s long-since demolished house. Trees and a few bushes still outline the phantom house’s parameters, but no boards or bricks mark the spot. Farm equipment waits under nearby shelters.





As I passed the lonely trees and silent tractors, a creepy sensation tickled the back of my neck. My imagination kicked into gear. What if a bike rider rode by an abandoned house? What if she saw a kitten entangled in a honeysuckle vine at the porch steps? What if, while she tried to free the kitten, someone grabbed her and dragged her inside where she was beaten and threatened with rape?





My pedaling picked up speed, and I reached home in record time.





Those questions continued popping up in my mind, however. I began seeing the characters, then hearing them speak every night as I dropped off to sleep. I’d never written a romantic suspense story before, but the characters refused to leave me alone.





Those initial questions led to the first chapter of Rescued Hearts.















Blog Stops





Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 25





Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 26





Betti Mace, August 27





Texas Book-aholic, August 28





deb’s Book Review, August 28





Inklings and notions, August 29





For Him and My Family, August 30





Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, August 31





Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, September 1





Batya’s Bits, September 2





Older & Smarter?, September 3





CarpeDiem, September 4





Ashley’s Bookshelf, September 5





Locks, Hooks and Books, September 6





Life, Love, Writing, September 6





Artistic Nobody, September 7 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)





Giveaway










To celebrate her tour, Hope is giving away the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a print copy of Rescued Hearts!!





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





https://promosimple.com/ps/ffb5/rescued-hearts-celebration-tour-giveaway

		


			
		
	






	
	

		Bethany House, BLOG, NetGalley
Dead End, #3 Kaely Quinn Profiler, by Nancy Mehl
	


	

							

			 Babbling Becky L		
		
		

			
About the Book


51044063._SX318_SY475_


Title: Dead End


Series: #3 Kaely Quinn Profiler


Author: Nancy Mehl


Publisher: Bethany House Publishers


Released: March 2020


Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense


When a body is discovered in a field in Iowa, the police uncover fourteen additional corpses ranging from 20 years old to recent. The remains point to a serial killer with an MO the authorities have seen before–Ed Oliphant, a man who has been in prison for over 20 years . . . and is Special Agent Kaely Quinn’s father. After several failed interview attempts to discover if Ed has been training someone to be a copycat killer, the police turn to Kaely in St. Louis.


Kaely promised herself she would never step foot in her hometown or set eyes on her father again. She’s always refused to confront her past, but if she wants to prevent any more deaths, she must come face-to-face with the man she’s hated for years.

As more bodies are discovered, Kaely races against time and her own personal turmoil to uncover the killer. Will this most personal case yet cost Kaely her identity and perhaps even her life?


 


My Review






If you like intense romantic suspense, with the emphasis on suspense, this Kaely Quinn,




Profiler series by Nancy Mehl may be the one for you. I just finished the third and final




book, Dead End. Personally, Mehl has taken me to the end of my ability to endure with




her Kaely character. Kaely is very focused on her work and will let nothing get in the




way of her catching the worst criminals. Even if her methods are unorthodox.




Unfortunately, her pride threatens her relationships with God and her special coworker,




Noah.








Dead End NM1










Noah and Kaely travel to Iowa to interview Kaely’s father, an infamous serial killer, in




hopes of stopping a new serial killer. While Kaely may be the only hope to get the




Raggedy Man to talk, will she self-destruct before the mission is accomplished?




Noah grows by leaps and bounds in this novel, but I almost want to tell Noah he’s headed




down a dead-end path.




Never did I see the ending coming.




I appreciated that Mehl shows




equal parts evil and good in this fictional crime-chiller story. Mehl shows that man’s




depravity comes from the pit itself. Only God can combat that kind of horrendous




opposition, and we must be fully equipped. As such, there is a lot of Scripture included in




this book.








Dead End NM2










Who will Kaely rely on- herself, her unusual friend, God, and or Noah?




Noah knows God doesn’t always rescue His people. Grab this book and grab your closest




huggable as you read super-speed to discover whether Kaely can survive.








Samson




(My closest huggable, Samson.)






I was given a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through




NetGalley, plus I bought a copy. This in no way influenced my opinions, which are solely




my own.






My Rating


5 Stars-    Hit My Reading Sweet Spot


 


About the Author


630286Nancy Mehl lives in Wichita, Kansas with her husband, Norman, and her very active puggle, Watson. First published in 2001, she has now authored nine books, including an omnibus mystery collection, Cozy in Kansas, which contains three of her previously published Ivy Towers mysteries. Book three in the series, For Whom the Wedding Bell Tolls, won the American Christian Fiction Writers Mystery Book of the Year award. Nancy’s main writing interests lie in mystery although her new Harmony Series leans more toward the romantic suspense genre. Nancy runs a HUD program for the city of Wichita and is president of a volunteer organization, Wichita Homebound Outreach. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Kansas Authors Club.


Connect with Nancy at via her


Website


http://nancymehl.com/


 


Twitter


NancyMehl


 

		


			
		
	






	
	

		BLOG, Favorite, PB, Revell
Silent Shadows, #3 Harbored Secrets by Natalie Walters
	


	

							

			 Babbling Becky L		
		
		

			
About the Book


46161120


Title: Silent Shadows


Series: #3 Harbored Secrets


Author: Natalie Walters


Publisher: Revell


Released: March 2020


Pecca Gallegos moved to the tiny town of Walton, Georgia, to protect her son and escape the dangerous lifestyle that once defined her. When a series of strange circumstances evolve into threats, Pecca finds herself confiding in an unlikely ally–her stubborn patient.


Army veteran Colton Crawford is desperate to recover from the undiagnosed disorder that is ruining his life, and his instincts are on high alert when threats against his nurse and her son force him to take action. But Colton’s involvement only ramps up the danger when he uncovers a family secret revealing that whoever is after Pecca is closer–and more deadly–than they realized.


With this suspenseful new story, Natalie Walters welcomes you once more to Walton, Georgia, where everyone knows your name–but no one knows your secret.


 


My Review


“Pecca Gallegos never thought she’d be turning down a marriage proposal…much less four of them.” So starts Silent Shadows, romantic suspense by Natalie Walters. #3 in the Harbored Secrets series, Silent Shadows is a stand-alone that I expect to see in my Top Books for 2020 at year’s end. 
What did I love so much about this book? It seems realistic. I enjoyed Nurse Pecca, who is a physical therapist, working at a home for injured veterans. She seems like an every-day, down-to-earth person, with an unfortunate background. 
Rising out of that past may be one of the strongest parts of the novel, supporting character Maceo, Pecca’s 7 year- old son, who has a leg prosthetic. Of course, Captain Colton Crawford is a swoony, but broken part of this equation. When he develops a relationship with Maceo, Pecca can’t help but like the Captain, even with his disability. But will he ever stop seeing the future as discarded dreams and instead see unexpected opportunities? 


Silent Shadows1



There are many secondary threads or characters that strengthen this narrative beautifully. We start with the romance, a possible love triangle, and unknown danger. Now add the secondary storyline of Maceo, plus thickening threads. The danger thread builds nicely. Where is it coming from? Great twists. Another thread is Charlie and Lacy and the coming baby. I love Shirley with her loving, nurturing ways and all the other vets with their love and friendly service competition. 


Silent Shadows 2


One last thread that appealed to me was the realism of the seizures. Not fun. But I could see them in my mind. Good research there. These different story strands tighten the weave of the book until it is a multi-faceted, taut romantic suspense. 
All in all, I reckon I just loved this book! 
Quotes: 
 
“If you want to win the game, you’ve got to know who you’re playing.” 
 
“He had no idea what he did to deserve this or why he was being punished- only if this was his life sentence, he would’ve chosen the alternative.” 
 
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author via Revell. 
All opinions are my own, for which I am solely responsible.


 


My Rating


5 Stars- Superior- Hits My Reading Sweet Spot


About the Author


18471823My world revolves around GIJOE and our three adult (or almost adult) children who keep my life anything but predictable. Our boots hit the ground wherever the Army sends us but home is when we’re all together no matter the zipcode. My passion is writing stories where adventure meets love and share my belief that life rooted in purpose is a story worth telling.

		


			
		
	






	
	

		BLOG, Celebrate Lit Tour, Favorite, NetGalley, Thomas Nelson
One Little Lie, #1 Pelican Harbor Series by Colleen Coble
	


	

							

			 Babbling Becky L		
		
		

			
One-Little-Lie-FB-Banner


About the Book


Book:  One Little Lie


Author: Colleen Coble


Series: Pelican Harbor #1


Publisher: Thomas Nelson


Genre:  Romantic Suspense


Release Date: March 3, 2020


 


50852923._SX318_SY475_It started with one little lie. But Jane Hardy will do everything in her power to uncover the truth in this gripping new romantic suspense.


Jane Hardy is appointed interim sheriff in Pelican Harbor, Alabama after her father retires, but there’s no time for an adjustment period. When her father is arrested for theft and then implicated in a recent murder, Jane quickly realizes she’s facing someone out to destroy the only family she has.


After escaping with her father from a cult fifteen years ago, Jane has searched relentlessly for her mother—who refused to leave—ever since. Could someone from that horrible past have found them?


Reid Bechtol is well-known for his documentaries, and his latest project involves covering Jane’s career. Jane has little interest in the attention, but the committee who appointed her loves the idea of the publicity.


Jane finds herself depending on Reid’s calm manner as he follows her around filming, and they begin working together to clear her father. But Reid has his own secrets from the past, and the gulf between them may be impossible to cross—especially once her father’s lie catches up with him.


 


Click here to get your copy.


My Rating


5 Stars – Superior – Hits My Reading Sweet Spot (If only we didn’t have to wait for the ending!)  😦


My Review


A green police chief, vigilante justice, and a town full of secrets. Mixing these together with Colleen Coble’s compelling suspense and a dollop of romance brings you One Little Lie, a “most excellent” police adventure.

I really loved the storyline and most of the characters. The jury is still out on a few of them, namely the mayor, whom I’m trying to figure out. I did enjoy Jane Hardy and Reid and Will Dixon. Will sounds like one very neat teenager. Jane and Reid work together well. I have to wonder about how involved Reid was in the cases, as a civilian. Yet, my mind argues back that real life can be hard to separate into separate columns, and this just solidifies that point.


Pelican Harbor 1

The bay seems to be a little murky and so are so many of the relationships in this faith-filled novel. We see true friendship, bad parenting, misguided parenting, great parenting, and arms that lost the child they should have parented. I can just imagine Jane, if she had a theme song, singing “Lies,” from Jonathan Butler eons ago. The question is, who would she be singing it about? Faith, love, forgiveness, deceit, and revenge all surface in Pelican Harbor. Unfortunately for us, the readers, a neat ending does not. I appreciated Coble’s note that explained her reasoning. I appreciated that we had a “soft” ending, with more to come in the next Pelican Harbor installment ( Two Reasons to Run, coming September 2020), rather than a rushed, messy ending. Definitely a book to pick up, but preferably during daylight hours, with plenty of safe people around.


Pelican Harbor 2

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author and publisher through Celebrate Lit via NetGalley. This does not affect my opinions, which are solely my own.


 


About the Author


33227Best-selling author Colleen Coble’s novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, the ACFW Carol Award, the Romance Writers of America RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers’ Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has over 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana. You can visit her website at http://colleencoble.com.


Blog Stops


Back Porch Reads, March 10


Life of Literature, March 10


Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 10


Texas Book-aholic, March 10


Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 11


The Avid Reader, March 11


Lighthouse Academy, March 11


By The Book, March 12


Older & Smarter?, March 12


Through the Fire Blogs, March 12


Remembrancy, March 12


Betti Mace, March 13


April Hayman, Author, March 13


Emily Yager, March 13


Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, March 14


Bigreadersite, March 14


deb’s Book Review, March 14


Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, March 15


Inklings and notions, March 15


CarpeDiem, March 15


Christian Bookaholic, March 15


Just the Write Escape, March 16


For Him and My Family, March 16


Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 16


Robin’s Nest, March 17


All-of-a-kind Mom, March 17


Happily Managing a Household of Boys, March 17


D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, March 17


Stories By Gina, March 18


Janicesbookreviews, March 18


Mary Hake, March 18


Empowermoms, March 18


For the Love of Literature, March 19


Blossoms and Blessings, March 19


Because I said so – and other adventures in Parenting, March 19


Hallie Reads, March 19


A Baker’s Perspective, March 20


Quiet Quilter, March 20


Simple Harvest Reads, March 20 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)


Splashes of Joy, March 21


Moments, March 21


amandainpa, March 21


Locks, Hooks and Books, March 21


Pause for Tales, March 22


Britt Reads Fiction, March 22


Spoken from the Heart, March 22


Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses, March 22


To Everything There is a Season, March 23


Life love writing, March 23


Daysong Reflections, March 23


Lights in a Dark World, March 23


*No Giveaway for this Celebration Tour




 


 

		


			
		
	






	
	

		Bethany House, BLOG, NetGalley
Seconds to Live, #1 Homeland Heroes by Susan Sleeman
	


	

							

			 Babbling Becky L		
		
		

			
43887317._SY475_


About the Book


Title: Seconds to Live


Series: Homeland Heroes


Author: Susan Sleeman


Publisher: Bethany House


Released: December 2019


When cybercriminals hack into the U.S. Marshal’s Witness Protection database and auction off personal details to the highest bidder, FBI Agent Sean Nichols begins a high-stakes chase to find the hacker. Trouble is, he has to work with U.S. Marshal Taylor Mills, who knows the secrets of his past, and the seconds are ticking down before someone dies.


My Review


As usual, Susan Sleeman draws readers in with the very first sentence. Sleeman’s writing in Seconds to Live, like her other works, is concise, taut, and suspenseful in a beyond-terrifying way. Yet Sleeman uses her remarkable knowledge of the cyber crimes world to craft a novel that is both thoughtful and uplifting. When I finished this book, my thought was, if Taylor and Sean can learn to trust God in their over-the-top FBI dangerous jobs, surely I can trust Him with my own life. Besides, even though both Taylor and Sean have jobs most of us can only imagine, their feelings, actions, and conversations make them very relatable.


Seconds to Live 2




While I didn’t much like Dustee, I almost felt sorry for her. Not many in our techie world today would be able to go long periods without some connection to technology. Yet, Dustee had to stay completely away from the internet. Oy, vey!

All of Sleeman’s characters on the Red Team are introduced with enough character that my reading mind is tantalized with the idea of wanting to know them more.

Quotes:

” ‘And all this pacing and frustration out here in the hall means you’re trusting Him?’ It was just like her to call him on his struggle.”


Seconds to Live 1.png


“But if Sean had learned anything on the Montgomery Three investigation, he’d learned God was in control. Not him. God. That was true now, too, and was worth remembering.”


“We all live in hiding to some degree…people in hiding want someone to care enough to look for them…”


I received a complimentary ARC of this book from Bethany House through Netgalley. I also received a copy direct from the author. This does not affect my opinions, which are solely my own.


My Rating


5 Stars – Hit My Reading Sweet Spot


About the Author


SUSAN SLEEMAN is the bestselling author of over thirty-five novels with more than one 4053429million books sold. She writes romantic suspense novels that are clean with inspiring messages of faith. Readers love her series for the well-drawn characters and edge-of-your-seat action. She graduated from the FBI and local police citizen academies, so her research is spot-on and her characters are real.

In addition to writing, Susan also hosts TheSuspenseZone.com. She has lived in nine states but now calls Oregon home. Her husband is a retired church music director, and they have two beautiful daughters, a very special son-in-law, and an adorable grandson.

To learn more about Susan’s books sign up for her monthly email that includes exclusive excerpts, giveaways, and other goodies. http://www.susansleeman.com/susans-ne…


Or stop by any of these locations on the web.

Website – http://www.susansleeman.com

Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/SusanSleemanB…

Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/susansleeman

Review Site – http://www.TheSuspenseZone.com