My Review: A Spy's Devotion

I just love this cover!  It's so lovely!

Description:
In England’s Regency era, manners and elegance reign in public life—but behind closed doors treason and tawdriness thrive. Nicholas Langdon is no stranger to reserved civility or bloody barbarity. After suffering a battlefield injury, the wealthy, well-connected British officer returns home to heal—and to fulfill a dying soldier’s last wish by delivering his coded diary.

At the home of the Wilherns, one of England’s most powerful families, Langdon attends a lavish ball where he meets their beautiful and intelligent ward, Julia Grey. Determined to maintain propriety, he keeps his distance—until the diary is stolen and all clues lead to Julia’s guardian. As Langdon traces an evil plot that could be the nation’s undoing, he grows ever more intrigued by the lovely young woman. And when Julia realizes that England—and the man she is falling in love with—need her help, she finds herself caught in the fray. Will the two succumb to their attraction while fighting to save their country?

About the Author:
Melanie Dickerson is an award-winning author who earned her bachelor’s degree in special education from The University of Alabama.

She has taught in Georgia, Tennessee, Germany and the Eastern European country of Ukraine.

A member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and Romance Writers of America (RWA), she now spends her time writing and taking care of her husband and two daughters near Huntsville, Alabama.


My Review: 3 stars
I have to say, the cover is what first drew me to this story. Then, after reading the description, I was intrigued. I don’t see many regency mysteries, which I quite enjoy. I love the time period and mysteries, so I believe they are a great combination. I’ve read a few of Ms. Dickerson’s books and enjoyed them, so I hoped that would be the case for this one. I can happily say I that it met my expectations.

I believe this is Ms. Dickerson’s first attempt at a regency novel, and I think she did a wonderful job! The descriptions were well written and didn’t overwhelm the story. Ms. Dickerson seems to lean toward the “less is more” writing style with this one, which I really appreciated. I found her writing engaging and she kept me quickly turning the pages to see where the story might go next.

Now for the characters. I adored Julia! She is a great heroine and I was able to easily connect with her. I loved how realistic she - though she is strong and determined to do the right thing, no matter the cost to her, she has flaws. We see her hurt, angry, resentful, but also kind, loving, and generous. I found a character that I would love to be friends with, if she was real.

Because a good portion of the story comes from Julia’s perspective, I didn’t really feel that I knew Nicholas that well. Which I found kind of disappointing, because I believe I would’ve really liked him. From the little I knew of him, I knew he was kind, generous, bold. All of the foundations for a great hero, if a few more of the blanks had been filled in. I do have to say that I really didn’t like a few of the secondary characters, particularly Julia’s cousin, Phoebe. She drove me crazy! She is incredibly selfish, self-centered, and shallow! She’s honestly one of those characters that I alternate between feeling sorry for and wishing some terrible fate would befall them. That being said, her errors made me love Julia more. And surprisingly enough, Julia even learned something from her loony cousin.

The suspense was woven in well, without inadvertently becoming the main focus of the book. There honestly wasn’t much done in the way of detective work, which makes sense for the time period, but I found that it bothered me just a bit. I think I’ve simply become too accustomed to our modern way of investigating. Though it threw me off a bit at first, I still really enjoyed the question of how everything was going to play out.

My final thoughts are that though I enjoyed this book, I don’t believe it’s going to become a favorite of mine. It has all of the marks of a great story, but there were just a couple things that I would’ve liked to be different. That being said, I am looking forward to reading the next in the series and finding out where Ms. Dickerson takes her stories from here.

I happily recommend this book to anyone looking for a regency novel that breaks from the norm and shows that there is more than one side to every story.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my review!
Have a delightful day!

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My Review: The End of the World

Happy release day to Amy Matayo!  The End of the World greets readers today!  I'm so excited to hear what other's have to say about this book!

Description:
A desperate boy. A damaged girl. And a dark house filled with secrets.

For Cameron Tate, being shuffled from foster home to foster home is just a normal way of life. Until the year he turns fourteen. That’s when he’s sent to the home of seventeen-year-old Shaye McCormick—a fellow foster kid counting the days until she’s released from the system.

For good reason. It doesn’t take long for Cameron to learn that Shaye is shackled to the worst kind of pain...living in a home where nothing seems right. And now he’s joined her with no way out. Their only refuge is a lake, a quiet spot at the edge of the property where they can sit together for a few moments at the end of each day. Alone with their thoughts. Away from prying eyes.

At the lake they become friends. At the lake they begin to talk. At the lake Cameron vows that no matter how deep their secrets are buried, he’ll make it his mission to heal Shaye from a past that makes living in the present nearly impossible. Even if it takes until the end of time to do it.



About the Author:
Amy Matayo is an award winning author of The Wedding Game, Love Gone Wild, Sway, In Tune With Love, A Painted Summer, and The End of the World. She graduated with barely passing grades from John Brown University with a degree in Journalism. But don't feel sorry for her--she's super proud of that degree and all the ways she hasn't put it to good use.

She laughs often, cries easily, feels deeply, and loves hard. She lives in Arkansas with her husband and four kids and is working on her next novel.
www.amymatayo.com




My Review: 5 stars
I’m going to be blunt: I was so excited for the opportunity to review this book, without realizing that it isn’t Christian based. There is a bit of mild cursing, the characters don’t believe in God and live their lives as such, though there are no graphic details. This being the case, the rating and my review reflect my opinions of this book, with the focus on the author’s talent and the book’s merits, rather than the fact that its characters don’t share my personal beliefs.

I’ve read a couple of Ms. Matayo’s books and finished both of them with the assurance of what a fantastic writer she is and as this book ended, I’ve not been more sure of that. I honestly have no idea how Amy ever finished writing this book. Her writing is as beautiful as the tale this book tells is dark and painful. She drew me in from the very first page and I literally read almost all day, immersed in this story of brokenness and pain, but also light and hope. Both Shaye and Cameron have horrifying stories to tell. But even in the midst of their pain, there is hope in unexpected places.

The story follows Shaye and Cameron as they work to survive abuse and neglect as teenagers, then as they try to pick up the broken pieces as young adults. Amy’s writing is so bold and straightforward. She pulls few punches with this book, but rather lets them fly right at your heart. Mine broke more than once as I read and just kept reading, hoping for the characters to find healing and peace, amidst all of the heartbreak. Amy’s unique writing style allowed me to connect with both and Shaye and Cameron, which I loved, but also hated just a bit. Because I felt their pain, too. I hurt when they hurt and this book brought me close to tears more than once. I felt as though I knew both of them almost inside and out. Their story came to life in vivid color and I oftentimes felt as though I was right there with them, living through the worst life has to offer. Despite their heartache and the darkness we are shown, at it’s heart, this is a story of redemption and healing. There is the reminder that even the midst of shattered lives and hearts, there is light and hope. That’s why I continued reading and kept cheering the characters on. Because of that little light of hope that never went out, even when all seemed lost.

I would not recommend this book to someone who is looking for a light read to pass the time. This book shines a light on very difficult topics and your heart will probably break for the characters, but regardless I don’t regret reading it and I imagine it’ll be sticking in my mind for quite a while. The best books do.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.  


Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and read my review!  I hope you enjoyed it!
As today is release day, there are probably some pretty cool things going on over on Amy's Facebook page, so you might want to pop over there and see what's happening.  Also, as always, if you'd like to look into the book further, links are below.
Thanks again!  Have a delightful day!

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My Review: Thin Ice

 

 

"We do have many seasons in our lives - some happier than others.  The important thing to remember on winter days is that spring always comes . . . unless we choose to miss it by hibernating in the darkness.  Sometimes we have to make the effort to step into the sunshine."

~ Christy Reed, page 143

 

Description:

After losing her parents in a car accident and her sister to a house fire, Christy Reed has been mired in grief. Life is finally starting to feel normal again when an envelope arrives in the mail--addressed in her sister's handwriting. And the note inside claims she is still alive.

FBI Special Agent Lance McGregor, a former Delta Force operator, is assigned to reopen the case, but he's coming up with more questions than answers. If Ginny Reed is still alive--who is the woman buried in her grave? Where is Ginny? And is Christy a pawn in a twisted cat-and-mouse game--or the target of a sinister plot? As he digs deeper, one thing becomes clear: whoever is behind the bizarre ruse has a deadly agenda.




About the Author:
Irene Hannon is the bestselling and award-winning author of more than forty-five novels, including Buried Secrets, the Heroes of Quantico, Guardians of Justice, and Private Justice series. Her books have been honored with, among others, three coveted RITA Awards from Romance Writers of America, three HOLT Medallions, a Daphne du Maurier Award, two Reviewers' Choice Awards from RT Book Reviews magazine, and a National Readers' Choice Award. She lives in Missouri. Learn more at www.irenehannon.com.






My Review: 5 stars
I have to confess, I’m a huge fan of Irene Hannon’s work and I’ve been anticipating this book since reading Buried Secrets (the first in the series) right after it released. That’s given me quite a while to hope and look forward to Lance’s book. Happily, I can say that this book met and surpassed all of my expectations!

Ms. Hannon’s suspense novels are by far some of my favorites - she does such a wonderful job with them! Down to the last description, this story comes to vivid life! It’s obvious she’s done an extensive amount of research regarding FBI procedures, protocols, and the lingo. I appreciate that attention to detail very much, as it adds another depth of reality to the story. I do very much appreciate that though this book is suspense and crimes are committed, her descriptions aren’t gory. She gives the details and elaborates where it’s necessary, but she doesn’t overdo it or make me want to gag. The suspense is definitely another thing she excels at - I was on the edge of my seat more often than not and sped through the final few chapters, wanting to know how everything was going to turn out. That being said, Thin Ice is actually a little more low-key, concerning the nail biting suspense I’m used to from her books. And that’s not at all a complaint. I really enjoyed the slightly slower pace, because it allowed me to get to know the characters a little bit better. It also gave a bit of leeway for there to be a couple more serious and personal conversations, without it seeming to slow the pace of the story down.

Christy Reed is the heroine of this book and I fell in love with her character almost immediately! Life has dealt her more than her fair share of heartache, but she continues to press on and tries to keep an upbeat attitude even when she wants to give up. I loved the strength of character that I saw in her and the determination to rise above the pain. Few would blame her for surrendering, but even in her darkest moments, she tries to keep hoping. Her faith in God plays a large role in this and I loved the focused placed on trusting and relying on Him.

Lance MacGregor. Can all the ladies just sigh over him for a moment? He is so swoon-worthy! And not just in his looks. He is very much the take-charge, ex-Delta-Force-now-FBI hero that most of us, if we’re honest, absolutely adore! He’s strong and determined, while also kind and caring. Despite the somewhat stereotypical job description, he is a very realistic character. He has flaws and a few skeletons in his closet, though I do have to admit that I loved him a little bit more after I learned what they were. He’s seen a lot of horrible things in the world and has given up on God as a result. I loved watching him slowly begin to seek God again and find healing.

I also loved his relationship with Christy! Though it’s mostly professional, due to his job, the author does a wonderful job of building the tension between them without it coming across as sexual or going overboard. It does a get little steamy a couple times, but I appreciate her grace in handling it as she always does. Also, for anyone who has read her previous books, there are a few characters that make guest appearances. I love the fun in that and the way she continues to link back to her earlier stories!

Honestly, I can’t think of a single negative comment or anything I didn’t like about this book. It was superb! Irene has done another fantastic job with this story and I can’t wait to read Finn’s book!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog and taking the time to read my review!
As always, links are below if you'd like to look into the book further!  Have a delightful day!

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My Review: With This Ring?

Description:
In Karen Witemeyer's "The Husband Maneuver," Marietta Hawkins decides to grab the reins when the ranch foreman she loves seems to be leaving forever. Regina Jennings offers "Her Dearly Unintended," where friends stranded by a rising river pretend to be newlyweds when a dangerous stranger arrives.

Mary Connealy's "Runaway Bride" finds a Texas ranger getting more than he expected when he rescues a young woman fleeing a dangerous arranged marriage. And Melissa Jagears' "Engaging the Competition" finds a young woman forced to assist the man she's often sparred with after an accident leaves him helpless. Each tale is a fun blend of history and romance that will delight readers.


About the Authors:
Karen Witemeyer is a winner of the Carol Award and has been a finalist for the RITA Award and National Readers' Choice Award. She lives with her husband and three children in Abilene, Texas. www.karenwitemeyer.com

Mary Connealy is well-known for her award-winning, bestselling historical romantic comedies. She lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her husband and has four grown daughters. www.maryconnealy.com

Regina Jennings is the author of five acclaimed historical romances. She lives outside Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, with her husband and four children. www.reginajennings.com

Melissa Jagears, author of the Unexpected Brides series, is a homeschooling mother of three little ones on a tiny Kansas farm with a fixer-upper house. Her first novella, Love by the Letter, won the 2014 Carol Award for Best Novella. www.melissajagears.com  
 
My Review: 4 stars
First off, you should know that I typically avoid novella collections like they have the plague. I almost always feel they are too short and the storylines lacking depth. That said, I actually really enjoyed this one! I knew I had to read it when I found out that two of my favorite historical authors (Karen Witemeyer and Mary Connealy) were a part of it, and they definitely didn’t disappoint! I appreciated the fact that each of the books are stories for secondary characters I’ve met in the authors’ full length novels (I’m actually not entirely positive about Melissa’s story, but I’m assuming). I believe that is part of the reason I enjoyed it so much. I already felt that I knew the characters a bit from the previous novels, so the shorter length didn’t bother me.

I usually chat about each novella, but I don’t really find that necessary, in this case. I very much enjoyed all of the characters and getting to see them find their “happily ever afters.” If you enjoy these authors and their books, I firmly believe you’ll love this collection! All of the authors did an excellent job of working with the shorter story and still bringing everything to life, then to a satisfying conclusion. It sometimes surprised me at how quickly I found myself finished with a story, but I didn’t feel as though any of them were missing something when I reached the final page. I am going to be honest and admit that I didn’t love Melissa Jagears’ novella, though I’m not a huge fan of her books (sorry!), so I was kind of expecting that. Despite that, I still enjoyed her story and hope fans of hers will, too!

Even if you, like me, tend to shy away from novella collections, I highly recommend giving this book a go! It was a delightful way to spend a few hours and I’m definitely looking forward to more collections from Bethany House!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review, which I have given. I was not required to write a positive review and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review!  I hope you enjoyed it!
If you're interested in looking into the book further, there are links below.  Have a delightful day!

Amazon

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The Cautious Maiden cover reveal!

Has anyone else been looking forward to finally getting a glimpse of the cover for Dawn Crandall's, The Cautious Maiden?  I have been so super excited, personally!  The cover for Vince and Violet's book?  Yes, please!  The covers for her previous books were absolutely gorgeous (as evidenced below), so I couldn't wait to see what Whitaker House would create for this book - and they did an excellent job of continuing with the "feel" of the covers and the style.   
Here is the back cover blurb, so you can be anticipating it as much as I am!

Violet Hawthorne is beyond mortified when her brother transforms her deceased parents’ respectable country inn into a brothel to accommodate the lumberjacks in the area. When her reputation is compromised, she finds herself forced to enter into an engagement with Vance Everstone. Can she trust this man she hardly knows who has a scandalous reputation in his own right?


So, to continue torturing you, I really want to share the covers in order, so you can see them all here together (we all know this is just an excuse to make you look at some of my favorite covers, again).

First is Amaryllis' book!

(The cover is actually what first drew me to this book)

 

 

Then Meredyth's

(this cover "might" be my favorite, thus far)

 

Next is Estella's

(I love the periwinkle dress!)

 

And finally, without further ado -

Violet's book!!

(Isn't it lovely?)

 

 

 

Also, to celebrate, Dawn is having an awesome giveaway over on her blog (click to visit)!  It includes: copies of the first three books, an Everstone Chronicles coffee mug, and a $25 Amazon gift card!  Be sure to stop over and enter!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and I'm honored to be able to share a favorite author's new cover art with you! 

 

 

 

Random Giveaway!

It's time for a random giveaway!!  The weather's a bit dreary here and it's January (which is just a kind of slow month for me), so time for something fun!  I'm giving away one copy of Regina Jennings' new book, At Love's Bidding!  This is actually the second book in a series, but it stands alone quite well.  I really enjoyed the first book, A Most Inconvenient Marriage and highly recommend it, if you haven't read it!
Every giveaway needs rules, right?  I only have 2:

1) I ask that you leave a comment letting me know the title of one book you're super excited to read that's coming out this year. 

2) I also need a way to contact the winner, so please include in your comment a email address where I can reach you.  Please leave it in a safe format (example[at]example[dot]com) to protect yourself from spammers.  Unfortunately, if you don't leave an email, I won't be able to include you, so be sure you do!  

And that's it!  The giveaway will be open until midnight EST Sunday, January 17th.  The winner will be chosen by Random.org and notified on Monday.  
Okay!  I think that's all! Oh, wait!  Not quite - if you'd like to learn more about the book the description is below, along with links for various sites so you can check it out!
Now, that's it!  Thanks so much for stopping by, and be sure to leave me a comment!  Have a great weekend!

From the Back Cover:
After helping her grandfather at their Boston auction house, Miranda Wimplegate discovers she's accidentally sold a powerful family's prized portrait to an anonymous bidder. Desperate to appease the furious family, her grandfather tracks it to the Missouri Ozarks and makes an outlandish offer to buy the local auction house if they promise not to sell anything until he arrives.

Upon their arrival, however, they discover their new business doesn't deal in fine antiques, but in livestock. And its manager, ruggedly handsome Wyatt Ballentine, is frustrated to discover his fussy new bosses don't know a thing about the business he's single-handedly kept afloat. Faced with more cattle than they can count--but no mysterious painting--Miranda and Wyatt form an unlikely but charged partnership to try and salvage a bad situation getting worse.


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My most anticipated books for 2016

Hello, everyone!  Goodness, it's been about a month since I've posted anything!  Sorry for kind of falling off the face of the earth.  I actually didn't intend to do a post like this, especially since I completely skipped doing my favorite reads from 2015 (too many to choose!), but a lot of my blogger friends are doing it and I'm incredibly bored, so yeah!  Here are some of the books I'm most excited for!  (Be forewarned, this is going to be a long post, because there are so many books coming out this year that I am dying to read!)
Also, I'm weird, so these are in order based on release date and then alphabetical by the author's last name.   

Reason: I love Lynette's books!  She always keeps me on the edge of my seat - and I love this cover!  It's very intriguing! 

Release date: February 2

 

Reason: Dani Pettrey and this cover. Enough said.

Release date: February 2

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reason:  Owen's book!!

Release Date: February 2 



 

 

Reason:  I've been a huge fan of Liz's since I read her first Love Inspired Suspense book (The Kidnapping of Kenzie Thorne, I think [read at least 3 times]), so of course, I can't wait for this one! 
Release date: March 1 

 

Reason:  Jen Turano - does any more really need to be said?  Her books always leave me laughing out loud and this is Lucetta's book! (If you don't know who that is, then maybe we should talk about expanding your To-Be-Read pile)
Release date: March 1

Reason: Melissa Tagg.  Returning to Maple Valley and getting to revisit the Walker family.  Also, this cover.  It just makes me smile.  

Release Date: April 5

 

Reason:  I really enjoyed The Lost Heiress and this book ties in with that one, also it's Brice's book!  I loved him in The Lost Heiress, so I'm super excited!  Though, I have to be honest - even if I wasn't already a fan, this cover might be reason enough.
Release Date: April 5

Reason:  Three of my favorite authors in one book?  Yes, please!
Release Date: May 3

Traces of Guilt by Dee Henderson

 

 

Unfortunately, there's no cover for this one, yet.

 

Reason:  Dee Henderson.  Anyone who knows me very well at all is probably aware that Dee is my all time favorite author.  I rarely play favorites, but her books are simply some of the best (in my opinion).  I just keep rereading them! On a slightly more random note, the way this book is listed on Amazon leads me to hope that it may be the first of a series (bouncing in my seat)!  I'm so excited, either way!

Release Date: May 3

 

 

 

 

Reason:  I love WWII fiction and Sarah always does an excellent job with all of her books!

Release Date: May 3

 

 

Reason: Dru's book!  This cover!  The Porters!  Becky Wade!  I am so excited!  But also sad, because this will be the last one in the series . . . I'll just have to read slowly, I suppose (because, we all know that's going to happen - not!).
Release Date: May 3

Reason:  Though her last book disappointed me a bit, I'm still a fan, so this one has to be on the list!
Release Date: June 7

Reason: Karen Witemeyer.  That's enough for me!  But to be honest, I really don't much care for this cover.  Sorry.
Release Date: June 7

Reason:  Mary Connealy!  Her books always leave me laughing!  I'm really hoping this one will follow a similar vein as the last series and also have a serious side, too.
Release Date: July 5

 

 



Reason: I loved her first book and this one continues the series!  Also, this cover is so beautiful!  I just love it!
Release Date: July 5

 

Reason: Once again, Lynette Eason!  And I love that the covers are following a similar style!
Release Date: August 2

 

The Cautious Maiden by Dawn Crandall

 

 

No cover for this one yet, but it's coming soon!

 

 

Reason:  I've loved her previous books and we get to see Vance redeemed (hopefully)!

Release Date: October (I don't have a specific date, yet)

 

 

 

Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig

 

 

No cover yet, but I have on good authority that it's awesome!

 

 

Reason: Ronie Kendig - need I say more?

Release Date: December (so far away!  But so many books before then to savor whilst I wait!)

 



Also, I don't have dates for these, but I believe (Okay, I'm hoping)  Hallee Bridgeman's  A Harmony for Steve will be releasing this year, along with Julie Lessman's next book, the title of which I actually can't remember at the moment (please comment, if you know what it is!).


So, there's my list!  Are there any I'm missing?  What are a few books that you're excited to read? 

Please note:  All cover photos and release dates were copied from Christianbook.com.  No infringement intended.