Bookish Thoughts: A Dazzle of Diamonds

"You don't have to be ready to enjoy the adventure.  That's what makes it an adventure. . . . The adventure is in the unknown.  God has amazing things in store for you, but if you knew what they were, you'd miss out on the anticipation of discovering them."  - Aunt Shirley

Description:

Penelope Hunter loves her job as the events manager at one of Savannah's premier historic venues--until her ex-fiancé walks into her office with his new bride-to-be. To make matters worse, a scheming social matriarch is intent on seeing Penelope fired, especially if she insists on being seen with Tucker Westbrook.

Since returning from serving two tours in the Middle East, Tucker has built a thriving security company. His work is nearly as stabilizing as his friendship with Penelope, who has been by his side since childhood. But when the lone candidate for county sheriff goads him, Tucker loses his cool and ends up on the ballot--and on the receiving end of a smear campaign claiming the Westbrooks were traitors to the South.

To clear his name, Tucker and Penelope must join forces to find the truth behind a 150-year-old lost treasure. But the more time they spend together, the closer she comes to losing her job--and falling helplessly in love.

About the Author:

By day Liz Johnson works in marketing. She finds time to write late at night and is a Christy Award finalist and a two-time ACFW Carol Award finalist. Liz makes her home in Phoenix, Arizona where she enjoys theater, exploring local history, and doting on her nieces and nephews. She loves stories of true love with happy endings. Find out more about Liz at www.LizJohnsonBooks.com. 

My Thoughts:

I’ve long been a fan of Liz Johnson’s writing and though I don’t think I’ve ever enjoyed a series coming to an end, I was still very excited to read this book!  When Ms. Johnson first switched to writing more strictly contemporary romance, I confess to being a little leery.  I’d adored her suspense novels and wasn’t sure what to expect.  But given this is the second trilogy she’s completed in this genre and seeing as how I’ve devoured every one of the books, I hadn’t any need to be concerned.  

I don’t know that I can pinpoint one specific thing that makes Ms. Johnson’s books stand out to me, it’s more them as whole stories.  I love her opening lines, e.g. : “Penelope Jean Hunter loved every wedding she’d ever been to. Except her own.”  I love the characters, the descriptions, the dialogue.  I love how real the characters are.  I felt as though I could so easily be sitting down for a chat with Penelope, hearing about the job she loves and talking about Ambrose.  I adored the fact that Penelope and Tucker have been friends forever and getting to watch as they realized that sometimes the best romances are built when you’re already best friends.  I really enjoyed the historical aspect of the book, with it being a little like “National Treasure.” (at least, in my mind) Following clues and stories from the past to find a hidden “treasure.”

I can’t think of a single thing about this story that I didn’t enjoy, aside from the fact that it ended.  Though I do have to say that the ending was beautiful!  And it may have made me love Tucker just a little more (if that’s possible).

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I'm excited to get back into reviewing, hopefully a bit more frequently!  My munchkin is taking more regular naps and sleeping for longer periods at night, which means I have a little more time to read, which is SO nice!

Have a beautiful day! 

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Bookish Thoughts: Start With Me

"Lace, I know you haven't seen a whole lot of it, but this is what love looks like.

Choosing the other person.  Wanting the best thing for them.  What he did last night?  That's love."

Description:

Lacey O’Connor is finally a sure thing for the promotion she’s spent ten years working for. But when a scandal rocks her firm she finds herself on a collision course with the one person she has spent five years trying to forget. Only to discover he doesn’t even remember her…

Victor Carlisle has spent the last three years trying to convince his family he’s no longer the playboy alcoholic who tore their life apart. When a company merger is announced with a US sister firm, he’s presented with the perfect opportunity to prove he’s changed. Only to find himself falling for his competition and the one woman his family will never accept.

As the competition intensifies the choice looms between the professional and the personal. Can they find a way beyond their past decisions and present aspirations to take a chance on the one thing they’re not looking for?

About the Author:

Kara Isaac writes contemporary romance in beautiful Wellington, New Zealand. She is the author of four novels including the RWA RITA award-winning Then There Was You (https://www.rwa.org/page/2018-winners), Close to You, a RITA Award Double Finalist, and Can't Help Falling, an RT Review Top Pick. When she's not chasing three small people, she spends her time writing horribly bad first drafts and wishing you could get Double Stuf Oreos in New Zealand. She loves to connect with readers on her website www.karaisaac.com, on Facebook at Kara Isaac - Author, Twitter @KaraIsaac and Instagram @kara.isaac.author

My Thoughts:

If I’m being honest, I haven’t read a single book by Kara Isaac that I haven’t immensely enjoyed. . . And I’ve read all of them.  So I was obviously super excited for this one!  And as a self-proclaimed fan, I was very disappointed in myself for not immediately recognizing the characters’ names and putting together that they were from “Can’t Help Falling” and “One Thing I Know.”  But my embarrassment aside, this may very well be my favorite book of hers, so far!

As I’ve said in more than one review, I absolutely adore Ms. Isaac’s writing style!  Especially when she’s writing an English character.  I can almost hear the accent as I’m reading (sigh).  I love how she draws me into her novels from the very first pages and I spend the rest of the day wondering where the story will lead next.  Her books always keep me up much too late at night, particularly considering that I have a newborn and should be sleeping when she sleeps.  But I found this tale far too hard to put down, so I was grabbing every extra moment I had to devour it!  As previously mentioned, these characters do tie into a couple of Ms. Isaac’s other books, though each of them are written to stand alone.  Which is great, if you don’t care to start with the prior books, but I personally adored those as well and would highly recommend them!

There were so many things I loved about this book!  I loved the dialogue: the quick wit, quips, and arguments.  I loved the relationship between Lacey, Rachel, and Anna.  And watching Victor seek healing and restoration from his past.  He so desires to be a better man than he was in the past.  I loved the redemptive theme throughout.  I wanted to slap Peter more than once for how he treated his brother (thankfully, Emilia took care of that for me).  I loved little Libby!  She was only there for a couple pages, but she stole my heart.  I loved how real the characters seem; they came alive within the pages and I felt as though I was saying “goodbye” to dear friends by the time I turned the final page.  And honestly, I so appreciated the fact that not every character is automatically a Christian by the end.  There’s no cliched sudden confession of belief.  It wouldn’t have suited the story or the characters, and I admire that Ms. Isaac chose to stay true to them.

My take: if you’ve never read one of Kara Isaac’s books, you’re missing so much!  Including but not limited to: sleep deprivation due to fictional characters.  Said characters taking you through a variety of emotions such as anger, sadness (sometimes with tears), and joy.  Great dialogue, including English and Australian accents.  Laughing out loud in public because you chose to bring your book along.  Adventures on multiple continents, including America, Europe, Australia, etc.  

Do you need any other reasons to pick up this book (and her other ones)?

Thanks for stopping by and reading my review!  As always, if you'd like to learn more about this book, links are below - and I will note that the Kindle price is currently only $4.99!  And it's free on Kindle Unlimited, if you use that service.  Personally, I can't wait for the paperbacks so I can add it to my "keeper" bookcase!  (yes, what is probably much to my husband's dismay, it's an entire bookcase now, not just a shelf or two.)

Have a ducky day! 😊

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Bookish Thoughts: Hadley Beckett's Next Dish

Description:

Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanagh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel's other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.

When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum, he's sent packing to get his life in order. When he returns, career in shambles, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley.

As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along, but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love. In the meantime, hide the knives.

About the Author:

Bethany Turner is the award-winning author of The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck and Wooing Cadie McCaffrey and the director of administration for Rock Springs Church in Southwest Colorado. A former bank executive and a three-time cancer survivor (all before she turned 35), Bethany knows that when God has plans for your life, it doesn't matter what anyone else has to say. Because of that, she's chosen to follow his call to write. She lives with her husband and their two sons in Colorado, where she writes for a new generation of readers who crave fiction that tackles the thorny issues of life with humor and insight.

My Thoughts:

This is the first book I’ve read from this new-to-me author and I have to say that I greatly enjoyed it!  I had no idea what to expect, but I knew it was going to be good when she had me laughing in the prologue.  From then on, I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next and how many pages would be between bouts of laughter.

I honestly wasn't sure what to think of this book when I started it. I loved watching the cooking channels as a teenager and I'd never read a book set around celebrity chefs. So I was curious, but also a little cautious. Though that caution was thrown to the wind within the first few pages. I loved Hadley, with her wry sense of humor, sarcasm, kindness, and awkwardness. She's sweet, but also sassy - even if only to herself. And I found myself surprised that I genuinely liked Max! I know, it's a rom-com, you're supposed to fall in love with the hero. But I wasn't too sure about him. That being said, he started losing a couple of the rough edges and I really enjoyed how the author wrote from his perspective. He's funny, with a dry wit and a bit of the curmudgeon thrown in. And I laughed so much at the dialogue between him and Hadley! 

My only slight disappointment is that we didn't get to see as much of Max's transformation as I would have liked. He was asking a lot of questions, but then it seemed as though he found the answers off page and they weren't really mentioned again. That said, I did really enjoy the ending! And I immediately went looking for Ms. Turner's other books, which I shall hopefully have in my hands, soon. 

*My thanks to Revell for my copy of this book! I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise, and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own. 

Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope everyone is doing well, especially with all of the craziness in the world! Seriously! But thankfully, we still have books, and video calls are becoming a big thing, which is better than nothing. I've just been hibernating at home, enjoying having time off work to spend with my Tiny Girl. 

As always, if you'd like to learn more about this book, links are below!

Have a lovely day!

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Bookish Thoughts: Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs

Description:
Parents are always looking out for the perfect bedtime book to create a sense of well-being before a night of rest. Mama Kisses, Papa Hugs explores a child's curiosity about how love is shown between parent and child, with the reassurance that Mama and Papa will always love their little one. And like Lisa Tawn Bergren's young protagonist asks his mother, this question is pressing on the minds of many children:

"Mama, how does God kiss us?"

Mama smiled. "He kisses us a hundred times a day; although if you don't pay attention, you might miss it."

"At night he kisses us with a shooting star. In the morning, he kisses us with sunlight, crawling across the fields and into our windows. On a hot summer afternoon, he kisses us with a gentle breeze. But most of all, he kisses us through our family. That's how God made us. That's why I give you Mama kisses."

About the Authors:

Lisa Tawn Bergren is a best-selling author of nearly forty books, including the beloved God Gave Us children's book series. Her work spans many genres, from adult fiction to devotionals. She and her husband, Tim, live in Colorado Springs with their family.

From early childhood, Aleksandar Zolotić used his vivid imagination to create amazing drawings, making everyday moments in his life look special. Years later, he studied at the Faculty of Applied Arts in Belgrade, and he's gone on to win numerous awards for his work. When not creating imaginative illustrations, he spends time drinking iced coffee and eating homemade muffins with his wife and reading picture books to his daughter, while preventing his baby son from eating them.

My thoughts:

This is my first time reviewing a children`s book, so please bear with me.  That being said, I was super excited to receive this book and my husband and I sat and read it to my pregnant belly the day it came.  I had no idea what to expect from a children’s book, but we loved this one!  The way it’s written, it encourages parents to take turns reading the mommy and daddy sections, making funny voices, or showing how a polar bear “kisses,” which was really fun.  I can easily imagine us cuddling up with our little one, when they’re older, and reading this to them together.  I also really enjoyed how the story lead into how God is our Father and seeing how He “hugs” and “kisses” us every day.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book and can’t wait to get to read it to our little one someday soon!

*My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book!  I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise, and have not been compensated for it in any way.  All opinions expressed are my own.    

Sorry for the short review - I'm still learning to do this on a tablet while our new baby naps.  

Thank you so much for stopping by!  If you're interested in learning more about the book, some links are below.

Have a lovely day!

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Bookish Thoughts: Collateral Damage

This post is going to be very simplifed.  The dinosaur of a laptop isn't wanting to work, so I'm trying to do everything from my tablet.  First world problems, right?

Description:
Honorably discharged from the Army after an explosion nearly killed her, former military psychiatrist Brooke Adams has set up shop to help others--but her days of helping military personnel are over. She's got her own battles to fight from her time overseas, and she's not equipped to take on more. Former Army Special Ops Sergeant First Class Asher James could handle anything that war sent his way--terrorists, bombs, bullets. The only thing that scares him now is sleep. As the shadows close in, the nightmares begin.

Finally convinced that he needs help, Asher makes an appointment with a counselor, and Brooke is pressed by her boss to take him on. When he arrives at her office she isn't there--but a dead body is. Brooke is devastated when she walks in, and Asher is a conveniently strong shoulder to cry on. But she can't take him on as a client after sharing such an intimate and unprofessional moment, can she? And he's not sure he can handle sharing his deepest fears with such a beautiful woman.

When it becomes clear that Brooke was the real target of the attack--and that her secrets go even deeper than his own--Asher vows to protect her no matter what.

About the Author:
Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of Protecting Tanner Hollow, as well as the Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master's degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

My Thoughts:

I'm not sure what to say about this book. I think anything I seek to write will just sound like a repeat of my reviews for Ms. Eason's previous books. Not that this book was just like her others - the premise and mystery were different - but like all of her other books, it was action packed and definitely kept me turning pages as quickly as I could read!

As always, she did an excellent job with the suspense and mystery! Though parts of it honestly made my heart hurt - the things humanity does to one another - I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next! Plus, I also desperately wanted to see justice for the victims. Even just rereading a bit of it, in preparation to write this, I was angry again. You know it's a great book when you're almost crying, or super angry with the villain, but still cheering on the good guys.

I also really enjoyed getting to know Brooke and Asher, along with Gavin, Sarah, and Caden. The military focus and camaraderie was interesting and a bit different from the author’s previous books. I wasn’t quite sure what to think of that change, at first, but overall I thought she did a great job with it! I’ve heard rumors that the next book will have Gavin and Sarah as the main characters, so I’m really excited for that! And I so appreciated how the author focused on the importance of every life. It wasn't "preachy," but definitely noticeable and a welcome reminder, especially in the midst of war and the case they are seeking to solve.

And I think that's about all I can say, without possibly spoiling something. So overall, I greatly enjoyed this story and would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys suspense and mystery!

*My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book! I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise, and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

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Bookish Thoughts: On Wings of Devotion

"You'll either be a hero or a villain, Phil.  Try to pick the right one, will you?"

Description:

Against Every Warning, She’s Drawn Ever Closer to the Man Known as “Black Heart”

All of England thinks Major Phillip Camden a monster–a man who deliberately caused the deaths of his squadron. But he would have preferred to die that day with his men rather than be recruited to the Admiralty’s codebreaking division. The threats he receives daily are no great surprise and, in his opinion, well deserved.

As nurse Arabelle Denler observes the so-dubbed “Black Heart,” she sees something far different: a hurting man desperate for mercy. And when their families and paths twist together unexpectedly, she realizes she has a role to play in his healing–and some of her own to do as well.

With Camden’s court-martial looming, an old acquaintance shows up, intent on using him in a plot that sends the codebreakers of Room 40 into a frenzy. With their fragile hopes for the future in the cross hairs, Arabelle and Camden must hold on to hope–and to each other–if they want to survive.


About the Author:
Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award nominated author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.





My Thoughts:
This is the second book in The Codebreakers series and I’ve been anxiously awaiting it! As soon as I learned Major Phillip “Black Heart” Camden was to have the starring role, I just couldn’t resist! I met him in the first book, The Number of Love, and was curious to see where the author would take this sourpuss of a character. And I can happily say that this book will definitely be going on my favorites shelf, as soon as I make space for it!

As always, I loved Ms. White’s writing! I’ve yet to read a book of hers that I didn’t enjoy, and this one is certainly not the exception. I’m not even sure where to start . . . She has such a beautiful way of bringing the characters and time period to life. I could almost hear the clipped English accents, feel the chill in the air, and the stress of war looming so close to home. I enjoyed the cameos from characters from some previous books and how she’s tying the various series together. Though this book is able to stand alone quite well, I immensely enjoyed the first book as well, and would highly recommend it.

"He does not ask everyone to give all they have.

But if He does, are we willing?  Truly willing? . . .

Whatever He asks of us, whether it be a fortune or a pittance

or our time or our devotion, we can be sure it will be painful.

Cutting out what stands between us and God always is.

But we can also trust that in the giving, we'll gain something far more precious."

Frankly, I wasn’t quite sure what to think of Arabelle Denler, at first. She seemed almost too kind to be true. But I soon learned her flaws and couldn’t help but love her character, too. She was someone I easily connected with and could see being a friend, were she real. And she was perfect for Phillip! I didn’t know how the story with them could possibly play out, but the author did an excellent job of making their relationship believable. I laughed out loud more than once at their banter, making my husband glance over and just shake his head, and I’m sure I was found smiling into my book on multiple occasions. I also enjoyed the banter amongst the crew of Room 40 and how the author wove the code breaking element into this story, as well. It wasn’t as front and center as it was in the first, but still played a role, staying with the theme of the series.

I will also say, it’s not often that someone can create a “villain” that I both hate what they’re doing and sympathize with their decisions. I’m not going to spoil anything, but I do want to note that I thought Ms. White did an excellent job of finding the balance with that character.

Overall, I greatly enjoyed this book! From the time period, to the suspense that kept me rushing to turn the next page, to the romance that made me smile, I would have read it in one sitting, given the opportunity.

*My thanks to the publisher for my copy of this book! I was not required to write a review, positive or otherwise, and have not been compensated for it in any way. All opinions expressed are my own.

As always, thanks for stopping by!  I'm sorry if this review seems choppier than usual - I loaned my laptop to my sister, so this was done half on an old dinosaur of a laptop (it's 11 years old!) and half on my tablet, when the old geezer decided to rebel and froze up on me.  So hopefully it makes sense!  As always, purchase links are below!
I'm going to go, before old lappy decides it's officially done with working.
Have a lovely day!

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My Most Anticipated Books of 2020!

Happy New Year!!  Is anyone else still in shock that it's 2020?  Seriously, this past year went by so fast!  I know, I know.  Everyone always says that.  And people keep telling me that feeling only gets worse as you get older.  But, still.  What happened to 2019??
That aside, there are some awesome books coming out this new year that I'm super excited for!  How many of them I'll actually get to read after March?  Eh, that's definitely questionable.  But I'm looking forward to at least cheering on "my" authors as their new books release, regardless of whether or not I'll actually have time to read them right then.  So, without further ado . . . .
(Oh, and click the titles to learn more)

1) Collateral Damage by Lynette Eason - Jan. 7th

I actually already have this book in my TBR pile - and I can't wait to get started on my next free day!

2) On Wings of Devotion by Roseanna M. White - Jan. 7th

I just got this one in the mail a couple days ago!  And let me say, it's even more beautiful in person!  It's going to be a challenge to decide between this one and Collateral Damage - I don't know which one to read first! 

3) Daughter of Rome by Tessa Afshar - Feb. 4th

I've read all of Tessa's books to date and have yet to find one that I didn't immensely enjoy - so needless to say, I'm looking forward to this one.  :)

4) Cry of the Raven by Morgan L. Busse - Feb. 4th

This is the final book in The Ravenwood Saga and I can't wait!  When I found out it releases in February, I told my husband I knew exactly what I wanted for my birthday.  I have to know how it ends!

5) The Solid Grounds Coffee Company by Carla Laureano - Feb. 4th

I read the first two books in this series last year (they'd been waiting on my Kindle for I don't know how long) and am super excited for this one!  Though I'm not a coffee person and I'm sure there will be a lot of the stuff poured and drank throughout. :)

6) Kings Falling by Ronie Kendig - March 31st

Again, Leif Metcalfe.  And Iskra Todorova.  And the Book of Wars.

I can't wait!!!

7) Storing Up Trouble by Jen Turano - May 5th

Beatrix's book!  I can't wait!  Even from the little bit I know of her from the previous books, I know this one will be excellent!   Plus, she just looks so mischevious on the cover. 

8) The Best We've Been by Beth K. Vogt - May 5th

Honestly, I wasn't sure what to think of this series, when I first started it.  I read the other two books while I was on vacation this past summer and I almost didn't finish the first one.  I started it, stopped, read something else, then tried it again.  By the time I finished it, though, I knew I'd have to finish the series.  There are just too many unanswered questions and I really want to see Johanna redeemed.  And if she isn't, I just might chuck the book at wall . . . .

9) Stay with Me by Becky Wade - May 5th

To be honest, I don't even remember what this book is about right now.  But it's by Becky Wade, so it automatically gets a place on the list.  Plus, this cover is just too pretty.

10) The Crushing Depths by Dani Pettrey - June 30th

Again with the trippy cover!  It's really cool, just a little weird, too.  And she basically set up the first book so that I couldn't not want to read this one, too . . . So many questions!

11) Vying for the Viscount by Kristi Ann Hunter - Aug. 4th

Looking back over the other books on the list, this one is a little bit like the odd one out.  But that's okay, too.  It's by Kristi Ann Hunter, so obviously, I want to read it.  Any dichotomy with the rest of the books is entirely irrelevant to me.   

So, there's my list.  It's definitely not complete, but it'll do, for now.  Maybe I need to start doing a bi-annual list.  One for the first half of the year, one for the second half . . . . It sounds like a nice idea, but if I'm being honest, it'll probably never happen. 

Anyway, I want to know - what books are you most looking forward to?  Are there any you think I missed?  Please share in the comments below!

And have a happy new year!