FATAL PATTERN by Kate Angelo, Reviewed by Rebecca and Paula #ReleaseDay

The King Legacy #2

 A Christian Romantic Suspense Thriller with a Detective, 

Forensic Psychologist, and Cold Case Investigation

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Their deaths were part of a design. Mathematical precision. Divine geometry, you could say."

Barely dodging serious injury after an encounter at knifepoint, presumably by the man who had been stalking her, behavioral analyst Dr. Tori Crew barely has the chance to take a deep breath. Time is of the essence when Detective Blade St. John, both friend and on this occasion also her rescuer, immediately utilizes her expertise at the scene of a homicide, carried out by another knife wielding criminal. As the two carefully observe the horrific scene, a pattern emerges among the chaos, almost like . . . art?

As if Tori's stalker, and their unusual homicide case wasn't enough to assemble a full plate, Tori and Blade are also methodically working off the books to solve a case gone off the rails many years earlier; the murders of Tori's parents when she was only four years old.

Even with its complex layers and devious twists and turns, this plot never dead ends. Much like the geometric designs, or fractals as defined in the story, the connections remain dangerously tight; destined to form "fatal patterns". A fascinating book with a brilliant blueprint and perfectly drawn characters!

*I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book from the author and publisher. I also purchased a copy. The opinions stated above are entirely my own.  4.5 stars

PAULA'S REVIEW:

This story starts out with a startling scene and progresses into an unusually puzzling case, because it connects to the unsolved murder of Behavior Analyst Tori Crew’s parents. Teamed with detective Blake St. James, Tori uses her skills to connect several cases.
 

The Fatal Pattern emerges as fractal art. I have been fascinated by fractals for many years. They seem to be the foundation of God’s creation. Ms. Angelo uses them in a unique way to turn a mysterious story on its head. 

 

Tori and Blake have encountered something much bigger than they thought possible. They discover things about themselves that are unexpected, drawing them closer together and testing their faith and their resolve. But that faith is so much a part of them that they seek God at every turn. And hope and trust are at the forefront.
 

There are tie-ins to the first book in the series and hints of things to come in the next book. This series focuses on the members of a group of kids, now grown, who were mentored by Stryker King.
 

Fast-paced and compelling, this one grabbed me from the start.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell on behalf of the author and via NetGalley. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5stars and a solid faith thread

 

BackCover Blurb:

A COVERT INVESTIGATION
A stalker attacks behavioral analyst Dr. Tori Crew at knifepoint, shattering the fierce independence she's built since her parents' unsolved murder. Forced into an off-the-books criminal investigation, Tori must push her expertise--and her fiercely guarded heart--to the breaking point as a killer's pattern emerges.

A LOOMING THREAT
Homicide detective Blade St. James has been Tori's friend and protector since childhood. Haunted by his own past of parental abandonment, Blade is determined to build a stable life and find the peace that always seems just out of reach. But when Tori's life is threatened, his guardian reflexes collide with everything he's been trying to build.

A HIDDEN MENACE
As the conspiracy rooted in Tori's past pulls them deeper, the boundaries of their friendship blur, and the truth neither can deny becomes impossible to ignore. Can they unmask the sophisticated serial killer before they become the final, fatal piece in the pattern?

In this gripping romantic suspense thriller, Kate Angelo delivers pulse-pounding psychological suspense and forensic investigations threaded with slow-burn romance and a heart-stopping cold case. Perfect for fans of Criminal Minds, Lynette Eason, Nancy Mehl, Colleen Coble, and Irene Hannon. 

Revell Publishing, September, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook:

Buy FATAL PATTERN at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House  

 

THE GENTLEWOMAN APPRENTICE by Emily Opal, Reviewed and Hosted by Paula for #JustRead

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The Gentlewoman Apprentice by Emily Opal, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The Gentlewoman Apprentice 
Series: The Gentlewoman Series #5 
Author: Emily Opal 
Publisher: Independently Published 
Release Date: September 3, 2026 
Genre: Historical Romance

Every seam hides a secret. Every valentine reveals the truth.  

When Margaret Cooper departs the slums of East London for an apprenticeship in a quiet market town, she topples the established order—and no one feels it more than Peter Sloan, the handsome tailor forced to teach her his trade. 

Margaret is steeled to prove her worth in a man’s world and has no leisure for courtship. But when anonymous Valentines begin to arrive, each with gifts and words that pierce her heart, she feels truly known for the first time. If only she could unmask the hand that distracts her from her aspirations. 

Burdened by a failing business and an ill father, Peter has no patience for a female apprentice who upends his orderly life. Yet through a reckless wager, he finds himself sending Valentines to none other than Miss Cooper. What begins as halfhearted duty blossoms into admiration—and dangerous longing.  

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

More in This Series

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 PAULA'S REVIEW:

Enchanting tale of dressmaking and tailoring in 1800s England.

I have been sewing since I was 9 years old so this book was fascinating to me as I learned about how dressmakers and tailors worked and how dyers treated cloth and that the guilds dictated much of what apprentices, tailors and dyers could create. 

Lush in its descriptions, this is a tale of Meg who so wants to open a shop of her own. But the customs of the era and specifically the town prevent her from learning the trade. She is reluctantly appointed to Peter, a tailor, who is slow to let her learn anything, assigning her menial tasks. Soon they begin to look beyond the surface and to care for one another. But secrets remain. An interesting custom was the Valentine Festival. Peter is tricked into being an anonymous valentine to Meg. The author used this device to give Peter a chance to show his growing feelings for Meg, as well as how he examined his own motives, therefore furthering the romance. 

I have thoroughly enjoyed these Gentlewoman books for their look into another time. I appreciate the history they contain and the flowing words of the author.
I consider this a clean read and look forward to more from a woman’s perspective.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book through Just Read Tours. I was not required to post a favorable review. All,opinions are mine alone.*
5+ stars and a clean read

About the Author

Emily Opal spent her childhood reading, having tea parties, and imagining she existed in another century. While pleased to live in a time when chamber pots are obsolete, she loves researching a bygone world full of hardships both foreign and relatable. Fortunate to find a spouse equally afflicted with wanderlust, Emily and her husband travel whenever and wherever they can. They live with their children and Labradoodle in Utah, where she enjoys mountain views and hiking but pretends to love skiing.

Connect with Emily by visiting emilyopal.com to follow her on social media and subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will each receive a book box with 18th century bits and bobs and a $20 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 7, 2026 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 14, 2026. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only for gift card. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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

TWILIGHT TACTICS by Lynette Eason, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

  
SOLDIERS IN SHADOW SERIES

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"Now wasn't the time to be mooning over Collin Sullivan - Sully. Not that there was ever a good time for that."

The man did make it a little hard to focus, but focus she would. A girl's life hung in the balance; the young teen had been placed under federal protection until she could testify in a high profile mob trial, since Ollie had been an eye-witness to a cold blooded murder. Elena Thompson would gladly volunteer her wilderness skills to assist F. B. I. Agent Collin Sullivan and his partner as they worked to keep Ollie safe on the grounds of Broken Chains Ranch.

Predictably, it didn't take long for trouble to find them, signs of a security breach happened almost immediately after Ollie's arrival, but Elena's past as a member of the local prepper community made her question who was the target, her or Ollie . . . or even worse, was it both? Having escaped from the cult group fourteen years prior, Elena had reason to believe her father and sister might still be involved, especially having recently glimpsed someone looking just like her sister the last time she was in town.

Realizing early on that this story was being driven by a fairly complex and multi-pronged plot, my focus turned to the characters themselves. They bonded with each other and I bonded with them, and even though the romantic elements were faint, they seemed genuine. And only God. "It's grace. All of it."
*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.3.5 stars

SEE PAULA'S REVIEW 

BackCover Blurb:
He came to protect a witness. She came to teach survival skills. Now they're targets with an enemy who won't let either of them walk away.

FBI agent Sully Sullivan arrives at Broken Chains Ranch with Ollie Callahan--a foster teen and sole witness to a mob hit. The ranch, started by Sully's cousin to provide a trauma recovery facility for veterans, should be a place he can keep Ollie safe until the trial. But what was meant as a peaceful haven becomes a battleground when armed attackers surround the property.

Survival expert Elena Thompson teaches wilderness skills at the ranch and coaches Ollie in self-defense. As the series of attacks on the ranch escalates into a full siege, the question becomes who the attackers are after: Ollie, the young witness? Or Elena, with her mysterious past? With communications down and help out of reach, Sully and Elena fight to keep everyone alive as secrets and danger close in.

A gripping romantic suspense thriller from New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lynette Eason, full of action and danger and set on a remote ranch. Forced proximity, surprising twists, and a race against tech-savvy enemies make this a pulse-pounding read for fans of Irene Hannon, Dani Pettrey, and Elizabeth Goddard.

Revell Publishing, August, 2026

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, or audiobook:

Buy TWILIGHT TACTICS at Amazon, Christianbook, or Baker Book House

THE BALLERINA'S BARGAIN by Lorri Dudley, Reviewed by Paula #ReleaseDay

Danforth Theater Series #1

PAULA'S REVIEW:
Charming historical tale by a new-to-me author. I was transported into the world of theater and ballet in 1815 England. London was a place that loved ballet and the prominent went to see and be seen by others and to flaunt their wealth.   

This story is about Lord Grant Quincy who has inherited the Danforth Theater which is in trouble financially. He seeks to sell it in order to care for his siblings and preserve their estate. 

Ballerina Emmeline only wants to protect her fellow ballerinas from being misused by wealthy, unsavory men. She makes a bargain with Grant that if he does not sell the Danforth, she will see that it makes money. 

The author’s winsome writing style immersed me into a bygone era and illustrated the intricacies of the ballet and a culture that was intriguing. The characters portrayed a solid faith in God and His leading while they boldly stood up for others even though they realized the struggles that it would entail. 

Completely captivating with a sweet romance and some secrets and twists to keep it interesting.
*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by WildHeart books on behalf of the author. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are mine alone.*5 stars and a solid faith thread 

BackCover Blurb:
A burdened earl. A determined ballerina. Saving the theatre was part of their bargain. Losing their hearts wasn't.

London, 1815

Emmeline Laurent has survived by grace and grit. After her parents' execution in France, she has learned to live unseen as a humble ballerina instructing young pupils in a small London theatre. When whispers spread that the Danforth Theatre may be sold to an unscrupulous buyer, Emmeline fears not only for her livelihood but for the safety of her impressionable students. With no time and no options, she does the only thing she knows to do: leap into a moving carriage and bargain with the new lord who holds their fate.

Grant Atherton, the Earl of Quincy, has inherited the crushing weight of duty along with a failing theatre, an arranged engagement, two younger sisters to usher into society, and a mountain of his father's secrets. Selling the Danforth is the only way to save his family from ruin. The last thing he needs is a beautiful, infuriatingly determined ballerina turning his careful plans upside down.

But when Emmeline's hidden past begins surfacing and the danger circling the theatre proves far deadlier than either of them realized, Grant must choose between the life he planned and the one God may have been preparing all along.

For fans of Roseanna M. White and Julie Klassen — a sweeping Regency romance about the grace found in surrender, the courage it takes to trust, and the God who makes a way when every door seems closed.

WildHeart Books, September, 2026

Buy THE BALLERINA'S BARGAIN at Amazon in digital ebook, paperback, or audiobook