ON THE CLIFFS OF FOXGLOVE MANOR by Jaime Jo Wright, Reviewed by Paula and Rebecca #ReleaseDay

PAULA'S REVIEW:
I am so glad I discovered books by Jaime Jo Wright. I have read all of them. She is an automatic read for me.

“How did one not fear evil? It was so real, so active, that not fearing it seemed foolish.”

Ms. Wright evokes foreboding from the first page. I frequently found myself stopping and saying * Oh No!* out loud. Her writing style is*creepy good*. She spins a spooky, intricate, dual-time novel that never disappoints. This one deals with a remote, cliffside mansion on the shores of Lake Superior in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The tentacles of evil and greed reach down through time from 1885 to the present day. A tale of missing Civil War gold, a ghost girl who guards it, and unexplained kidnappings years later will keep you turning pages.

The two storylines came together in a satisfying way and added another layer of mystery to the Civil War tales and the intriguing connection to the Upper Peninsula.

Besides the main characters in each time period, I liked the portrayal of Kailey’s autistic brother Jude. He played an important part in the story and the insight into this often misunderstood condition was handled with compassion.

The author conveys a realistic picture of superstition and the steadying faith that is needed to combat it. “The world is broken. God can fix it. So stick to Him and stop trying to do it yourself.”
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*I give this 5+ stars and a solid faith thread

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"The cliff beckoned to her. Its flat outcropping like a ledge where one might determine which evil was worse. To live or to die? Perhaps they were of equal evil, only one was guaranteed to plague, where the other was deceptively final. There was a peace in finality . . . . . . . . oh, that she was worth fighting for . . . . . . "

Driven to despair after realizing that her father had only released her from one prison into the cells of another, Alexandria Fontaine had been given an ultimatum before arriving at the remote cliffside manor along the northern shores of Lake Superior; "find it". . . . "it" referring to a treasure of an unknown nature, that once secured meant a precarious freedom from her family's cruel clutches. Assuming her father's nefarious pirating habits along the lake had resulted in a windfall profit, that had in turn had been stolen by his one of his now deceased business partners, Adria determined to dig deeper into the secrets of Foxglove Manor, despite being repeatedly warned to leave the past in the past. Turns out, it was a warning worth heeding.

"And since when were stories of ghosts, gold, and modern-day kidnappings surrounding an old manor ever anything but a classic story written on the musty pages of forgotten books?"

Many years after Adria Fontaine's stay at Foxglove Manor, Kailey Gibson returns to the place where her family began its eventual descent towards utter destruction. A childhood vacation there had morphed into such a severe nightmare that Kailey's subconscious had blocked it from memory, prompting her autistic brother Jude to incessantly write down disjointed numbers and letters that could, to the trained eye, be deemed as some sort of code. Employed as an aide in the now senior convalescent home, Kailey hopes to find some answers. Instead, she uncovers many more questions.

Two women living centuries apart. One place in common. Foxglove Manor.

With its dark, gothic-like undertones, one would think that delving deep into the troubled psyches of the two young women in this story would make the narrative lose its luster; after all, who wants to be surrounded by death and danger at every turn. Surprisingly, the opposite was true. . . . . because, speaking of opposites . . . . the opposite of death is life . . . . and despair's opposite turns out to be hope. Likewise, hate is dwarfed by love and lies disappear within the truth. And the rock of salvation is never more precious than on the edge of a cliff.
*I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. I also purchased a copy. 4.5 stars

BackCover Blurb:

 1885. 
Adria Fontaine has been sent to recover goods her father pirated on the Great Lakes during the war. But when she arrives at Foxglove Manor--a stone house on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior--Adria senses wickedness hovering over the property. The mistress of Foxglove is an eccentric and seemingly cruel old woman who has filled her house with dangerous secrets, ones that may cost Adria her life. 

Present day. 
Kailey Gibson is a new nurse's aide at a senior home in a renovated old stone manor. Kidnapped as a child, she has nothing but locked-up memories of secrets and death, overshadowed by the chilling promise from her abductors that they would return. When the residents of Foxglove start sharing stories of whispers in the night, hidden treasure, and a love willing to kill, it becomes clear this home is far from a haven. She'll have to risk it all to banish the past's demons, including her own.

 

Bethany House Publishing, June 1, 2021
Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook:
Buy On The Cliffs of Foxglove Manor at Amazon
Buy On The Cliffs of Foxglove Manor at Christianbook.com
Buy On The Cliffs of Foxglove Manor at Baker Book House

A LADY IN ATTENDANCE by Rachel Fordham, Reviewed by Paula, Winnie, and Rebecca! #ReleaseDay

June 1 Release Day!

PAULA'S REVIEW:
“Forgive yourself. Take the forgiveness that is yours.”

Hazel is looking to God to repair the years that injustice has taken away. Gilbert is kind enough to give her a job attending him in his dental practice, a new concept.

This is a story of hope and making the best of a bad situation with God’s help. “Her father had called Hazel stubborn as a child, and that trait had stuck. She determined now was the time to make that weakness her strength.”

Ms. Fordham conveys the misgivings of Hazel, the friendship bond with Ida and a growing fondness with Gil. Add in a search for unscrupulous bad guys and this story is brimming with adventure. There are elements of faithful steadfastness, reconciliation and setting things right. The romance is sweet and contains two match ups!

A great historical book.

*A complimentary copy of this book was provided by Revell through Interviews and Reviews. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*I give this 4 stars and a Strong faith thread.

WINNIE'S REVIEW:
Set in New York in the late 1890s, Rachel Fordham’s new book, A Lady in Attendance is a lovely story of redemption, forgiveness, and overcoming life’s obstacles. After spending time in a reformatory for a crime she didn’t commit, Hazel has almost given up finding a way to support herself when she is offered a job as a lady in attendance to a kind, quiet dentist named Gilbert. Determined to prove herself and make her own way in the world, she soon makes herself indispensable with her rapport with the dental patients. I enjoyed the amusing banter between Hazel and Gilbert, and the way Hazel draws him out. It was fun to see a more playful side to Gilbert and to see their relationship progress and grow.

I liked the way Hazel could look back and see that her former behavior contributed to the situation she found herself in, and she was could change and become a better person. Some of the story was rather predictable, although there were some twists and turns toward the end that added some suspense and intrigue. I also enjoyed the side story about Hazel’s friend Ina, and the insight into dental practices during this time period. This is a sweet, clean, and charming historical romance that is an engaging read. I’m looking forward to more stories from this author.
*I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy from Revell through LibraryThing. All opinions are my own. 4.5 stars 

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"There was a time when Hazel felt irreplaceable and important. But now she was merely a rent payment. A wayward soul with no real place, and the reminder was humbling."

Sometimes life had a way of dismantling one's sense of importance; thus Hazel McDowell had been demoted into a life of humility through no fault, or even every fault, of her own. Five years of reformatory had left her nearly penniless and unable to return home dragging the heavy burden of a tainted reputation. Thrilled to secure a position as a "lady in attendance" to Doctor Gilbert Watts, a local dental physician in a small New York town, Hazel never imagined that this particular employment might provide the opportunity to re-discover herself, begin to atone for her mistakes, and possibly discover love in the process.

"Women were a mystery, that was for certain. And Hazel was no exception. "

Gilbert Watts was content with his life as a dentist, following in his beloved father's footsteps, serving the citizens of Amherst. Now second guessing his decision to hire a lady in attendance, he reluctantly supposed that he could at least allow Hazel McDowell an opportunity to prove her worth. The fact that she didn't bat her eyes at him all the time (like some of the applicants) bode well, and she had readily accepted his terms of firm profession boundaries without question. But before long, it turned out to be Gilbert that actually looked forward to Hazel's lively presence in his office, admiring how she managed difficult tasks with efficiency and appreciating her ability to calm difficult patients with ease. But she's hiding something, he's sure of it. He just had no idea how big.

What a lovely story! With precision plot balance, the author penned a picture of life after . . . navigating the results of grave errors which most would agree could potentially breed anger, resentment, and revenge but had produced humility, kindness, and compassion instead. The blend of character traits in both hero and heroine served them well, painting a picture of grace . . . lived without and within, some very difficult circumstances. And of course the combination of romance and intrigue added to the overall ambiance . . . repeat after me, "a red ear of corn".
*I received a copy of this book from the Baker Publishing Group through Interviews and Reviews.  3.5 Stars

BackCover Blurb: 

 Five years in a New York state reformatory have left a blemish on Hazel's real name. So when she takes a job as Doctor Gilbert Watts's lady in attendance in 1898, she does so under an alias. In the presence of her quiet and pious employer, Hazel finds more than an income. She finds a friend and a hope that if she can set her tarnished past in order, she might have a future after all.

As Gilbert becomes accustomed to the pleasant chatter 

of his new dental assistant, he can't help but sense something secretive about her. Perhaps there is more to this woman than meets the eye. Can the questions that loom between them ever be answered? Or will the deeds of days gone by forever rob the future of its possibilities?

Rachel Fordham pens a tender tale of a soft-spoken man, a hardened woman, and the friends that stand by them as they work toward a common purpose--to expunge the record of someone society deemed beyond saving--and perhaps find love along the way.

 

Revell Publishing, June 1, 2021

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook:

Buy A Lady in Attendance at Amazon

Buy A Lady in Attendance at Christianbook.com

Buy A Lady in Attendance at Baker Book House

 

COME BACK TO ME by Jody Hedlund, Reviewed by Paula Shreckhise #ReleaseDay

Release Day June 1, 2021 Waters of  Time Book #1

“Do not hold yourself accountable for something only God can control.”

What an intriguing story. I have loved time travel for a very long time. I guess it is the possibility of doing the impossible. And it is the perfect escape.

Ms Hedlund wrapped me in a fantasy in 1381. Marian Ceighton, after a message from her father, finds herself back in historic Canterbury in the midst of inconvenience, hardship, a war and an unusual marriage of convenience. William Durham is the perfectly flawed and swoony hero who comes to her rescue. A widower, he is forced to wed Marian but resolves to be the best husband under trying circumstances with God’s help.

Ms. Hedlund has woven a tale that seems plausible and adventurous. The research was extremely well done and had me looking up ampullae and Canterbury Cathedral, wishing I could visit. The Cathedral is the oldest Church in England still in use.

In this story, Canterbury is a magical place with a legend of healing holy water and a beautiful stained glass story that is preserved today.

Well written, romantic and interesting I am glad there is more to the story. I look forward to reading about Marian’s sister, Ellen, and friend, Harrison, and of course the ability to travel back to 1811 once again.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from RevellReads and Library Thing, on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.* 5 stars and a solid faith thread. 

BackCover Blurb:
The ultimate cure that could heal any disease? Crazy.

That's exactly what research scientist Marian Creighton has always believed about her father's quest, even if it does stem from a desire to save her sister Ellen from the genetic disease that stole their mother from them. But when her father falls into a coma after drinking a vial of holy water believed to contain traces of residue from the Tree of Life, Marian must question all of her assumptions. He's left behind tantalizing clues that suggest he's crossed back in time. Insane. Until Marian tests his theories and finds herself in the Middle Ages during a dangerous peasant uprising.

William Durham, a valiant knight comes to Marian's rescue and offers her protection . . . as his wife. The longer Marian stays in the past, the more she cares about William. Can she ever find her father and make it back to the present to heal her sister? And when the time comes to leave, will she want to?

Bestselling author Jody Hedlund is your guide down the twisting waters of time to a volatile era of superstition, revolts, and chivalry in this suspenseful story.

 

Revell Publishing, June 1, 2021

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

Buy Come Back to Me at Amazon

Buy Come Back to Me at Christianbook.com

Buy Come Back to Me at Baker Book House

 

 

POWER PLAY by Rachel Dylan, Reviewed by Nicole Cook and Rebecca Maney #ReleaseDay

NICOLE'S REVIEW:
“Love could make you do crazy things. Even become a traitor to your country.”

Power Play, the third installment in author Rachel Dylan’s Capital Intrigue series, is a captivating tale of deception, friendship, and romance. Rachel Dylan is one of my favorite romantic suspense authors because of her wonderful characters who feel like old friends, her intense action-filled storylines, and the perfect balance of romance and suspense in her novels. She continues to incorporate well-written diverse characters into her storylines, such as Power Play’s Latino hero Jacob Cruz, who the readers will easily fall in love with.

In Power Play, State Department Attorney Vivian Steele is suddenly thrust into a world of danger and subterfuge after two ambassadors appear to have been targeted at a diplomatic dinner she is attending. Being partnered with Supervisory Special Agent Jacob Cruz on a task force to investigate places her life on the line in a fascinating and thrilling conclusion to the Capital Intrigue series.

The romance in this novel develops realistically at a slower pace as Jacob dislikes Vivian from the beginning, mainly due to her job as an attorney. However, once they realize their feelings for each other, get ready for sparks to fly between the two!

Rachel Dylan intricately weaves beautiful messages of faith into the storyline. This novel can be read as a standalone, but fans of the Capital Intrigue series will enjoy cameo appearances from characters featured in books one and two. There are also new supporting characters introduced in this book as part of the special joint task force, but it is done in such a way that there is no confusion over these additional characters.

Power Play is highly recommended for readers of romantic suspense, especially those who enjoy books by authors such as Lynn H. Blackburn, Irene Hannon, Dani Pettrey, and Lynette Eason. Power Play will definitely be one of my top reads of 2021.
*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Bethany House and was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

ADDITIONAL QUOTES:
“For the first time in a long time, she had hope that love wasn’t just something out of fairy tales, but something she could have with Jacob.”

“That’s where our faith has to come in. It’s one of the only things that has gotten me through the dark times – knowing that our God is greater than all of these dark things we’re dealing with. It’s a source of comfort and strength for me.”

REBECCA'S REVIEW:
"There is no halfway here. Halfway gets you killed."

How comforting.

State Department attorney Vivian Steele has some decisions to make. Through no fault of her own, she stumbled into the middle of an investigation that quickly accelerates, especially after she is brutally attacked. Determined to help authorities discover why two ambassadors collapsed at a diplomatic dinner, and how that incident might coincide with her own trauma, she is paired with Diplomatic Security agent, Jacob Cruz, a former Navy SEAL . . . who just happens to dislike attorneys. . . but who is also highly protective, which proves very helpful. Coincidentally, Vivian has another knight in shining armor, a man who just happens to save her life twice.

When government agents decide that Vivian has the ideal opportunity to go undercover, she, Jacob and her best friend Layla share some very difficult conversations, of the life and death variety. Despite their best intentions, Vivian and Jacob have acknowledged that a spark of attraction is growing between them, which makes what Vivian decides to do all the more difficult.

Readers will love what they already know, and anticipate discovering what they don't know, while enjoying a strategic foray into the depths of this well plotted thriller. Join the "power play" . . . for the stakes couldn't be higher. . . "That's where our faith has to come in . . . knowing that our God is greater than all these dark things . . . "
*I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher. The opinions stated above are entirely my own. 3.5 stars

ABOUT THE BOOK
Trapped in a dangerous game, can she counter the enemy's deadly power play?

When Vivian Steele, an attorney at the State Department, witnesses two ambassadors collapse as if poisoned at a diplomatic dinner in Washington, DC, she is recruited to be a member of a joint FBI task force assigned to investigate. But she soon finds her by-the-book ways clashing with a special agent in the Diplomatic Security Service, Jacob Cruz. A former Navy SEAL and in charge of the event's security, Jacob takes the attack personally and is driven to act quickly, unhampered by rules and regulations.

As Viv starts to work her diplomatic sources, her past as a State Department lawyer comes back to haunt her, and secrets held tightly by the government thrust her into a web of danger. Afraid, she turns to the one man bent on protecting others. But can she accept Jacob's reckless ways as exactly what she needs to stay alive and to discover the truth behind the attacks? 

Bethany House Publishing, June 2021

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover and audiobook:

Buy Power Play at Amazon

Buy Power Play at Christianbook.com

Buy Power Play at Baker Book House

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rachel Dylan (www.racheldylan.com) is an award-winning and bestselling author of legal thrillers and romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for over a decade, including being a litigator at one of the nation's top law firms. Her Atlanta Justice series has won the Holt Medallion, the Maggie Award, and the FHL Reader's Choice Award. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and five furkids--two dogs and three cats.