SPILLED MILK by Heather Day Gilbert, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

 "It was a person. And that person was most likely dead, because he was lying flat on his face, with a sword protruding from a bloody wound in his back."

Dead body number one. Unfortunately for the little town of Lewisburg, West Virginia the count would continue to climb; each and every one with loosely or tightly connected to Bo and Macy Hatfield's barista, Kylie Baer. But a frazzled employee isn't Macy's only dilemma; her brother has to make an extended trip out of town, her ex-husband, aka Jake-the-Snake, shows up oozing way too much charm, and Kylie's little sister Chelsea is bound to know more than she's saying.

No one needs to waste time crying over spilled milk, but the future just has to look a lot brighter, right? Enjoy this cozy "cozy" with its coffee-induced selection of personalities!

When you finish a book before you even realize that you have turned the last page, it must be something special! And it is!
*5 Stars. I purchased the book and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 

BackCover Blurb:
BOOK FOUR in the BARKS & BEANS CAFE cozy mystery series!!

Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java...and where murder sometimes pays a visit.

The fall flea market has arrived in Macy's small mountain town, and she's taking a day off work to check out the local wares. As she and her Great Dane, Coal, wander through the booths, Macy's more than a little taken aback to discover that her enigmatic tattooed barista, Kylie, is selling antique weapons at the event.

She's even more shocked when Coal sniffs out a dead body...and the man appears to have been struck down by one of Kylie's swords.

As rumors begin to circulate, the Barks & Beans Cafe also takes a hit. Customers are reluctant to order their mochas from a murderess. Macy stands by her employee, but even she believes there's a whole lot more to Kylie's history than the woman lets on. To make matters worse, Macy's brother Bo is out of the country, leaving the cafe's future in her hands.

And then her ex-husband Jake shows up, begging to make amends.

With the past rearing its ugly head, Macy has to ignore Jake's distractions, appease the angst of her nervous customers, and convince Kylie to trust her, all before an elusive killer strikes again.

Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown...with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes. 

Woodhaven Press, April 2021

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LOVE AND THE SILVER LINING by Tammy L. Gray, Reviewed by Kim

Love and the Silver Lining is book 2 in the State of Grace series by Tammy L. Gray. While this story can easily be read as a standalone, the background of Darcy and Cameron’s relationship, which is an integral part of this story, begins in book 1, Love and a Little White Lie.

I was really looking forward to reading this story. In book one, Bryson was portrayed as a moody dark character that I wasn’t sure I would like and I wasn’t sure how he would pair with Darcy. I’m happy to say that I really like this couple together. I liked how Bryson opened up to Darcy so we could know who he really is deep down, not the persona he shows everyone. I also liked how Bryson made Darcy see what was really holding her back. I can’t go into more details because of spoilers, but I feel it will make the next story very interesting.

I did feel like there needed to be a bit more levity in this story as a lot of it was tragic. It picked up at the end, but the overall feeling of the story was heavier than I usually like to read. That being said, I am looking forward to the next story, which I am hoping is Cameron’s. I really want to see how everything wraps up!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. The faith thread is light. 

BackCover Blurb:

This disaster may be just what she needed.

Darcy Malone's dreams of mission work are dashed on the eve of fulfilling them: The Guatemalan school she was going to teach at has closed, and she's already quit her job and given up her apartment. Stuck in her worst-case scenario, Darcy accepts an unexpected offer to move in with Bryson Katsaros's little sister, despite the years of distrust between her and Bryson, the lead singer in her best friend Cameron's band. But as she meets those close to Bryson, Darcy quickly discovers there is more to him than just his bad-boy persona.

Needing to find a purpose for all her sudden free time, Darcy jumps at the chance to care for and train a group of unruly dogs, with the aim of finding each a home before their bereaved owner returns them to animal control. But it's Darcy herself who will encounter a surprising rescue in the form of love, forgiveness, and learning to let go.

Bethany House Publishing, August 2021

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A CASTAWAY IN CORNWALL by Julie Klassen, Reviewed by Trixi Oberembt

“I feel like a castaway, set adrift on the tide by the long-ago deaths of my parents, and left wanting answers. Is there a plan in all this? Does God truly hold my fate in His hands, or has my life all been happenstance, the mysterious ebb and flow of chance? ~Laura pg. 8.”

I think we all have asked this at one time in our life or another; is there truly a plan God has for us, or is it all happenstance? Julie Klassen explores this in her newest novel where she takes our heroine, Laura Callaway, on a journey to discover the answer to that very question. She feels adrift after the deaths of her parents and never really a part of her uncle’s family, though he cares a great deal for her. Until one day she finds a barely alive stranger washed ashore after a shipwreck, thus changing the course of her life as she sets out to discover who he is.

Alexander Lucas is our hero; a mysterious, dark stranger who keeps hold his secrets. I don't blame Laura for being a bit wary of him! The more she begins to get to know and trust him, the more tangled this story got, all in a good way. I enjoyed peeling back the layers of who his character was to get a deeper understanding of his life. I fell in love with him the moment Laura brought him into her care and just had a feeling he was one of the good ones.

This story had a definite Poldark feel that I very much savored! There's not a character in here that I didn't like, with the exception of our villains, who truly made my skin crawl. There's plenty of mystery in A Castaway in Cornwall along with danger, secrets, and an immersive atmosphere that will take you on an adventure through the pages. Julie Klassen is already one of my top historical writers and I really liked the feel of her latest installment. It's a bit more suspenseful than her usual Regencies, but definitely a good change! Oh and you can't forget the romance, it sizzles and sparks so when our hero and heroine are finally able to get together...wowser....pure magic! The faith message is strong with many deeply rooted truths and reminders of God's promises in our lives. Watching Laura taking those truths in her heart and finding her place in the Lord was very encouraging to me. I recommend this book to inspirational historical fans, Julie Klassen fans and those who love all things Cornwall or Poldark!

“I used to wonder if there was a plan in all the loss I experienced. Now I know the answer. Yes. Once, I feared I would never belong anywhere again. But I no longer ask myself if I am flotsam or jetsam, cast off and unwanted. I finally understand that in God's hands, and now in Alexander's arms, I am truly home. ~Laura pg. 378”
*I received a complimentary digital copy through Netgalley and wasn't obligated to leave a favorable review. All opinions are mine. *

See Winnie's Review!

See Rebecca's Review!

BackCover Blurb:
Set adrift on the tides of fate by the deaths of her parents and left wanting answers, Laura Callaway now lives with her uncle and his disapproving wife in North Cornwall. There she feels like a castaway, always viewed as an outsider even as she yearns to belong.

While wreckers search for valuables along the windswept Cornwall coast--known for its many shipwrecks but few survivors--Laura searches for clues to the lives lost so she can write letters to next of kin and return keepsakes to rightful owners. When a man is washed ashore after a wreck, Laura acts quickly to protect him from a local smuggler determined to destroy him.

As Laura and a neighbor care for the survivor, they discover he has curious wounds and, although he speaks in careful, educated English, his accent seems odd. Other clues wash ashore, and Laura soon realizes he is not who he seems to be. Despite the evidence against him, the mysterious man might provide her only chance to discover the truth about her parents' fate. With danger pursuing them from every side, and an unexpected attraction growing between them, will Laura ever find the answers she seeks?

 

Bethany House Publishers, December 2020

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AFTERMATH by Terri Blackstock, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

"This was the Twilight Zone. He couldn't have been more confused if he'd been on a three-day bender, but he hadn't had a drink since he got out of the army."

Arrested, due to an anonymous tip regarding the explosive materials found in his trunk, Dustin Webb places a call to the one person who had always believed in him. Jamie Powell.

Surprised would be an understatement. Criminal attorney Jamie Powell couldn't imagine why her best friend growing up, whom she had not spoken to in years, would be calling her from the county jail. After listening to Dustin's predicament, she couldn't agree with him more, he needed legal representation quickly. Jamie was determined to learn why the authorities had arrested Dustin as a suspect in an explosives heist, in addition to an horrific downtown bombing that killed dozens of people, including an up and coming politician. He had clearly been set up.

Put on your seat belt. This amazing romantic suspense takes dips and curves at a very high speed, sending your heart into overdrive and muddling your brain to the point that you may feel as sleep deprived as the characters. Desperate people do desperate things, leaving Dustin and Jamie tangled in the "after math".

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. . . . . For it is he who delivers you from the snare of the trapper and from the deadly pestilence . .. " Psalm 91

*I purchased a copy and was under no obligation to provide a positive review.

 

BackCover Blurb:

This gripping new thriller will leave you on the edge of your seat.

A devastating explosion.

 

Three best friends attend a concert. Only one makes it out alive.

A trunk full of evidence.

 

When police stop Dustin Webb with a warrant to search his trunk, he knows there’s been a mistake. He’s former military and owns a security firm. But he’s horrified when the officers find explosives, and he can’t fathom how they got there.

 

An attorney who will risk it all for an old friend.

Criminal attorney Jamie Powell was Dustin’s best friend growing up. They haven’t spoken since he left for basic training, but she’s the first person he thinks of when he’s arrested. Jamie knows she’s putting her career on the line by defending an accused terrorist, but she’d never abandon him. Someone is framing Dustin to take the fall for shocking acts of violence . . . but why?

 

Thomas Nelson Publishing, May 2021

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

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