THE GIRL FROM THE PAPERS by Jennifer L. Wright, Reviewed by Paula #ReleaseDay

Bea has had a hard life growing up with poverty and a self righteous, abusive step-father. Things only get worse when she, her sister and mother flee to Dallas, Texas. She puts her hope in her new beau, Jack, who only leads her down a worse path.

Ms.Wright conveys the heartache that Bea goes through in a way that makes you see criminals from a different perspective. And she shows the many times Bea was confronted by Christianity, with varying results. This is a hard story to read; it gets you inside the motivations and sinful actions of Bea and Jack. Yet you can see how God used Allie to witness to Bea and showered her with kindness. The author shows how low a person could get before they reach bottom, take responsibility for their actions and let God be their Savior instead of misplacing their adoration while seeking fame and fortune from worldly things

This book was extremely well written with characters that come alive on the page. It makes you think about how you might influence someone for Christ by being their neighbor and showing compassion.

Ms. Wright always writes deeply insightful and thought provoking stories.

*I won a copy of this book from Library Thing. I was not required to post a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*5 stars and a strong faith thread.

 

BackCover Blurb:
Inspired by one of America’s most notorious couples, Bonnie and Clyde, Jennifer L. Wright delivers a riveting tale set during the public enemy era of the Great Depression.

Beatrice Carraway has dreams. Although she’s aged out of the childhood pageant circuit, she’s intent on carrying her talents all the way to the big screen—if only she can escape the poverty of West Dallas first. But as the Great Depression drags the working class further and further under, Beatrice struggles just to keep herself, her mother, and her younger sister afloat. After a string of failed auditions, she feels defeated.

And then in walks Jack Turner. Though Beatrice is determined to pull herself up by her bootstraps, Jack has decided on a different path out of the gutters. It isn’t long before Beatrice is swept into an exciting and glamorous life of crime beside the man she loves. Keeping one step ahead of the law, she sees her dreams of fame come true when her name and picture are plastered in newspapers across the country. Yet as their infamy grows, the distance between them widens. While Jack begins seeking bigger payouts and publicity, Beatrice starts to long for a safe, quiet life and something deeper to fill the emptiness in her soul. But when the danger of Jack’s schemes ratchets up, Beatrice fears her dreams—and her future—will end up going down in a hail of bullets. 

 

Tyndale House, August, 2023

Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook

Buy THE GIRL FROM THE PAPERS at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House

 

THE OFFER by D. L. Wood, Reviewed by Kim Ann #ReleaseDay

Oh. My. Word!!!! This story is so good and so suspenseful! I was literally on the edge of my seat for the entire second half of the story. My jaw dropped so many times because there are so many twists and turns that I never saw coming! My head was literally spinning!

I loved the build up to the climactic portion of this story. I felt like we really got to know Addie and the location and layout of the island. Once the action and suspense start, it doesn’t let up until the very end of the book. There was a part in the story that is basically the sum of all my worst fears. I literally had goosebumps! I would warn you not to start this at night and to also clear out a good block of reading time because you won’t want to stop reading once you start! I really can’t say anything more about the plot or the characters because I feel like it would all verge into spoiler territory! Just be ready!

This is one of the best suspense books I’ve read in a long long time! D. L. Wood is an expert at keeping you guessing and just when you think you’ve figured it all out, you haven’t!
*I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own. The faith thread is light. 5 stars!

BackCover Blurb:

Some decisions are deadly.
Addie Nichols, a young, ambitious chef, is determined to make her new Manhattan restaurant a culinary sensation. Pursuing her dream has cost her everything, including financial stability. Though the restaurant is gaining ground, Addie can’t even afford to pay her rent.

One night a wealthy socialite makes Addie an unbelievable offer: an exorbitant sum for personally catering a weekend celebration for her husband on their secluded private island, nestled in the idyllic Thousand Islands. Ignoring inner echoes of “don’t talk to strangers,” Addie accepts. She desperately needs cash, and it’s only a few days. What could go wrong?

Everything.

First, Addie is briefly distracted by a charismatic local boat captain before the disheartening realization that his captivating smile is something else she doesn’t have time for.

Then, she barely sets foot on the island when it becomes devastatingly obvious she’s made a huge mistake. But she’s trapped: leaving would be professional suicide, and now there are questions that need answering. With each passing hour come more disturbing revelations about her hosts, the tension mounting until finally death strikes, and the tranquil island becomes the sinister stage for a fatal script with Addie in the lead role.

With no way off the island, the body count rising, and the killer closing in, can Addie outwit a relentless psychopath before it’s too late?

The Offer is a gripping psychological suspense novel where nothing is as it seems. If you relish strong heroines, unpredictable twists, and riveting intrigue, you’ll be enthralled by this compelling story by USA TODAY bestselling author D.L. Wood. Get your copy now and don't miss another thrilling moment.

Silverglass Press, August, 2023

Available in digital ebook at Amazon

 

IN THE SHELTER OF HOLLYTHORNE HOUSE by Sarah E. Ladd, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

THE HOUSES OF YORKSHIRE #1
"He was about to see Charlotte Grey again. Face-to-face. He had no idea how she'd react . . . but he did know one thing for certain: two people did not share a romance like theirs and forget a single detail of it . . . "

Except that, Charlotte Grey was Charlotte Prior now and quite without a husband to control her every move; "Roland Prior - formidable, imposing, polarizing - was dead". Desperate to protect her infant son from those who might wish the future heir harm, Charlotte makes hasty plans to move back within the shelter of Hollythorne House, her childhood home. Ironically, her brother-in-law was already one step ahead of her, arranging a security team to accompany the small entourage, for her while she was not at all sure of Silas' motives, her deceased husband had apparently left behind a number of calculating enemies. The country estate while isolated was . . . familiar . . . and peaceful . . . and hers.

To Charlotte's complete bewilderment, none other than Anthony Welbourne is leading the watchmen commissioned to protect her while the particulars surrounding the Prior estate find resolution. The one man she fought so hard to forget, showing up in her time of need, ready to protect her with his life, if necessary. And it might become . . . necessary; greed and revenge often prove to be the most formidable of adversaries.

Beautifully written with flawless word flow, a plot tailored to perfection, this story and these characters fit together like they were always meant to be . . . together. 

SEE PAULA'S REVIEW

BackCover Blurb:
A young widow faces an uncertain future . . . until an unexpected encounter with her first love gives her heart a second chance in this Regency romance set on the Yorkshire Moors.

England, 1817—Charlotte Grey thought she had seen the last of Anthony Welbourne. Knowing her father would never consent to his only daughter marrying a man he deemed beneath their family’s station, Charlotte bid her final farewell to Anthony and vowed never to turn back. Instead, she honored her father’s wishes by marrying the wealthy Roland Prior.

Determined to put his love for Charlotte in the past, Anthony chose to immerse himself in a life full of meaning—first as a soldier fighting a war overseas, then as a member of William Walstead’s watchmen, a rugged band of men dispatched to deal with perilous situations. Fearless and persistent, he makes it his life’s focus to fight for those who can’t fight for themselves.

When Charlotte’s husband dies unexpectedly, she quickly realizes how blind she’d been to his nefarious ambitions and how many people he’d angered on his relentless quest for wealth. To protect her infant son, Henry, from those who wish him harm, she and the baby flee to Hollythorne House, her childhood home. There Charlotte comes face-to-face with her former love, who has been sent as one of the hired watchman to protect her and Henry until the details of her late husband’s estate are settled.

Anthony’s presence brings back feelings she never expected to have again, and she struggles to trust his intentions. Are the watchmen really looking after Charlotte as they claim—or are they looking to make trouble for Roland’s estate and heir? Despite the constant reminders of their past, Anthony must remain focused on the task he was hired to do. But when new threats emerge and the past collides with the present, both must decide what they are willing to risk for the chance to right old wrongs and carve out a new future . . . together.

Thomas Nelson Publishing, July 2023

Available in digital ebook, paperback, library binding, and audiobook

Buy IN THE SHELTER OF HOLLYTHORNE HOUSE at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House

 

 

 

 

 

THE BEST SUMMER OF OUR LIVES by Rachel Hauck, Reviewed by Rebecca Maney

" I said some pretty harsh things that night on the dock. Now there's too much water under the bridge."

Friends. Autumn. Snow. Spring. Summer. Dubbed as the "four seasons", the girls were looking forward to "the best summer" of their young lives following graduation . . . until a what-seemed-like-a-good-idea prank sends them to Camp Tumbleweed as counselors for the summer. Would their court sanctioned "probation" solidify their friendship or shatter it into a thousand little pieces . . . and so it begins.

Toggling back and forth between two timelines, this story gives its readers all the "feels" of four teen girls with distinctive differences, both in appearance and experience, growing up to realize that what had bound them together had also torn them apart. The undisputed leader of the group, Summer Wilde, made so many mistakes, but when she lands back where it all began, can that vision of "the preacher" that she experienced all those years ago, be what heals her . . . body, mind, and spirit. (along with a little help from the camper they had affectionately named "baby season")

Filled to overflowing with dynamic inter-personal fireworks, at times this story felt like it would never end, but ironically when it did, was it possible that the real story had only just begun?

"How I long to see your face, Now I know God's amazing grace, I send you all my love, I give you all my love, My friend, oh my faithful friend."
*I purchased this book and was under no obligation to provide a positive review. 3.5 stars

BackCover Blurb:

Twenty years ago, the summer of '77 was supposed to be the best summer of Summer Wilde's life. She and her best friends, Spring, Autumn, and Snow--the Four Seasons--had big plans.

But those plans never had a chance. After a teenage prank gone awry, the Seasons found themselves on a bus to Tumbleweed, "Nowhere," Oklahoma, to spend eight weeks as camp counselors. All four of them arrived with hidden secrets and buried fears, and the events that unfolded in those two months forever altered their friendships, their lives, and their futures.

Now, thirtysomething, Summer is at a crossroads. When her latest girl band leaves her in a motel outside Tulsa, she is forced to face the shadows of her past. Returning to the place where everything changed, she soon learns Tumbleweed is more than a town she never wanted to see again. It's a place for healing, for reconciling the past with the present, and for finally listening to love's voice.

Bethany House Fiction, June, 2023
Available in digital ebook, paperback, hardcover, and audiobook:
Buy THE BEST SUMMER OF OUR LIVES at Amazon, Christianbook .com, or Baker Book House