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Saturday, November 12, 2016


TITUS RETURNS by AMY LILLARD

With every word I read, I became more engrossed in the story.  The authors details of the land is breathtaking. It is one of the best stories I've read about forgiveness in awhile. What if you were blamed  for a tragic accident ? Could you ever forgive yourself and accept the forgiveness of others? For many of us, it isn't so much about bring forgiven as it is being able to forgive yourself.

Titus has come home to Wells Landing after a long five years away. He is a changed person and a little hesitant to be home. His five years away were hard, but he felt he deserved the punishment he had gotten. Can he feel welcomed back home? Has everyone  forgiven him? I loved the way the author wrote how Titus was anxious and a bit uncertain how he would be received back in his community. We all have done something we regret and for Titus the shame has stayed with him for years.

I love stories about second chances and this is one that really has depth and and opens the door for repentance. I'm sure that I would have butterflies in my stomach if I was in Titus's shoes. The beauty of the story is how the author took a character and showed us his internal struggles with realism. For some in the community they seemed to be a bit surprised that Titus would come home. It is not easy to admit your mistakes, but when you allow God to show you the way home, nothing is impossible.

I need to mention Abbie because she plays a very important role in the story. I loved her from the moment the author introduced her. She had a hard time accepting Titus back home and the author allowed the character to work through grief and come to terms with her loss. The story is heart wrenching at times and the emotions can be felt by the graceful way the author takes readers on a journey to forgiveness.

Can Titus learn to trust again? Will Abbie be able to forgive? Will Titus experience forgiveness and be set free from his past? Be sure and grab a copy of this well written story that allows us a glimpse of what forgiveness, trust and unconditional love is.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion and I was not compensated for it.

Friday, November 11, 2016


CHRISTMAS BY THE SEA by BETH WISEMAN

This is a short novella that packs a  powerful story of hope and faith just in time for the Christmas season. I loved the setting of the story being in Galveston .  I could be a little bias since I'm so familiar with the city. As the  author detailed the hurricane I could feel the rush of waves crashing over me and the debris as it floated by. I have been through several hurricanes and they can be terrifying.

Alex is going through a very difficult time in her life. Her  place of refuge is at the beach. Well perhaps this may not be the day to go , but God put her exactly where she needed to be. Parker is a man who has suffered a great loss and finds himself in a life or death situation as he gets trapped by the storm. What I loved the most about this book is the hope that the characters had for survival. I'm sure there were times they wanted to give up, but between them they found strength to lean on each other. Make sure you grab a copy and find out if Alex and Parker survive the vicious storm. Will their faith be enough to overcome the obstacles that try to harm them? This is a great heartwarming story that is sweet and faith filled.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion and I was not compensated for it.

Thursday, November 10, 2016


IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS by HEATHER BLANTON

The beginning of the story is quite hard to read at times when we meet Charlene. She is a pretty woman who is in a very violent marriage. The beatings she takes are horrendous and she feels hopeless and trapped. I've often heard people ask why women stay in abusuve relationships. For Charlene she does it to protect others. As you read the story you will understand her sacrifice and love for others. I loved how she cried out to God for help. Her faith was so powerful and I loved how the author showed that through Charlene 's actions.

Dale is Charlene's husband and a powerful attorney. He loves the power and control he has over Charlene. He threatens her constantly and never has any remorse. The author did a great job of showing Dale as an abuser and how weak he is when he is not in control. Will he be able to continue to hurt Charlene?

An unexplained occurrence happens one day when Dale decides to leave Charlene in an abandoned house that was in his family. When they get there Charlene realizes she is going to be left there with nothing.  The house is in shambles and there is no food or furniture. In her despair she calls out to God to help her. God was right there with her as she found herself going back in time to 1903.  The description of the house was so remarkable I actually felt like I was standing in the kitchen looking at the old stove. I could hear the crackle of the wood as it heated the room. The heat spread across the rooms with warmth and coziness. I have read several time travel books, but this is one of the best I have ever read. The author seamlessly went from 2013 to 1903 with such detail I wanted to stay and live in 1903.

The story picks up with her introduction to the people in the house. Miss Kate is someone I would love to be around. She is a hardworking woman that was gracious and loving. She made me feel like I was setting at my granddad's farmhouse watching the cows graze in the pasture as she baked rolls. The other person who is so vital to the story is Billy. He is good looking and a hard working rancher. The rest of the story you need to read on your own. I don't want to spoil any part of the eloquent story that I couldn't stop reading. After finishing the book I sat for a moment and thought about what I just read. Charlene trusted God to help her and knew that she was loved by Him. He knew when she was hurting and surrounded her with His grace.

It is a powerful story that shows readers that God is always  there and He loves you unconditionally. When Charlene was at her lowest and cried out she found out that "God was hope."

I received this book from Book Fun.org and the option to leave my honest opinion of it was up to me.


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Five Dog Voodoo
by Lia Farrell

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Five Dog Voodoo (Mae December Mystery) 
Camel Press (November 15, 2016)
Paperback: 266 pages
ISBN-13: 978-1603812481
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Synopsis

As Halloween approaches, engaged couple Mae December and Sheriff Ben Bradley have devoted all their energy to Ben’s campaign for reelection as sheriff of Rose County, Tennessee. The race is already too close to call when the sheriff’s office is hit with yet another maddeningly tricky murder case. In recent years the town of Rosedale has had more than its fair share of murders, a fact Ben’s smarmy opponent is all too eager to exploit.
Investigator Dory Clarkson and her friend, Counselor Evangeline Bon Temps, are visiting the mysterious Voodoo village when a resident tells them her granddaughter, ZoĆ© Canja, is missing. Her dog, a Weimaraner nursing four pups, escapes the house and finds the young woman’s body in a shallow grave. Evangeline becomes Sheriff Ben Bradley’s unofficial consultant because her grandmother in Haiti and later her mother in New Orleans practiced Voodoo. A threatening symbol is left on the pavement by Dory’s front door, effectively banning her from the case. Evangeline and the sheriff’s office ask too many questions, and Evangeline soon wears out her welcome. Voodoo curses aside, Ben’s job is at stake, and no one associated with the case is safe until the killer is found.
Book 5 in the Mae December Mystery series, which began with One Dog Too Many.

About The Authors

Lia Farrell is the nom de plume for a mother/daughter duo of writers. Mom Lyn Farquhar and Daughter Lisa Fitzsimmons have been collaborating on the Mae December mystery series for four years.
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ABOUT LYN
Lyn Farquhar taught herself to read before starting school and honed her story telling abilities by reading to her little sister. Ultimately, her mother ended the reading sessions because Lyn’s sister decided she preferred being read to over learning to read herself. She fell in love with library books at the age of six when a Bookmobile came to her one-room rural elementary school. The day the Bookmobile arrived, Lyn decided she would rather live in the bookmobile than at home and was only ousted following sustained efforts by her teacher and the bookmobile driver.
Lyn graduated from Okemos High School in Michigan and got her college and graduate degrees from Michigan State University. She has a master’s degree in English literature and a Ph.D. in Education, but has always maintained that she remained a student for such a long time only because it gave her an excuse to read. Lyn holds the rank of Professor of Medical Education at Michigan State University and has authored many journal articles, abstracts and research grants. Since her retirement from MSU to become a full time writer, she has completed a Young Adult Fantasy trilogy called Tales of the Skygrass Kingdom. Volume I from the trilogy is entitled Journey to Maidenstone and is available on amazon.com. Lyn has two daughters and six step children, nine granddaughters and three grandsons. She also has two extremely spoiled Welsh Corgi’s. Her hobby is interior design and she claims she has the equivalent of a master’s degree from watching way too many decorating shows.
ABOUT LISA
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Lisa Fitzsimmons grew up in Michigan and was always encouraged to read, write and express herself artistically. She was read aloud to frequently. Throughout her childhood and teenage years, she was seldom seen without a book in hand. After becoming a mom at a young age, she attended Michigan State University in a tri-emphasis program with concentrations in Fine Art, Art History an Interior Design.
Lisa, with her husband and their two children, moved to North Carolina for three exciting years and then on to Tennessee, which she now calls home. She has enjoyed an eighteen year career as a Muralist and Interior Designer in middle Tennessee, but has always been interested in writing. Almost five years ago, Lisa and her mom, Lyn, began working on a writing project inspired by local events. The Mae December Mystery series was born.
Lisa, her husband and their three dogs currently divide their time between beautiful Northern Michigan in the summertime and middle Tennessee the rest of the year. She and her husband feel very blessed that their “empty nest” in Tennessee is just a short distance from their oldest, who has a beautiful family of her own. Their youngest child has settled in Northern Michigan, close to their cabin there. Life is good.
Purchase Links


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The book is a delight to read and I loved reading about the customs in the small villiage where the  setting for the book is. I'm not familiar with voodoo except it always made me uncomfortable. There are certain beliefs they go by and seem a bit secretive . The author does an amazing job of giving readers details of what Voodoo is. It is a very old religion that is a way of life for some and their customs may make some people uncomfortable. They do honor their dead in a beautiful ceremony and the details were very intriguing.   The book is well written and starts off with the mysterious death of a young woman. The decision to take in the mother dog and  pups were heartwarming.I did sense that perhaps the dog knew her master was gone and felt a little down. The description of the dogs  were so vivid I could picture them with their beautiful color and regal appearance.

Who is the young woman that has been found dead? The story is very intense  and I loved the characters in the book. There are several suspects and lots of unanswered questions that keeps the story moving at a good pace. With an election getting close, Sheriff Ben  Bradley needs to solve the case. Is the election somehow connected to the death that us being investigated? Strange signs pop up at Dory's home that warn her to stop investigating. Will Dory heed the warning, or continue to snoop around for answers?

Mae December  is the sheriff's fiancĆ© and I thought the author really made her a strong character. She sure does  like to "help" with investigations. There are several characters in the book that are connected to the murder in some way and I really liked how the author made each one a strong possible suspect. There are many secrets throughout the book and the Voodoo Village is becoming quite a mysterious little place. The story weaves through several mysterious deaths and comes to an exciting end. I will be checking out the other books in this series, because the author really knows how to keep a story moving with very interesting characters .

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Great Escapes Book Tour. The review is my own opinion and I was not compensated for it.

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Death at First Sight
by Lena Gregory

The story is unique and entertaining. I was completely engaged from the very beginning.
~Sapphyria’s Book Reviews
I loved the protagonist, Cass. She and her friends were very well developed, and felt like a group of people I’d like to get to know.
~The Book’s the Thing
Death at First Sight by Lena Gregory is a fun new series with a fresh cast of characters and a page turner story.
~Shelley’s Book Case
This was a really wonderfully written cozy mystery.
~Books, Dreams, Life
This was a fun start to a new series. I love that is has a touch of paranormal/psychic in it…
~A. Holland Reads 
The book starts off on a fast pace, and is a quick page turner. Readers will love the charm, wit, and feelings that these characters show.
~Bibliophile Reviews
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Death at First Sight (A Bay Island Psychic Mystery)
NEW SERIES
Berkley (November 1, 2016)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
ISBN-13: 978-0425282748
E-Book ASIN: B01BK0SQBS
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Synopsis

FIRST IN A VISIONARY NEW MYSTERY SERIES.
It doesn’t take a crystal ball to see that something’s not right on Bay Island…
Since she left her psychiatric practice in New York City to open up a psychic shop in her hometown on Bay Island, Cass Donovan has given her fair share of readings to conflicted customers. But what she sees in Ellie Callahan’s future doesn’t bode well.
When Ellie’s mother, Marge, publicly confronts Cass about the reading, the embarrassment makes her want to curl up and die. And when she later stumbles across Marge’s body—and is a suspect in her murder—Cass is suddenly the star of Bay Island’s rumor mill.
Cass is determined to prove her innocence and save Ellie from meeting the fate in her unfortunate vision. But even with the help of her friends Bee and Stephanie, Cass will have to channel some serious sleuthing instincts to find the real killer…
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About The Author
Lena lives in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island with her husband and three children.
When she was growing up, she spent many lazy afternoons on the beach, in the yard, anywhere she could find to curl up with a good book. She loves reading as much now as she did then, but she now enjoys the added pleasure of creating her own stories.
Author Links:
Website: http://www.lenagregory.com/ 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14956514.Lena_Gregory 
Purchase Links – Amazon  Penguin Random House:  Barnes and Noble:  Kobo:  Books-A-Million:  Target:


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I'm not much into physic readings and fortune telling, but this book really piqued my interest. I'm glad I read it because it has so many great characters and just enough intrigue to keep me on the edge of my seat. The setting was quaint and the author made me want to live there. The mystery is well written and keeps readers guessing till the end.

Cass is a sweet,  kind and perhaps a bit on the mystical side. She loves to give readings to people and the tourists love to visit her shop. After being gone from the town for years, she has had a bit of adjustment to make. The author gives Cass two amazing friends that make the story fun to read. Stephanie is married to a police officer named  Tank.  Bee is by far the best character in the book. He is sassy, loveable and supportive . The three make a great team and their trust for each other will soon be tested.

When Cass gives a reading to someone from town, it is not a happy event. It seems that Cass has given bad news to the poor unsuspecting Ellie. Ellie is devastated by the reading and is shattered by the news. From this point of the story, the action really picks up. Who is found dead ? Why is Cass immediately pointed out as the prime suspect? Cass and her friends set off to find the real killer and get themselves into trouble. I loved the way the author introduced several characters that could be the killer. There are some funny moments in the story and oh my did I love the dog Cass inherited. He is called Beast and lives up to his name. Can Cass prove her innocence?

Death At First Sight is a great beginning to a continuing series of A Bay Island Psychic Mystery. Cass  and her sidekicks are in for danger, intrigue and surprises along the way. Be sure you pick up a copy and get to know the people of Bay Island.

I received a complimentary copy of the book from The Great Escapes Book Tour. The review is my own opinion and I was not compensated for it.



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GOD'S GENERALS MARTYRS by ROBERTS LIARDON

Upon receiving this book , I picked it up several times to start reading it. I would read a few chapters and then as I cried I put it down. Each story, each person in this book did what many of us may not be able to do. They stood up for their faith in the face of certain death and  were killed because they would not denounce God. The term martyr to me means standing up for your faith without fear , no matter the cost. I have read in the past about people that have been martyrs but I guess I just forgot that it is still going on today. Can you imagine going to a foreign land where Christians are hated? In this book are many stories of people who stood up, spread the Word of God and paid the ultimate price.

Just a few pages in, I read a story of a pastor and his twelve year old son who were taken because they were Christians. They told the father to denounce being a Christian and return to Islam. He refused and had to watch in agony as his son was tortured. In the end they were crucified along with several others. It was such a hard story to read, but it happens all over the world.

Throughout the book is historical names and more recent ones that have stood up for their beliefs. They have chosen to be missionaries and to spread the love of Jesus to all the nations. I was fascinated by all the stories and learned a lot about other countries. I loved when the author said we can pray for those who are in countries that are unsafe for Christians. At the end of the book the author gives insight to "the persecuted church and what the saints are enduring in different regions of the world." He also includes several organizations that need help . I encourage you to read this book slowly and take in all the information. I didn't realize all the people who had given their life while doing God's work. They are true martyrs and I will keep this book close by to remind me of their true faith. I pray that I too may always stand strong and not be afraid to say I am a Christian.

"Jesus told us that a servant is not greater than his master. And that there would be those who would suffer for His  name's sake."

I received this book from Book Fun.org and the option to leave my honest opinion of it was up to me.

Wednesday, November 9, 2016


OF MOOSE AND MEN by TORRY MARTIN & DOUG PETERSON

I have not heard of either of the authors of this book before, but boy was I in for a treat. I have a great love of books and each one is a treasure to me. This book made me laugh so hard I was crying while trying to tell my hubby some of the things in the book. I will never forget the bear story. Can you imagine you and a bear in the wilderness with pots and pans to arm yourself with?  There are great stories throughout the book that have insightful lessons for all of us.

The beautiful way Alaska was described made me think of  the world that God created for us to enjoy and explore. The authors really had their hands full at times with mishaps and misunderstandings. Along their journey, they experienced surprises, answered prayers and a closer relationship with God. I loved the story about them praying for a table. God really answered their prayer that day with three tables. He knew what they needed and gave them exactly what they needed. The best part of the story is how they talked about God "uses broken , used up people to carry out His plans." The tables they were blessed with were not new, but to them it was perfect. Do we dismiss people because they look less than perfect to us? We need to learn to trust God and not discard what we think is unusable .

Each chapter is filled with adventure and a reference to a story from the Bible along with scriptures. There was one story that really made me think about myself. One of the author's was talking about  being bullied as a child because of his weight. I was teased as a child because I was so thin kids called me toothpick. I was very shy and hated everything about myself.  Through his story I truly understood what it meant to see others the way Jesus does. I loved when he said," But the great truth is that we no longer have to look at ourselves the way the world does. We only need look at ourselves the way God does. And He thinks we're super. " Thank you for writing a book that is funny and teaches us to rely on God.

I received this book from Book Fun.org and the option to leave my honest opinion of it was up to me.

DEATH IN THE SHADOWS Release and Giveaway

Can Father Gilbert, who traded in his detective’s badge for an Anglican priest’s collar, champion the truth in time to stop more people from dying? Find out in Death in the Shadows, Paul McCusker's new book releasing November 27. Pre-order a copy of Death in the Shadows and check the mystery-lover off of your Christmas list.

Join Paul in anticipation of Death in the Shadows by entering to win two books in the A Father Gilbert Mystery series (The Body Under the Bridge and Death in the Shadows)! Five winners will be chosen to receive the two-book sets. Click the image below to enter to win.

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About the Book

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When Father Gilbert became Anglican priest, he never expected he would be pulled into a different kind of mystery—the mystery of the spiritual world.

Attending a conference in a seaside town, he has yet another supernatural encounter, this time with a murdered girl who worked at a local massage parlor. Details of the murder lead Father Gilbert to approach the police with clues in common with other cases, bringing him into contact with a detective from his days with Scotland Yard.

Meanwhile, a local monastery has been vandalized, with grotesque images and profane graffiti defacing the altar and walls. The head of the monastery accuses the local sex-trade industry of retaliating against his outspoken stand against it. Then, one of the brothers at the monastery is found dead in the local red-light district. All evidence points to his having been a regular at a massage parlor—the same one where the murdered girl had worked. (Kregel, November 2016)

Learn more and purchase a copy here.

About the Author

Paul McCusker is creative director at Focus on the Family. He has sold more than a million books and twenty million audio dramas. His name is also heard daily on radio stations all over the world, and by at least two million listeners every weekend through the Adventures in Odyssey series. Learn more about him on his website and connect with him via Facebook.

Sunday, November 6, 2016


FRACTURED MEMORY by JORDYN REDWOOD

Wow! What a start to a fast pace mystery. There you are quietly in your home, and you hear a knock on your door. I suspect it was more like a pounding  Julia heard. As she opens the door , she comes face to face with Eli Cayne, also known as a US Marshall. There has been a hit put on her life and she must go with Eli to a safe house. This must have been hard to decipher for Julia. After all she is still trying to recover from a horrible crime committed against her. Because of the injuries she sustained during that brutal attack, she can't remember much about the incident. What must it be like to know something horrible happened to you, yet you can't put the puzzle together?

I loved Julia instantly. She was gutsy, tough and a little apprehensive of others. I believe she was well written and made the story so realistic. She works as a pediatric nurse and her compassion for  her patients were so genuine. This new threat to her life is something she has to face and will have to learn to trust Eli. Will she learn to trust Eli?

Eli is a very strong character and will do anything to keep Julia safe. Will her memory cone back so she can help the police figure out who wants her dead? Eli is always close by and I loved his protectiveness towards her. I loved the references to their faith in the story. It was gentle little reminders that they were trusting God to see them through the situation they were in. The story starts with a bang and never slows down.  Now they must figure out who the "Hangman"  is and stop him or her before another death happens. I loved that there were several suspects which made the story so intriguing. With the medical terminology in the book, I appreciated the research went into the story. The author has once again written a story that gives me chills and keeps me turning pages as fast as I can.  Get ready for an intense story that will have readers following Julia and Eli as they try to keep one step ahead of the "Hangman." The ending is so compelling and action packed I didn't want it to end. Once again the author has given readers a heart pounding story that mystery fans will love.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from The BookClub Network. The review is my own opinion and I was not compensated for it.