Wyoming Wilderness Survival by Jill Elizabeth Nelson - A Book Review

  

Wyoming Wilderness Survival is a good, quick romantic suspense story. The romance was sweet and the suspense intense as Tracey Graham; her protector, Callum Mitchell; his two-year-old son, Brody; and Callum's dog work to survive in the wilderness of Wyoming as they flee from a crew sent to murder them all. Callum's skills as a former Idaho State Police officer are invaluable in their endeavor to stay alive as is his knowledge of the area, but being chased by a band of mercenaries while caring for a toddler and lacking adequate provisions certainly complicates matters.

I appreciate romance that follows a godly path, yet is not so idealistic that it avoids difficulties that accompany any maturing relationship. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Wyoming Wilderness Survival from Love Inspired via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.   

 

Vanished by Dr. David Jeremiah with Sam O'Neal - A Book Review

   

This book reads as if it may have occurred just weeks or months in our future. As the price of daily necessities rises along with the temperature, and people across the globe deal with more frequent earthquakes, weather events, conflicts between nations, and pandemics; a group of people with varied areas of expertise work for the United States Army to find solutions to the world's woes. Of course their unsolicited intervention can sometimes be a source of additional conflict. The time these people devote to these efforts to save millions of others takes a toll on their families and their own health, both mental and physical. The tension in this book is palpable, and keeps the reader turning pages. The sense that this may be closer to reality than fiction is its own source of tension, but also one that keeps readers reading into the night. Yet, there is hope, and its source is revealed as the story progresses.

I highly recommend Vanished. It may very well be a book that you will want to share with friends and family. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from Thomas Nelson via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

A Bookseller in Madrid by Mario Escobar - A Book Review

  

While the prologue and epilogue are set in the 2020s, the story of A Bookseller in Madrid is set from 1933 to 1946, including the Spanish Revolution of 1934, the Spanish Civil War, the Spanish Republican Insurgency, and the impact Germany had on the Spanish political scene. Mario Escobar uses his fiction set during some of history's most difficult and cruel times to examine and learn from those who perpetuated the horrors and those who survived them, building empathy for the latter. Based on the lives of two real booksellers of the times, Escobar's fictional bookseller, Barbara Spiel faces adversity with bravery, using books and her bookstore to provide a safe haven for souls and minds amongst the deprivation, chaos, and inhumanity, even while striving to keep her own family together. Escobar brings commonalities to the surface between social concerns of current times and those of the past as his characters seek stability and hope.

While creating a story that evokes compassion and empathy, Escobar also emphasizes the importance of books in reminding society of what it means to embrace humanity as well as the importance of the Christian church in truly embracing and demonstrating sacrificial love. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of A Bookseller in Madrid from Harper Muse via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

The Highland Heist by Pepper Basham - A Book Review

  

While Hurricane Helene may have pushed back the deadline of The Highland Heist, it was well worth the wait. This fourth book in Basham's Freddie & Grace mystery series is every bit as delightful as all the rest. Lady Astley might not be the most adept at demonstrating the manners of a well-bred lady, but she is quite adept at solving crimes, especially with the assistance of her husband. This time the crime is her brother-in-law's murder with her sister being a prime suspect. Things are complicated further by the clock's ticking on the discovery of a hidden treasure.

The Highland Heist is a lighthearted read. The protagonists' reliance on God is a testimony to the other characters as well as to the reader, yet the faith-based element is tastefully done and not heavy-handed. While it will work well as a stand-alone read, the book will be best enjoyed by reading the series in sequence.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Highland Heist from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. I highly recommend Pepper Basham's historical novels. 

  

I usually avoid books with a medical based storyline, but this is Charles Martin! How could I pass this book by? I am so glad that I didn't. The beautiful language in this book is a key reason for not missing out on When Crickets Cry. The intriguing storyline is another reason. It moves between the main character's earlier years and his present day circumstances, allowing readers to understand the decisions that led him to live the life he is currently living, a life that has seemingly lost purpose and meaning. The story explores the theme of hope, its perseverance in lives where one might see little reason for its continued presence, and its resurgence when it would appear all hope is lost. The heart in this story is viewed not only as an organ that gives the body life, but also as a spiritual organ that impacts how one lives the life they've been given. There are many lessons here for one whose heart is inclined to listen.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of When Crickets Cry from Thomas Nelson without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill

  

I ordered this book because I thought my husband would enjoy it, which he did, but it was a while before I got around to reading it. I am so glad I finally did! Network of Deceit has a fresh plot line involving bitcoin and cybercriminals. Almara Alvarez has a lot to juggle as she works to solve her first case after joining the homicide unit of the San Antonio Police Department and deals with her mother's health diagnosis. Threadgill handles the medical element of the story tactfully yet honestly while not allowing the story to be dominated by anxious emotions.

I enjoyed Network of Deceit very much and will be on the lookout for other books by this author, as I am sure my husband will be as well.

The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau by Kristin Harmel - A Book Review

  

Kristen Harmel evokes a wide variety of emotions from the sorrows and suffering of war; the pain of loss and betrayal; the weight of grief and regret; to the delight and relief of finding forgiveness, love, and personal connection. Almost ninety looks very good on Colette Marceau, with her family lost to her in the war, and only two close friends, Colette still dabbles in the family business as a jewel thief and, as a descendant of Robin Hood, stealing from the rich to give to the poor. She does not, however, target anyone who has not done something to, in her opinion, deserve being relieved of their jewels. Even the best intentions can become tangled up leading to unintended and undeserved circumstances. Colette must come to terms with the people and years that were stolen from her, as well as the moments and opportunities she relinquished on her own.

This book is itself a jewel with its sparkling moments and valuable insights. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of The Stolen Life of Colette Marceau from Simon & Schuster via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.