Hunted for the Holidays by Deena Alexander - A Book Review

  

This romantic suspense story may be relatively short, but it is compelling from start to finish. I literally carried it from room to room with me as the Kindle text-to-speech feature read to me as I went about my daily routine, otherwise I would have accomplished absolutely nothing until I finished the last page. Shae Evans and her five-year-old daughter had been in the Witness Security Program Gracie's entire life, a life her father knew nothing of until he came banging on their door one December 23^rd evening.

Deena Alexander was able to flesh out these characters and craft a smoothly-flowing, action-packed plot in just 201 pages. She also, through the characters' thoughts and actions, demonstrates in a very authentic way how one's faith impacts how one handles the really tough times life throws one's way.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Hunted for the Holidays from Love Inspired via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Christmas in Nutfield by Robin Patchen

 

Sleigh Bells & Stalkers and One Christmas Night are the two novellas that make up Christmas in Nutfield. It was wonderful reconnecting with two characters from Patchen's original Nutfield Saga. The last time we saw Daniel Nolan he was just a boy, now he is a college student and the hero of Sleigh Bells & Stalkers, my favorite of the two novellas. The empathy-evoking story, centering around the drama of the dysfunctional Sullivan family, will likely make readers more sensitive to the hardships of those around them, and will hopefully inspire them to be more willing to step up and assist as Daniel does for the Sullivans. In addition to the drama, this story has plenty of action and suspense to keep readers fully engaged.

We also reconnect with Caro Neely. In One Christmas Night she finds herself searching for her niece alongside movie star Blake Carmichael whose son is also missing. The main theme of the story deals with why one must resist the urge to judge others especially when the judgments are made on preconceived notions based on second-hand information. Patchen fleshes out the sensitive theme without distracting from the tension in the story.

Christmas in Nutfield is not your typical Hallmark type Christmas story and will satisfy suspense lovers desire for a Christmas story designed with them in mind. I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy from the author without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Tea With Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn - A Book Review

 

Oh my goodness! I am blessed to have had the experience of losing myself in this story. Gunn's eloquent language paints the most beautiful, vivid pictures of Africa and creates the most intense experience of empathy for the leading ladies of Tea With Elephants. As if my TBR pile wasn't large enough, now I want to go back and reread her Sister Chicks series while waiting for the second book in her new Suitcase Sisters series.

Fern and Lily have been long-distance friends since meeting in Costa Rica as teenagers. Now they are a bit older and a bit wiser traveling together to Africa at a time when they are both at a crossroads in their lives. Robin Gunn does such a beautiful job of demonstrating the beauty of close female relationships and the importance they play in emotional health.

So, grab your favorite comfort food or indulgent treat and that hot beverage that always brings along that deep sigh and sweet smile; draw that hot bath or snuggle under that cozy blanket or quilt and settle in for hours of reading pleasure.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Tea With Elephants from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Over the Edge by Irene Hannon - A Book Review

    

Personal chef Lindsey Barnes had a knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Once again she found herself on the scene of a violent crime. St Louis County Detective Jack Tucker finds himself in a situation that leaves him feeling very conflicted. His key witness strikes a cord with him, but seems to have taken an immediate dislike to him, and to top it off, she reminds him of his biological mother for all the wrong reasons. Irene Hannon builds an intense suspense story with a lot of romantic angst in Over the Edge. The title of this book fits perfectly as Lindsey feels herself being pushed closer to the edge of sanity in this story which leans toward being a psychological thriller. It is a compelling tale that will hold readers firmly in its grasp until the last page.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Over the Edge from Revell via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.

Specters in the Glass House by Jaime Jo Wright - A Book Review

  

I have been a Jaime Jo Wright fan since The House on Foster Hill was released in 2017. I have read each of her books released since then, each eerie in its own way. Specters in the Glass House has a mood reminiscent of The House on Foster Hill and The Curse of Misty Wayfair, two of my favorites.

This latest book has dual-timelines. Marian Arnold came to live in the Müllerian Manor near Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1921 after her father's death and bankruptcy, the home in which her mother had died. Remy Crenshaw came to live in the manor in present time having taken a job as research assistant for a famous biographer who wants to write Marian's story. Specters and disembodied voices also populate the manor, a manor where long-ago murders are yet unsolved, and new murders seem likely to occur.

I don't want to spoil the story by revealing the deeper themes, but I assure you that this is no simple ghost story, but rather a tale with weighty matters to ponder. As with each of her books, the reader comes away with a fresh insight or an affirmation of a facet of God's character.

Specters in the Glass House will hold readers captive from the first page to the last. They will find themselves, as I did, repeatedly adjusting their predictions of who the culprit or culprits might be. I am very grateful to have received a complimentary copy of this wonderful book from Bethany House via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own. 

Hope Like Wildflowers by Pepper Basham - A Book Review

  

My prayers go out to author Pepper Basham and her fellow North Carolinians as they are working to recover from the devastation brought on by Hurricane Helene. The book itself is set in this state in the early 1900s. It is the story of the redemption of a teenage mother-to-be who doesn't truly understand what love is intended to be. I was most touched by the ways in which her older and more mature Christian friend ministered to her in such a winsome way as to profoundly impact the young woman's life. While all this may sound a bit preachy, the book does not have that feel at all, especially adding in the family drama and romance that are central to the story. While the events that move this story along create the emotions of anger, angst, and concern, those emotions are overwhelmingly overridden by joy and hope. If those are things you need in your life, or if you just enjoy an encouraging historical read, I highly recommend Hope Like Wildflowers.

I am grateful to have received a complimentary copy of Hope Like Wildflowers from Barbour Publishing via NetGalley without obligation. All opinions expressed here are my own.