Fallen: Out of the Sex Industry and into the Arms of the Savior by Annie Lobert

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Annie Lobert was not so different from most girls, growing up in a small town and experiencing common struggles with friends, school, and boys. But her home was filled with turmoil, and at nine years old she was sexually abused by an older girl and as a teenager was assaulted numerous times by boys who said they loved her just to get what they wanted. Feeling unloved, used, and abused, she struggled to find self-worth.

Lured by the almighty dollar, and with a skewed fairytale view of love, she was drawn toward the seductive whispers and open arms of the sex industry. Greed consumed her, the money an easy remedy to numb her brokenness, so she began a new life with a new name – Fallen. Settling under the lights of glamorous Las Vegas, she became one of the most sought-after high-class escorts, fielding calls from celebrities, musicians, politicians, and other men with endless supplies of cash.

But the lights weren't that bright. All that glitters isn't gold. And it wasn't long before the dream of getting all she ever wanted became the nightmare that plunged her into the darkest time of her life.

In Fallen, Lobert writes about her sixteen-year journey being owned by a violent pimp who took every dollar and beat her multiple times within inches of her life. After more than a decade and a half of countless arrests, rapes, life-threatening calls, and utter loneliness, the freedom she had once sought became her prison. Then after being diagnosed with and treated for cancer, Annie eventually found herself at death's door from a drug overdose. That's when she finally surrendered to the love of a beckoning Savior.

Through Lobert's harrowing account in the clutches of the sex trafficking industry and the miraculous deliverance she experienced in the arms of Jesus, readers will be encouraged knowing this: No matter how far you have fallen, God loves you and wants to save you from the depths of any pain, trauma, addiction, or abuse. And He longs to give you a new life. Today, Annie is redeemed. Healed. Free. And rescuing other victims through her organization Hookers for Jesus.

In Fallen, Annie Lobert tells of her experience in and out of the sex industry with raw honesty and vulnerability. Though the story is filled with devastating pain, exploitation and brokenness and difficult to read at times due to the subject material, Lobert beautifully captures the power of redemption, forgiveness and love. The way she can use her experience to speak of God inspires and encourages in the face of human depravity, and I am glad to have read it. Incredible and eye-opening, Annie Lobert’s Fallen is definitely worth a read. I highly, highly recommend it.

Thanks to Worthy’s First Look, I received a copy of Fallen and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Betting on Hope by Debra Clopton

Saddle up for a new romance from novelist Debra Clopton, Betting on Hope! In Wishing Springs, Maggie finds what she has always been looking for: a community and a home. But when her past catches up to her, it threatens everything, even the tender hope that this town holds all of her heart’s desires.

Enter to win a Kindle Fire HD 6 to celebrate the release of Betting on Hope! 

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• A copy of Betting on Hope

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 8th. Winner will be announced March 9th on the Debra's blog.

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About the Book

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Advice columnist Maggie Hope never dreamed she'd be shaking hands with champion horse trainer Tru Monahan over a high-stakes bet, especially one that involves horses. And saddles. And everything else a city girl like Maggie feels uncomfortable around. But after filling in for a coworker and interviewing the handsome cowboy, she finds herself doing just that. Anything to save her advice column.

Despite Maggie's two left feet, Tru is bound and determined to bring out her inner cowgirl by teaching her to ride a cutting horse – in Maggie's eyes, a wild beast trained to separate cattle from the rest of the herd. While her riding improves, the two grow closer, but Tru knows he can never let her into his heart – for her own good.

In Wishing Springs, a community full of meddling – yet well-meaning – townsfolk, Maggie discovers a home far from what she's ever had and exactly what she's always longed for. But she's holding something back – a secret with the power to destroy her reputation and any future she's ever hoped for with the cowboy she's come to love.

After reading “An August Bride” last year, I could not wait for this next cowboy romance from Debra Clopton. I quickly found Betting on Hope to be an entertaining and heartfelt read - exactly what I was hoping for when I picked it up. Betting on Hope’s premise begins with a spur-of-the-moment horse-riding bet and gets even better from there. In their determination to follow through with the bet, Maggie Hope and Tru Monahan keep up a great back-and-forth banter and encounter many laughable moments together. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing their relationship develop - even as fragments of the past came back to confront both characters. Overall, Betting on Hope is an immensely fun, yet emotional book - with a permeating thread of hope within each moment. I absolutely loved it and cannot wait to read the series’ next book, Counting on a Cowboy.

Thanks to LitFuse Publicity Group, I received a copy of Betting on Hope and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. To read other opinions, be sure to check out what other reviewers think here.

About the Author

Debra Clopton is a multi-award winning novelist first published in 2005 and has written more than 22 novels. Along with writing, Debra helps her husband teach the youth at their local Cowboy Church. Debra is the author of the acclaimed Mule Hollow Matchmaker series, and her goal is to shine a light toward God while she entertains readers with her words. 

Find Debra online at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Twisted Innocence by Terri Blackstock

In Terri Blackstock’s third and final book in her Moonlighters series, Twisted Innocence, readers are in for a story of suspense and redemption. Dangers old and new threaten Holly and her baby, and lives are demanded as sacrifices for love. Through a complex web of mistakes and regret, redemption is the one hope Holly has left to hold on to.

Celebrate the series' final release by entering Terri's Nook giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• The entire Moonlighters series

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on March 8th. Winner will be announced March 9th on the Litfuse blog.

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About the Book

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Holly Cramer's past choices have finally caught up to her, but she never expected them to endanger her baby.

Though Holly's stumbled through most of her adult life as a party girl, she longs to live a more stable life for her daughter. Then police show up to question her about the whereabouts of Creed Kershaw, Lily's father. She has kept his identity a secret from friends and family – she never even told him about the pregnancy. Now he's a person of interest in a drug-related murder case.

Determined to keep him out of their lives and turn him over to police, Holly uses her private investigating skills to search for him. But her bravado backfires when he turns the tables and takes her and the baby hostage. As desperate hours tick by, Holly realizes his connection to Leonard Miller – the man who has gunned down several members of her family. Creed claims he's innocent and that Miller is after him too. His gentleness with Lily moves her, but she can't trust a man who has held her at gunpoint… even if he reminds her so much of herself.

Dangers old and new threaten Holly and her baby, and lives are demanded as sacrifices for love. Through a complex web of mistakes and regret, redemption is the one hope Holly has left to hold on to.

For me, Terri Blackstock’s Moonlighters got better and better with each book. Twisted Innocence is now my definite favorite of the three (though Truth Stained Lies and Distortion still are great reads, of course). I loved visiting with these now-familiar characters for a third time, as they sort through the murderous drama that seems to relentlessly follow them. With her expected mystery, suspense and bits of romance, Blackstock kept me hooked through twists and turns until the very satisfying end. Twisted Innocence is a quick read that just does not let its reader go. Fans of the series will be delighted with this third novel - it sure is worth the read.

Thanks to LitFuse Publicity Group, I received a copy of Twisted Innocence and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. To read other opinions, be sure to check out what other reviewers think here.

About the Author

Terri Blackstock has sold over six million books worldwide and is a New York Times bestselling author. She is the award-winning author of Intervention, Vicious Cycle, and Downfall, as well as such series as Cape Refuge, Newpointe 911, the SunCoast Chronicles, Restoration, and Moonlighters.

Find Terri online at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

One Last Thing by Rebecca St. James and Nancy Rue

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

A hope-filled soon-to-be bride makes a discovery about her fiancé that rocks her world and provokes a maelstrom of decisions and self-discovery.

Tara Faulkner has dreamed of her wedding and the life she and her fiancé Seth will share in their hometown of Savannah… and by all accounts, it should be a charmed one. But when she discovers three weeks before the wedding that Seth is seriously addicted to pornography, Tara's dreams are shattered.

She must decide whether she will stand by Seth, but she also must let go of the dream she shaped for herself and discover a real vision for her life – and where it will come from. With all else falling apart, Tara encounters an unexpected – and unlikely – group of women mentors. They help her peel back the layers of shaming secrets and begin to clearly see the real issues of her generation. 

In the end, she's able to make a decision based on God's vision – not her own.

One Last Thing by Rebecca St. James and Nancy Rue provides an interesting read on relationships and identity. Just weeks before her fairytale wedding, Tara discovers a devastating secret about Seth, her groom-to-be, that turns her planned-out life upside-down. In the midst of engulfing feelings of shame, betrayal and depression, Tara must make choices for her future, towards healing and hope. It’s an emotional and difficult journey that St. James and Rue take their readers on, but it’s a relevant, rewarding and inspiring read. I would recommend it for fans of contemporary fiction.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a copy of One Last Thing and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

About the Authors

Rebecca St. James, an Australian born Christian recording artist, is both a Grammy Award winner and multiple Dove Award recipient. She is also the bestselling author of Wait for Me, SHE Teen, and What Is He Thinking. She has appeared in the film Sarah's Choice and provided a voice in VeggieTales: An Easter Story.

Nancy Rue has written over 100 books for girls, is the editor of the Faithgirlz Bible, and is a popular speaker and radio guest with her expertise in tween and teen issues. She and husband, Jim, have raised a daughter of their own and now live in Tennessee.

Waiting on Wednesday: The Art of Losing Yourself

Hosted weekly by Breaking the Spine 
to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

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Title: The Art of Losing Yourself

Author: Katie Ganshert

Publisher: WaterBrook Press

Expected Publication Date: 21 April 2015

Just like in my dream, I was drowning and nobody even noticed.
  
Every morning, Carmen Hart pastes on her made-for-TV smile and broadcasts the weather. She’s the Florida panhandle’s favorite meteorologist, married to everyone’s favorite high school football coach. They’re the perfect-looking couple, live in a nice house, and attend church on Sundays. From the outside, she’s a woman who has it all together.  But on the inside, Carmen Hart struggles with doubt. She wonders if she made a mistake when she married her husband. She wonders if God is as powerful as she once believed. Sometimes she wonders if He exists at all. After years of secret losses and empty arms, she’s not so sure anymore.
 
Until Carmen’s sister - seventeen year old runaway, Gracie Fisher - steps in and changes everything. Gracie is caught squatting at a boarded-up motel that belongs to Carmen’s aunt, and their mother is off on another one of her benders, which means Carmen has no other option but to take Gracie in. Is it possible for God to use a broken teenager and an abandoned motel to bring a woman’s faith and marriage back to life? Can two half-sisters make each other whole?

The Trouble with Patience by Maggie Brendan

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Patience Cavanaugh has lost hope in romance. The man she yearned to marry is dead and her dreams are gone with him. Now she is consumed with restoring a dilapidated boardinghouse in order to support herself.

Despite Patience's desire for solitude, Jedediah Jones, the local marshal with a reputation for hanging criminals, becomes an ever-looming part of her life. It seems like such a simple arrangement: she needs someone with a strong back to help her fix up the boardinghouse; he needs a dependable source of food for himself and his prisoners. But as she gets to know this "hanging lawman," Patience finds there is far more to him than meets the eye – and it could destroy their tenuous relationship forever.

With a keen eye for historical detail and a deft hand at romantic tension, Maggie Brendan invites you to a Montana gold rush boomtown, where vices and virtues are on full display and love is lying in wait.

Maggie Brendan’s The Trouble with Patience is an all-around delightful read. Patience Cavanaugh and Jedediah Jones both hope for love and romance in their futures, yet find events of their pasts getting in the way. As these two strong-willed characters continually cross paths in the most unlikely of circumstances, their developing relationship with accompanying feelings provides thought-provoking challenges they must work to overcome. Their story is entertaining and humorous, with many sweet moments, and I certainly enjoyed it. I would recommend it for fans of historical romance and now look forward to reading more from Maggie Brendan in the future.

Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a copy of The Trouble with Patience and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

About the Author

Maggie Brendan is the bestselling author of the Heart of the West and The Blue Willow Brides series. Winner of the 2014 Book Buyers Best Award (OCC/RWA) for inspirational fiction and the 2013 Laurel Wreath Award, she was a finalist for the 2013 Published Maggie Award of Excellence and the 2013 Heart of Excellence Readers' Choice Award. To learn more, visit her website.

By Your Side by Candace Calvert

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

ER nurse Macy Wynn learned essential, gritty lessons in the California foster care system: land on your feet and trust no one. She’s finally located the fellow foster child she loves like a sister, but the girl’s in deep trouble. Macy’s determined to help, no matter what it takes. Her motto is to “make it happen” in any situation life throws at her – even when she butts heads with an idealistic cop.

Deputy Fletcher Holt believes in a higher plan, the fair outcome – and his ability to handle that by himself if necessary. Now he’s been yanked from Houston, his mother is battling cancer, and he’s attracted to a strong-willed nurse who could be the target of a brutal sniper.

When everything goes wrong, where do they put their trust?

I haven’t read any of Candace Calvert’s previous books, but I definitely enjoyed the time I spent with the pages of her newest novel, By Your Side. A fast-paced story bringing traumatic situations to life (as well as the people who handle them), this novel was hard for me to put down. Page after page, I kept rooting for Macy and Fletcher, as they swiftly dealt with the drama their occupations throw at them, bantered their way into a sweetly budding romance and learned valuable lessons of faith, trust and control. All in all, By Your Side is a great read, and now I cannot wait to read more from Candace Calvert.

Thanks to Tyndale BlogNetwork, I received a copy of By Your Side and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Distortion by Terri Blackstock

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

When Juliet Cole’s husband of fifteen years is gunned down in a dark parking lot before her eyes, she thinks it was a random shooting. Devastated and traumatized, she answers hours of questioning. When she’s finally allowed to return home to break the news to her boys, she hears a voicemail that takes the situation from a random shooting to a planned, deliberate attack. ‘Mrs. Cole, we know you have access to the supply and the money. If you don’t turn fifty million over to us and give us the codes, then you’ll be burying more family members.’ Suddenly, Juliet realizes that she and her children could be in danger. She teams up with her sisters and PI Michael Hogan to dig into the sham Bob has been living for years. The more she learns, the worse the betrayal. A drug trafficking history, a fortune in cash, and a secret family all emerge to turn Juliet’s belief system on its head, and threaten the things she loves.

Are she and her sisters skilled enough as sleuths to get to the truth?

Distortion is a great addition to Terri Blackstock’s Moonlighters series. As she revisits the familiar Cramer sisters and friends, introduced in the previous novel, Truth Stained Lies, Blackstock provides another whirlwind murder-mystery. It’s intriguing and suspenseful and definitely kept me guessing. I thoroughly enjoyed it - even better than the first novel. I think any fans of Terri Blackstock and the Moonlighters will enjoy Distortion, and now, I can’t wait to see what is next in store for this series.

Thanks to Zondervan and NetGalley, I received a copy of Distortion and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Remember the Lilies by Liz Tolsma

This gripping new tale from Liz Tolsma, Remember the Lilies, is a must-read for fans of WWII-era fiction. When Irene is attacked by a sinister Japanese guard and their secrets are exposed, she and Rand must learn the true meaning of forgiveness—if they can stave off starvation until the American troops bring freedom.

Help Liz celebrate the release of Remember the Lilies with a Kindle Fire giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• One copy of Remember the Lilies

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on 2/19. Winner will be announced at Liz's Remember the Lilies Facebook author chat party. RSVP for a chance to connect with Liz and WWII fiction fans, as well as for a chance to win some great prizes!   

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RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK, TWITTER, or PINTEREST and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 19th!

About the Book

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Irene and Rand come from very different walks of life. Will they find common ground in their fight to survive?

Irene has grown up in the jungle as a missionary with her Aunt Anita, but now she and countless others are imprisoned by Japanese soldiers at the Santo Tomas Internment Camp in the Philippines. Irene and her aunt are safe there, and she keeps busy with her duty of delivering censored messages to the camp's prisoners, but like everyone else, she prays for the war to end and for her freedom.

Rand is a wealthy, womanizing American, whose attempted escape from the internment camp has put himself and others in danger. When Rand and Irene's Aunt Anita meet one another in the hospital, Irene learns more of his story and her heart is determined to save his family.

But the danger outside the walls of the hospital worsens every day, and life in this exotic place is anything but luxurious. Can Irene find Rand's family before they disappear forever? And can a humble missionary woman and an arrogant man find common ground in the face of their biggest fears?

Last year, while reading Daisies Are Forever and Snow on the Tulips, I discovered Liz Tolsma’s gift for capturing various aspects of harrowing days during World War II in fascinating and unique stories. So, I was immensely pleased to find yet another well-told, interesting story of World War II when I picked up Remember the Lilies. Within this book’s pages, Tolsma explores the difficulties of living in the Santo Tomas Internment Camp in Manila. The brutality and cruelty of her characters’ circumstances is astounding and devastating, yet her two main characters, Irene and Rand, remain admirable in their determination to survive. Though they have very different backgrounds, the stark depravity of their situation bring them together as unlikely friends and their romance sweetly stands out within the plot. All in all, Remember the Lilies is a great historical read and I would recommend it for fans of the genre.

Thanks to LitFuse Publicity Group, I received a copy of Remember the Lilies and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. To read other opinions, be sure to check out what other reviewers think here.

About the Author

New York Times best-selling author Liz Tolsma is the author of Daisies Are Forever, Snow on the Tulips and the contributing author of A Log Cabin Christmas. When not busy putting words to paper, Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. She lives in Wisconsin with her husband and children, all adopted internationally.

Find Liz online at her website, Facebook, and Twitter.

The Crimson Cord by Jill Eileen Smith

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Wife to a gambler who took one too many risks, Rahab finds herself sold as a slave to cover her husband's debt. Forced into prostitution, she despairs of ever regaining her freedom and her self-respect. But when Israelite spies enter Jericho and come to lodge at her house, Rahab sees a glimmer of hope and the opportunity of a lifetime.

In one risky moment, she takes a leap of faith, puts her trust in a God she does not know, and vows to protect the spies from the authorities. When the armies of Israel arrive weeks later, Rahab hopes they will keep their promise, but she has no idea what kind of challenges await her outside Jericho's walls – or if she will ever know the meaning of love.

Under Jill Eileen Smith's talented hand, the familiar story of Rahab bursts forth in high definition. Immerse yourself in a world of dark and dusty streets, clandestine meetings, and daring escapes as a mysterious biblical figure claims her full humanity – and a permanent place in your heart.

Jill Eileen Smith’s fictional representation of Rahab’s classic, biblical account in The Crimson Cord is quite the pleasure to read. Smith brings this incredibly broken yet brave woman to life in wonderfully vivid and historic detail. Her story is both heartbreaking and beautiful, filled with tragic circumstances, undeserved second chances and forgiving romance. It’s kept me engaged and enthralled from start to finish, even though I already knew the basics of Rahab’s story. It is a great read and fans of biblical fiction will not want to miss this newest novel from Jill Eileen Smith - I would not hesitate to recommend it.

Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a copy of The Crimson Cord and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

About the Author

Jill Eileen Smith is the bestselling author of the Wives of King David series, the Wives of the Patriarchs series, and The Desert Princess, first in the Loves of King Solomon series. Her research into the lives of biblical women has taken her from the Bible to Israel, and she particularly enjoys learning how women lived in Old Testament times. Jill lives with her family in southeast Michigan. Learn more at her website.

Waiting on Wednesday: Reservations for Two

Hosted weekly by Breaking the Spine 
to spotlight eagerly-anticipated upcoming releases.

Goodreads | Amazon

Title: Reservations for Two

Author: Hillary Manton Lodge

Publisher: WaterBrook Press

Expected Publication Date: 21 April 2015

A culinary concoction of taking chances and finding love in the most delectable places.

Food writer-turned-restaurateur Juliette D’Alisa has more than enough on her plate. While her trip to Provence might have unlocked new answers to her grandmother’s past, it’s also provided new complications in the form of Neil McLaren, the man she can’t give up.

Juliette and Neil find romance simple as they travel through Provence and Tuscany together, but life back home presents a different set of challenges. Juliette has a restaurant to open, a mother combating serious illness, and a family legacy of secrets to untangle – how does Neil, living so far away in Memphis, fit into to her life?

As she confronts an uncertain future, Juliette can’t help but wish that life could be as straightforward as her chocolate chip cookie recipe. Can her French grandmother’s letters from the 1940’s provide wisdom to guide her present? Or will every new insight create a fresh batch of mysteries?

Lethal Beauty by Lis Wiehl with April Henry

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Mia Quinn discovers that a series of seemingly unrelated murders are linked. How far up are the strings being pulled-and what happens when one of her own is at risk?

The murder Mia is prosecuting seems like an open and shut case – until the accused claims he was the real victim and that the dead girl attacked him first. The tabloids dub her a "lethal beauty." Still, a conviction seems imminent. Then a key witness goes missing. Just when it looks like the killer could walk free, the dead woman's mother takes matters into her own hands.

Meanwhile, Charlie Carlson, a Seattle homicide detective, is investigating the murder of a man whose body washed up on the beach of Puget Sound, but he's got little to go on. He has no dental work, fingerprints aren't on file, and he doesn't match any missing person reports. Then a church pianist is senselessly gunned down before horrified parishioners.

All three cases seem unrelated – but are they? Together, Mia and Charlie race to find the answer before another crime hits too close to home.

Lis Wiehl’s Lethal Beauty is quite the read. It combines crime and courtroom drama within one suspenseful and intriguing plotline and also represents aspects of the prevalent yet concealed problem of human trafficking. Amidst the drama, the characters realistically come to life with unique, flawed personalities still admirably determined and passionate in pursuing justice. I couldn’t stop reading it, and with each turning page, I eagerly awaited the satisfying moment all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. From start to finish, Lethal Beauty is a gripping, thrilling, fascinating story that did not leave me disappointed. Fans of crime and legal dramas will not want to miss this latest Mia Quinn novel - I recommend it.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a copy of Lethal Beauty and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)

About the Author

Lis Wiehl is a New York Times best-selling author, Harvard Law School graduate, and former federal prosecutor. A popular legal analyst and commentator for the Fox News Channel, Wiehl appears weekly on The O'Reilly Factor, Lou Dobbs Tonight, Imus in the Morning, Kelly's Court, and more. Visit her online at her website, Twitter or Facebook.

Deadly Echoes by Nancy Mehl

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

After a youth filled with tragedy and upheaval, Sarah Miller's life is finally settled with all echoes of the past silent at last. She happily calls Sanctuary her home and spends her days teaching at the local school.

Sarah's joy at her recent reunion with her sister, Hannah, and meeting the niece she didn't know she had is too soon interrupted when Deputy Sheriff Paul Gleason informs Sarah her sister has been killed. 

As she learns more about Hannah's death, the circumstances are eerily similar to their parents' murder. Sarah enlists Paul's help in digging deeper into the murders the police are dismissing as burglaries gone wrong. Paul's concern encourages Sarah's growing feelings for him, but as their investigation peels back the layers of lies almost twenty years old, they get close to uncovering the truth one person will do anything to hide – even if that means coming after the last remaining members of the Miller family.

Nancy Mehl’s Deadly Echoes is full of mystery, suspense and intrigue. Sarah Miller has just reunited with her long-lost sister when her suspicious murder disrupts their budding relationship. Now, Sarah must do a bit of investigating, determined to uncover the culprit and motivation, ultimately looking for peace and justice. Sarah is a highly likeable, easy-to-root-for character. Mehl kept me hooked from beginning to end, and I could not wait to find out the reasoning for the crime. It’s a wonderfully addictive read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for an enjoyable mystery.

Thanks to Bethany House, I received a copy of Deadly Echoes and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

A Windswept Promise by Brandi Boddie

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Pampered town belle Sophie Charlton has always secretly enjoyed the attention of cowboy Dusty Sterling, a hired worker on her family’s farm, even though she’d never tell him so. But can she go against the will of her family, who insist that she make a good match in Assurance’s most eligible bachelor?

Following The Preacher’s Wife in Brandi Boddie’s Brides of Assurance, A Windswept Promise revisits Assurance, Kansas for another sweet small-town romance. Sophie and Dusty, two characters who made appearances in the previous novel, now have their chance at love, yet encounter no shortage of obstacles in their way. As this couple decides whether love is worth the required risks, I really enjoyed this leisurely-paced, entertaining story Boddie tells and couldn’t wait to see how Sophie and Dusty would reach the ending. A Windswept Promise is a book I would recommend to fans of historical romance (and it can be read as a standalone, though The Preacher’s Wife is also a good read).

Thanks to Booketeria, I received a copy of A Windswept Promise and the opportunity to review it honestly. I was not required to provide a positive review, and all the opinions expressed are my own.

It's Not Who You Know, It's Who You Are: Life Lessons from Winners by Pat Williams with Jim Denney

★★★★✩
Goodreads | Amazon

We live in a culture obsessed with celebrity. We love winners and we want to be winners. But take it from a man who knows more famous people than most of us will ever meet – it’s not who you know that's important, it's who you are inside.

In this inspiring book, Pat Williams draws from over fifty years of brushing shoulders with the greats to help you discover what it really means to be a winner. Through his short meditations on success, leadership, family and friends, impact and influence, and becoming a person of excellence, you'll meet:

· a young singer who messed up the national anthem and shot to stardom anyway
· a coach who sacrificed his time to give his players the edge
· a marathon runner who knew the secret to pacing yourself
· a political outsider who confidently reached for an impossible goal
· a football player who wouldn't let a broken leg stop him from getting to the Super Bowl
· and many more ordinary people with extraordinary character

These entertaining stories of fascinating people from all walks of life will motivate you to do your best, be yourself, and continually strive to be the person God made you to be.

In It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who You Are, Pat Williams compiles interesting experiences and encounters he has had with a wide array of celebrities over the years, highlighting topics such as success and leadership. Each short and quick story shares a valuable piece of advice. Though it seemed a bit repetitive to me at times, It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who You Are is an easy, encouraging and enjoyable read.

Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a copy of It’s Not Who You Know, It’s Who You Are and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

About the Authors

Pat Williams is senior vice president of the NBA's Orlando Magic. He has more than fifty years of professional sports experience, has written dozens of books, including the popular Coach Wooden and Coach Wooden's Greatest Secret, and is one of America's most sought-after motivational speakers. He lives in Florida. Learn more at his website.

Jim Denney is a full-time freelance writer with more than one hundred published books to his credit. His collaborative titles include Reggie White in the Trenches, Undefeated with Bob and Brian Griese, and numerous books with Pat Williams, including Go for the Magic, Coach Wooden, and Coach Wooden's Greatest Secret.

The First Principle by Marissa Shrock

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

In the not-too-distant future, the United Regions of America has formed. Governors hold territories instead of states, and while Washington, DC, is gone, the government has more control than ever before. For fifteen-year-old Vivica Wilkins, the daughter of a governor, this is life as usual. High school seems pretty much the same – until one day, that controlling power steps right through the door during study hall. When Vivica speaks out to defend her pregnant friend against the harsh treatment of Population Management Officer Marina Ward, she has no idea she's sowing the seeds of a revolution in her own life. But it isn't long before she discovers her own illegal pregnancy. Now she has to decide whether to get the mandatory abortion – or follow her heart, try to keep the baby, and possibly ruin her mother's chances at becoming president. A rebel group called the Emancipation Warriors, who are fighting to restore freedoms once held unalienable, offer her asylum. Can Vivica trust these rebels to help her or will they bring everything crashing down around her? Accepting their help may come with consequences she isn't ready to face. Marissa Shrock's debut novel crafts a chilling story of what may be to come if we allow the economic and moral crises currently facing our country to change the foundations on which we built our independence – and of the difference one person can make when they choose to trust God's lead.

Marissa Shrock’s The First Principle definitely surprised me and I liked it a lot more than I expected I would. Set in a futuristic, dystopian society, this novel tackles difficult topics within a highly addictive plotline, filled with fast-paced action and thought-provoking emotions. I couldn’t seem to put it down. It’s a quick, entertaining read - and I certainly hope there is more to come for Vivica. I can’t wait. But in the meantime, I recommend this novel for readers of young adult fiction who enjoy dystopian societies.

Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of The First Principle and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

Where Rivers Part by Kellie Coates Gilbert

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Success too often comes with a price. Juliet never imagined it could be so high.

Dr. Juliet Ryan has devoted her considerable scientific acumen to corporate America, providing safe drinking water for millions – and affording her plenty of perks along the way. It's not the path her estranged father would have her take, but then Juliet finds it difficult to maintain respect for a man she cannot trust. She's on her way up in the world, and she's not going to let anything drag her down.

But when a fast-moving disaster sweeps Juliet into a whirlpool of corporate scandal, lives are at risk – including those of some of the people closest to her. As she scrambles to find answers, Juliet must face her deepest wounds and join forces with the one who has hurt her most in order to expose a far-reaching conspiracy.

Like a mighty river with twists and turns and hidden rocks, this engrossing story will sweep you relentlessly along as it fearlessly explores the seduction of success, the fear of giving up control, and the redemptive power of learning to forgive.

With Where Rivers Part, Kellie Coates Gilbert tells an engaging story of relationships and faith. Gilbert’s main character, Dr. Juliet Ryan, finds herself in the midst of a set of intriguing and problematic situations with her work, her family and her faith. As it seems her carefully constructed world crumbles around her, she desperately searches for truth, continually wondering who she can trust. Full of suspense and drama, Where Rivers Part is a highly interesting read, and I think other fans of contemporary fiction will enjoy it as much as I did. I would recommend it.

Thanks to Revell Reads, I received a copy of Where Rivers Part and the opportunity to provide an honest review. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own.

About the Author

Kellie Coates Gilbert is a former legal investigator and trial paralegal and the author of A Woman of Fortune. Gilbert crafts her emotionally charged stories about women in life-changing circumstances in Dallas, Texas, where she lives with her husband.