Fifth Column by Mike Hollow

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

Detective Inspector Jago investigates, uncovering deception and betrayal.

At first glance, the young woman found in the early hours of the morning where bombs have landed is just another casualty of the previous night's air raid. But when the post-mortem shows signs of strangulation, Detective Inspector Jago is called on to investigate.

The dead woman is smartly dressed but carries no identification. However, a local engineering company reports a staff member has failed to appear at work that morning and the body is quickly identified as that of Miss Mary Watkins.

DI Jago's initial interviews yield little fruit; no one can think of a reason why Mary would be murdered. But as the investigation continues DI Jago begins to uncover a trail of deception and betrayal.

The Cantaloupe Thief by Deb Richardson-Moore

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon 

Too many people are staying silent about a ten-year-old murder case--it's time for reporter Branigan Powers to investigate.

Branigan Powers knows a good story when she sees one--and the ten-year-old cold case of wealthy Alberta Grambling Resnick's murder definitely makes the cut. Resnick was stabbed in her home after she let it slip that she was planning to change her will. There are plenty of suspects in the death of the matriarch of the town's founding family, but the killer has never been caught.

Now Branigan must do some serious digging to get her story. She knows the town's homeless community might have seen something; she also knows that the local cops wouldn't have thought of questioning these often invisible people. There's a big problem, though; as Branigan starts digging, the homeless start dying. When her twin brother, a long-time addict, gets involved, the consequences of her investigation may hit a little too close to home.

Set in the fictional small town of Grambling, Georgia, The Cantaloupe Thief is the first in a new mystery series by Deb Richardson-Moore. The author is herself a former journalist and works extensively with the homeless, lending weight to the portrayal of a believable and engaging whodunit.

The first Branigan Powers mystery, The Cantaloupe Thief offers a compelling mystery that kept me hooked from beginning to end. The premise is intriguing, the discoveries and revelations steadily paced, and the characters and setting well established. And having previously worked with members of the homeless population, I appreciated Richardson-Moore’s ability to realistically incorporate this aspect into her story. All in all, The Cantaloupe Thief is an interesting and delight read with plenty of unexpected twists, and I recommend it to fans of mystery.

Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of The Cantaloupe Thief 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.

Like a River From Its Course by Kelli Stuart

Travel back in time in Kelli Stuart's new novel, Like a River from Its Course, as the city of Kiev is bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union. This sweeping historical saga takes the reader on a captivating journey into the little-known history of Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives. Based on true stories gathered from fifteen years of research and interviews with Ukrainian World War II survivors, Like a River From Its Course is a story of love, war, heartache, forgiveness, and redemption.

Celebrate the release of Like a River from Its Course with Kelli by entering to win a Kindle Fire Prize Pack.

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Like a River from Its Course
• A Kindle Fire
• A Kindle Fire case (winner's choice)
• A $30 Amazon gift card

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on July 18th. The winner will be announced July 19th on Kelli's blog.

About the Book

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

An epic novel exposing the ugliness of war and the beauty of hope.

The city of Kiev was bombed in Hitler's blitzkrieg across the Soviet Union, but the constant siege was only the beginning for her citizens. In this sweeping historical saga, Kelli Stuart takes the reader on a captivating journey into the little--known history of Ukraine's tragedies through the eyes of four compelling characters who experience the same story from different perspectives.

Maria Ivanovna is only fourteen when the bombing begins and not much older when she is forced into work at a German labor camp. She must fight to survive and to make her way back to her beloved Ukraine.

Ivan Kyrilovich is falsely mistaken for a Jew and lined up with 34,000 other men, women, and children who are to be shot at the edge of Babi Yar, the "killing ditch." He survives, but not without devastating consequences.

Luda is sixteen when German soldiers rape her. Now pregnant with the child of the enemy, she is abandoned by her father, alone, and in pain. She must learn to trust family and friends again and find her own strength in order to discover the redemption that awaits.

Frederick Hermann is sure in his knowledge that the Fuhrer's plans for domination are right and just. He is driven to succeed by a desire to please a demanding father and by his own blind faith in the ideals of Nazism. Based on true stories gathered from fifteen years of research and interviews with Ukrainian World War II survivors, Like a River From Its Course is a story of love, war, heartache, forgiveness, and redemption.

I read a lot of books set during World War II, so I always love picking up a book able to show an aspect of the conflict unfamiliar to me - like Kelli Stuart’s Like a River From Its Course does. Focusing on the Ukrainian experience throughout the war, Stuart tells an utterly heartbreaking but still inspiring story of intersecting characters. Their circumstances are tragic, horrific, and haunting, but their perseverance and resilience shine in the midst of the darkness. It’s a truly beautiful and captivating story, enhanced by the depth of Stuart’s research. One of my favorite reads of the year so far, I highly recommend Like a River From Its Course to any historical fiction readers. It’s worth a read as soon as possible.

Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of Like a River From Its Course 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.

Lethal Harvest by William Cutrer & Sandra Glahn

★★★★✩
Goodreads | Amazon

"A Machiavellian plot…[and] a satisfying medical thriller." -Library Journal

In order to save the president's life, a brilliant embryologist--the president's nephew--made a "devil's bargain" with a secret group of federal agents. But Tim Sullivan's illegal genetic manipulations of human embryos place everyone he knows at risk. Before he can finish his work, a freakish accident kills him and leaves only troubling questions behind.

Now his partner, Ben McKay, and Tim's widow, Marnie, must uncover the hidden truth about Tim's research before more lives are swept away. In the process, they're forced to face their feelings for each other and the dark secrets in their own pasts. This story of love, loss, and danger crosses international borders from Mexico to the former Soviet Union in order to answer one searing question: if Tim's research is completed, what form will the strange and dangerous harvest take?

Ambition, jealousy, and the ultimate meaning of love move this riveting story through the dark labyrinth that may lie buried under breakthroughs in genetic research and cloning.

Lethal Harvest by William Cutrer and Sandra Glahn offers an excellent read to anyone interested in medical thrillers - it certainly kept me interested as one embryologist’s secret and illegal research directs a plot full of mystery, suspense, and questions about genetics, ethics, and faith. Although, in a few places, the research-related terminology and explanations seemed a bit excessive to me, the plot moves at a fast pace with plenty of twists and turns to keep readers on the edge of their seats. I really enjoyed Lethal Harvest and now need to check out the other Bioethics books.

Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of Lethal Harvest 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.

The Last Ride by Susan K. Marlow

★★★★✩

Andi's newest adventure may be more than she can handle-even with her family's help.

Andrea Carter is turning sweet 16 and life could not be better. She's about to finish school, her sister Melinda is getting married, and her older brother Justin has a new baby to spoil. There will be plenty of time to work with the colt of her treasured palomino horse, Taffy, and best of all, Andi will finally get to work full-time for the ranch she loves.

There's just one problem: a city-slicker cousin named Daniel. Left there by his father, with a cryptic warning that New York City life has done damage to the young man's character, Daniel wants nothing to do with the ranch. He ignores Andi's lessons, walks away from responsibility, wrecks valuable equipment, and even runs away to San Francisco.

The Carter family is in a frenzy trying to keep Daniel under control. When Andi discovers a horrifying secret about him, he forces her to stay silent. But all that changes when Daniel's actions put lives in danger. Andi's anger over her loss threatens to destroy not only Andi but her entire Circle C world. Can anyone break through the wall around Andi's bitter heart and help her find healing?

Loyal long-time readers of Susan Marlow's historical fiction will line up for an older Andi's newest adventure, and her discovery of how powerful love can be.

Andrea Carter has grown up page after page of Susan K. Marlow’s books, and in her latest one, The Last Ride, Andi turns sixteen and enjoys her responsibilities at the ranch, but soon faces a most challenging disruption. I have not read any of Marlow’s previous book, and while I’m sure they would have helped me to understand aspects of The Last Ride better, I still enjoyed my reading experience. As Andi deals with her difficult cousin, as well as her anger and bitterness, she offers readers spiritual encouragement amidst adventure, drama, and a touch of romance. It’s an entertaining and emotional read that I’m sure will not leave fans of Marlow’s series disappointed.

Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of The Last Ride 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.

The Aleppo Code by Terry Brennan

★★★★★

Will the code reveal history’s most powerful weapon for destruction – or humanity’s only hope?

The living members of Tom Bohannon’s band of adventurers gather again in Jerusalem – physically battered, emotionally exhausted, spiritually challenged, and in various stages of shock – to examine a copy of the tenth-century Aleppo Code, the oldest complete text of Jewish scripture. What the clues inside reveal could lead to the reuniting of the Ark of the Covenant with its true source of power, a weapon that could lead to victory for this ragged bunch trying to save the world.

Hunted by the relentless assassins of the Prophet’s Guard and caught in the web of an international conspiracy plotting the conquest of Europe, Bohannon’s team searches the ruins of Ancient Babylon. Their search lands them amid the chaos that engulfs western Iraq, but they must press on to accomplish one of the most pivotal pieces of end-times prophecy. This intrepid group will uncover secrets that require them to risk everything for their faith, their country, and the peace of all mankind. 

Unfolding against the backdrop of an Israeli/U.S. strike against Iran and the planned economic overthrow of the European Union by the sinister, secret head of the international Muslim Brotherhood, The Aleppo Code is a heart-pounding race. Brennan takes an epic story on a grand scale and tells it primarily through the eyes of one man who is desperately trying to save the world as he follows God’s purpose for his life.

The third of Terry Brennan’s Jerusalem Prophecies novels, The Aleppo Code takes its readers on a riveting adventure rivaling that of Indiana Jones. Tom Bohannon and his team follow clues around the world in search of an important and powerful historical artifact, hoping to keep it out of the wrong hands. Though I haven’t yet read the previous two books (The Sacred Cipher and TheBrotherhood Conspiracy), I certainly enjoyed reading The Aleppo Code with all its fast-paced and non-stop adventure, intrigue, and action, and would recommend that fans of adventure take the time to read this book - but any interested reader should start from the beginning (unlike me), as I imagine reading the first two books would help in understanding the characters better. Still, it’s a highly enjoyable, exciting, and worthwhile read.

Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of The Aleppo Code 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 Cup of Dust by Susie Finkbeiner

★★★★★

Where you come from isn’t who you are.

Ten-year-old Pearl Spence is a daydreamer, playing make-believe to escape life in Oklahoma’s Dust Bowl in 1935. The Spences have their share of misfortune, but as the sheriff’s family, they’ve got more than most in this dry, desolate place. They’re who the town turns to when there’s a crisis or a need – and during these desperate times, there are plenty of both, even if half the town stands empty as people have packed up and moved on.

Pearl is proud of her loving, strong family, though she often wearies of tracking down her mentally impaired older sister or wrestling with her grandmother’s unshakable belief in a God who Pearl just isn’t sure she likes.

Then a mysterious man bent on revenge tramps into her town of Red River. Eddie is dangerous and he seems fixated on Pearl. When he reveals why he’s really there and shares a shocking secret involving the whole town, dust won’t be the only thing darkening Pearl’s world.

While the tone is suspenseful and often poignant, the subtle humor of Pearl’s voice keeps A Cup of Dust from becoming heavy-handed. Finkbeiner deftly paints a story of a family unit coming together despite fractures of distress threatening to pull them apart.

A Cup of Dust tells the heartfelt coming-of-age story of ten-year-old Pearl Spence, living in the midst of Oklahoma’s Dust Bowl. Author Susie Finkbeiner writes this stunning, dramatic historical novel with realistic characters and vivid descriptions and authentically conveys the experience of the time and place. From the start, I was captivated by Finkbeiner’s novel and couldn’t put it down. It’s a fascinating read and any fan of historical fiction should not hesitate to pick up A Cup of Dust - it’s well worth the read and I would definitely recommend it.

Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of A Cup of Dust 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.

The Methusaleh Project by Rick Barry

★★★★★

Nazi scientists started many experiments. One never ended. 

Roger Greene is a war hero. Raised in an orphanage, the only birthright he knows is the feeling that he was born to fly. Flying against the Axis Powers in World War II is everything he always dreamed – until the day he's shot down and lands in the hands of the enemy. 

When Allied bombs destroy both his prison and the mad genius experimenting on POWs, Roger survives. Within hours, his wounds miraculously heal, thanks to those experiments. The Methuselah Project is a success – but this ace is still not free. Seventy years later, Roger hasn't aged a day, but he has nearly gone insane. This isn't Captain America – just a lousy existence only made passable by a newfound faith. The Bible provides the only reliable anchor for Roger's sanity and his soul. When he finally escapes, there's no angelic promise or personal prophecy of deliverance, just confusion. It's 2015 – and the world has become an unrecognizable place. 

Katherine Mueller – crack shot, genius, and real Southern Belle – offers to help him find his way home. Can he convince her of the truth of his crazy story? Can he continue to trust her when he finds out she works for the very organization he's trying to flee? 

Thrown right into pulse-pounding action from the first page, readers will find themselves transported back in time to a believable, full-colored past, and then catapulted into the present once more. The historical back-and-forth adds a constantly moving element of suspense to keep readers on the edge of their seats.

The Methuselah Project by Rick Barry is one book that surprised me in the best of ways. This unique novel, spanning from World War II to the present day, combines a bit of nearly everything into one story: history with speculative imaginings, adventure, suspense, surprising humor, and even a touch of romance. All together, these elements create a completely addicting read, and I had a hard time putting it down. From start to finsih, I completely enjoyed it and could easily recommend it to interested reads.. Fans of historical fiction would not be disappointed with The Methuselah Project.

Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of The Methuselah Project 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. 

Direct Hit by Mike Hollow

★★★★★

On the first night of the Blitz, a body is discovered in a van in the back streets of West Ham. DI John Jago is called to the scene and recognizes the body as local Justice of the Peace and businessman Charles Villiers. Shortly afterwards a blast destroys the scene. Jago quickly establishes that Villiers’ wife and adult son Edward both have possible motives, and that there was a rift between Villiers and his brother Arthur. But as he begins the investigation, Jago is annoyed when his boss tells him to help an American journalist who’s writing about public morale – even more so when he finds it’s a woman, Dorothy Appleton. As Jago and Appleton follow leads, they realize that the dead man held many secrets, some of which reach back to World War I. Rather a lot of people wished Villiers dead – and an air raid is a good time to bury bad news.

I love reading books set anywhere in the time period of World War II, so needless to say, I really enjoyed Mike Hollow’s compelling novel, Direct Hit. With fascinating characters entrenched in gripping mystery amidst historical details of the Blitz, this novel had me turning page after page from start to finish. A great overall read with a steady pace, Direct Hit offers a fantastic choice for fans of historical mystery and I would certainly recommend it to interested readers.

Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of Direct Hit 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.

Day of Atonement: A Novel of the Maccabean Revolt by David A. deSilva

★★★★★

In the blank pages between Malachi and Matthew, the course of an entire nation was changed…

His brother, the high priest Honiah, enjoyed the authority of the high priesthood, and all important decisions needed his approval. But it was Jason who was shaping the future of Jerusalem and, with it, all Judea. He breathed in again, imagining that he could feel the wave of destiny impelling him forward toward his vision as he exhaled…

The Greeks have taken over the world, but Jerusalem is still the same backwater city Jason has always known. He wants to help his hometown rise to a new age of prosperity and influence. If that means stretching the terms of the city's divine covenant, so be it. But how far is he willing to go to achieve Greek greatness for this Jewish city?

It will take the willingness of a handful of Jews to die rather than violate the covenant in order to turn the tide back to God. Written by an internationally recognized expert in the period between the Testaments, Day of Atonement invites readers into Judea during the tumultuous years leading up to the Maccabean Revolt. It was this pivotal decade that reminded Jews of the centrality of the covenant to their national security and taught them that the covenant was worth dying for. The story is so foundational, it is still told every year at Hanukkah. The lessons learned during this turbulent time also shed light on just what was at stake in the ministry of Jesus, whose radical message seemed to threaten the covenant once again.

David A. DeSilva’s Day of Atonement kept me fascinated with a time in history previously unfamiliar to me. Rich in historical detail, this well-paced novel delves into the complicated circumstances surrounding Maccabean Revolt. With well-developed characters and authentic feeling, DeSilva brings this period to life so well that I really enjoyed this all-around interesting novel. I recommend it to readers interested in biblical fiction, for it is quite a worthwhile and valuable read.

Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of Day of Atonement 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.

Mercy's Rain by Cindy K. Sproles

★★★★★

Mercy Roller knows her name is a lie: there has never been any mercy in her young life. Raised by a twisted and abusive father who called himself the Pastor, she was abandoned by the church community that should have stood together to protect her from his evil. Her mother, consumed by her own fear and hate, won't stand her ground to save Mercy either.

The Pastor has robbed Mercy of innocence and love, a husband and her child. Not a single person seems capable of standing up to the Pastor's unrestrained evil. So Mercy takes matters into her own hands.

Her heart was hardened to love long before she took on the role of judge, jury, and executioner of the Pastor. She just didn't realize the retribution she thought would save her, might turn her into the very thing she hated most.

Sent away by her angry and grieving mother, Mercy's path is unclear until she meets a young preacher headed to counsel a pregnant couple. Sure that her calling is to protect the family, Mercy is drawn into a different life on the other side of the mountain where she slowly discovers true righteousness has nothing evil about it – and that there might be room for her own stained and shattered soul to find shelter…and even love.

Mercy's Rain is a remarkable historical novel set in 19th century Appalachia that traces the thorny path from bitterness to forgiveness and reveals the victory and strength that comes from simple faith.

Cindy K. Sproles offers a beautiful story in her novel, Mercy’s Rain. It did begin a bit slowly and, at first, had me wondering how well I would like it. However, the narration quickly sucked me into both the time and place, in addition to the story. Sproles’ narrator, Mercy Roller, is an willful and admirable character grounded in her Appalachian roots, completely broken by her past and uncertain of her future. She progresses through the story, learning how to heal and trust, offer forgiveness, accept love and have faith. An overall extraordinary and engaging story, Mercy’s Rain is worth a read for fans of historical fiction. I recommend it - once picked up, it;s a hard book to put down.

Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of Mercy’s Rain 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.

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.

The Abbot's Agreement by Mel Starr

★★★★✩
Goodreads | Amazon

A new and disturbing puzzle for the medieval surgeon-turned-sleuth.

Master Hugh de Singleton is making his way toward Oxford when he discovers the corpse of a young Benedictine not half a mile from the nearby abbey.

The abbey's novice master confirms the boy's identity; it is John, one of three novices. He had gone missing four days previous, and yet his corpse is fresh. There has been plague in the area, but this was not the cause of death – the lad has been stabbed in the back. To Hugh’s sinking heart, the abbot has a commission for him.

With realistic medical procedures of the period, droll medieval wit, and a consistent underlying sense of Christian compassion, the seventh in the chronicles of Hugh de Singleton will delight medieval history and crime fiction fans alike.

The Abbot’s Agreement by Mel Starr was my first venture into the Chronicles of Hugh de Singleton, Surgeon and I think it proved worthwhile. Though this book is the seventh in the series, I enjoyed and understood it quite well on its own. Set in the medieval era, The Abbot’s Agreement intrigued me with its history and mystery, and I loved seeing the investigation of the murder unfold within the medieval limitations. I must admit, the pace is a bit slow, so it took me a while to really get into the story, but all in all, The Abbot’s Agreement is a compelling and satisfying mystery to read.

Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of The Abbot’s Agreement 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.

The Bachelor by Stephanie Reed

★★★★★
Goodreads | Amazon

In this sequel to The Bargain, Betsie Troyer is back home in her Amish community where she knows she belongs, free from the confusing Englisher way of life. She and Charley Yoder have made promises to each other, and her life is back on track - until Gerald Sullivan shows up with his young daughter, asking for Betsie's help. He's on his way to find his estranged wife, and begs Betsie to take young Sheila in.

When she agrees, Betsie's carefully planned life is shaken up again. Sheila's newfound faith is troubling to Charley - and his attraction to another girl is beginning to be a problem. But how can Betsie confront him when she is still trying to confront her own feelings about Sheila's brother, Michael? Keeping the peace between the Amish man she's always loved, a twelve-year-old Englisher girl, and a draft-dodging hippie is more than she ever thought she'd have to deal with in her simple, orderly life. Still, Betsie is convinced she can keep things from falling apart completely.

Then during her best friend's wedding, tragedy strikes and her world is upended. She has to make a decision: does she love Charley or Michael...or is she craving a deeper love that only God can give?

The compelling second novel of the Plain City Peace series, The Bachelor deftly weaves together the strands of a solid, simpler time with the turmoil of an era of change, revealing the strengths of both in its powerful narrative.

Before I started reading Amish fiction, I assumed all the Amish-community aspects to be pretty much the same across the many stories, only varying with characters and scenarios - but I have quickly realized I was quite wrong. Each author I have read presents their constructed Amish community and its viewpoints a bit differently and I really enjoy finding and learning the similarities and differences while reading. So, as I read Stephanie Reed’s The Bachelor, I found yet another intriguing Amish community in the Plain City, Ohio of the 1970s. Betsie Troyer’s simple life becomes incredibly complicated when she faces challenging decisions, forced to choose between her Amish loyalties and English friends. An admirable protagonist, Betsie makes her choices with genuine love and faith, and I love following her story all the way to the end (especially with the added historical backdrop). It’s an encouraging and moving story, and I think any fan of Amish fiction will want to read Stephanie Reed’s The Bachelor. 

It is important to note that The Bachelor is the second book in Stephanie Reed’s Plain City Peace series, picking up the story where, I assume, The Bargain leaves it. I have not read The Bargain and still, reading The Bachelor was an enjoyable experience for me. I did have to make some assumptions about relationships, situations and overall backstory, which probably occurred in the first book - but for the most, I felt like I understood what was happening and did not mind the assumptions I had to make. However, for readers unlike me, who prefer having all the information to understand the references and backstory, I would definitely recommend reading The Bargain before The Bachelor.

Thanks to Kregel Publications, I received a copy of The Bachelor 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.