Synopsis

 

Twelve-year-old Abby has a lot to worry about: Climate change. The news. The Great Pacific Garbage Patch. And now moving to Florida for her mom’s new job at an aerospace company.

On the Space Coast, Abby meets two boys, Adam and Bix, who tell her they’re “a long way from home” and need her help. Abby discovers they’re from the future, from a time when all the problems of the 21st century have been solved. Thrilled, Abby strikes a deal with them: She’ll help them—if they let her come to the future with them. But soon Abby is forced to question her attachment to a perfect future and her complicated feelings about the present.

 

 

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Review

 

This new middle-grade book has a lot to offer a young (or older) reader. There are people from the future that end up on earth; Abby is dealing with a move away from her best friend, her anxiety about life in general, and the turmoil occurring in her own home with her mom and dad.

I found this story to be engaging, and I enjoyed how the author brought in the people from the future, Adam and Bix, and Abby’s interactions with them. The author also handled Abby’s anxiety very well. She addressed it and gave Abby a link to her mother and a way for them to forge a new bond.

Abby is caring and compassionate, which is evident in her interactions with Adam and Bix. She finds them a place to stay while they wait for Vanessa to arrive from the future. They have interesting conversations, and Abby is excited about the state of the future and wants to leave this time behind. However, will she give up everything to jump into the future? Are Adam and Bix doing her any favors by sharing what the world will be like?

This story is fast-paced, with a minor mystery to figure out regarding text messages Abby receives on her phone. Abby does make a new friend, Julianna, who helps her integrate better into school and becomes a good friend. She even finds common ground with her mom, which forges a stronger bond between the two.

This would be a good read for anyone over 8. We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Laura Schaefer is the author of The Teashop Girls, The Secret Ingredient, and Littler Women: A Modern Retelling. Born and raised in Wisconsin, Laura currently lives in Windermere, Florida, with her husband and daughter, where she enjoys visiting theme parks and watching rocket launches from her front yard.

 

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Synopsis

 

A humorous and heartwarming novel about friendship and all its little secrets by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Jamie Beck.

Wendy Moore hides her collection of pilfered bric-a-brac from everyone, including her husband. He thinks she licked her kleptomania in therapy more than a decade ago. Therapy did help, as did focusing her attention on motherhood. But now Wendy’s gardening and furniture-refinishing hobbies fill up only so much of the day, leaving the recent empty nester lonely and anxious—a combination likely to trigger her little problem. She needs a project, fast. Luckily, Harper Ross—a single, childless younger woman in desperate need of highlights—just moved in next door.

The only thing Harper wants to change is the writer’s block toppling her confidence and career. Then a muse comes knocking. Sensing fodder for a new antagonist, Harper plays along with Wendy’s “helpful” advice while keeping her career a secret so Wendy keeps talking. Sure, she’s torn about profiting off her neighbor’s goodwill—especially when Wendy’s matchmaking actually pans out—but Harper’s novel is practically writing itself.

Just as a real friendship begins to cement, their deceptions come to light, threatening Wendy’s and Harper’s futures and forcing them to reconcile who they are with who they want to be. Easier said than done.

 

 

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Review

 

I always enjoy Jamie’s books, and this one is no exception. This story is about friendship, breaking molds, and moving forward in one’s life.

Wendy is out of sorts because her good friend and neighbor has moved away, her son has gone off to college, and something is going on with her husband. All of these can be stressors in our lives, and it is a double-edged sword for Wendy because she also has an impulse control issue – kleptomania. I don’t know much about this disorder personally, but the author does a good job explaining it and sharing how it is a mental health issue. Mental Health issues run rampant in our world today, so bringing one to light helped me understand a little bit more about it so I would be prepared if I encountered it in my world.

Harper is a writer that had a successful debut novel, but her second novel was a flop. She moves to this small town for inspiration for her new novel, and she finds it in spades. But at what cost? Harper is a very jaded woman, and while I understand where she is coming from, she tends to push her ideas and thoughts onto others without considering, listening to, or understanding their position.

This story is told from both points of view, and it was interesting to see how each viewed certain situations. Both are right and wrong at different times, and as the story progresses, we see them slowly start to change and adapt to their new lives or at least be more open to different viewpoints. It is an unlikely friendship, but it works.

It did take me a little while to get into the story, perhaps about 15-20%, but then I felt the story really moved along, and I became more invested in the characters. I enjoyed watching them realize their flaws and foibles and move past them, or at least acknowledge them.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

National bestselling author Jamie Beck’s realistic and heartwarming stories have sold more than two million copies. She’s a Booksellers’ Best Award and National Readers’ Choice Award finalist, and critics at Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, and Booklist have respectively called her work “smart,” “uplifting,” and “entertaining.” In addition to writing, the author of the Cabot novels, the Sterling Canyon novels, and the St. James series enjoys dancing around the kitchen while cooking and hitting the slopes in Vermont and Utah. Above all, she is a grateful wife and mother to a very patient, supportive family.

Fans can learn more about her on her website, www.jamiebeck.com, which includes a fun “Extras” page with photos, videos, and playlists. She also loves interacting with everyone on Facebook.

 

Website * Facebook * Twitter * Goodreads

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

Secrets can protect what the truth will destroy.

Elidor MacKenzie has a gift she can’t return—the ability to absorb the joy, pain, and suffering of others. She’s spent her life running from what she considers her curse. Now, her best friend is dead, and she alone holds the key to an archaeological discovery that could destroy a culture. With newfound inner peace, Elidor has returned home to make amends and guard the secret revelation. But greed-driven scavengers have followed her. Once again, the energies of Joshua will stir the hurricane, with her at the deadly center.

Jules never got over Elidor. Twenty years and a famous journalism career later, he’s back in Joshua—and so is his first love. If his heart can stand the torture, he’ll risk reviving their relationship. But saving Elidor from herself and the secret she won’t give up may be the death of them both.

With Jules by her side, Elidor is determined to outrun the scavengers, guard the secret, and renew their love. But fate is coming after her, and there’s nowhere the couple can hide.

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

 

Review

 

This is the third book in the MacKenzie series that features each sibling in this family. While this is a series, you can read out of order, but I never recommend that only because you get to know the characters and will understand certain references to previous books a bit better.

Elidor is the baby of the family and an empath. Because her mother died when she was young, she never really understood her gift or how to control it, and this was harder around her family, especially when they were grieving for her mom. The loss of a friend on a dig has her heading back to Joshua to see her family and her sister, Magpie, get married. While there, she runs into Julian, her first love and perhaps only love. On top of this, she has people after her because she and her friend discovered a hidden burial site but refuse to divulge the location leaving it to the Apache people and not the government to take for their own benefit.

The book spans about a week, but there is a lot of action packed into the pages. I enjoyed watching the story unfold and the second chance at romance between Elidor and Julian. The descriptions of the scenery and town drew me in, and I felt like I was there with the characters. I liked the multiple points of view between Elidor and Egan. Egan is not one of the good guys, but his POV helps us understand his motivation and what drives him to seek answers from Elidor.

This book was also a fun look back at what is happening with Elidor’s siblings and father. This is a quirky small town, yet the sense of the community is strong.

I don’t know if there will be any more books in this series, but if there are, perhaps it will be to give their dad his story with his new girlfriend, Annette. I feel like there is more to their story than what we have learned so far.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Brenda Whiteside is the author of suspenseful, action-adventure stories with a touch of romance. Mostly. After living in six states and two countries—so far—she and her husband have decided they are gypsies at heart, splitting their time between Central Arizona and the RV life. They share their home with a rescue dog named Amigo. While FDW is fishing, Brenda writes.

 

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She blogs and has guests: https://brendawhiteside.blogspot.com/

 

 

 

DANGEROUS BEAUTY

 

by

 

MELISSA KOSLIN

 

 

Fiction / Christian / Romance / Suspense

Publisher: Revell

Pages: 352 pages

Publication Date: September 6, 2022

 

 

Scroll down for the Giveaway!

 

 

 

 

What is the price of freedom?

 

Liliana Vela hates the term victim. She’s not a victim, she’s a fighter. Stubborn and strong with a quiet elegance, she’s determined to take back her life after escaping the clutches of human traffickers. But she can’t stay safely in America–unless the man who aided in her rescue is serious about his unconventional proposal to marry her.

Meric Toledan was just stopping at a service station for a bottle of water. Instead, he becomes the key to Liliana’s rescue. If he can keep his secrets hidden, his wealth and position afford him many resources to help her. But the mysterious buyer who funded her capture will not sit idly by while his prize is stolen from him.

 

 

 

Amazon | Baker Book House | Christianbook

 

Other Revell Affiliates

 

 

Praise

 

“Do not start this book until you have the time to read it in one gulp. This is a really fresh twist on a marriage of convenience with the potential for pages of suspense. The hero and heroine are each hugely compelling, and I just wanted to protect them both. It’s also a sweet story of the healing power of hope. Highly recommend this novel for those who adore romantic suspense with a fresh twist.” —Cara Putman, award-winning author of Flight Risk and Lethal Intent

 

“Koslin brings the underworld of human trafficking to life in a gripping yet redemptive plot.” –Booklist

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are not bound by our circumstances; life is what we make of it.

This tale is one of courage, strength, love, and understanding. Liliana has all of these in spades, and it shines throughout the book. Yes, she may have arrived in the US under some harsh conditions, but she doesn’t let this bring her down. Meric has his own demons he is battling that make it hard for him to recognize that life doesn’t have to be mired in the past.

This book addresses a difficult topic, trafficking. This happens more than we probably realize, and possibly in our own neighborhoods and cities. However, we see that there are people out there that try and stop this from happening when they can. Meric just happened to be in the right place at the right time and was able to extract Liliana from a potentially harmful situation. His actions at the beginning and throughout the book reflect the type of man he is. But these are also his weaknesses because he saw Liliana and fell in love with her beauty right away. But because of his own history, he holds himself back, knowing that Liliana needs to heal from her ordeal. But holding back sends mixed signals, and if I were in Liliana’s shoes, I know that I would be confused as she was.

Liliana is more formidable than Meric gives her credit for. She is not afraid of much and is willing to fight for what is right. She dives head first into helping rescue other trapped women so they don’t endure a fate that might be worse than death. I was in awe of her character and wondered if I could do the same if I were in her shoes. I think Meric’s past held him back, and while he wanted Liliana to heal, it was apparent that he had his own issues that he wasn’t addressing, and it took nearly the entire book to fully understand his position.

The story encompasses approximately a month, but a lot happens during that time; it kept me wondering what could possibly happen next for these characters. Will they stop others from trafficking women? Will they stay safe and away from harm? The story is like an onion, and each chapter peeled back layers of the characters and the various situations. The various characters will either endear you to them or despise them.

I was surprised at the number of characters that thought Meric was holding Liliana captive. She was free to roam about as she pleased, which was not the case for some others we discover later in the book. Their hearts might be in the right place, but they couldn’t have been further from the truth.

This book may not be for everyone, but I enjoyed it and look forward to this author’s next book.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Melissa Koslin is a fourth-degree black belt in and certified instructor of Songahm Taekwondo. In her day job as a commercial property manager, she secretly notes personal quirks and funny situations, ready to tweak them into colorful additions for her books. The author of Never Miss, Melissa lives in Jacksonville, Florida, with her husband, Corey.

 

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GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY! GIVEAWAY!

 

TWO WINNERS:

 

Each receives copies of Dangerous Beauty and Never Miss

 

+ $25 gift card to Bookshop.org

 

(US only; ends midnight, CDT, 9/24/22.)

 

 

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

 

Visit the Lone Star Literary Life Tour Page

 

For direct links to each post on this tour, updated daily,

 

Or visit the participating blogs directly:

 

 

 

9/14/22	Chapter Break Book Blog	Excerpt
9/14/22	Hall Ways Blog	BONUS Promo
9/15/22	StoreyBook Reviews	Review
9/15/22	LSBBT Blog	BONUS Promo
9/16/22	Book Fidelity	Character Interview
9/17/22	The Plain-Spoken Pen	Review
9/18/22	Boys’ Mom Reads!	Notable Quotables
9/19/22	All the Ups and Downs	Author Interview
9/20/22	Stories Under Starlight	Review
9/21/22	Shelf Life Blog	Top 5 List
9/22/22	Jennifer Silverwood	Review
9/23/22	Reading by Moonlight	Review

 

 

 

 

blog tour services provided by

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

She left the NYPD in the firestorm of a high-profile case gone horribly wrong. Three years later, the ghosts of her past roar back to terrifying life.

When NYPD undercover cop Laney Bird’s cover is blown in a racketeering case against the Russian mob, she flees the city with her troubled son, Alfie. Now, three years later, she’s found the perfect haven in Sylvan, a charming town in upstate New York. But then the unthinkable happens: her boy vanishes.

Local law enforcement dismisses the thirteen-year-old as a runaway, but Laney knows better. Alfie would never abandon his special routines and the sanctuary of their home. Could he have been kidnapped–or worse? As a February snowstorm rips through the region, Laney is forced to launch her own investigation, using every trick she learned in her years undercover.

As she digs deeper into the disappearance, Laney learns that Alfie and a friend had been meeting with an older man who himself vanished, but not before leaving a corpse in his garage. With dawning horror, Laney discovers that the man was a confidential informant from a high-profile case she had handled in the past. Although he had never known her real identity, he knows it now. Which means several other enemies do, too. Time is running out, and as Laney’s search for her son grows more desperate, everything depends on how good a detective she really is–badge or no..

 

CrimeReads Notable Debut 2021

Killer Nashville Silver Falchion Award Finalist

 

 

 

Amazon * Barnes&Noble * Indie Bound * Book Depository

 

 

Review

 

I always enjoy a psychological thriller, but I’m not sure what that says about me! In this new series, Laney and her son move to a small town in NY to escape her involvement in undercover work in NYC, trying to bust some drug dealers. There are other issues, too, including her husband leaving her because he doesn’t want to take care of their child anymore. We see that Alfie has some issues, but it is sad to see a parent decide they don’t want to parent anymore. So Laney does what she thinks is best to raise Alfie in a safe environment. However, what town is truly safe, especially when it comes to teenagers? When Alfie disappears, Laney goes off the deep end and decides that no one can do as good of a job finding him as she can. While there is some truth to her words, I felt she was somewhat manic when speaking to people and tracking down clues. Granted, she gets the job done, but at what cost?

The story does flip back and forth in time so that we can understand what she was doing as an undercover cop and what impact that has on the present day’s incidents. You might get an inkling about her partner and that perhaps he isn’t who he appears to be.

We also meet Laney’s best friend, perhaps only friend, Holly. I think Holly gets involved for the adventure until that backfires on her, but sometimes you do need to shake up your life. I liked that Holly wasn’t afraid to jump into situations and at least be there to support Laney.

I thought that Laney should have been more accepting of the police helping her find Alfie. Sometimes small-town police don’t take everything seriously, but I think one officer did despite her impetuous actions. But her actions might have caused more problems despite the results she achieved.

While I had a feeling where this book was going, it still kept me engaged, and the ending sets up the next book or at least a portion of it. That book is next on my list to read, so look for a review in a few days.

Overall, a suspenseful book, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Emilya Naymark is the author of the novels Hide in Place and Behind the Lie.

Her short stories appear in A Stranger Comes to Town, edited by Michael Koryta, Secrets in the Water, After Midnight: Tales from the Graveyard Shift, River River Journal, Snowbound: Best New England Crime Stories 2017, and 1+30: THE BEST OF MYSTORY.

When not writing, Emilya works as a visual artist and reads massive quantities of psychological thrillers, suspense, and crime fiction. She lives in the Hudson Valley with her family.

 

Website * Facebook * FB Author Page * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

Synopsis

 

A disgraced attorney seeking redemption. A single mother desperate to regain custody of her son. Two women willing to risk it all to put a sexual predator behind bars.

 

Former Assistant District Attorney Miranda Quinn is on the brink of a career comeback when she gets a phone call. It’s a witness who disappeared three years earlier, resulting in a violent criminal going free. Miranda was fired as a result, but the witness has resurfaced with a shocking story, one that implicates Miranda and her ex, defense attorney Adam Baxter. And now, there’s a new victim.

Miranda’s legal advice blog-turned-podcast Miranda Writes is about to become a daytime TV show, but the negative press could destroy her credibility. Will the network stand behind her?

When it comes to the law, Miranda has all the answers, but the questions are getting harder and the stakes are getting higher. The dangerous web of lies and cover-ups she exposes leaves her questioning just how much she is willing to risk. She has the right to remain silent, but needs to speak up… doesn’t she?

 

Miranda Writes is a story of how far we’ll go to protect those we love and the power of second chances.

 

 

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Review

 

Mix romance, a little suspense, and quick wit, and you get Miranda Writes.

I was hooked on this book from the get go. Miranda is a lawyer who was somewhat disgraced when she worked for the ADA’s office. She moved to writing a blog and doing a podcast to address legal scenarios, which made her happy. Now, she has been signed by a broadcasting company to do a live show, and she is beyond thrilled. However, the case that threw a wrench into her life has circled back around, and Miranda is in the middle of things, but not necessarily in a good way.

I enjoyed this fast-paced novel that had me wondering who was involved in the coverup from years ago, who was terrorizing Miranda, and would she overcome everything that was being thrown at her. I was quite surprised at different turns of events as Miranda learned the truth about what happened three years ago. While I sympathized with Miranda, some of her actions didn’t make much sense. Everything hinges on one witness, yet when she doesn’t respond, she doesn’t go find out what happened to her. And when she meets a new guy, Eric, she practically falls into bed with him the first moment they are alone. So, while I enjoyed the storyline and uncovering the truth, Miranda’s actions at times were puzzling, to say the least.

There are some twists that I didn’t expect that just added to the depth of the story. I liked that several people got what was coming to them, and they were brought to justice.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Gail Ward Olmsted was a marketing executive and a college professor before she began writing fiction on a fulltime basis. A trip to Sedona, AZ inspired her first novel Jeep Tour. After three more novels: Driving on the Left, Guessing at Normal and Second Guessing, she began Landscape of a Marriage, a biographical work of fiction featuring landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, a distant cousin of her husband’s, and his wife Mary. Her latest, Miranda Writes, is a contemporary novel with a legal twist. She loves writing about quirky, wonderful women in search of a second chance at a happy ever after.

 

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Synopsis

 

The weekend getaway at the gorgeous manor hotel should have been perfect. But Becca is freshly smarting from her husband Blake’s betrayal and knows this is just an expensive attempt at an apology. She may not be ready to forgive him, but the drinks are strong, the estate is stunning, and the weekend has an elaborate 1920s murder mystery theme. She decides to get into the spirit of things and enjoy their stay. What could go wrong?

Before long, the game is afoot: famed speakeasy songstress Ida Crooner is found “murdered,” and it’s up to the guests to sniff out which of them might be the culprit. Playing the role of Miss Debbie Taunte, an ingenue with a dark past, Becca dives into the world of pun-heavy clues, hammy acting, and secret passages, hoping to at least take her mind off her marital troubles.

Then, the morning after they arrive, the actress playing Ida’s maid fails to reappear for her role. The game’s organizer–that’s Miss Ann Thrope to you–assumes the young woman’s flakiness is to blame, but when snooping for clues as “Debbie,” Becca finds evidence she may not have left of her own free will.

 

 

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Review

 

I really enjoyed the concept of this book, a mystery within a mystery. It is a murder mystery weekend for Becca and Blake. Bonus that it is set during the 1920s. Blake knows how much Becca enjoys mysteries, so he books an interactive mystery weekend. However, neither expected there to be an actual murder or the intricacies of those involved. Or maybe that was just me!

I love participating in murder mystery parties, so I really enjoyed this book. The author weaves in the character’s information at the start of each round, including what they are supposed to reveal, what they should keep secret, and other tidbits.

Becca is one hot mess. She and Blake have had some issues recently, and this is his way of trying to get them back on track. However, Becca can’t seem to get past her insecurities which throw a monkey wrench into most of the weekend. While I understood her reactions most of the time, I thought she should have tried to move past it a little bit more and not see deception in everything that Blake did that weekend.

There are quite a few characters to juggle and determine their level of involvement in the murder and the mystery weekend. There are a couple of characters that lead you down a possible path, only to learn the truth later.

When the truth is revealed, I admit I didn’t suspect this character. I possibly should have had an inkling based on some information presented, but I seemed to not connect the dots.

I was disappointed that the murder mystery game was not completed, and we don’t know who was the killer in the game. There is some supposition by Becca, but was she right? We’ll never know.

Overall, an enjoyable book, and we give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Jilly Gagnon is the author of the young adult novel #famous and the suspense novel All Dressed Up. Her work has appeared in Newsweek, Elle, Vanity Fair, The Toast, The Hairpin, The Huffington Post, and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, among others.

She lives in Salem, Massachusetts with her two cats. She loves terrible television and well-crafted Manhattans.

 

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Synopsis

 

Enola Holmes, the much younger sister of Sherlock, is now living independently in London and working as a scientific perditorian (a finder of persons and things). But that is not the normal lot of young women in Victorian England. They are under the near absolute control of their nearest male relative until adulthood. Such is the case of Enola’s friend, Lady Cecily Alastair. Twice before Enola has rescued Lady Cecily from unpleasant designs of her caddish father, Sir Eustace Alastair, Baronet. And when Enola is brusquely turned away at the door of the Alastair home it soons becomes apparent that Lady Cecily once again needs her help.

Affecting a bold escape, Enola takes Lady Cecily to her secret office only to be quickly found by the person hired by Lady Cecily’s mother to find the missing girl—Sherlock Holmes himself. But the girl has already disappeared again, now loose on her own in the unforgiving city of London.

Even worse, Lady Cecily has a secret that few know. She has dual personalities—one, which is left-handed, is independent and competent; the other, which is right-handed is meek and mild. Now Enola must find Lady Cecily again—before one of her personalities gets her into more trouble than she can handle and before Sherlock can find her and return her to her father. Once again, for Enola, the game is afoot.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Bookshop

 

 

Review

 

Ever since I saw the movie on Netflix, I have been captured by this series and have enjoyed every book I have read so far. There is something about this spunky Enola Holmes that draws me in each time. Enola is a self-proclaimed perditorian, which is a finder of lost things or people. She does this exceptionally well, and in this novel, we find her saving her good friend Cecily from her locked room and uncovering a way to keep this from happening again. Because of the time period in which this book is set, most women are considered property. Cecily’s father is not a kind man, and he apparently is up to some unscrupulous things.

We learn more about Enola’s life at the woman’s home and outside the home. Her brothers are always concerned for her, but she is taking classes that thrill them since they just want her to be happy and stay out of trouble. That last part is hard because she is not afraid to stick her nose in where it doesn’t belong when it comes to her friends.

Cecily is a unique character, and I wonder if she is bipolar because she becomes two different people depending on which hand is dominant at the time. The left-hand Cecily is bold and not afraid of anything. The right-hand Cecily is a simpering food and can’t stand up for herself. I liked how Enola would draw out the left-hand Cecily when she needed someone that was more forthright.

I enjoyed the fast pace of the story, Enola’s unique costumes, and the interaction between all of the characters. The descriptions drew me in, and I felt like I was a part of the story. Enola is a role model for young women to achieve more than they think they can.

These are fun reads, so check this series out. We give it 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Nancy Springer is the author of the nationally bestselling Enola Holmes novels, including The Case of the Missing Marquess, which was made into the hit Netflix movie Enola Holmes. She is the author of more than 50 other books for children and adults. She has won many awards, including two Edgar Awards, and has been published in more than thirty countries. She lives in Florida.

 

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LOVE AND THE DREAM COME TRUE

 

State of Grace, Book 3

 

by

 

TAMMY L. GRAY

 

 

Contemporary Christian Fiction / Clean Romance

Publisher: Bethany House

Pages: 368 pages

Publication Date: August 2, 2022

 

 

SCROLL DOWN FOR THE GIVEAWAY!

 

 

 

 

The Anticipated Series Finale to the 2021 Carol Award-Winning Novel, Love and a Little White Lie

Their faith will face its toughest test yet.

Four years after getting the biggest break of his life, Cameron Lee’s music career has taken a nosedive, leaving him two options: become a sellout or give up on his lifelong dream. He reluctantly returns home for his sister’s wedding, hoping to avoid his past and find his love for music again.

Single mom Lexie Walters has suffered her fair share of tragedies and setbacks, but she has finally scraped together the money to achieve her dream of going into business with her cousin as an interior designer. When Lexie’s life is at an all-time high, she runs into her teenage crush, Cameron Lee.

Lost in the emotional turmoil of failure, Cameron is immediately drawn to Lexie and her infectious smile and optimistic spirit. Moreover, he adores her mouthy, no-holds-barred daughter. But fantasies only last so long, and soon Lexie and Cameron must face the real world, the one fraught with heartbreak, disappointment, and questions that sometimes can only be answered by a leap of faith.

 

 

 

 

Baker House Books | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound

 

Amazon | Christianbook | Books-A-Million

 

 

Praise

 

“Cameron and Lexie’s chemistry is palpable, and readers will root for their happily ever after. This tender tale hits all the right notes.”—Publishers Weekly

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good things come to those that wait, and Lexie has waited a long time for her dream to come true. She has been in love with Cameron since she was a kid, paling around with Cassie, Cameron’s sister and Lexie’s best friend. Life threw some wicked curveballs her way, but she never gave up hope or her love for him. Perhaps some would call it obsessive and not realistic; after all, Cameron has become something of a music star and lives in another state. Cameron feels like something is missing in his life, especially when it comes to his music. He thinks he is pouring his heart and soul into the songs, but perhaps something is holding him back.

This book is filled with exciting characters and a wide variety of emotions and feelings that give it depth on a level that we could only imagine. Lexie has spent the last decade raising her sister’s daughter as her own. She wasn’t expecting to become a mother at 19, and thankfully, she was able to raise Morgan in a stable environment. That is until Morgan became a teenager, and we all know what happens with teen emotions and angst. Their relationship is like any other between a parent and a child, fraught with ups and downs. They seem to do well until Lexie uncovers a secret that Morgan has been keeping from her, which does not go well. Cameron has been living on the edge in his career and in a world filled with panic attacks, which doesn’t bode well for a performer. Watching his story unfold allows us to appreciate his issues and perhaps even relate in some respects.

I didn’t realize this was the third in a series, but that did not take away from my enjoyment of reading this novel. I had no preconceived notions of their past and any grudges that any of the characters might have held against another. The characters shared many emotions, both good and bad, and this added to the depth of the story. There are enough flashbacks for a reader to understand the backstory of the relationships between some of the characters. I feel like there is more to Mason’s story that is just touched upon, but the chip on his shoulder is massive. Perhaps he needs his own story?

The theme I keep coming back to is faith. Both Lexie and Cameron have it, but it isn’t perfect. They both have issues that need to be dealt with, which will take time. Nothing is perfect or easy for them, and this is a good reflection on life in general. No one has a perfect life, and we all must have faith as we deal with our struggles.

This was a lovely book, one that made me think about how I approach life and others.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tammy L. Gray lives in the Dallas area with her family, and they love all things Texas. Her nine modern and true-to-life contemporary romances include the 2017 RITA Award-winning My Hope Next Door. When not taxiing her three kids to various events, Tammy can be spotted crunching numbers as the financial administrator at her hometown church.

 

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8/23/2022	The Page Unbound	Guest Post
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8/29/2022	Librariel Book Adventures	Review
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Synopsis

 

Seattle teacher and part-time blogger Hayden McCall wakes sporting one hell of a shiner, with the police knocking at his door. It seems that his new crush, dancer Camilo Rodriguez, has gone missing, and they suspect foul play. What happened the night before? And where is Camilo?

Determined to find answers, pint-sized, good-hearted Hayden seeks out two of Camilo’s friends—Hollister and Burley—both lesbians and both fiercely devoted to their friend. From them, Hayden learns that Camilo is a “Dreamer” whose parents had been deported years earlier and whose sister, Daniela, is presumed to have returned to Venezuela with them. Convinced that the cops won’t take a brown boy’s disappearance seriously, the girls join Hayden’s hunt for Camilo.

The first clues turn up at Barkingham Palace, a pet store where Camilo had taken a part-time job. The store’s owner, Della Rupert, claims ignorance, but Hayden knows something is up. And then there’s Camilo’s ex-boyfriend, Ryan, who’s suddenly grown inexplicably wealthy. When Hayden and Hollister follow Ryan to a secure airport warehouse, they make a shocking connection between him and Della—and uncover the twisted scheme that’s made both of them rich.

The trail of clues leads them to the grounds of a magnificent estate on an island in Puget Sound, where they’ll finally learn the truth about Camilo’s disappearance—and the fate of his family.

 

 

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Review

 

This mystery was different from many of the others that I have read but in a good way. All of the characters are pretty unique, and I chuckled at the descriptions of everyone. I pictured Brendan Scannell from Bonding on Netflix as Hayden. I am probably not too far off the mark with that comparison.

The story starts with Hayden being kicked in the face accidentally when trying to tip a Go-Go dancer at the club. Camillo decides to take him home with him, but I’m not sure if that is because he is interested in him or if he feels bad for giving him a shiner. When Hayden awakes the following day, Camillo is gone, and he decides that the police don’t seem to care and will find Camillo. He ropes in two women, Hollister and Burley, to help uncover the truth. It is quite a twisty tale, and some parts don’t seem possible and weren’t really explained (I can’t give away too much because those details are what the mystery hinges upon).

I liked the fast pace, and of course, there is a dog in the story, Commander. Hayden becomes attached to him while they search for Camillo. I can only imagine how hard that will be to give him up.

One of the minor characters is Jerry. He is Hayden’s aunt’s neighbor and has to be around 90, based on a few comments. I think he could be a major player going forward in future books. He seemed wise and had sage advice for Hayden.

Now Hayden’s neighbor, Sarah? She must not have enough to do because she wanted Hayden out of there for a lease infraction. I do believe that the landlord was wise to her ways, and I think she had a soft spot for Hayden.

There are plenty of clues to uncover the “bad guys,” but not so many that you might figure out the “who” before the end.

I really enjoyed this book and look forward to future installments in this series.

We give the book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Prior to Devil’s Chew Toy, Rob Osler’s short story, Analogue, which was published in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, won the Mystery Writers of America Robert L Fish Award as part of the 2022 Annual Edgar Awards. Rob lives in California with his long-time partner and a tall gray cat.

 

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