Monday, December 29, 2014

FAITH SHIFT



Hope for spiritual refugees, church burnouts, and freedom seekers.

After years of participating in a comfortable faith tradition, many find themselves in a spiritual wilderness, feeling disillusioned with church, longing for more freedom and less religion in their lives.

If that describes you, you’re in good company. Countless men and women are in the middle of a shifting faith—and aren’t sure where to turn.

What if you discovered that losing beliefs doesn’t mean you have to lose your faith?

Pastor, friend, and spiritual director Kathy Escobar has journeyed with many who have experienced significant shifts in the faith they once considered unchangeable. Through their stories and her own, Kathy has discovered that growth and change are natural parts of life in our relationship with God.

Filled with honest stories and practical insights, Faith Shift gives language to what many experience as their faith evolves. With an inviting blend of vulnerability and hope, it addresses the losses that come with spiritual shifts and offers tangible practices for rebuilding a free and authentic faith after it unravels.

What feels like an ending can become a new beginning.

My thoughts...

Are you experiencing a crisis of faith? Wondering what the next step is? I think this book may help give you direction. The author gives clear ideas on rebuilding faith. When we doubt she shows us how to think through, learn from it and move on. There's examples and insights that will guide us on the journey. Well written with glimmers of hope throughout.

I received a copy of this book free from Blogging For Books in exchange for an honest review.

Friday, December 19, 2014

MIDWINTER'S EVE GIVEAWAY HOP!



My giveaway is a surprise... you could win 1, 2, or 3 books. They may be mysteries, romance, suspense, etc. Each participating blog has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one. This giveaway is open internationally.

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Wednesday, October 29, 2014

A.D. 30 by Ted Dekker



About the Book

From “New York Times” best-selling author, “A.D.30” is a sweeping epic set in the harsh deserts of Arabia and ancient Palestine.

A war that rages between kingdoms on the earth and in the heart.

The harrowing journey of the woman at the center of it all.

Step back in time to the year of our Lord … A.D. 30.

The outcast daughter of one of the most powerful Bedouin sheikhs in Arabia, Maviah is called on to protect the very people who rejected her. When their enemies launch a sudden attack with devastating consequences, Maviah escapes with the help of two of her father's warriors--Saba who speaks more with is sword than his voice and Judah, a Jew who comes from a tribe that can read the stars. Their journey will be fraught with terrible danger. If they can survive the vast forbidding sands of a desert that is deadly to most, they will reach a brutal world subjugated by kings and emperors. There Maviah must secure an unlikely alliance with King Herod of the Jews.

But Maviah's path leads her unexpectedly to another man. An enigmatic teacher who speaks of a way in this life, which offers greater power than any kingdom. His name is Yeshua, and his words turn everything known on its head. Though following him may present even greater danger, his may be the only way for Maviah to save her people--and herself.



Book Details:
Published by: Central Street
Publication Date: Oct 2014
Number of Pages: 432
ASIN: B00IMN2VWC
Purchase Link: AMAZON

My thoughts...

I truly love Ted Dekker's writing, what an amazing talent. "A.D. 30" is an exceptional story told through the characters of Maviah, a slave, and Judah, who is in search of Yeshua. Judah is assigned to accompany Maviah on her journey to speak to King Herod to ask that her people be saved. Judah's tenderness and mercy carbons that of Jesus.

This is an incredible experience in understanding the teachings of Jesus, told in a way that brings fresh light to your perception. He cares about the lowest of the low and His love is unmatched. From the first word to the last this book kept me wanting more. I loved the surprises within its pages.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.



About the Author

Ted Dekker is a “New York Times” best-selling author of more than 30 novels with over 5 million copies sold worldwide.

He is known for thrillers that combine unforgettable characters, adrenaline-laced plots and incredible confrontations between good and evil.

Dekker was named Best Inspirational Suspense Author in 2012 RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice. His book, “The Bride Collector,” was named one of NPR’s “Top 100 Killer Thrillers” of all time. Two of his novels, “Thr3e” and “House” have been made into movies with more in production.

Dekker and his wife, Lee Ann, live in Austin, Texas.

Monday, October 27, 2014

The New NKJV Study Bible from Thomas Nelson



The NKJV Study Bible, the most comprehensive study Bible available, now in a full-color edition with added features! The acclaimed NKJV Study Bible is the most complete study system for all who desire accurate study in God's Word. The Second Edition includes more features to make it the best all-purpose study Bible. Using the trusted New King James Version, The NKJV Study Bible has "the mind of a scholar and the heart of a pastor." Nelson's skilled team of scholars has produced the system to reach for when study in God's Word is the goal.

My thoughts...

When the bible arrived I immediately explored the pages and passages and was very pleased with all the additional information provided. I found it easy to read and got more out of it with this information.

NEW attractive full-color page design
NEW stunning Bible-land photos and graphics
NEW in-text maps and charts
Full cross-references with textual notes
Word studies and indexes
Bible Times and Culture Notes
Book introductions, outlines, and timelines
Reader-friendly notes and articles ideal for extended study
Deluxe NKJV Concordance including proper names

It definitely makes reading the bible more interesting. It's a great study tool. The only thing I disliked is that it's hard cover and is heavy, it's not one I would carry with me to church or Sunday School.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Wednesday, October 22, 2014

THE PROMISE



Mallory Hammond is determined not to let her boyfriend, parents, or anyone else get in the way of her #1 goal---to save a life. She had that chance when she was a teenager, and the opportunity slipped away, leaving a void she's desperate to fill. Then a new friend she met online offers her the chance she's dreamed of. But she'll have to leave behind everyone she loves to take it.

Tate Webber has loved Mallory for years. He understands that Mallory's free spirit has to fly, and when he gives her the space she needs, he hopes that when she lands, the two of them will be in the same place and can marry at last.

In a bold move---and with lots of resistance from Tate and those closest to her---Mallory decides to travel across the world to fulfill her dream. Tate begs her not to go, but Mallory embarks on the dangerous journey to Pakistan anyway, only to discover how swiftly and easily promises can be broken. Her new friend isn't who he says he is. And Mallory can only pray she'll make it out alive.

My thoughts...

This is an intriguing book based on actual events, unbelievably intense, I read it cover to cover in one sitting. Whoever said truth is stranger than fiction was surely right about this one. The characters are certainly bizarre and put in jeopardy but it's all explained in the end.

Mallory is determined to do all she can to save someone's life even though it's dangerous. Things don't work out as planned and a great story begins. I'm so thankful Mallory made it out alright.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

the SEASONS OF GRACE Sweepstakes



In bestselling author Lauraine Snelling's new novel, To Everything A Season, the tight-knit town of Blessing, North Dakota faces change and challenge at every turn.

In the middle of the maelstrom is young Trygve Knutson. He's devoted to his family and his community, but he sometimes dreams of other horizons--especially since meeting Miriam Hastings.

Miriam is in Blessing with one goal: to complete her training as a nurse, and get back to Chicago to support her siblings and her ailing mother. But the town of Blessing has a way of drawing in the most reluctant visitor, and soon Miriam's attachment to Trygve and his family has her questioning her entire future.

To celebrate the release of this heart-warming novel, Bethany House and author Lauraine Snelling are pleased to present the SEASONS OF GRACE Sweepstakes. This sweepstakes features three special prizes, each closely connected to the book: One prize to sweep you back into history, one prize to enable you to give to someone else, and one prize to help you celebrate a little of the story's romance, in your own home.

This giveaway starts October 14, 2014 and ends November 3, 2014 @ 11:59 pm (PST). Entry is open to US residents only, age 18 and over. Winners will be selected Tuesday November 4, 2014, and announced at laurainesnelling.com.



GRAND PRIZE:

SEASONS OF GRACE Grand Prize

RED RIVER RAILWAY ADVENTURE

In To Everything A Season, new visitors, old friends, and important supplies are transported to town on these rails, and the arrival platform is a place of warm greetings and new beginnings.

Our Grand Prize winner will have the chance to experience some of the same warmth and excitement with an authentic taste of the golden age of railroad travel:

A $200 value Scenic Steam Train Ride for Two (Location and dates available nationwide and will be specific to the winner's state).





SECOND PRIZE:

SEASONS OF GRACE Second Prize

DINNER DELIVERY FROM INGEBORG

In the story, the inventive Ingeborg Bjorklund is well-known for her cooking, bread baking, and cheese making, and now she's pondering another new idea to help her hometown: a delivery service!

Like the hard-working people in Blessing, many of our friends and family members carry heavy workloads and health burdens, and could use a helping hand and a comforting meal.

While we may not be able to deliver Ingeborg's cooking, our Second Prize winner will win the next best thing, to be used for themselves, or as a gift to brighten the day of a friend facing chemo, a military spouse, a lonely senior citizen, or other worthy recipient:

$175 meal delivery gift card for MagicKitchen.com - Provide a full Thanksgiving meal for 6, or an extended selection of meals for 1 or 2. Gluten free, low sodium, and dialysis-friendly meals available.





THIRD PRIZE:

SEASONS OF GRACE Third Prize
STEAL AWAY DATE NIGHT PACK

The peaceful farming community of Blessing faces an unexpected threat when robbers target banks and businesses in towns nearby. As the town comes together to find a solution to the thieving problem, Ingeborg notices another kind of stealing going on: the new nurse in town, Miriam Hastings, has completely stolen the heart of her nephew, Trygve.

Soon Trygve and the dark-haired nurse with the sad eyes are regulars at the Blessing Soda Shop, sharing thoughts and dreams over Rebecca Valders' famous fizzy concoctions.

Our Third Prize winner can share their own thoughts and dreams, and enjoy a taste of Blessing's Soda Shop at home, with the Steal Away Date Night Pack.

This $100 value package includes: The UnGame Couples Edition, the Soda Stream Fountain Jet Home Soda Starter Kit, and the Homemade Soda Recipe Book.



How to Enter:
Go to http://www.laurainesnelling.com/html/giveaways.html and complete the entry box, anytime between October 14 and November 3.





Book Summary: Trygve Knutson is devoted to his family and his community. With his job on the construction crew, he is helping to build a future for the North Dakota town of Blessing. Though he loves his home, he sometimes dreams of other horizons--especially since meeting Miriam Hastings.

Miriam is in Blessing to get practical training to become an accredited nurse. She's been promised a position in the Chicago women's hospital that will enable her to support her siblings and her ailing mother. Although eager to return to her family, Miriam is surprised to find how much she enjoys the small town of Blessing. And her growing attachment to Trygve soon has her questioning a future she always considered set in stone.

When a family emergency calls Miriam home sooner than planned, will she find a way to return? If not, will it mean losing Trygve--and her chance at love--for good?



Wednesday, October 15, 2014

NIV Real Life Devotional Bible for Women



You spilled coffee on your shirt before walking out the door. Ran late to your appointment. Snapped at your children, then regretted it all day. And spent an hour at the grocery store with no dinner on the table to show for your efforts. A typical day has come and gone. Life is full of obligations, emotions, and relationships. Some are life-giving, yet sometimes the weight and responsibility of everyday life is heavy to bear. As wives, mothers, friends, and daughters, we need to know we’re not alone. We long for someone who understands—someone to help us find perspective.

When our days are long, and our nights are restless, it’s easy to think we should be able to handle things on our own. Or that no one struggles like we do. And that’s when we need a friend … to encourage us, to understand us, and help us become the woman God wants us to be. You’ll find that friend on the pages of the NIV Real-Life Devotional Bible for Women.

Filled with insightful daily devotions written by Lysa TerKeurst and the women at Proverbs 31 Ministries, the devotions in this Bible will meet you right where you are, in the good days and in the hard days, in the car pool line or the doctor’s office. With God’s truth as the foundation, this Bible will help you maintain a peace-filled place of balance in spite of your life’s hectic pace.

Features: The beauty and clarity of the New International Version (NIV) Bible, 366 daily devotions from the women at Proverbs 31 Ministries inspire you to live authentically as a woman of God, Author biographies, and a helpful subject Index.

My thoughts...

First off I have to say I love the two tone teal color of this Bible, fits my style perfectly and the compact size is ideal for any woman . It fits easily into my hand and just about any bag. Next I love the daily devotions which seem to fit every time I read one. Very inspiring! There are 366 devotions along with a good subject index, the print is small but yet it's a good size for me.

Love the clarity of the New International Version and again I will say the color is awesome, what a pretty Bible!

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Sunday, October 12, 2014

THE MASON JAR



In The Mason Jar, Clayton Fincannon is a Tennessee farm boy raised at the feet of his grandfather. He and his grandfather leave letters for each other in a Mason jar on his grandfather's desk, letters of counsel and affirmation. When Clayton attends college in Southern California, he meets and falls in love with a dark debutante named Savannah. However, when an unmentioned past resurrects in her life and she leaves, Clayton is left with unanswered questions.

Clayton goes on to serve as a missionary in Africa, while he and his grandfather continue their tradition of writing letters. When Clayton returns home five years later to bury his grandfather, he searches for answers pertaining to the loss of the young woman he once loved. Little does Clayton know, the answers await him in the broken Mason jar: A story about a girl who vanished, a former love who wrote a book about her, and a reunion they never imagined.

My thoughts...

This is a beautifully written story about a first love that ends in heartbreak and how Finn heals by turning to family. I love the letters between him and his grandfather, there were tears in my eyes several times. Bits of wisdom are offered throughout, insight on the male perspective.

I really enjoyed reading this uplifting book and finished in one sitting. A sweet story.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Saturday, September 20, 2014

STUCK IN A GOOD BOOK BLOG HOP



Each participating blog has their own entry rules and geographic limits, so be sure to read the rules for each one. This giveaway is open internationally.

The PRIZE: Choose two books from below.









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Friday, September 5, 2014

COUNTERFEIT Review & GiVEAWAY!

Counterfeit

by Scott Miller

on Tour September 2014




Book Details:


Genre: Suspense, Crime Fiction
Published by: Blank Slate Press
Publication Date: Oct 2013
Number of Pages: 248
ISBN: 978-0985007119
Purchase Links:


Kudos:

Counterfeit placed third in the 2013 Walter Williams major work award for Missouri writers!

Synopsis:

What if a man with the talent and patience to create perfect, undetectable copies of US hundred bills carries out his plan? Has a crime even been committed? What if he never spend a dime of the money on himself?

The last person social worker Mitch Adams wants to hear from is St. Louis Homicide Detective JoJo Baker, a man with whom Mitch shares a tangled past. Baker wants Mitch to see Lonnie Washington, a disabled African-American arrested for counterfeiting and armed robbery, believed to be suicidal while he sits in jail awaiting trial. The evidence points to an open and shut case, but Baker insists it's not so black and white. Reluctantly, Mitch agrees and discovers there is more to the story--more than enough to get them both killed. At first Lonnie won't cooperate, but as he begins to open up, Mitch comes to believe that the true criminal may not be the man behind bars, but the prosecutor who put him there--a man with far-reaching political ambitions, the approval of the public, and his very own Secret Service detail. With millions in perfect fake $100 bills up for grabs, Mitch's life hinges on the word of a counterfeiter, the greed of a prosecutor, and his refusal to go down without a fight.



Read an excerpt:

Rain dripped from the concrete fangs of two massive lions standing guard at the Gateway City Jail. I hurried up the steps between the imposing Doric columns. What a dinosaur. The new county jail is a spa compared to this.

After getting through the metal detector screening line, I walked down a cold, shadowy hallway that smelled of old building, institutional cleaning fluids, and stale city air. Dust motes shone and drifted like dying fireflies in the slivers of light slanting through the high, narrow windows. The closer I came to the visitation area for the special lock-down unit, the smell changed to fear and the windows disappeared.

This is the end of the line.

Last year I was nearly an inmate here.


Author Bio:

A licensed clinical social worker, Scott L. Miller earned his Master's in Social Work from St. Louis University and has worked with adults, children and the elderly in state and private hospitals in St. Louis city and county. Long fascinated by the workings of the human brain, he quit writing exceptionally bad poetry and studied fiction writing under the late John Gardner and later at Washington University. His first Mitch Adams novel, The Interrogation Chair, was self-published in May 2011, has been rewritten and is due for re-release by Blank Slate Press in October 2014 under the title Interrogation. Counterfeit is the second in this series, but is a stand-alone work. Counterfeit recently took third place in the Walter Williams major work award contest at the 99th Missouri Writer's Guild workshop for Missouri's published authors. Miller is currently working on his third Mitch Adams novel, working title The Virtual Suicide Machine, which is slated for release in 2015 by Blank Slate Press.

Catch Up With the Author:



My thoughts...

Imagine receiving hundreds of dollars free. Living in a neighborhood where poverty reigns, struggling to pay your bills and to buy food for your children is a way of life people suddenly started getting free money. Sound too good to be true? It is. What is meant for their is actually illegal. The money is counterfeit, a very good counterfeit.

I enjoyed reading this book even though the modern day Robin Hood is a criminal. It's the thought that counts, right? Very interesting plotline with interesting characters and two very good detectives.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Tour Participants:




Giveaway:

Counterfeit by Scott Miller

Visit Partners in Crime to see more great books!

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

RUNAWAY SAINT



When her aunt shows up homeless on her doorstep, Sara suspects anything but a miracle.

Sara’s an artist with a supportive husband and a house that folks on her block admire outright. But she’s restless and bored with life.

Then her legendary Aunt Bel shows up, wearing a smile after years without a word.

Twenty years ago, fresh out of college, Bel left for a summer missions trip and never returned. Now she’s on Sara’s doorstep, looking for a place to crash. Sara can’t say no to family, even if she hasn’t seen Bel since she was a nine-year-old girl. But saying yes to Bel turns Sara’s whole precariously-balanced life upside down.

The enigmatic Bel gives Sara’s family and their community a jolt of fresh thinking and clarity.

But Bel is hiding something. Though she won’t talk about it, Sara soon learns that Bel has been through a hellish ordeal. And she has the burn marks to prove it.

My thoughts...

Another outstanding novel from Lisa Samson! The story of successful graphic designer, Sara Drexel, who happens to be caught up in reuniting her mother and aunt. Sara's mother is eccentric, she lives on a tent farm, and is estranged from her missionary sister, Bel. When Bel returns to the US she moves in with Sara and her husband. As secrets are uncovered lives change.

I make sure to read every book Lisa writes and I've not been disappointed. This is one of my favorites, told so well with the right amount of drama and secrets. A perfect ending to a wonderful story.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

CORNERED Review & Giveaway!

Cornered

by Alan Brenham

on Tour September 2014



Cornered by Alan Brenham

Book Details:


Genre: Mystery/Thriller
Published by: Black Opal Books
Publication Date: July 19, 2014
Number of Pages: 320
ISBN: 9781626941380/9781626941373
Purchase Links:


Synopsis:

He’s haunted by the memory of a kidnapping case gone wrong…

Not wanting history to repeat itself, Detective Matt Brady struggles to solve the disappearances of seven young women, but he quickly finds himself pitted against a criminal organization that knows as much about police procedure as he does—an organization that will do whatever it takes to stay one step ahead of him. His troubles are compounded when a young veterinarian injects herself into the investigation and is targeted to become victim number eight. When he tries to protect her, he finds himself in the crosshairs of a professional cop killer. Can Brady solve the case in time to save his new love, or will this investigation be the death of both of them?



Kudos:

"Alan Brenham’s Cornered is a taunt thriller filled with murderous twists and turns that will satisfy readers who love good crime fiction. As a cop and a lawyer, Brenham has been there and done that and in this, his second outing, the authenticity of his storytelling ability continues to shine through." - Michael McGarrity, New York Times Bestselling Author of Hard Country & Backlands



Read an excerpt:

Brady moved next to Killebrew. “So you find anything?”

“No prints. But we did find a nine millimeter shell casing outside.” He pointed at the door. “The witness said she used a key to open the door when Becker failed to answer the doorbell.”

Brady knelt down next to the body and peered at her head. One apparent gunshot wound above the right eye. Her half-opened dilated pupils stared straight up towards the ceiling.

Killebrew stepped close to the wall opposite the front door, pointing at a hole. Blood spatter was on the lower half of the wall. “We removed the bullet from here. The round appears to be a nine millimeter. Same as the shell casing.”

He stood up and surveyed the living room. The front window was covered with flowery-patterned drapes. A piano sat in the far corner by the front window. He was no expert on furniture but the furniture appeared to be fairly expensive pieces. He saw some mail lying on the coffee table. Using a pen, he sifted through it, checking the sender’s address, but nothing jumped out at him. A family portrait of her, an ordinary-looking man with narrow shoulders he assumed was Burt Smith, and twins—a girl and a boy—sat on the end of the table.


Author Bio:

Alan Behr served as a law enforcement officer and criminal investigator for seventeen years before earning a law degree from Baylor University. After obtaining his law license, he worked as a prosecutor and criminal defense attorney for twenty-two years. His personal and official travels took him to several European and Middle Eastern countries, Alaska and almost every island in the Caribbean. He has lived in Berlin, Germany while working with US military forces. After retiring from government service, he has authored two crime novels - Price of Justice and Cornered - under the pen name of Alan Brenham. He is presently working on two more novels. Alan and his wife, Lillian, currently live in the Austin, Texas area.



My thoughts...

Detective Matt Brady along with FBI Agent Steve Casani are investigating the disappearance of several young women. With hardly any leads to follow their task is a difficult one. There have been no ransom notes, nor calls, what exactly has happened to them?

I love the fantastic storyline, the excellent writing style, the descriptions of police procedures, and the suspense of which there's plenty. I was unable to guess who the kidnappers made me enjoy the book to the very end.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Tour Participants:

To Sign up either complete the linky with your Blog Name, Requested Book Format, Requested Post Date(s) and how you'd like to Host (Review or Other Option) or email me at gina@partnersincrimetours.net. Thank you for your interest in this tour.



Giveaway:

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 .

Monday, September 1, 2014

HOME TO CHICORY LANE



Landyn longs for home, but her mother may have other plans.

Audrey Whitman's dreams are coming true. Now that their five kids are grown, she and her husband, Grant, are turning their beloved family home into a cozy bed and breakfast just a mile outside of Langhorne, Missouri.

Opening weekend makes Audrey anxious, with family and friends coming from all over to help celebrate the occasion. But when Audrey's daughter, Landyn, arrives, the U-Haul she's pulling makes it clear she's not just here for a few days. Audrey immediately has questions. What happened in New York that sent Landyn running home? Where was Landyn's husband, Chase? And what else was her daughter not telling her? One thing was for sure, the Chicory Inn was off to a rocky start. Can Audrey still realize her dream and at the same time provide the comfort of home her daughter so desperately needs?

My thoughts...

Hardheaded Grant and Audrey have raised their children and converted their home into a B&B at the insistence of Audrey. Turns out it's a lot harder than either expected. These two need help.

The author has written a realistic story of how God uses hard times to teach us something. How he heals relationships and the different seasons of our lives work for our good. Sometimes He places people in our lives for a specific reason.

I can't say the characters are heartwarming but the book is worth the read. It's honest, realistic, and well written.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Thursday, August 28, 2014

CLAM WAKE

Clam Wake

by Mary Daheim



Book Details:


Genre: Mystery
Published by: William Morrow
Publication Date: 8/12/2014
Number of Pages: 240
ISBN: 9780062317728
Purchase Links:



Synopsis:

Innkeeper and irrepressible sleuth Judith McMonigle Flynn and cousin Renie face off against a cold-blooded killer in a beach community in this delightfully charming Bed-and-Breakfast mystery from USA Today and New York Times bestselling author Mary Daheim.

With the holidays gone and Hillside Manor almost empty, Innkeeper Judith McMonigle Flynn has a bad case of the blues. A housesitting stint at her aunt and uncle’s retirement home on Whoopee Island with cousin Renie seems like the ideal pick-me-up. Surrounded by retirees in the off-season sounds peaceful and pleasant--or so the duo thinks. But it isn’t long before a dead body pops up in their vicinity. Not surprising in an area full of older folks—until they learn it wasn’t a bad ticker that did in the victim, but a very sharp knife. With clouds of suspicion hovering over her and Renie, Judith reluctantly begins sleuthing—if only to prove they didn’t commit the crime.

But what she finds is puzzling. The victim reputedly didn’t have an enemy in the world--except for the killer. Digging for clams and answers, the cousins discover that retirement can be deadly—at least among the eclectic, eccentric residents of Obsession Shores.




Author Bio:

Seattle native Mary Richardson Daheim lives three miles from the house where she was raised. From her dining nook she can see the maple tree in front of her childhood home. Mary isn’t one for change when it comes to geography. Upon getting her journalism degree from the University of Washington (she can see the campus from the dining nook, too), she went to work for a newspaper in Anacortes WA. Then, after her marriage to David Daheim, his first college teaching post was in Port Angeles where she became a reporter for the local daily. Both tours of small-town duty gave her the background for the Alpine/Emma Lord series. Mary spent much of her non-fiction career in public relations (some would say PR is fiction, too). But ever since she learned how to read and write, Mary wanted to tell stories that could be put between book covers (e-readers were far into the future and if she hadn’t seen her daughter’s iPad, she might not know they exist). Thus, she began her publishing career with the first of seven historical romances before switching to mysteries in 1991. If Mary could do the math, she’d know how many books she’s published. Since she can’t, she estimates the total is at least 55. Or something. See below—count ‘em if you can. At the time of her husband and mentor’s death in February 2010, David and Mary had been married for over 43 years. They have three daughters, Barbara, Katherine and Magdalen, and two granddaughters, Maisy and Clara. They all live in Seattle, too. Those apples don’t move far from the tree…literally.

Catch Up With the Author:



My thoughts...

Business has slowed down for Innkeeper Judith Flynn and she decides to spend some time with her cousin while housesitting for her aunt & uncle. Hoping for a relaxing vacation after the holidays she finds the area peaceful though full of eccentric retirees. When a resident is murdered Judith and cousin Renie start searching for clues only to find they should've stayed out of it.

This is one of those cozy mysteries that you feel good about when finished. Well written and enjoyable characters, fun to read. I liked it.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Tour Participants:


Monday, August 25, 2014

UNDER A TURQUOISE SKY



When federal agent Aaron Yazzie is assigned to protect the only witness to a drug cartel execution, he hides Kailyn Eudailey in the safest place he knows . . . the vast, untamed wilderness of the Navajo Reservation.

Transporting Kailyn to New Mexico may not be as easy as Aaron would like. Kailyn is a high-maintenance Southern belle who is determined to assert her independence at every step. Although Aaron's job is to protect her from the dangers that could get them both killed, Kailyn is getting to him. As an undercover agent, Aaron has grown adept at playing many roles. But will he be able to embrace his true identity and God’s plan for his life in order to keep Kailyn alive?

My thoughts...

A fast paced drama with a great storyline and excellent setting. The descriptions are vivid, the plot exciting... it's the perfect book for an afternoon read. Yes, I said afternoon because I read it in one sitting.

Kailyn witnesses a murder by drug cartel and agrees to testify which puts her in mortal danger. An agent working undercover takes her life into his own hands by attempting to keep her alive since the Witness Protection didn't work. She's an independent woman and makes the agent's job interesting for sure.

There's lots of excitement, loved the characters and the beautiful cover.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Sunday, August 24, 2014

CRACKS IN THE SIDEWALK



Literary Awards for Cracks in the Sidewalk -
Amazon Family Saga Bestseller
FPA President’s Book Award
Royal Palm Literary Award


A powerful story that is a heart-wrenching reminder of how fragile relationships can be. Cracks in the Sidewalk is based on a true story.

Claire McDermott is a wife, a mother, a grandmother... Her only daughter is gravely ill... Her son-in-law is resentful and angry... Her grandchildren are missing...

After years of writing letters, hoping to find the children, hoping to bring them back, Claire receives a reply...a dog-eared gray envelope is stuffed into her mailbox, but will it bring hope or simply put an end to the waiting?

Can a single letter change the lives of four people? Claire McDermott and her grandchildren are about to discover letters are a journey of the heart which can ultimately deliver people to their destination.

See what readers are saying! -

Reviewed By Samantha Rivera for Readers' Favorite

Elizabeth is a woman whose sole purpose in life is to be a good wife and mother. She has no care in the world but to accomplish these goals and she works hard at them despite the treatment she is given at the hands of her husband. When Elizabeth falls ill suddenly during her pregnancy with their last child, her husband determines to have nothing to do with her. Unfortunately that means her children (including her newborn son) will also have nothing to do with her. It's almost a year before Elizabeth is finally able to see her young children again, but even then things are not what they might seem in Cracks in the Sidewalk.

Cracks in the Sidewalk is the type of book that you can't stop thinking about long after you put it down. Elizabeth is a woman that any woman would be proud to be. She is able to roll with the punches and even when people behave in a reprehensible way towards her she is incapable of truly hating them and can only feel sorry for the love they don't have. Her plight is one no mother would ever want to find herself in, but at the same time it is one that will draw you in. This is a heart-wrenching story but it is also a beautiful one of love and devotion and forgiveness. For Elizabeth's children and her mother it is also a story of miracles and of overcoming any obstacle life may put in your way. An excellent book by Bette Lee Crosby.

A moving, emotional story...when I read this book I felt so moved, I was crying at the end...writing flowed beautifully...depth of characters and insight kept me turning pages.-Bria Burton

A compelling story...Well written, with a realistic, compassionate telling, Cracks In the Sidewalk will bring readers into the family, happy to be a part of it.-Angie Mangino

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Friday, August 22, 2014

THE STORYKEEPER by Lisa Wingate



When successful New York editor Jen Gibbs discovers a decaying slush-pile manuscript on her desk, she has no idea that the story of Sarra, a young mixed-race woman trapped in Appalachia at the turn of the twentieth century, will both take her on a journey and change her forever.

Happy with her life in the city, and at the top of her career with a new job at Vida House Publishing, Jen has left her Appalachian past and twisted family ties far behind. But the search for the rest of the manuscript, and Jen’s suspicions about the identity of its unnamed author, will draw her into a mystery that leads back to the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains . . . and quite possibly through the doors she thought she had closed forever.

Amazon Purchase Link: The Story Keeper
Tyndale Publishers (September 1, 2014)
My Rating: 5/5 stars


My thoughts...

This is probably my favorite Lisa Wingate book, I love the setting, the characters, the storyline. As I read page after page I could visualize each scene. I would love to dig into that slush-pile and read till my heart's content!

Right after Jen begins a new job with a top publisher in New York City an old manuscript appears on her desk. Knowing this came from the slush-pile that everyone is warned not to touch she isn't sure what to do at first but curiosity overcomes and she reads it which leads her into an exciting but sometimes frustrating search for the author and right back to the place she never wanted to return.

Difficult subjects are handled, we meet Jen's annoying (sometimes maddening) family and of course the author of the manuscript. Amazing story, superbly written.

I read this book through Lisa's "Sisterhood of the Traveling Book".