The Lines Between Us By Amy Lynn Green

The Lines Between Us

by Amy Lynn Green

Publisher: Bethany House

ISBN: 9780764237171

After reading Amy Lynn Green's debut novel Things We Didn't Say, I absolutely HAD to get my hands on her second book. Trust me when I tell you, you do NOT want to miss this story! Bethany House sent me the book for review.

Summary:

A WWII novel of courage and conviction, based on the true experience of the men who fought fires as conscientious objectors and the women who fought prejudice to serve in the Women's Army Corps.

Since the attack on Pearl Harbor, Gordon Hooper and his buddy Jack Armitage have stuck to their values as conscientious objectors. Much to their families' and country's chagrin, they volunteer as smokejumpers rather than enlisting, parachuting into and extinguishing raging wildfires in Oregon. But the number of winter blazes they're called to seems suspiciously high, and when an accident leaves Jack badly injured, Gordon realizes the facts don't add up.  

A member of the Women's Army Corps, Dorie Armitage has long been ashamed of her brother's pacifism, but she's shocked by news of his accident. Determined to find out why he was harmed, she arrives at the national forest under the guise of conducting an army report . . . and finds herself forced to work with Gordon. He believes it's wrong to lie; she's willing to do whatever it takes for justice to be done. As they search for clues, Gordon and Dorie must wrestle with their convictions about war and peace and decide what to do with the troubling secrets they discover.

My Review:

What an exceptional story! The prologue of The Lines Between Us plunged me into the story and soaked into my soul.

Having never considered conscientious objectors and what their "options" were in times of war, this story fascinated me. It's easy to understand how strongly people felt about those who they considered dodging their duty to the country in WWII. I appreciate how the author gives us a deeper look into what it might look like from the outside looking into the life of a conscientious objector - how they thought and felt about violence and war.

Gordon and Dorie had such deep convictions on war, and both of their perspectives will cause the reader to reflect on their own beliefs. I wasn't expecting the anger that goes along with personal beliefs, but it comes through loud and clear throughout the story. It's only natural so it was easy to understand both sides.

Can I just say that there was so much unexpected moments in the story. I think the reason why I loved the story so much is that it's not cookie-cutter. Almost right away, after Jack's accident, I started to come up with all kinds of ideas of what might have happened. How the author unfolds everything was so surprising. Just before halfway though the story, I had to hold myself back from turning to the end to find out all of the answers! The depth of the mystery was so unexpected, but I refrained from peeking.

It seemed like Dorie and Gordon came to know themselves so much better after Jack's accident. I loved seeing their growth and questioning their "heels dug in" beliefs. Is there a middle ground to their beliefs? Can they both be right and wrong about their positions? Those questions are fleshed out in the story!

About the Author:

Amy Lynn Green (www.amygreenbooks.com) is a publicist by day and a novelist on nights and weekends. History has always been one of her passions, and she loves speaking with book clubs, writing groups, and libraries all around the country. Her debut novel, Things We Didn't Say, was nominated for a 2021 Minnesota Book Award and received a starred review from both Booklist and Library Journal. Amy and her husband make their home in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The One Who Knows Me By Joan Embola

The One Who Knows Me

by Joan Embola

Publisher: Love Qualified Press

Series: Sovereign Love

ASIN: B09BG6SN7Z                

 

I was looking forward to reading Joan Embola's book after she reached out to me on Instagram. While I'm thankful to add more diversity to the books I read, the storyline is why I wanted to read it. She sent me the ebook for review.

Summary:

IS GOD SOVEREIGN OVER TRIUMPH AND TRAGEDY?

Bullies and family disasters have left eighteen-year-old Teeyana Sparks filled with anxiety and doubt. She feels pressured to believe in God, but as she embarks on her college journey in the hope of one day working at Google as a graphic designer, the only thing she believes in is controlling her own life. Things change when she meets Jayden Williams—the guy with a charming smile and kind heart.

Struggling with grief and recovering from a season of depression, nineteen-year-old Jayden is determined to help Teeyana believe in God’s goodness again. But when yet another tragedy strikes close to home, Teeyana’s response exposes Jayden’s unhealed wounds and tips him into a mental health relapse.

With the looming possibility of not getting her dream life, Teeyana is caught between holding on to her illusion of control and surrendering to a God she’s rejected. And as Jayden strives to break out of his despondency, he has to face that letting God in may involve him letting go of his friendship with Teeyana. Teeyana and Jayden must wrestle with uncomfortable truths, and the pride in their hearts, in order to face their biggest giant—God’s sovereignty over both triumph and tragedy.

My Review:

Is it wrong to start off a review by saying we need more books like this in the world? The One Who Knows Me is so incredible not only for young adults, but for all ages. The author covers SO much in this one book. I think this was also timely having just sent my youngest off to college!

The amount of the Gospel that is shared is excellent! You know I love a good Gospel message, and if it's geared towards college age adults, even better. I appreciate that the author doesn't tiptoe around the difficult things young people deal with in life. Teeyana's struggle with her faith was so true to life. Having a roommate who you don't click with, for sure true to life. I appreciate how the author is part of normalizing seeking help when dealing with depression. She also covers the topic of suicide. See, she hits a lot of hard topics.

I loved how raw and real Teeyana and Jayden were. Their family lives are portrayed like any other in our modern day & age. Life happens and sometimes it brings about a crisis of faith. The secondary characters are proof of how necessary it is to be pouring Truth into our young adults and encouraging their faith walks.

The One Who Knows Me is a story that I think will encourage those who aren't sure about their faith or who are struggling through a time where they're far from the Lord. Time and time again the author shows us through her characters of where our hope lies. 

About the Author:

Joan Embola is a UK-based Cameroonian-Nigerian Christian author who aims to share God's love one word at a time. She writes books about diverse characters whose hope-filled stories point to the sovereign love and goodness of God in our broken world. She is a qualified Physician Associate and also the founder of Love Qualified, a ministry dedicated to encouraging others to experience the sovereign love of the one true God who has qualified us to be His beloved ones. She is a passionate lover and teacher of God’s word, and she shares this passion on her YouTube channel, blog, and podcast. When she’s not writing or curled up with a book, you’ll find her watching movies, YouTube videos, or making memories with her family and friends. 

You can connect with her at www.joanembola.co.uk and on instagram, YouTube, her blog, and her podcast. Join her newsletter to stay up to date with new releases and more book news.

Finding Love in Mountain View On Hallmark Movies & Mysteries + GIVEAWAY

I remember reading Mirallee Ferrell's book, Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon way back in the day and loving it! When I found out I would have the opportunity to watch the Hallmark adaptation of it, I was really excited. Finding Love In Mountain View is the result of all of that.

I can't wait until we live back in Minnesota because when movies like this come out my daughter and I will be doing a movie night! Of course, when my granddaughter is old enough, we'll include her as well.

So, let's talk about the movie!

These are two new actors for me. They were super cute together and had wonderful chemistry. Margaret has a lot to deal with when she finds out she's the new guardian of her cousin's kids. Going back to Mountain View has her immediately face to face with Andrew, who is hanging out with kids, Sammi and Joel. Andrew, of course, is her blast from the past. Oh, and her Aunt Bertha, she was easy to dislike! The actress made her easy to not like.

I liked the kids a lot! The actors did a great job. You could see their struggle of losing both of their parents and the adjustment they were trying to make. Then adjusting to their cousin Margaret showing up, who is supposed to be best friends with their mom, but they have no idea who she is.

Through it all, it was sweet watching Andrew and Margaret get to know each other again. You know there's going to be an issue, right? That issue comes in the form of Nathan, Margaret's boyfriend. Oh my word, he's so clueless as to Margaret's heart and mind. He was easy to be annoyed at as well. hahaha

You can watch the trailer here: https://aci-americancinema.com/screener/finding-love-in-mountain-view

To celebrate the premiere of FINDING LOVE IN MOUNTAIN VIEW, premiering Sunday Sept 19^th at 6pm PT/9pm ET, we are giving away a copy of the book the film was based on signed by the lead actors!  Enter to win one of 3 copies here:

https://www.blessedfreebies.com/finding-love-in-bridal-veil-oregon-book-giveaway.html

White Wolf And The Ash Princess By Tammy Lash

White Wolf and the Ash Princess

by Tammy Lash

Publisher: White Wolf Publishing

Series: The White Wolf

ISBN: 978-1940155661

I'm on the tour for this book via JustRead Publicity Tours. I wasn't asked to do a book review on my blog for it, but I enjoyed it so much I didn't want anyone to miss out. They sent me the book for review.

Summary:

The princess was the guardian of the light of the black wolf and the grey. White boar greatly desired her light, though the boars had possession of their own. When the princess refused to give up the light, both were given to the fire to do with them as it wished.

Memory loss prohibits Izzy from remembering her life before age seven when she suffered a terrible trauma that left her with physical scars. Crippling panic keeps Izzy from wandering beyond the stables but Tubs, the Gudwyne’s young stable boy, encourages Izzy to go beyond the property’s rock wall into a world that promises possible answers but also great danger.

Gifted with claws of copper and teeth of iron, the black wolf and the grey call him “White Wolf”; for he is the greatest of them with the power of flame and ash.

While running to escape his past, Jonathan Gudwyne rescued Izzy and took her in, but who did she belong to before he became her guardian?

With the touch of the wolf’s great paw, the girl rose out of the ashes a woman—a mighty warrior armed with a copper axe.

A mysterious cellar filled with secrets sets Izzy on a path to the New World where the Wendigo wanders and Water Panther swims. In the wilds of seventeenth-century America, Izzy and Jonathan discover the legends of the New World aren’t the fairytales of their library home in England.

My Review:

To say White Wolf and the Ash Princess surprised me would be an understatement. I actually thought the book was going to be an entirely different genre than what it actually was. The cover and the back blurb gave me the idea that it was going to be fantasy, not historical fiction. I'm not going to give anything away other than to say, it's historical fiction.

Ok, that being said, what a fascinating story. It was so different than the typical historical fiction I read. I think what sets it apart is how the author writes. She brings the characters and setting to life in the lilt of the story. It's almost a storytelling, if that makes sense. There was a sense of authenticity in how the author wrote the thoughts and conversations of the characters.

It was so interesting getting to know the main characters of Izzy and Jonathan. You could feel Izzy's wariness to everything outside of the home she's living in. In Jonathan you learn immediately that he's a protector. While he wants to stretch Izzy outside of her fears, he's incredibly aware of them and will only push "so far".

When the story begins to unfold, a light bulb goes off an all of the puzzle pieces fall into place! Things begin to make sense and for me, I worried about what was to come! I think the author writes the main characters in such a way that your heart is immediately pulled in to the story & the lives of the characters. There are highs and lows... and the lows brought tears to my eyes. Seriously, I ended up loving each of the characters so much, I was completely invested.

This author is new to me, and I'm ready to move on to book 2 immediately, Letters of the Dragon's Son, which is already out. I honestly think you'll be fascinating with this story!

About the Author:

Tammy lives in Lower Michigan with her husband and her three children. Izzy's home in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (Munising) is where she and her family enjoy exploring. Tammy enjoys hiking, kayaking, beach wandering, "hunting" for birch bark and hopes to someday find a porcupine quill. White Wolf and the Ash Princess is her first novel. She is published in Keys for Kids and has been in children's ministry for over twenty years.

Hostile Intent By Lynette Eason

Hostile Intent

by Lynette Eason

Publisher: Revell

Series: Danger Never Sleeps

ISBN: 9780800729370

I always love a good military/agency suspense novel so when I saw book 4 in the Danger Never Sleeps series come up for review, I jumped at the chance! I thoroughly enjoy Lynette's writing so I couldn't pass it up. I was sent the book by Revell.

Summary:

Secrets are about to be revealed . . . but will the guilty be brought to justice?

Ava Jackson entered the military shortly after high school, but her mother's illness has forced her to request an early discharge. She already lost her father while deployed, and there's no way she's going to let her mother die alone. But after a visit to the nursing facility where her mother lives, Ava is attacked walking back to her car. Fortunately, FBI Special Agent Caden Denning arrives in time to help fight off her attacker.

Caden reveals to Ava that she may hold the key to the murders of three families, and he needs her help before anyone else is harmed. The hits show a pattern, and clearly the killer has an agenda. But if Caden and Ava can't discover what it is, Ava may be next on the hit list.

My Review:

Oh. My. Word! Do NOT miss out on Hostile Intent! This may be one of my favorite Lynette Eason stories!

I know that many suspense stories have an occasional lull in the story or parts where things aren't as exciting. That can NOT be said about this book. Readers will either be on pins and needles with the suspense or enraptured with the attraction between Caden and Ava.

Ava is such a fantastic character. She's one tough cookie, but she's also vulnerable to those she's close to. I liked that she was no nonsense, but not in a cold way. Ava knew what needed to be done and she did it. I also loved how her mind worked. She's the down to earth (Caden would laugh) kind of gal who will kick butt and take names.

And seriously, I just loved Caden. He wasn't pretentious or high and mighty with his job. With all of the killings happening he could've asked Ava some questions and then put her on the back burner, but he saw her aptitude and brilliance as they go through the story. He wasn't too macho for her and appreciated what she had to offer to the case.

I really can't say enough about the two of them as characters and how great they work together, but even more so in their personal lives. It was just so sweet I wanted to squeeze them both. While their relationship was growing and changing throughout the story, it's a subtle part of the story.

Now, for the suspense! Holy cow, it had me on the edge of my seat the ENTIRE time! How the author wove everything together was amazing! I was surprised that I was able to keep everything connected together because it was a tangled web of spies, families being murdered, and the past. And oh my gosh, it was a nail biter. The killer... terrifying! There was a twist that gave me the shocked emoji face!

I need more of Caden and Ava in my life! That's the kind of story I love... when I want more even though I know it'll never happen. lol

*I received this book for review. This is my personal opinion.

About the Author:

Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Danger Never Sleeps, Blue Justice, Women of Justice, Deadly Reunions, Hidden Identity, and Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of three ACFW Carol Awards, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, among others. She is a graduate of the University of South Carolina and has a master's degree in education from Converse College. Eason lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.