Turn To Me By Becky Wade + GIVEAWAY

Turn to Me

by Becky Wade

Publisher: Bethany House

Series: A Misty River Romance

ISBN: 9780764235627

I can't believe this series is already over! I was blessed to be on the tour with the author and was sent her book for review! Check out my review & enter the giveaway below.

Summary:

His promise will cost him far more than he imagined.

Guilt has defined Luke Dempsey's life, but it was self-destructiveness that landed him in prison. When his friend and fellow inmate lay dying shortly before Luke's release, the older man revealed he left a string of clues for his daughter, Finley, that will lead her to the treasure he's hidden. Worried that she won't be the only one pursuing the treasure, he gains Luke's promise to protect her until the end of her search.

Spunky and idealistic, Finley Sutherland is the owner of an animal rescue center and a defender of lost causes. She accepts Luke's help on the treasure hunt while secretly planning to help him in return--by coaxing him to embrace the forgiveness he's long denied himself.

As they draw closer to the final clue, their reasons for resisting each other begin to crumble, and Luke realizes his promise will push him to the limit in more ways than one. He'll do his best to shield Finley from unseen threats, but who's going to shield him from losing his heart?

My Review:

I'm here to warn you. Do NOT read Turn to Me without a fan nearby! You will be fanning yourself because the romantic tension (and romance) will set your heart racing.

I went into this story thinking I was going to begrudgingly like Luke because as a reader (and Becky's writing) we're supposed to. Oh no. No, my friends, you are going to love him for more reasons than I could ever count. Just wait until you get to know him and you'll be nodding your head in understanding. He's gruff and broken. He just wants to fulfill a promise and move to Montana to be left alone forever.

Ah, then there's Finley. She may be fictional, but she's irresistible! I wish there was a real life version of her because I would want to meet her and volunteer at her animal rescue. It's easy to see why Luke can do nothing to stop his traitorous heart.

At first glance these two would seem like oil and water, but Finley is relentless in her pursuit to rehabilitate animals and Luke. Finley is truly a great example of living out her faith so that her actions match her words. She doesn't hide her faith at all, but she lives in a way that the Light shines through her for all to see. I loved how she was slow and steady working out the treasure hunt her father left for her!

Ok, what I loved inside the storyline... the romance was "fan yourself" wonderful! The romantic tension gives the reader a LOT of anticipation. I just love this about the author's stories! How Luke is at war inside his head with the words that come out of his mouth is excellent to read in this story. When an author does this well, it seriously makes the story for me! I always love knowing what a character is thinking, and Becky does it in spades with Luke! The clear message of forgiveness and letting go of the past reverberate throughout the story in both Luke and Finley's lives.

The secondary characters add a lot to the story as well. The employees at Furry Tails were quirky to put it mildly. I loved Finley's friends Meadow and Bridget (both need their own books IMHO). They're very different, but the three of them have a fabulous bond!

And lastly, there's the storyline of Akira & Ben. We were ALL clamoring for Ben to have his turn, and I appreciate that the author listened to her readers. Now, I will say I wish Ben could've had his own novella, but how many novellas can one series have? I'm going to say three, but only two in this case. hahahaha I REALLY liked Akira so I was thrilled when they were definitely "not" dating. It was a shift as we went from reading about Luke & Finley to reading about Akira and Ben. It took a second each time for my brain to adjust, but once it did, I just wanted more of their story. Seriously, a novella. No pressure, Becky! You made Ben's story complete in this book and gave us what we wanted!

I have so many tabs in this book I don't know where to start with sharing quotes! This story was simply fantastic and I could easily devour it all over again!

GIVEAWAY

Head to Becky Wade's website to enter this incredible giveaway! It's open through May 24th for US Residents only.

About the Author:

Becky Wade (www.beckywade.com) is the 2018 Christy Award Book of the Year winner for True to You. She is a native of California who attended Baylor University, met and married a Texan, and moved to Dallas. She published historical romances for the general market, then put her career on hold for several years to care for her children. When God called her back to writing, Becky knew He meant for her to turn her attention to Christian fiction. Her humorous, heart-pounding contemporary romance novels have won three Christy Awards, the Carol Award, the INSPY Award, and the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award for Romance. Becky lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children.

The Catch By Lisa Harris

The Catch

by Lisa Harris

Publisher: Revell

Series: US Marshalls

ISBN: 9780800737320

I was thrilled to be able to finish this series! Goodness, I love a good suspense. This one kept me on the edge of my seat! I received my book for review from Revell.

Summary:

Everything hidden is eventually found

After a harrowing attempt on a judge's life at the courthouse, Deputy US Marshals Madison James and Jonas Quinn are tasked with finding a missing woman and an endangered child in connection to the murder of the judge's wife. What seems like a fairly straightforward case becomes hopelessly tangled when the marshals discover that the woman they are searching for is not who they think she is.

Madison and Jonas are forced into a race to find the woman and the child before the people who want her dead discover her location. And in a final showdown that could cost her everything, Madison will come face-to-face with the person who murdered her husband.

My Review:

I'm all about nail biting suspense and The Catch will give it to you!

One of the things I liked about this whole series is that each book was built upon the previous story. I loved following Madison and Jonas as their characters grew and worked together. Madison is such a complicated character because she's been through more than anyone ever should be! Jonas has dealt with a lot, too and is incredibly patient!

This story had a LOT going on in it! You know when you watch detective shows and they've got those huge boards connecting places and people? You're going need one of those with this story. There are no less than three mysteries happening through this story. They're not hard to keep straight, but it's just a lot. Having them overlap and then find a full conclusion is definitely a challenge for any author. Just when you think one is answered, it seems like maybe it's not. lol The author keeps you (and the characters) on your toes!

I think for most books you read, characters won't go through half of the insanity that Madison & Jonas do... and in just the first day! I was glad the author kept reminding us where we were in the timeline because I kept thinking days had gone by, but nope, still on the same day. I'm telling you, they were being shot at, threatened, car chases, etc. It'll get your heart rate up to say the least.

The way the dots were all connected and overlapped had my brain spiraling. I kept greedily wanting to know how Madison & Jonas' story was going to end! There's so much to talk about in this story, but it feels like talking about any of it will give away spoilers. Kidnappings, escapes, a missing baby, Madison being shot at... If you read the story, message me and we can talk! lol

If you're a suspense junkie, you'll want to read this series!!

About the Author:

Lisa Harris is a USA Today bestselling author, a Christy Award winner, and the winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel from Romantic Times for her novels Blood Covenant and Vendetta. The author of more than forty books, including The Escape, The Chase, The Traitor's Pawn, Vanishing Point, A Secret to Die For, and Deadly Intentions, as well as The Nikki Boyd Files and the Southern Crimes series, Harris and her family have spent over 17 years living as missionaries in southern Africa. She is currently stateside in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Learn more at www.lisaharriswrites.com.

Shadows In The Mind's Eye + GIVEAWAY

Shadows in the Mind's Eye

by Janyre Tromp

Publisher: Kregel

ISBN: 9780825447396

I was super excited to join this book tour for a couple of reasons. The first is this cover left me with so many questions. The second is, the author is great to follow in Instagram! Well, the book didn't disappoint. I received the book for review.

Summary:

“Tromp weaves a complex historical tale incorporating love, suspense, hurt, and healing—all the elements that keep the pages turning.”

~ Julie Cantrell, New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of Perennials

Charlotte Anne Mattas longs to turn back the clock. Before her husband, Sam, went to serve his country in the war, he was the man everyone could rely on—responsible, intelligent, and loving. But the person who’s come back to their family farm is very different from the protector Annie remembers. Sam’s experience in the Pacific theater has left him broken in ways no one can understand—but that everyone is learning to fear.

Tongues start wagging after Sam nearly kills his own brother. Now when he claims to have seen men on the mountain when no one else has seen them, Annie isn’t the only one questioning his sanity and her safety. If there were criminals haunting the hills, there should be evidence beyond his claims. Is he really seeing what he says, or is his war-tortured mind conjuring ghosts?

Annie desperately wants to believe her husband. But between his irrational choices and his nightmares leaking into the daytime, she’s terrified he’s going mad. Can she trust God to heal Sam’s mental wounds—or will sticking by him mean keeping her marriage at the cost of her own life?

Debut novelist Janyre Tromp delivers a deliciously eerie, Hitchcockian story filled with love and suspense. Readers of psychological thrillers and historical fiction by Jaime Jo Wright and Sarah Sundin will add Tromp to their favorite authors list.

To read an excerpt of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye, click here.

My Review:

This debut novel is going to WOW every reader!

If you like being immersed in a story through the setting, dialogue and storyline, you're not going to want to miss this one!

Literally from the first scene we're pulled into the world of a man, Sam, returning from war with the horrors he faced chasing him. Re-entry into the life he knew isn't at all what any of his family expected and that's where everything begins to unravel.

Sometimes it's so interesting having the perspective as the reader because you're pretty sure what the truth of the matter is, but putting all of the pieces together isn't as easy as you thought. The one saving grace through all of this story, the rock, the sure and steady one, is Dovey May, Sam & Peter's mama. Her unshakable belief in her son and her wisdom bolsters everyone, even if it's for just a little while.

Seeing the world through the eyes of those surrounding Sam has a huge impact on how we see him as well. The chapters go back and forth between him and Annie and their views on their lives in that moment. The reader can see nuances through each of their eyes and it's a great example of how perception is everything. While Sam may see Doc, his best friend, as being to close to Annie, she may see it as Doc just being the protective friend.

The grammar of the country folk of Arkansas really makes this story come to life in the imagination. The way the author contracts the sentences, even if the grammar isn't good or proper, all of it feels right and makes sense.

How it all comes together, or falls apart, and gives the answers we're seeking, there's a lot of room for "Ooooh" and "ahhhh"! I also had a couple moments of "what in the...". The ending is not at all what I expected. You've gotta love that!

About the Author:

Janyre Tromp (pronounced Jan-ear) is a historical suspense novelist who loves spinning tales that, at their core, hunt for beauty, even when it isn’t pretty. She’s the author of Shadows in the Mind’s Eye and coauthor of It’s a Wonderful Christmas. 

A firm believer in the power of an entertaining story, Tromp is also a book editor and published children’s book author. She lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan with her husband, two kids, two crazy cats, and a slightly eccentric Shetland Sheepdog. 

You can find her on Facebook (@JanyreTromp), Instagram (@JaynreTromp), Twitter (@JanyreTromp), and her website, www.JanyreTromp.com where you can download a free copy of her novella, Wide Open.

You're going to want to enter to win this giveaway here:

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Fatal Code By Natalie Walters

FATAL CODE

by Natalie Walters

Publisher: Revell

Series: The SNAP Agency

ISBN: 9780800739799

Natalie Walters has ignited my love for suspense, especially military or government related suspense! She's just SO good at it and brings to the table a very unique perspective that draws me in every single time!! I'm part of her launch team so I received her book as part of it and am excited to share my thoughts on book two with you!

Summary:

In 1964, a group of scientists called the Los Alamos Five came close to finishing a nuclear energy project for the United States government when they were abruptly disbanded. Now the granddaughter of one of those scientists, aerospace engineer Elinor Mitchell, discovers that she has highly sensitive information on the project in her possession--and a target on her back.

SNAP agent and former Navy cryptologist Kekoa Young is tasked with monitoring Elinor. This is both convenient since she's his neighbor in Washington, DC, and decidedly inconvenient because . . . well, he kind of likes her.

As Elinor follows the clues her grandfather left behind to a top-secret nuclear project, Kekoa has no choice but to step in. And with danger closing in on all sides, Elinor will have to trust the man who has been spying on her to ensure her discoveries stay out of enemy hands--and she stays alive.

My Review:

SO GOOD! So, so, so good!

I knew reading the sneak peek at the end of Lights Out that Fatal Code was a MUST! Reading the sneak peek for book three... I can't WAIT for it.

If you are a fan of Tom Clancy and James Patterson you're going to love Fatal Code! Suspense is the name of the game and a lot is on the line as the SNAP Agency tries to uncover the truth of who is giving sensitive information to the wrong people.

The author puts the reader on edge almost from the start as she gives us a good dose of people who could be the bad guy. As much as I tried to deduce who was stealing information I kept being waylaid by other details.

There's also a healthy dose of humor that gives the reader light moments in the midst of craziness. They're well placed and had me laughing out loud when I least expected it.

It was great coming back to the Ohana of the SNAP Agency. I can't think of another author who infuses Hawaiian culture and language in their story so I thoroughly enjoyed that element. Listen, if there's an 808 anywhere near me, I want to be included! Getting to know Kekoa in this story was exactly what I hoped for. We got to learn more about his backstory and what landed him with SNAP. There was a point in which my heart absolutely broke and my eyes were filled with tears.

Elinor was a FANTASTIC character and I think SO many girls would love to get know her. She's a fabulous example of women involved in STEM and careers that are more men centered. She's nerdy and embraces it! Sadly, that career is on the line because everything points to her as to being the one feeding information to the wrong people. Also, she is absolutely perfect for Kekoa!

Of course, the rest of the SNAP Agency is involved in solving the mystery of who is involved so we get to spend time with them again and are able to learn a bit more of how they tick. The way they work together isn't always perfect, but they are Ohana and have each others back. Once again they make the reader want to be part of that family.

This is easily one of my favorite suspense series and I'm champing at the bit for book three!! I can't wait for Garcia & Lyla's story.

About the Author:

Natalie Walters is the author of Lights Out, as well as the Harbored Secrets series. A military wife, she currently resides in Texas with her soldier husband and is the proud mom of three. She loves traveling, spending time with her family, and connecting with readers on Instagram and Facebook. Learn more at www.nataliewalterswriter.com.

Willow By Ronie Kendig

WILLOW

by Ronie Kendig

Publisher: Task Force Press

Series: The Metcalfe's

ISBN: 978-0998136783

I was THRILLED and apprehensive to be part of this blog tour! I knew Willow was going to cover heavy topics, but I knew it was necessary. I received the book for review.

Summary:

To save her, he must become the evil he fights.

Aftercare specialist Willow Metcalfe joined Mission: Liberate Everyone to help trafficking survivors navigate the healing process. When MiLE’s Obiora Compound is attacked by the Nigerian mafia, she’s taken hostage. Against nightmarish odds, she and the victims attempt an escape—and are thwarted.
A decade after leaving his beloved homeland, Chijioke “Chiji” Okorie returns to find his sister and fight for his own country. Believing a global trafficking ring behind her abduction and a string of kidnappings across Nigeria, he goes undercover to find the head of the serpent and his sister. Chiji is stunned to discover among the hostages a familiar face—a friend’s sister, Willow. The woman he vowed years ago to marry.

The man who has interfered with her escape attempts seems … familiar, kind—but Willow knows better. He reeks of the warrior ethos that has devoured many a good man. Engaged in an impossible battle and losing at every turn, Chiji is determined to complete his missions—all of them. Even if it kills him.

My Review:

Willow is an absolute MUST READ for everyone. I realize some people have very sensitive hearts and I respect that, but we can't always turn away from the hard things that are in the world, especially as Christians. Human trafficking is a dark, disturbing reality in this world and the author plunges us into the depths of this depravity and shine a light into it. There's SO much to be said about this story that honestly, it's beyond all of the words I could piece together. 

I will warn readers that this isn't a light, fluffy read. You will be challenged with the words you read, yet what you're reading is a horrific reality for so many women and children around the world. We can NOT shy away from it. We get the perspective of Chiji as he joins a trafficking ring and Willow who is captured by them. From the time Willow and the group is captured my heart was breaking. The depravity that happens will enrage you just as it does Chiji and Willow.

The way Chiji and Willow are connected throughout the story is the one bright spot in the midst of the despair. The way Chiji tries to protect Willow is a beautiful representation of a God given love. The Truth he speaks to her even pierced my heart. She has spent her entire life feeling not needed and the way he shows her how important she is overwhelming. About halfway through the story, the way he explains how God is always working, even when we don't see Him, had a huge impact on me (and Willow). I loved seeing God trying to reach Willow's heart in every area of this story.

There is beauty in the ashes of this story. It is absolutely non-stop action from the start. I couldn't put it down because as hard as some of the scenes were, this story NEEDS to be read. I hope it will move many of us to do more. There's so much that we don't understand about God, such as why bad things happen, and there's a sliver of an answer in this story. One that we can at least take to heart.

I'm looking forward to Range's story next.

About the Author:

Ronie Kendig is a bestselling, award-winning author of over thirty books. She grew up an Army brat, and now she and her Army-veteran husband have returned to their beloved Texas after a nearly ten-year stint in the Northeast. They survive on Sonic runs, barbecue, and peach cobbler that they share--sometimes--with Benning the Stealth Golden. Ronie's degree in psychology has helped her pen novels of intense, raw characters. Visit Ronie online at www.roniekendig.com.

Shadowed Loyalty By Roseanna M. White + GIVEAWAY

Shadowed Loyalty

by Roseanna M. White

Publisher: Chrism Press

ISBN:  978-1941720790

I can't ever resist a Roseanna M. White story! When I heard about her newest one, I was excited after reading the summary. As part of her launch team I received her ebook for review.

Summary:

Sabina Mancari never questioned her life as the daughter of Chicago’s leading mob boss until bullets tear apart her world and the man she thought she loved turns out to be an undercover Prohibition agent. Ambushes, bribes, murder, prostitution—all her life, her father sheltered her from his crimes, but now she can no longer turn away from the truth. Maybe Lorenzo, the fiancé who barely paid her any attention in the last two years, has the right idea by planning to escape their world. But can she truly turn her back on her family?

All his life, Lorenzo’s family assumed he would become a priest, but he has different ideas—marrying Sabina and pursuing a career in the law. Despite his morals, he knows at the core he isn’t so unlike his mafiosi father and brothers. Has he, in trying to protect Sabina, forced her into the arms of the Prohibition agent bent on tearing her family apart? How can they rebuild what has so long been neglected and do it in the shadow of the dark empire of the Mafia?

Shadowed Loyalty, set amid the glitz and scandal of the Roaring Twenties, examines what love really means and how we draw lines between family and our own convictions, especially when following one could mean losing the other.

My Review:

I'll start off by saying that I'm starting to recover from time traveling to the 1920s in this story! Seriously, transported! I never thought I'd be interested in mafia family life. Turns out, Shadowed Loyalty has me fascinated. Probably not the best thing to be fascinated with. lol

First there's Sabina who was initially frustrating, but as her story began to be told, her choices made so much sense. And then there's Enzo. His only goal is to get out of the mafia world that he and Sabina's family have built, and take her with him. His heart is splayed all over the page and all we can do is root for him!

There are so many characters in this story who all play vital roles, but it would take all day to talk about my thoughts on each one: Manny, Rosa, Mary, Izzy, and more. Trust me, so many more!! And they're so good to the story. Gosh, message me and we'll talk about them all! And they way they talked... that was one of my favorite parts of the story!

The way the author depicts how the mafia works and their code in regards to family and business. It's played out in all of the pages of this story. It's so strange because there's something appealing about the strong family bonds even though it comes with the worst of stings attached. It's rich in how tight those bonds are and what the whole story hinges on.

Of course, there are important elements throughout the story such as forgiveness and faith. They're Sicilian in the 20s which means a deep Catholic faith so there's a lot of reference to that way of life. All around this book was excellent and I had a hard time putting it down!

I want more of this world. I'm going to say right now that Izzy needs a story! There's got to be one there.

About the Author:

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award–winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at RoseannaMWhite.com.

You can enter to win this giveaway, which closes June 2, 2022 on Roseanna's website!