Like Flames In The Night By Connilyn Cossette

Like Flames in the Night
by Connilyn Cossette
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 9780764234330

I am so thankful to be on the launch team for Connilyn Cossette's newest release! I was sent Like Flames in the Night by Connilyn Cossette as part of her launch team.

Summary:

Strong-willed Tirzah wants to join her people in driving the enemy from the land of Israel and undergoes training for a secret mission inside the stronghold of Shechem. But soon after she has infiltrated the ruthless Aramean commander's kitchen, she makes a reckless decision that puts her and her allies in grave danger.

Fresh off the battlefield, Liyam returns home to discover his beloved daughter is dead. After his vow to hunt down her killer leads to months of fruitless pursuit, his last hope is in a family connection that comes with strings attached--strings that force him to pose as a mercenary and rescue an infuriating woman who refuses to leave her mission uncompleted.

When an opportunity to pave a path to a Hebrew victory arises, can Tirzah convince Liyam to fight alongside her in the refuge city of her birth? Or will Liyam's thirst for vengeance outweigh his duty to his people, his God, and the woman he's come to love?

My Review:

I have fallen in love with biblical fiction thanks to this series! Connilyn's gift of bringing the Old Testament to life is breathtaking!

I was surprised at how different Like Flames in the Night is from her other 3 books while staying true to the overall theme of the book. Each of the stories have had strong women in them, but this time, Tirzah is in a league of her own!

Her ability to convince her brothers to send her into the viper's den shows her tenacity and wit! We also see how young she still is with choices she makes. I was also surprised by Liyam as a character. You immediately feel for him with the great loss he's had in his life. It felt so right to have him connect with Tirzah's family after all they've been through.

It didn't surprise me at all how attached I became to even supporting characters. You can feel the relationship the main characters have with them, so it helps the reader become more infused with the story.

At times I found myself holding my breath not knowing what's about to happen as well as smacking my head talking to the book and say, "What are you thinking?" You know my reading is going splendidly when that happens. As a "bystander" I appreciated how the author brought Liyam and Tirzah together. Of course, I was rooting for them to be brought together, all the while knowing Liyam's heart was bent towards vengeance.

Like Flames in the Night was a book I wanted to devour while at the same time slowly enjoy ever morsel of the story knowing that when I reached the end the series would be finished and I'd have to put Darek and Moriyah's family behind me. One of my all-time favorite leading men will always be Darek.

About the Author:

Connilyn Cossette (www.connilyncossette.com)is a Christy Award and Carol Award winning author whose books have been found on ECPA and CBA bestseller lists. When she is not engulfed in the happy chaos of homeschooling two teenagers, devouring books whole, or avoiding housework, she can be found digging into the rich ancient world of the Bible to discover gems of grace that point to Jesus and weaving them into an immersive fiction experience. Although she and her husband have lived all over the country in their twenty-plus years of marriage, they currently call a little town south of Dallas, Texas, their home.

Ishmael Covenant By Terry Brennan & Giveaway

Ishmael Covenant
by Terry Brennan
Publisher: Kregel Publications
ISBN: 9780825445309

I haven't read Terry Brennan before and have heard fantastic things about his writing. Because of that I was thrilled to be part of the book tour. I received the book for review from I Read with Audra!

Summary:

His marriage in tatters and his career ruined by lies, Diplomatic Security Service agent Brian Mullaney is at the end of his rope. Banished to Israel as punishment by his agency, he's assigned to guard a US ambassador and an insignificant box. Little does he know that this new job will propel him straight into a crisis of global proportions.

Inside the box is a messianic prophecy about the fate of the world. And a dark enemy known as The Turk and the forces of evil at his command are determined to destroy the box, the prophecy, and the Middle East as we know it. When Ambassador Cleveland gets in the way, his life and his daughter's life are threatened--and Mullaney must act fast.

Now agents of three ancient empires have launched covert operations to secure nuclear weapons, in direct defiance of the startling peace treaty Israel and its Arab neighbors have signed. And a traitor in the US State Department is leaking critical information to a foreign power. It's up to Mullaney--still struggling with his own broken future--to protect the embassy staff, thwart the clandestine conspiracies, and unmask a traitor--before the desert is turned into a radioactive wasteland.

Fans of Joel C. Rosenberg, Steven James, and Ted Dekker will relish the deadly whirlpool of international intrigue and end-times prophecy in Ishmael Covenant--and will eagerly await the rest of this new trilogy.

Read an excerpt from Kregel by clicking here!

My Review:

Wow, I can see why people have recommended Terry Brennan before. He is a very in-depth writer! Now, I have to say, I don't typically read books with this much detail. I'm at a loss for keeping the factions straight in the Middle East. I've never learned a lot about the different empires and how they're so different, how far back the rift has gone, etc.

The author's research and understanding of the conflict in the Middle East was mind boggling to me. Honestly I felt like I should've probably kept notes as I read the book! At least when it came to which faction was which. In the end, the prophecies were the most important factor for me to focus on. As I read the book, I kept thinking of my father-in-law who loves books like these. Then I recommended it to one of our elders when I found out that he enjoys government thrillers. This would be right up their alleys!

I was absolutely sucked into the story with the prologue! I did appreciate the author's inclusion of the cast of characters since there are so many to keep track of. One of the characters I liked the most throughout the entire story was Tommy Hernandez. He brings levity to the story, but is the guy I'd turn to to get me somewhere safe!

On the other hand, the Turk is a terrifying character! He'll probably go down as one of my most disliked aka well written villains. Imagining the one that is being restrained now, but waiting to be released is really freaky!

Like I said, I was sucked into the story from the start and it's a very intense one! Terry's writing will definitely appeal to people who like current international events. Readers who are into end times prophecy will really be into this story! If you like these types of stories, Ishmael Covenant is NOT to be missed!

About the Author:

Terry Brennan is the award-winning author of The Sacred Cipher, The Brotherhood Conspiracy, and The Aleppo Code, the three books in The Jerusalem Prophecies series. His latest release, Ishmael Covenant is the first in his new series, Empires of Armageddon.

A Pulitzer Prize is one of the many awards Brennan accumulated during his 22-year newspaper career. The Pottstown (PA)Mercury won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing for a two-year series published while he led the team as the newspaper’s Editor.

Starting out as a sportswriter in Philadelphia, Brennan became an editor and publisher for newspapers in Pennsylvania, Illinois, and New York and later moved to the corporate staff of Ingersoll Publications (400 newspapers in the U.S., Ireland and England) as Executive Editor of all U.S. newspaper titles.

In 1996, Brennan transitioned into the nonprofit sector, spending 12 years as VP Operations for The Bowery Mission and six years as Chief Administrative Officer for Care for the Homeless,  both in New York City.

Terry and his wife, Andrea, now live in Danbury, CT.

More on Brennan can be found at www.terrybrennanauthor.com. He is also on Facebook (Terry Brennan)and Twitter (@terrbrennan1).

You can enter to win this book via the link below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Cry Of The Raven By Morgan L. Busse

The Cry of the Raven
by Morgan L. Busse
Publisher: Bethany House
ISBN: 9780764232244

Having read book one of The Ravenwood Saga at the end of 2018 I was glad my son received book 2 for Christmas. The timing was impeccable as book 3 came out in February and I was offered to receive The Cry of the Raven by the author! There was NO way I was going to say, "No," to that offer!

Summary:

Wife. Warrior. Lady of Two Worlds.
As War Looms, Will Her Power Be Enough to Save the Ones She Loves? Lady Selene Ravenwood has come into her full power as a dreamwalker--a power greater than any in history. She embraces her new role as Nightwatcher, able to intercede for her people in the dream world, but the dark shadow of war draws ever closer. 

Working together, the Great Houses come up with a plan to secure the borders from the approaching Dominia Empire. But dissension, conflict, and suspicion threaten to destroy their tenuous treaty, and as the empire burns a path across their lands, Damien Maris starts to lose his ability to raise the waters, leaving the lands vulnerable to the empire's attacks. 

The only one who can keep the Great Houses unified and restore her husband's power is Selene. But it will require that she venture deep into the dream world to confront the enemies of her past who will do anything to stop her power. Will it be enough, or will both worlds fall under the empire's might?

My Review:

I have to admit, closing the page on book 2 and opening page one with book 3 was a seamless move and one I would suggest for anyone reading this series!

The Cry of the Raven. This was such an excellent final installment of The Ravenwood Saga. To me, the spiritual aspect of the stories ramped up in beauty with each book. Their faith deepened and became more relevant to the story as it progressed. As you read the story you'll understand what I mean.

Watching Selene grow throughout the series has been incredible. I went from giving her the side eye in book one to really cheering for her in the last two books. And of course there's Damien who I'd say readers (at least I) have loved from book 1. But what's a guy to do who's carried the weight of the kingdoms on his shoulders?

It was incredible to get to know the other kingdoms better during book three. So many secrets revealed. Stories of the past that come to light threaten to tear them all apart. The way Morgan L. Busse wove the story together that has you invested in the choices they make.

The family dynamics and Selene's growing strength in the dream world carries through the entire story. How the author brings the whole story together with the faith element beautifully solidified this book and this series as one of my top favorites and this book specifically will get a 5star rating from me.

Now on to read ALL of Morgan's other novels!

About the Author:

Morgan L. Busse (www.morganlbusse.com) is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the Follower of the Word series and the steampunk series The Soul Chronicles. Mark of the Raven won the 2019 Carol Award and the 2019 INSPY Award. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel. She and her family live in Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Off The Hook By Dana Tibbitts & Patti Goldberg

Off the Hook
by Dana Tibbitts & Patti Goldberg
Publisher: Hidden Manna Ministries
ISBN: 978-0-985097837

I was sent this book from FrontGate Media for review. I know I don't often review non-fiction, but forgiveness is such a vital part to our walk with Christ I wanted to check this one out.

Summary:

SO YOU THINK YOU'VE FORGIVEN? THINK AGAIN. Is there something you’ve inadvertently picked up along the way that’s sucking the life out of you? Stealing your peace? Has you stuck? Stuck happens. Much as we think we’ve moved on, hard things have a way of taking root in the heartscape of our lives. Off the Hook shares real life stories of real people who had no idea they were still captive to past hurts—until they walked through deep forgiveness! This way of forgiveness offers healing and freedom you never thought possible. It’s about the power of truly letting go—taking old pain patterns and people off your hook, for your sake, not theirs. No longer hemmed in by the burden of deep hurt, loss and offense, you are free at last to soar above it. Discover what no one has told you about the forgiveness power tool—what it is, what it is not, and how to do it. Rewrite the ending to your true story by retrieving the wellbeing and destiny God has for you.



My Review:

I was surprised at how in depth Off the Hook was. It was also written in a way that digestible for readers. Forgiveness can easily be a heavy topic to tackle, but the authors do so in a very grace-filled way. I appreciated that for readers such as myself, each chapter is broken down in a way that makes it easy for the reader to take in what's being said, mull it over, and then continue reading.

One of the pieces of the book that I really appreciated were the stories that went along with the segment of the chapter they were covering. I'll admit, the first part of chapter 1 struck a chord with me. I'm not always the greatest at building up my husband and I don't ever want him to look back at our relationship and see me the way their example did to his ex-wife.

We all have to deal with forgiveness. While it's going to be on a different level for each of us, what's shared in this book is practical for everyone. The scripture that they pair with the area of forgiveness that's covered is vital to us understanding the power of forgiveness and what God calls us to. This is a book I'll be suggesting to my book club, because I believe we can all use it in our lives.

Be sure to enter the giveaway to win a copy of the book. You can also get the book with the Kindle Countdown set for February 20-27, starting at $0.99 1st day. (Regular price $5.99)!

The Tuesday Ten With Sandra Byrd

It's time once again for today's Tuesday Ten! I know that it's been a while, but life has been NUTS since the start of the year. I'm so excited to have the wonderful Sandra Byrd on my blog today!

Q1: If you could go to any location in Washington to find inspiration for your next story, where would you go?

Sandra: Happily, my next book is set in Washington, on one of my two favorite places in my home state, Whidbey Island. 

Mimi: In all the years I lived there I never went to Whidbey Island. IF I were a writer I'd probably go to Olympic State Park because it's so stunning!

Q2: We're visiting England together, and you want to take me to tea. Where are we going and what kind of tea do you suggest I try?

Sandra: Oh, Claridge’s, absolutely.  There are many other places to try, in London, but Claridge’s has my heart.  (Scroll down to see the Tea, in this link.) The history behind the hotel is a story in itself—and I do think a book has been written about that—but the tea and tea treats are delightful.

The setting is amazing, and you can eat as much as you like.  I don’t think they counted on my then-teenaged son eating so many plates of dainties one time when we visited. But they were gracious!

Mimi: Oh my word, I'm ready to go there when you are! It sounds absolutely delightful and I'd make the most of the food as well!

Q3: What inspired you to start your tea & coffee mug exchange?

Sandra: When I was a kid, I loved it when my school would set us up with pen pals  - I looked forward to it all year. As a teen, I loved one summer’s month in France, and one in Germany, and how it expanded my understanding of the world, and friendship. 

Later, my husband and I hosted students from other cultures and made lifelong friends.

I love the idea of connecting reading friends I love with other reading friends I love.  I hope your blog readers will join us in 2020!

Mimi: I have enjoyed the two ladies I've done the exchanges with! I appreciate that you created this experience for all who participate!

Q4: You're given the opportunity to dress up and act in character in Williamsburg (or anywhere they have period actors) as one of the characters in your book. Which character would it be?

Sandra: Anne Boleyn, for sure.  I’m a dark brunette, and my husband is a strawberry-blonde like Henry XIII and can grow a huge, bristly beard if he wants to. I suggested he grow his beard, get costumes, and host a party.  He didn’t dig the idea of being Henry XIII. 😊 I know people think about the traumatic parts of her life, and there’s a lot of shaming that doesn’t show the whole woman.  I think she was a powerful – if imperfect – aid to the Protestant Reformation, which eventually led to tightening and strengthening the Catholic church, too.

I think I’d pick a period early in her marriage, though, for obvious reasons!

Mimi: lol I'd go with an earlier period of her life as well! I've been thinking about this, and I don't think I'd want to be a specific character, but maybe someone who was in the upper class so I could enjoy the gowns and parties... even if just for a day!

Q5: If you could go to Israel and visit one spot where Jesus had been, where would you go?

Sandra: Sea of Galilee. I have seen so many beautiful photos, and I can close my eyes and imagine being there with the first-century disciples.  I hope we can go some time.

Mimi: I think I'd want to go to Gethsemane. I've never felt a huge pull to go to Israel, but I know if I ever went it would be more that I could ever imagine.

Q6: What facet do you enjoy most when you're researching history for your period books? Is it the clothing, how they spoke, the setting, etc.?

Sandra: I am an immersive researcher. I eat what they ate (yes, even eels!) and try to walk where they walked. I watch films and read dozens of books.  I listen to YouTubes of dialogue and interview as many people as I can. I care immensely about getting the details right, whether they be cultural, professional, or personal. I hope that when my readers slip into the pages of the book, they are right there – and then – too!

Mimi: I really appreciate that as one of your readers! I definitely feel like the time period comes to life with your books. I can admit that I cringed when I read about you eating eels. 😬

Q7: If you could design your dream library, what would it look like? Would it be big with rows and rows of bookshelves? Would it be small and cozy?

Sandra: I have books in every single room of my house. Honestly, they are friends, and my home would feel naked and soulless without them.  So, I seek to make special places in each room a nook – or a shelf – for books, rather than one dedicated library.

Mimi: My dream would be to have a room with walls of books and there would definitely have to be a sliding ladder! But I'm with you, I like having friends nearby so having them in each room is fantastic! I have them around my house as well!

Q8: Since you do book coaching, do you ever find yourself giving a tip that you realize you should've used in your writing? Can you give us an example?

Sandra: I hope that, when I coach, I help my clients learn from the many years I have been writing, coaching, and editing.  I want to help them avoid potential pitfalls, when I can, and give them skills and tools it took me years to learn.  I wish I would have learned much earlier in my career how important it is to structure a novel a bit before writing it. It would have saved me many long deletions! I show my clients how to structure and create while retaining their voices.

Mimi: So fantastic that you are able to pass on what you've learned over the years from your own experiences.

Q9: What do you do to get into your "zone" as you prepare to start writing your next book?

Sandra: Once I slip into the next book, I am almost always in the zone.  I see things all around me with a view to the story. I take notes on my phone when I’m with my friends or family and something occurs. I cook from the culture or preferences of my characters. All of my reading and much of my tv is geared toward supporting the book. I slip away, as it were, and don’t really emerge until the draft is done.  The time at the computer is just an extension of that.

Mimi: Aside from the eels, I'd love to be around you as you're creating your books where the food is concerned. lol Sounds like you become one with the creation of the book as you're in process. That's incredible!

Q10: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you choose? Oh, and it's going to be the setting of your next book! 

Yes, ma’am, it is! Whidbey Island, and I’ll be there in just a few weeks and popping in and out all summer long!

Mimi: Sounds like a fantastic way to spend your days doing research, especially during the summer!

Be sure to keep up with Sandra via her newsletter from her website or on Instagram!