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Kill and Run by Lauren Carr

3 Mar
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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Kill and Run by Lauren Carr was an interesting book. I know in a prior review that I wrote that I love how this author has created an entire world for her books where characters from different books show up and have parts in other books. I really like that because it means that you still get to see the characters that you have fallen in love with from her other books. I really enjoyed getting to know these characters better, and I can’t wait to get started with the next book in this series. I fell in love with Murphy right from the onset of this book, and when it was over, I was so glad that I already have the second book in the series waiting for me to read it. I find that even though her books can be repetitive I still enjoy them and I always get excited when I see that I can get one to review. If you love mystery books, I know you will love this book and even more than that she has a ton of books out, so you will have something to read for quite awhile.

About The Book

Five women with seemingly nothing in common are found brutally murdered in a townhome outside Washington, DC. Among the many questions surrounding the massacre is what had brought these apparent strangers together only to be killed.

Taking on his first official murder case, Lieutenant Murphy Thornton, USN, believes that if he can uncover the thread connecting the victims, then he can find their murderer.

The case takes an unexpected turn when Murphy discovers that one of the victims has a connection to his stepmother, Homicide Detective Cameron Gates. One wintry night, over a dozen years before, her first husband, a Pennsylvania State trooper, had been run down while working a night shift on the turnpike.

In this first installment of the Thorny Rose Mysteries, the Lovers in Crime join newlyweds Lieutenant Murphy Thornton and Jessica Faraday to sift through a web of lies and cover-ups. Together, can the detectives of the Thorny Rose uncover the truth without falling victim to a cunning killer?

About The Author

Lauren Carr is the international best-selling author of the Mac Faraday, Lovers in Crime, and Thorny Rose Mysteries—over twenty titles across three fast-paced mystery series filled with twists and turns!

Book reviewers and readers alike rave about how Lauren Carr’s seamlessly crosses genres to include mystery, suspense, romance, and humor.

Lauren is a popular speaker who has made appearances at schools, youth groups, and on author panels at conventions. She lives with her husband, son, and four dogs (including the real Gnarly) on a mountain in Harpers Ferry, WV.

Connect with Lauren: Website ~ Twitter ~ Facebook

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March 2017 - Monthly Book Review List

1 Mar
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I can’t believe we are already in March and this is the first month that I have had time to get one of these posts up. The end of last year and the start of this year were totally crazy for me, and I had no time to do anything other than getting book reviews typed up and posted.

March 3rd- Kill and Run by Lauren Carr

March 4th- The Elusive Miss Ellison by Carolyn Miller

March 7th- The Ashes by Vincent Zandri

March 10th- Home At Last by Deborah Raney

March 14th- Wooing The Wedding Planner by Amber Leigh Williams

March 15th- Her Secret by Shelley Shepard Gray

March 21st- The Cutaway by Christina Kovac

March 23rd- A Fine Year for Murder by Lauren Carr

March 28th- A Fine Piece of Chocolate by Jacqueline R. Banks

March 29th- An Amish Home by Beth Wiseman, Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Ruth Reid

I don’t have as many book reviews this year because I have had to tell authors that I can’t review their books because I have no time to read the books let alone type up more reviews. I also am looking for a couple of people to join my review team so if you or someone you know might be interested send them my way. I also will be having a Multiple Sclerosis update up in the next couple of weeks because I saw my doctor in January and I also had an MRI on the 25th of February. I also have had weird things going on that I want to share so that I can come back and look the post if I ever need to remember how I am feeling.

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Grace and the Preacher by Kim Vogel Sawyer

28 Feb
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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Blogging For Books in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Grace and the Preacher by Kim Vogel Sawyer was a sweet story. I don’t read many historical books anymore because I find that I get bored with them and I do have a hard time getting into them. This is the third book that I have read by this author, and I am starting to think that she can’t write a book that I won’t enjoy. This book was a slow start for me, but by the third chapter I was hooked, and I ended up staying up way too late because I didn’t want to put the book down. I didn’t like Theo throughout the entire book, and I am not sure why I didn’t like him. I did, however, love Grace right from the start of the book. If you are looking for a new historical fiction book to read I would recommend this one to you.

About The Book

The Kansas community of Fairland anticipates the arrival of their new minister, and in recent months, late in 1882, postmistress Grace Cristler has communicated with Reverend Dille via letters, answering his questions about the little town, and developing affection for the man who pens thoughtful missives.

Theophil Garrison grew up under the loving influence of his saintly grandmother but was roped into his cousins’ train-robbing plan. When they fail and are apprehended, Theo fled the scene, evading jail time. Now an angry cousin is out to avenge Theo’s duplicity, and he’s on the run. He encounters a fatally ill traveler-a minister. Seeing a way to keep hidden, Theo trades identities with the man, dons his fine black suit, carries a Bible, and prays that he’ll be accepted as Rufus Dille.

Once in Fairland, if Theo’s true identity is uncovered, what will be left of the world he has built for himself, Grace, and those in the town who have come to love and accept him?

From the Trade Paperback edition.

About The Author

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of fifteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women’s fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas and have three daughters and six grandchildren. She invites you to visit her Web site at www.kimvogelsawyer.com for more information.”

Kim’s father is author Ralph Vogel

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Door To Freedom by Jana Kelley

24 Feb
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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Door To Freedom by Jana Kelley was a great book. This is the second book in the series and going into this book I was sure I was going to like it because I loved the first book in this series. This is such a unique plot that I can’t help but love it because it is so different from anything else that I have ever read. I love that with these books you get to peek inside of what it would be like to be a Christian living in Sudan. I also enjoyed this book because it is based on true stories and I am always a sucker for books that are based on real stories. This book made me want to share my beliefs more because if people are sharing their faith in places like Sudan, I should do the same thing here. If you are looking for a book that is different from most of the books out there, I would recommend this entire series to you because I know you will love them like I do.

About The Book

In the dusty, Islamic country of Sudan, Mia, who is raising her family in a Muslim country, has learned to boldly share her faith. Rania, the daughter of a wealthy Sudanese Arab, seeks to find the reason for her sister’s sudden disappearance. Mia holds some of the answers, but both women quickly discover they must each walk through their own doors to freedom—the freedom that only comes when you trust God’s sovereignty more than man-made security.

Part of New Hope® Publishers’ line of contemporary missional fiction, Door to Freedom, the sequel to Side by Side, opens the reader’s eyes to modern-day persecution and the life of Muslims in Sudan. Based on real-life events, Door to Freedom also reveals some of the struggles that Christians face when living under Islamic law. The reader will be inspired to pray for those who are persecuted for their faith as well as for the salvation of the persecutors.

About The Author

Jana Kelley is a Texan who hardly ever lives in Texas. Raised in Southeast Asia, Jana developed a love for cross-cultural living early in life. Her love for writing came soon after. Jana returned to Texas to attend college. She and her husband married a month after she graduated, and by their second anniversary, they were living in a remote African town. After 13 years living in Africa and the Middle East, Jana, her husband, and their three boys moved to Southeast Asia where they currently live. You can learn more about Jana at janakelley.com.

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Home To Paradise by Barbara Cameron

23 Feb
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Home to Paradise Barbara Cameron

FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Home To Paradise by Barbara Cameron was a great Amish fiction novel. As most of you know by now, I am a huge fan of Amish fiction books. Every time I see one I have to get it and read it because I can’t get enough of them. This is the third book in the “Coming Home” series. This is the first book that I have read in this series and me able to figure out what was going on. If had had the time I would have liked to read all three books in order, but I didn’t have the time, so I am hoping that I will be able to read the other two books later even though I know what happens to them because I read this book. I really liked Rose and John right from the start, and I was sad when the book was over because I felt like I really connected with the characters. If you love Amish fiction like I do I would tell you to pick up the first two books so that you can read them in order.

About The Book

Rose Anna Zook has watched her two older sisters marry two Stoltzfus men and has always thought she and John, the third Stoltzfus brother, would marry, make a home together, and have children. But John has other ideas. He’s enjoying his Rumschpringe in the Englisch world a little too much and isn’t interested in returning to the Amish community-especially to marry.
Rose Anna is determined to bring her man back into the Amish fold. John is equally determined to live his life free and unencumbered. Who will win this battle of wills? Will love prevail?

About The Author

CBD, CBA, and ECPA best-selling author of 24 books (including new series upcoming for Abingdon Press in 2011/2012) including fiction and non-fiction books for Abingdon Press, Thomas Nelson, Harlequin, and other publishers.

I sold three films to HBO/Cinemax and am the first winner of the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart Award.

My two novellas won the 2nd and 3rd place in the Inspirational Readers Choice Contest from the Faith, Love, and Hope chapter of RWA. Both were finalists for the novella category of the Carol Award of the American Christian Writers Award (ACFW).

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Let’s Try This Again by Jordyn Woodtke

22 Feb
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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead Book Tours in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Let’s Try This Again by Jordyn Woodtke was an okay book. I enjoyed the story but I did find it pretty predictable. I know I have said this before but after you read as many books as I do you are able to see the patterns in books so you always know what will happen. That being said I did enjoy this book and I really like Josie right from the start. I was also amazed that this is a debut novel because I usually don’t enjoy the first’s book that the authors write. These types of books always leave smile on my face because they are almost always sweet stories and who doesn’t love a good romance novel. If you love chick lit than I am sure you will enjoy this book like I did.

About The Book

One girl. Two guys. It’s complicated. And hot.

First, there is Isaac, the ex-boyfriend who threatens her move to a sunny new life on the west coast when he suddenly comes back into the picture. The chemistry is intoxicating, and Josie starts eating, breathing, and sleeping with him again until the move. Things are hard enough saying goodbye to her childhood home and very best friends, but when Isaac makes it seem like he might actually want her to stay, Josie wonders if she’s giving up on him too quickly.

Josie takes the plunge and moves to California.

Then comes Carter. Sweet, doting - and, oh my god! - Former boy band heartthrob, Carter. Josie’s new life falls into place, with new friends and a job working as the personal assistant to Carter as he plans the re-launch of his career. When it seems like there might be something between Josie and her new boss, she can’t help but hold back in fear of crossing a line and, worse yet, getting her heart crushed. Once again.

What spirals into a complicated, heart-wrenching, unexpected love triangle forces Josie to face a decision that she is not sure she can make. Carter or Isaac. Or - who knows?

It’s Sex in the City meets Bridget Jones Diary under the Hollywood sign. A masterful debut novel of love, sex and rock & roll in the New Adult genre.

About The Author

Jordyn Woodtke is an exceedingly gifted new author who is destined to take the New Adult genre by storm with her debut novel entitled Let’s Try This Again.

A graduate of NYU, she majored in screenwriting with a minor in bottomless brunching, skills she took with her when she moved to Los Angeles to follow her dream of becoming a writer. Jordyn started writing poetry and plays in high school, garnering prestigious awards and accolades from the Hartford Stage, Drexel University, the Waterbury Young Playwrights Festival and the National Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, among others.

Now, on any given afternoon you are likely to find Jordyn petting random dogs on her street, noshing at any of the numerous brunch spots in LA, or bingeing Netflix on her couch. She’s grateful and dedicated to the art of storytelling because it lets her say all the things she wished she’d said when she had the chance.

And if Let’s Try This Again is any indicator of future success, Jordyn will get to keep saying them for a long, long time.

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Environmentally Friendly by Elias Zanbaka

14 Feb
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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Environmentally Friendly by Elias Zanbaka was a weird book, to say the least. It is a short story, so I was able to read in like thirty minutes which I liked, but I felt lost the entire time I was reading the story. The best way I can think of to describe how I felt was I felt like I walked into an action movie right at the end when everything is going nuts. I was so confused because I had no idea who was who or what was happening. I was just left feeling like I wanted more information. There are books that are short like this that it work but this one seemed like I was reading the end of the book so I had no context, and I was so confused throughout.

About The Book

Out of seven billion people, one man has declared war on Mother Nature and plans to bring it to its knees.

Out of all the criminals in Los Angeles, he’s the number one target being hunted by the LAPD tonight.

And out of the entire LAPD, one officer is hell-bent on helping him complete his mission.

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Grimm Woods by D. Melhoff

13 Feb
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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from iRead in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

Grimm Woods by D. Melhoff was a great book. I liked this book right from the start of it which is always a good thing. I loved how the fairy tales were used throughout the book and how they made them relate to what was going on in the book. This is the first book in quite a while that kept me on the edge of my seat which I also love, and it can be hard for me to find books like that now that I have read so many books out there. I also so super interested in this book because I had no idea how fairy tales used to be so I also found that part of this book interesting as well. If you are looking for a book that will keep you on the edge of your seat than I would for sure recommend this one to you.

About The Book

A remote summer camp becomes a lurid crime scene when the bodies of two teenagers are found in a bloody, real-life rendering of a classic Grimm’s fairy tale. Trapped in the wilderness, the remaining counselors must follow a trail of dark children’s fables in order to outwit a psychopath and save the dwindling survivors before falling prey to their own gruesome endings.

Drawing on the grisly, uncensored details of history’s most famous fairy tales, Grimm Woods is a heart-pounding thriller about a deranged killer who uses traditional children’s stories as tropes in elaborate murders. Set against the backdrop of modern-day Michigan, it’s a journey through the mind of a dangerous zealot and a shocking glimpse into the bedtime stories you thought you knew.

About The Author

D. Melhoff was born in a prairie ghost town that few people have heard of and even fewer have visited. While most of his stories are for adults, he also enjoys terrifying younger audiences from time to time, as seen in his series of twisted picture books for children. He credits King, Poe, Hitchcock, Harris, Stoker, and his second grade school teacher, Mrs. Lake, for turning him to horror. For more information, visit www.dmelhoff.com.

 

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A Terrifying Bike Ride and a Clue to the Missing Girl by Greta Kay

8 Feb
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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from BookLook in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

A Terrifying Bike Ride and a Clue to the Missing Girl by Greta Kay was a super weird book that I couldn’t get into. It is a shorter book, so it didn’t take that long to read it, but even as I sit here now I am still confused about what the hell went on during that book. It was an okay book just not what I expected or something I would usually pick up to read. This would be a good book for teens or tweens but not for adults.

About The Book

A story of intrigue, an unsolved mystery, a warning ignored-draws the reader into the lives of Becca Nelson and Leigh Wilcox, who stumble into the center of a dark plot.

Is Think Tank Axis #1 an undercover organization bent on controlling the minds of teens? Do the points in the survey questions start them down a path of doubting their family life? Becca Nelson surmises this as fact. She confides her suspicion to Logan who listens, but is not alarmed.

Do your parents give you choices on everyday decisions?

Is the culture of your parents old fashioned and irrelevant to teens of today?

Do you believe your parents are fair to you?

Would you like to plan your future without other’s opinions?

Do you tell your parents everything?

I have to keep myself out of trouble. I don’t have a dad to defend me, one that will always take my side. And Mom wouldn’t know what to do if she had to get me out of trouble. I can’t waste my time on trying to be popular. I discarded that goal long ago. I saw what happens to those kids whose friends didn’t know the definition of loyalty. Popularity is like a swinging door, in one day, out the next. Too many tears and heartbreaks for those once-upon-a-time popular kids.

On their bike ride, the girls capture an injured magpie and nurse him back to health, eventually releasing him back to the wild, not realizing they would meet again.

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The Good Daughter by Alexandra Burt

7 Feb
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FTC: I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review. I received no other compensation and the opinions expressed in this review are one hundred percent true and my own.

The Good Daughter by Alexandra Burt was a hard book for me stay interested in. Once I was about halfway in I did want to finish the book but this is one of those books that took me longer to get through because I would always want to read other books instead of this one. I really was interested in this book because of the back cover, and that is why I didn’t give up on it even though it took me a few months to read the entire book. I did feel like the book was slow in some parts and in others parts it almost went too fast. If you enjoy mystery books than I would for sure tell you to check this book out and let me know what you think of it.

About The Book

From the author of Remember Mia comes the tale of a young woman in search of her past, and the mother who will do anything to keep it hidden…

What if you were the worst crime your mother ever committed?

Dahlia Waller’s childhood memories consist of stuffy cars, seedy motels, and a rootless existence traveling the country with her eccentric mother. Now grown, she desperately wants to distance herself from that life. Yet one thing is stopping her from moving forward: she has questions.

In order to understand her past, Dahlia must go back. Back to her mother in the stifling town of Aurora, Texas. Back into the past of a woman on the brink of madness. But after she discovers three grave-like mounds on a neighboring farm, she ll learn that in her mother s world of secrets, not all questions are meant to be answered…

About The Author

Born in Fulda, Germany, a baroque town in the East Hesse Highlands, I spent my childhood accompanying my two older brothers on local countryside adventures, roaming abandoned farm houses, ancient beech woods cratered by WW2 bombings, and sandstone towers rumored to have housed witches waiting to be burned at the stakes. A gluttonous reader long before online bookstores, grocery store crime novels, and large book chains cropped up in every city, I made do with a small town library in the city hall building. After I exhausted the children’s section, I moved on to crime fiction and serial killers.

While pursuing literary translations, I decided to tell my own stories. After three years of writing classes and gluttonous reading, my short fiction appeared in the Freedom Fiction Journal, All Things Girl, and MUSED Literary Review.

I currently live in Central Texas with my husband, my daughter, and two Chocolate Labrador Retrievers.

I am currently working on my third novel.

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