"TARGET ACQUIRED" BY LYNETTE EASON - NEW RELEASE PREVIEW REVIEW

"Target Acquired" by Lynette Eason

🔍Book Blurb:

Tough-as-nails Kenzie King has finally earned her place as a tactical medic on a SWAT team. But not everyone on the all-male team accepts her. Rumor is, she didn't get the position because of what she could do but because of who she knew. Which means she has to work harder and longer than anyone else to prove herself.
  
Cole Garrison is a man with deep faith who is finally ready to settle down and build a family of his own--if he can find the right person, that is. Kenzie sure has set off his interest meter, but trouble seems to follow in her wake. Since she joined the team, someone has begun to ambush and pick off team members, one by one.
  
It's all hands on deck to discover the culprit and end the killing. Can Kenzie and Cole put aside their differences and work together as a team? Or will their budding attraction be snuffed out by a sniper's bullet?

The book blurb and cover seen above came from Amazon.com, where you can sample the prologue and first 2 chapters.

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Released just last month (August, 2024), Target Acquired is Lynette Eason's newest book. This is the second book in the Lake City Heroes series, of which I believe each book can be read as a standalone.

I just previewed the first pages of this book and here are my thoughts.

The Prologue is set in an overcrowded mental hospital in North Carolina, in the summer of 1947, such an interesting and eerie setting!

Eliza, a new patient asks, "Who was screaming all night long? Such wretched screaming. My ears are still ringing with it." To which her nurse replies, "It's just the way of this place. You'll learn to ignore it." - Not sure I could ever get used to that! So creepy! And something about how 22-year-old Eliza ended up in this hospital and her treatment is very suspicious. I'm very interested in learning more about this!

Chapter One is set in the same location, present day, and follows a SWAT team on a mission to save lives in an intense hostage situation. At this point I'm guessing Sergeant Cole Garrison is going to be my favorite character in this book.

After finishing Chapter Two, I'm enjoying the prose, feeling connected to some of the characters, and really wondering how the present day will be tied to the 1947 scene.

I'll be posting my full review of Target Acquired on Goodreads and other platforms as soon as I finish it.

Note: I received a free digital ARC copy of this book from Revell via NetGalley, for which I am SO grateful, and these are my honest thoughts.

"HIDDEN IN THE NIGHT" BY ELIZABETH GODDARD - NEW RELEASE PREVIEW

Note: I do not like seeing identifiable people on book covers, especially faces.

"Hidden in the Night" by Elizabeth Goddard

🔍Book Blurb:

At the behest of her ailing mother, former FBI special agent turned rare-book collector Ivy Elliott arrives in Alaska to secure an unpublished Jack London manuscript kept secreted away for decades. But when she arrives, she learns the manuscript is gone--taken by the granddaughter of the woman who possessed it. Ivy sets off in pursuit, not just to save the manuscript but to save the vulnerable girl, who was previously trafficked and has no idea what she's getting herself into.
 
Joining forces with Alaska State Trooper Nolan Long, Ivy must battle a blizzard, sabotage, and the worst of an Alaskan winter as the search goes on. But every answer they find only raises more questions--and the danger to their lives and to the missing girl may only be the tip of the iceberg.

The book blurb and cover seen above came from Amazon.com, where you can sample the first 4+ chapters.

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Released this month (June, 2024), Hidden in the Night is Elizabeth Goddard's newest book. This is the third and final book in the Missing in Alaska trilogy, of which each book can be read as a standalone.

This book opens just prior to Chapter One with the official Alaska State Troopers' Creed, which I absolutely LOVE! This drew me in immediately, and the first two chapters did not disappoint. Quality writing, pacing, and intrigue in this book make it easy to keep turning its pages. I can't wait to learn the fate of Ivy Elliott and the missing girl and manuscript she's looking for!

If you're a fan of thrilling suspense with a good clean love story on the side, I highly recommend checking out this book and the other works of Elizabeth Goddard, one of my favorite authors.

I'll be posting my full review of Hidden in the Night on Goodreads and other platforms as soon as I finish it.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from Revell, for which I am SO grateful, and these are my honest thoughts.

"UNDER FIRE" BY LYNN H. BLACKBURN

 

"Under Fire" by Lynn H. Blackburn

Book Blurb:

USSS Special Agent Zane Thacker has landed his dream assignment protecting the president of the United States. When the president plans a fundraiser at the exclusive estate of a political supporter in Raleigh, Zane is thrilled to be working again with Special Agent Tessa Reed, his best friend--and the woman he desperately wishes could be more.

Though Tessa almost lost everything, she battled her demons and came out on the other side healthy and healed. But when her role as the liaison between the Raleigh office and the president's protective detail wrenches her past back into the present, her greatest failure threatens to come to light.

Zane refuses to let Tessa go through this alone. But can he stand by the woman he loves and protect the president from a mounting threat at the same time?

Sparks fly as award-winning romantic suspense writer Lynn H. Blackburn closes out her Defend and Protect series with this explosive tale of secrets kept, lies exposed, and relationships restored.

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My Initial Thoughts:

Released this month (March, 2023), Under Fire is the third and final book of the Defend and Protect series.

Thank you Revell and NetGalley for sending me a free digital ARC copy of this book to read and help promote! Considering the trouble I've had accessing this ebook, here are my thoughts on the first two chapters, which I read via Amazon's free preview.

First line: "US Secret Service Agent Tessa Reed was no stranger to hangovers."

I'm not crazy about the opening line implying that one of the main characters is a drunk. That said, it's made clear by the end of chapter one and much clearer by the end of chapter two that this character, Tessa, is in big trouble, trouble that has already cost her a lot and will cost her everything if she doesn't make some serious changes soon. There's obviously going to be a strong redemption story here, which I'm always a fan of.

US Secret Service Agent Zane Thacker is a character that I can relate to in several ways. I look forward to learning more of his and Tessa's stories.

Now that it's complete, I'm planning a buddy read around this series and will post my final reviews on Goodreads. 😊

Credits: The book blurb and cover photo seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.

NEW RELEASE: "TARGETED" BY EASON, BLACKBURN, & WALTERS

Targeted by Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, & Natalie Walters

🔍Book Blurb:

Three women. Three men. Three unsuspecting targets.

In On the Run, IT Specialist Daria Nevsky is a highly skilled FBI agent with the ability to hack any computer. She must go on the run to find out who wants her dead--and Dr. Ryker Donahue refuses to let her do it alone.

In Deadly Objective, physical therapist Emily Dixon and Secret Service Agent Liam Harper are committed to keeping their relationship professional. But when the vice president's son enters the crosshairs of a killer, some lines will have to be crossed in order to keep him safe.

In Caught in the Crosshairs, there is no love lost between former Army PSYOPS officer Ari Blackman and CIA officer Claudia Gallegos after Claudia is implicated in the murder of a Saudi prince. But to prevent a coup that would put America at risk, they'll have to learn to trust each other--before it's too late.

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Three separate novellas in one book by three incredibly popular romantic suspense authors, Lynette Eason, Lynn H. Blackburn, and Natalie Walters. This book's November 1st release has been highly anticipated by me and my friends, and we've made plans to read it together in December, after which I will post my thoughts of it in a full review.

Note: Thank you so much Revell for sending me a free Advance Reader Copy of this book!

Credits: The book blurb and cover seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com, where Targeted can be purchased.

UPDATE: I just learned that while the three novellas in Targeted can be read and enjoyed on their own as standalones, they feature side characters from other series.

*On the Run by Lynette Eason is tied to her Blue Justice series. *Deadly Objective by Lynn H. Blackburn is tied to her Defend and Protect series. *Caught in the Crosshairs by Natalie Walters is tied to her Harbored Secrets series. So... considering I have yet to read those series, I'm leaning toward reading all of those books and Targeted in 2023.

NEW RELEASE... "CRITICAL ALLIANCE" BY ELIZABETH GODDARD

 

"Critical Alliance" by Elizabeth Goddard

Book Blurb:

Mackenzie Hanson's special set of skills opened the door to a successful career as a professor of cybersecurity at a Michigan university, allowing her to put her criminal past behind her. But when a long-ago partner in crime delivers a cryptic message about her father's tech company being under cyberattack, she heads for Montana to secure exposed assets, close security breaches, and hopefully save lives.

Diplomatic Security Services special agent Alex Knight is back home in Montana to decompress from a mission gone wrong. But even as he's trying to relax, he's drawn into another mystery, complete with suspicious deaths, lethal threats, and whispers of espionage that all have one thing in common--a beautiful cybersecurity expert with a dark past.

When the situation turns deadly, Alex and Mackenzie will have to work together to find the answers they need--before someone silences Mackenzie for good.

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My Initial Thoughts:

#CriticalAlliance by #ElizabethGoddard was released Tuesday, July 5th, 2022 and is the third and final installment of the Rocky Mountain Courage series. I am currently reading this book and could tell within its beginning pages that I am going to love it! Goddard is such a talented story teller and paints scenes with the perfect amount of description to bring the story to life in my mind, and the mysteries and writing style makes it easy to get lost in the story and keep reading page after page without abandon. This has become one of my favorite authors in the last two years!

Please let me know if you'd like to buddy read any of this author's books with me. 🙂

Thank you so much @revellbooks for including me in this book launch and gifting me a copy of this book! 💛

Credits: The book blurb and cover photo seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.

NEW RELEASE... "AMONG THE INNOCENT" BY MARY ALFORD

"Among the Innocent" by Mary Alford

Book Blurb:

When Leah Miller's entire Amish family was murdered ten years ago, the person believed responsible took his own life. Since then, Leah left the Amish and joined the police force. Now, after another Amish woman is found murdered with the same MO, it becomes clear that the wrong man may have been blamed for her family's deaths.

As Leah and the new police chief, Dalton Cooper, work long hours struggling to fit the pieces together in order to catch the killer, they can't help but grow closer. When secrets from both of their pasts begin to surface, an unexpected connection between them is revealed. But this is only the beginning. Could it be that the former police chief framed an innocent man to keep the biggest secret of all buried? And what will it mean for Leah--and Dalton--when the full truth comes to light?

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My Initial Thoughts:

#AmongtheInnocent by #MaryAlford was released Tuesday, June 7th, 2022. I previewed the first few pages and so far the writing style seems easy and enjoyable to read. This being a suspenseful serial killer murder mystery with Amish and romantic elements, I so look forward to reading this book this summer and hope to get others to read and discuss it with me!

Thank you so much to the author and @revellbooks for including me in this book launch and gifting me a copy of this book! 💛

Credits: The book blurb and cover photo seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.

"THE LADY OF GALWAY MANOR" BY JENNIFER DEIBEL

 

"The Lady of Galway Manor" by Jennifer Deibel

Book Blurb:

In 1920, Annabeth De Lacy's father is appointed landlord of Galway Parish in Ireland. Bored without all the trappings of the British Court, Annabeth convinces her father to arrange an apprenticeship for her with the Jennings family--descendants of the creator of the famed Claddagh Ring.

Stephen Jennings longs to do anything other than run his family's jewelry shop. Having had his heart broken, he no longer believes in love and is weary of peddling the "lies" the Claddagh Ring promises.

Meanwhile, as the war for Irish independence gains strength, many locals resent the De Lacys and decide to take things into their own hands to display their displeasure. As events take a dangerous turn for Annabeth and her family, she and Stephen begin to see that perhaps the "other side" isn't quite as barbaric and uncultured as they'd been led to believe--and that the bonds of friendship, love, and loyalty are only made stronger when put through the refiner's fire.

Travel to the Emerald Isle for another poignant and romantic story from the enchanted pen of Jennifer Deibel.

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My Thoughts:

Although this isn't a genre I typically gravitate toward (historical romance fiction), I really enjoyed this book! Without spoiling anything, this is a beautifully told story of conflict, heartache, love, and redemption. I loved the Ireland setting, Anna's views of the world around her, and the growing relationships between Anna, Seamus, and Stephen. The characters are well developed and easy to become invested in. Seamus is definitely my favorite character—I’d love to have him as a father-in-law! I'm now interested in reading more books by this author.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from its publisher, for which I am extremely grateful, and these are my honest thoughts.

My ⭐ Rating: 4 stars

Credits: The book blurb and cover photo seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.

"CROSSHAIRS" BY PATRICIA BRADLEY

 Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley

🔍Book Blurb:

Investigative Services Branch (ISB) ranger Ainsley Beaumont arrives in her hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, to investigate the murder of a three-month-pregnant teenager. While she wishes the visit was under better circumstances, she never imagined that she would become the killer's next target--nor that she'd have to work alongside an old flame.

After he almost killed a child, former FBI sniper Lincoln Steele couldn't bring himself to fire a gun, which had deadly and unforeseen consequences for his best friend. Crushed beneath a load of guilt, Linc is working at Melrose Estate as an interpretive ranger. But as danger closes in on Ainsley during her murder investigation, Linc will have to find the courage to protect her. The only question is, will it be too little, too late?

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🔍My Thoughts:

A recent release, Crosshairs is the third and final book in the Natchez Trace Park Rangers romantic suspense trilogy.

My father died a little over two weeks ago, after about a month of being in the hospital with various health problems, including strokes, COVID, pnemonia, and organ failure. With this and everything that's been going on with my family and me, I've been in a terrible reading slump recently.

That being said, I read the first chapter of this book and with the author's beautiful writing style, I can see easily getting lost in its pages, in a good way. This author is new to me, however I've been wanting to read her books for some time, many of which my friends have read, liked, and recommended. I will update this post with more in depth thoughts as soon as I'm able to read Crosshairs in its entirety.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from Revell, for which I am extremely grateful, and these are my honest thoughts.

Credits: The book blurb and cover photo seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.

"DEADLY TARGET" BY ELIZABETH GODDARD

 

Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard

🔍Book Blurb:

Criminal psychologist Erin Larson's dreams of a successful career come to a screeching halt when she nearly loses her own life in a boating accident on Puget Sound and then learns that her mother tried to commit suicide. She leaves her job as a criminal psychologist to care for her mother in Montana. At least she is able to produce her podcast, which focuses on solving missing persons cold cases.

Nathan Campbell's father was investigating such a case when he was shot, and now Nathan needs to enlist Erin's help to solve the case. She's good at what she does. The only problem? She's his ex.

As the two dig deeper, it becomes clear that they, too, are being targeted--and that the answers to their questions are buried deep within the past Erin struggles to explain and longs to forget.

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🔍My Thoughts:

Deadly Target is the second book in the Rocky Mountain Courage series. This is a new release by one of my more recent favorite authors, Elizabeth Goddard. I became a fan of hers when I read her Uncommon Justice trilogy last year (2020), which I loved! I highly recommend reading anything by this author if you like clean suspense with a touch of romance.

My father died a little over two weeks ago, after about a month of being in the hospital with various health problems, including strokes, COVID, pneumonia, and organ failure. With this and everything that's been going on with my family and me, I've been in a terrible reading slump recently.

That being said, I read the first chapter of this book and it is well written and very intriguing so far, as expected. I look forward to reading this book in its entirety very much and will update this post with more in depth thoughts as soon as I do.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from Revell, for which I am extremely grateful, and these are my honest thoughts.

Credits: The book blurb and cover photo seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.

"LABYRINTH OF LIES" BY IRENE HANNON

Labyrinth of Lies by Irene Hannon

🔍Book Blurb:

When the daughter of a high-profile businessman disappears from an exclusive girls' boarding school, police detective Cate Reilly is tapped for an undercover assignment. It doesn't take her long to realize that beneath the veneer of polish and wealth, things are not as they seem at Ivy Hill Academy. But the biggest surprise of all? The only man she ever loved is also working at the school.

Zeke Sloan has never forgotten Cate, but now isn't the best time for their paths to cross again. When their two seemingly disparate agendas begin to intertwine--and startling connections emerge among the players--the danger escalates significantly. But who is the mastermind behind the elaborate ruse? And how far will they go to protect their house of cards?

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🔍My Thoughts:

Here's a newly released book by one of my favorite authors, Irene Hannon. I have been a fan of hers since I first read her Private Justice trilogy in May-June of 2017, after which I vowed to read all of her books.

Labyrinth of Lies is the second book in the Triple Threat romantic suspense series, which I am currently reading. Like the first book, the opening chapters of Labyrinth of Lies grabbed and held my attention, just as I expected with an author I love so much. I now can't wait to read the rest of this book and the third book in its series upon its release.

Note: I received a free copy of this book from Revell, for which I am extremely grateful, and these are my honest thoughts.

Credits: The book blurb and cover seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.

"THE LOVE NOTE" BY JOANNA DAVIDSON POLITANO

"The Love Note" by Joanna Davidson Politano

🔍Book Blurb:

Focused on a career in medicine and not on romance, Willa Duvall is thrown slightly off course during the summer of 1865 when she discovers a never-opened love letter in a crack of her old writing desk. Compelled to find the passionate soul who penned it and the person who never received it, she takes a job as a nurse at the seaside estate of Crestwicke Manor.

Everyone at Crestwicke has feelings--mostly negative ones--about the man who wrote the letter, but he seems to have disappeared. With plenty of enticing clues but few answers, Willa's search becomes even more complicated when she misplaces the letter and it passes from person to person in the house, each finding a thrilling or disheartening message in its words. 

Laced with mysteries large and small, this romantic Victorian-era tale of love lost, love deferred, and love found is sure to delight.

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🔍My Thoughts:

I am currently reading this book, which was highly recommended to me by a close friend. This is the first book I have ever read by Joanna Davidson Politano, and so far, I am really impressed with her writing.

With a setting of 1865 England, this book starts out with an aristocratic party scene, in which the main character, Willa Duvall is receiving her fourth unwanted marriage proposal. She is now at the age and in the time where women are expected to become primarily housewives, and having come from a wealthy and prestigious family, Willa is expected to marry an arranged suitor of similar status, however she has other hopes and dreams for her life that no one seems to acknowledge or understand. Willa has a heart for the broken and desperately needy and saving lives, working alongside her beloved father, the doctor. I love this about Willa, that she cares more about serving the less fortunate than her financial or societal status.

I very much look forward to reading more of this story and will update this post when I finish this book.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, for which I am very grateful.

My ⭐ Rating: TBD

Credits: The book blurb and cover seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.

"UNTIL I MET YOU" BY TARI FARIS

 

"Until I Met You" by Tari Faris

Synopsis:

When she hears that the small town of Heritage, Michigan, is looking for a new librarian, Libby Kingsley jumps at the opportunity. Little did she know the library is barely more than a storage closet stuffed with dusty, outdated books. What the community really needs is a new building. But the only funds available are those being channeled into the new town square, and the landscape architect in charge of the project wants nothing to do with her plans.

All Austin Williams wants to do is get the town square project finished so he can do right by the family business and then extricate himself from the town that reveres the brother who cost him so much. But the local media and the town's new librarian seem to be conspiring against him at every turn. Will the determined bookworm find her way into his blueprints--and possibly even his heart?

My Thoughts:

With its small town charm, a bookworm/librarian main character, dog lovers, and a story premise of opening up a new library, “Until I Met You” seems to be a book after my own heart!

From what I’ve heard and read about this book, as well as its first couple of chapters I previewed, I’ve added it to my list of books to read as soon as possible, and I have a strong feeling that I am going to love it. 

I'll update this blog post once I've finished reading this book and have collected my thoughts on it.

Thank you NetGalley and Revell for sending me a free copy of "Until I Met You" to read and review!

Other Credits: The synopsis and cover seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.

"THE KEY TO EVERYTHING" BY VALERIE FRASER LUESSE

"The Key to Everything" by by Valerie Fraser Luesse

Synopsis:

"After WWII and a family tragedy, Peyton Cabot seeks connection with his troubled veteran father by retracing the trip he'd taken from Savannah to Key West at the same age. The adventure forces Peyton to come to terms with his identity and decide how much he's willing to risk for the girl he loves."

My Review:

I enjoyed reading this book so much more than I thought I would!

It is set in Georgia and Florida in the 1940s, with some backstories earlier than that. It follows the very wealthy Cabot family--“one of the richest clans in Georgia”-- in which most of its members are greedy, selfish, pretentious, and treat those outside of their family like total dirt.

The main character, a 15-year-old boy named Peyton Cabot, along with his parents and grandfather, are not at all like the rest of the Cabot family--they believe in working hard for an income, not having everything handed to you, and dedicate much of their lives to helping the needy.

These differences in personalities cause conflict in the family. I especially enjoyed the scenes where certain characters are put in their place for their unkind words and actions.

The story mostly follows Peyton. This is a wonderful young boy that I really loved getting to know, seeing how he handles different life situations, and following his adventurous travels from Georgia to the Key West, where he met some really fascinating and lovable characters along the way. Peyton's great Aunt Gert (not a Cabot) turned out to be one of my favorite characters in this book.

Overall, this is a beautiful story that I can see myself revisiting again in the future.

My ⭐ Rating: 4 stars

Note: I received a copy of this book from its publisher in exchange for my honest review, for which I am very grateful!

Credits: The book cover seen in this post is courtesy of Amazon.com, and the synopsis courtesy of Goodreads.com.

"THE GENTLEMAN SPY" BY ERICA VETSCH

 

"The Gentleman Spy" by Erica Vetsch

Synopsis:

"He only wanted a duchess for a day--but she’s determined to make it a marriage for life

When his father and older brother suddenly pass away, the new Duke of Haverly is saddled with a title he never expected to bear. To thwart the plans of his scheming family, the duke impulsively marries a wallflower. After all, she’s meek and mild; it should be easy to sequester her in the country and get on with his life--as a secret agent for the Crown.

But his bride has other ideas. She’s determined to take her place not only as his duchess but as his wife. As a duchess, she can use her position to help the lowest of society--the women forced into prostitution because they have no skills or hope. Her endeavors are not met favorably in society, nor by her husband who wishes she’d remain in the background as he ordered.

Can the duke succeed in relegating her to the sidelines of his life? When his secrets are threatened with exposure, will his new wife be an asset or a liability?"

My Review:

Not far into this book I realized how wonderful it is. Erica Vetsch is a brilliant storyteller that combines history, romance, and mystery beautifully. "The Gentleman Spy" is an enjoyable read set in Regency England, with quite intriguing characters. This book has gained a permanent place on my shelf and I look forward to revisiting it very soon.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from "Read with Audra" and NetGalley in exchange for my honest thoughts, for which I am very grateful.

Credits: The synopsis seen in this post is courtesy of Amazon.com.

To enter to win the special giveaway for this book (and extras) seen in the above photo, click here.

THE "CANADIAN WEST" SERIES BY JANETTE OKE

The "Canadian West" series by Janette Oke

Synopsis of Book #1, "When Calls the Heart":

"Nothing in her cultured East Coast upbringing prepared Elizabeth for a teaching position on the Canadian frontier. Yet, despite the constant hardships, she loves the children in her care. Determined to do the best job she can and fighting to survive the harsh land, Elizabeth is surprised to find her heart softening towards a certain member of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police."

My Review:

I really enjoyed reading the entire "Canadian West" series by Janette Oke, which I read for the first time in 2019 and will definitely read again in the future—at which time I will add more of my thoughts on this series to my blog. For now I will say that this has become one of my favorite book series, and I highly recommend it to those who enjoy western historical fiction with a bit of romance.

The series order:
1. When Calls the Heart
2. When Comes the Spring
3. When Breaks the Dawn
4. When Hope Springs New
5. Beyond the Gathering Storm
6. When Tomorrow Comes

Note: As a devoted fan of the "When Calls the Heart" television series on the Hallmark channel, I must say that other than having one or two of the same names for characters, and being set the same time period in Canada, this book series shares very few similarities with Hallmark's series.

My ⭐ Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Credits: The cover image and synopsis seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com.

"CATCHING CHRISTMAS" BY TERRI BLACKSTOCK

"Catching Christmas" by Terri Blackstock

Synopsis:

"As a first-year law associate, Sydney Batson knows she will be updating her resume by New Year’s if she loses her current court case. So when her grandmother gets inexplicably ill while she’s in court, Sydney arranges for a cab to get her to the clinic.
The last thing cab driver Finn Parrish wants is to be saddled with a wheelchair-bound old lady with dementia. But because Miss Callie reminds him of his own mother, whom he failed miserably in her last days, he can’t say no when she keeps calling him for rides. Once a successful gourmet chef, Finn’s biggest concern now is making his rent, but half the time Callie doesn’t remember to pay him. And as she starts to feel better, she leads him on wild goose chases to find a Christmas date for her granddaughter.

When Finn meets Sydney, he’s quite sure that she’s never needed help finding a date. Does Miss Callie have an ulterior motive, or is this just a mission driven by delusions? He’s willing to do whatever he can to help fulfill Callie’s Christmas wish. He just never expected to be a vital part of it."

My Review:

“Catching Christmas” is a wonderful holiday read with realistic characters and scenarios that made me feel a wide range of emotions. With very minimal romance toward the end of this book, this story's main focus is on the moving and amusing interactions between cab driver Finn and the old lady with dementia, Miss Callie, which I loved to read about. I found this book difficult to put down and didn't want it to end.

If you like endearing and inspirational Christmas stories that make you laugh and cry, and that really tug at your heartstrings, I highly recommend you read "Catching Christmas."

Note: I received this book from NetGalley and the book's publisher in exchange for my honest review, for which I am very grateful.

My ⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Credits: The cover image and synopsis seen in this post are courtesy of the author's website, terriblackstock.com.

"THE BUTTERFLY RECLUSE" BY THERESE HECKENKAMP

"The Butterfly Recluse" by Therese Heckenkamp

My Synopsis & Review:

Following traumatic events, Lila has become a recluse, sheltering herself in a home away from other people, where she finds solace in raising and photographing butterflies. She maintains her own private butterfly garden and sells her butterfly photographs online. She is also earning a college degree online, and does all of her shopping online, doing all she can to never leave her little sanctuary… until a stranger shows up and her life begins to change in many unexpected ways.

This story has heartbreaking, heartwarming, funny, romantic, and suspenseful scenes, stirring up an array of emotions. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, especially the shocking plot twist at the end that I never saw coming!

My ⭐ Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Notes: You can find my review of this book on Goodreads, here.

Credits: The book cover seen in this post is courtesy of Amazon.com. I received this book from its publisher via BookSirens in exchange for my honest review, for which I am very grateful. Also, if any of you would like to learn more about this author and her books, check out her website, ThereseHeckenkamp.com.

"AGAINST THE TIDE" BY ELIZABETH CAMDEN

"Against the Tide" by Elizabeth Camden

Synopsis:

After a childhood rampant with uncertainty, Lydia Pallas has carved out a perfect life for herself. She spends her days within sight of the bustling Boston Harbor, where her skill with languages has landed her an enviable position as a translator for the U.S. Navy.

Lydia's talents bring her to the attention of Alexander Banebridge, a mysterious man in need of a translator. Driven by a campaign to end the opium trade, Bane is coolly analytical and relentless in his quest. He cannot afford to fall for Lydia and must fight the bittersweet love growing between them.

When Bane's enemies gain the upper hand, he is forced to turn to Lydia for help. Determined to prove her worth, Lydia soon discovers that carrying out Bane's mission will test her wits and her courage to the very limits.

My Review:

As a beautiful work of historical Christian fiction, I consider Elizabeth Camden’s “Against the Tide” to be a great read for all—not just for Christian readers. This book is very well written with fascinating characters and an excellent blend of mystery, suspense, adventure, romance, and redemption.

The development of each character in this book is very well paced. Camden keeps you guessing as the history and motives of each character are slowly unveiled with brilliant timing. Most of the characters have visible flaws, which I really appreciate because this makes them much more realistic, more human.

Bane in particular is such a complex, mysterious, and intriguing character! The Bane you see in the beginning, middle, and end of this story, are all very different. This character is constantly evolving throughout this book and my opinion of him changed drastically from beginning to end, which I love. I believe he has more depth than any other character in this book.

There is also a character that is so inherently evil that reading about him/her made my skin crawl, however this character has an outward appearance to most of a well-educated and highly intelligent individual with a kind disposition, which makes this person even more creepy—a definite wolf in sheep’s clothing. I won’t spoil who this character is, but I will say that this person adds a lot of shock and suspense to this story!

The plot of “Against the Tide” is centered around an opium (a narcotic drug) addiction problem in the U.S. that had led to extreme crime and severe suffering in the late-1800s, and from what I could tell this book is historically accurate. The author really did her research. I found this story especially interesting because the U.S. is facing a very similar problem today with opium addictions.

Outside of some necessary terrors that keep the reader on the edge of his or her seat, this book is clean with no cursing or sexual situations in it, which I really admire the author for. I'm also impressed with how the author blended faith into this story without being overbearing or "preachy," making this book appealing to both believers and nonbelievers.

I finished this book not wanting it to end, and I will undoubtedly be reading it again multiple times in the future.

“Against the Tide” is a very enjoyable and exciting read that I highly recommend.

My ⭐ Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Notes: This book has one of my favorite book covers! You can find my Goodreads review of "Against the Tide" with my book highlights here. 

Credits: The book cover and synopsis seen in this post are courtesy of Amazon.com, and if any of you would like to learn more about Elizabeth Camden and her books, check out her website, ElizabethCamden.com.