Grace A. Johnson's Blog: Of Blades & Thorns, page 33

Review: Phantom Thief by P.D. Atkerson

It has been a long time since I walked away from a book and said, “Boy, that was fun!” I guess I’ve been reading a lot of subpar fiction and a lot of heavy stuff recently—I don’t know.

All I know is that Phantom Thief was indeed fun. Action-packed, suspenseful, wild, and fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and that kind of nail-biting, thrilling experience trumps any qualms, if you ask me.

I will just throw it out there that there were some typos and errors, but they didn’t detract from the story. (And I’m a fine person to critique typos, am I right?) One thing that did make my reading a little slow was that it was written from a more omniscient perspective, so I did a few double-takes to try and figure out who was talking and when. The writing style was kind of hard to follow at times, but once I got into the story (which occurred when I discovered that I can actually read PDFs on my Kindle) I couldn’t get out!

I guess you’d classify this as a YA spy thriller/suspense...in which case, this was a first time for me. Definitely not my usual historical romance, right?

But I have a secret affinity for fiction like this. I know, you couldn’t tell it by looking at me, could ya? Well, it’s true.

Anyway, the characters were all so amazing—from Lee (of course) to Winfield to the rest of the gang—and, y’all, the banter! The sarcasm! Those moments where you’re just casually reading and all of a sudden a laugh bursts out of nowhere and you’re trying to keep your mouth shut so that nobody looks at you like you’re weird, but you end up choking on your laugh and getting looked at anyway. You know those moments, don’t you? (Tell me I’m not the only one!)

Yeah, there were a lot of those in this book.

There were also a TON of plot twists. Y’ALL, THE TWISTS!

Atkerson did such a great job at weaving those twists in throughout the story, so that I never detected anything until it was revealed and I just marvel at how I didn’t notice it before! Gotta love a twist that catches you by surprise and then makes you feel like an idiot because it was there the whole time and you never picked up on it. (I totally got the deal with Winfield on, like, Chapter 3, though. It was everybody else who had me fooled.)

Another thing, the way the story flowed was way different than anything else I’ve ever read—mainly because this isn’t my usual genre…but also because of how many different turns the story took. I guess you could say it read like a pantsed novel—as a pantser myself, I could see how Phantom Thief unfolded a lot like some of my own stories. Now, I may be wrong - it could've been plotted - but that’s the vibe I got.

It was kind of slow in the beginning, picked up in the middle, and then just brought out all the stops toward the end. Plus, I started reading it much faster once I sent it to my Kindle. (Yeah, yeah, I’m one of those dummies who didn’t realize PDFs could be emailed to and read on a Kindle. Cut me some slack, will ya? I’m not tech savvy.) So, yes, that made a difference.

Needless to say, if you can make it through the beginning—and I have no doubt you can; Lee’s snark is showcased in the first couple chapters perfectly—you will breeze through this story!

Obviously, there were some elements that seemed unrealistic—about as realistic as a book about a fifteen-year-old genius thief who could break into the Pentagon while munching on a Pop Tart could possibly be—but it wasn’t written in an unrealistic way. Make sense? You find yourself buying the whole thing (and wondering if your next-door neighbor is secretly an evil mastermind) and getting so immersed in the story that it starts playing in your head like a movie. Mark of a great novel, am I right?

I’m right.

So let me just stop with all my nonsensical rambling and tell you that Phantom Thief will without a doubt be one of the funnest reading experiences you’ll go through. On top of that, you’ll come to love Lee so much that you’ll be on the edge of your seat, waiting to read the next installment of his story!

Seriously, I love that kid. He’s something else, lemme tell ya.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions expressed are my own.

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About the Author

P.D. Atkerson is a homeschooled writer, living in Montana. She spends almost as much time in the worlds she creates as she does the real one.

When she’s not reporting the stories of Simon Lee and other heroes, she’s making cakes, learning Russian or traveling to different worlds through the portals of books. She has a black belt in sarcasm and a master’s degree in useless facts.

Visit her on her website at pdatkerson.blogspot.com!

What If...We Got it All Wrong?

This post stemmed from my last “What If,” so I guess you can count it as a second part. Or you can just read it as its own topic. Either way, I kinda have a love miniseries going on.

I talked a month or so ago about how we misconstrue the definition of love. We see it and speak of it as something that comes and goes, something flighty and unstable. Something like a feeling. But the Bible makes it perfectly clear what love is in 1st Corinthians 13:

“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

“Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

“So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Or how about John, who said it better than I ever could in his first epistle:

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.”

So what if we got it all wrong?

I’ve already established that there is no love apart from God, that God is Love, and that love doesn’t mean acceptance or approval—it means changing someone from the inside out for the better. It means the power to bring the world to its knees.

And we understand that, don’t we? That’s pretty easy to grasp. Puts the whole “love your neighbor” thing into perspective, doesn’t it? Sure, it’s difficult, loving someone like that, but that’s the choice we as Christians have to make.

Wait. Wait a minute. Hold up there. What did I just say? Did I just call love a choice? But isn’t it a feeling? You know, like that warm feeling in your heart when you’re with family or that tingling in your toes on your wedding day? Something that can change and fade over time? Because, I mean, seriously—do you really think my flighty, emotion-led heart could ever hold on to something as powerful and deep as love?

Yeah…that’s the point of this post. Not to convince you that love doesn’t equal acceptance or that I shouldn’t be expected to approve sin just because I love you.

Nope, this time I’m focusing on a lesser known aspect of love. Or, rather, the unknown definition of love.

Love as a choice.

So many relationships fail—from marriages to parent-child and sibling relationships to friendships—because people simply don’t understand that love isn’t something that comes and goes. It isn’t an emotion. Happiness, sadness, disappointment—those are emotions. But both love and hate are states of mind and being that you choose.

What if we started choosing love instead of waiting for it to just show up or hoping for that warm feeling? What if we quit labeling flighty emotions as “love” and being so disappointed when our “love” fades? What if we understood that love is the greatest weapon God has given us, able to change hearts and lives—more importantly, our hearts and lives? What if we understood that it was love that led Jesus to the cross, not a fuzzy feeling toward us or even our sin?

I think relationships would be stronger and divorce rates would go down if people started choosing to love their spouse and family, no matter what. I think lives would begin to change for the better if people understood the power of love. I think more sinners would be saved and more Christians would rejoice in their salvation if they realized that God so loved the world.

What about you? What do you think would change if we started choosing love? How do you think that would affect your life and the lives of those around you?

Welcome to August!

Wow. I literally have no words to express my complete and utter shock at it being August already. And not just August, but August in the year 2021. WHERE HAS MY LIFE GONE, PEOPLE? This month means a lot...not only did my lovely website + blog celebrate its one-year anniversary on a few days ago...but I celebrate sixteen years of life on Monday!

I’m trying to be excited, but uh, I’m still in shock, so…

Anyway, I have a post full of UPDATES and more food/flower pictures!!! (Those bookish pictures I promised you will be coming in a week or two, with some epic authorly blog tags that I stole!)

Also today is my monthly newsletter, which usually comes on the first Monday of the month—unless I’m on vacation, like I was this week—so if you’re a newsletter subscriber, you should be seeing your email pop up later today!

Back to the point...let’s get into what I accomplished last month and what I hope to do this month!

Last Month’s Progress

First off, I’m not even going to supply you with a word count for Bound and Determined...because I don’t have one. I probably wrote a thousand words or so in Daylight, though. Speaking of Daylight, my main goal last month was to finish writing my 9/11 short story. It should’ve been done, like, two or three months ago, but I procrastinated and pushed the word count from about 2 or 3k to 5,300 words. Therefore, I didn’t finish it until July 30th, late that night, and I sent it out to betas the next day!

*cue the squealing*

The deadline is the 9th, so hopefully ARCs will be sent out to my readers and reviewers Tuesday! *squeals some more*

My second goal was to publish the revisions to my site—which, as you can see, was completed! I mean, I’m not quite done, because I do have a few pages that are “coming soon,” but the brunt of the updates are finished!

My third was to work on Bound and Determined. Uh...no comment.

This Month’s Goals

As usual, my first and foremost goal for this month is to make substantial progress on Bound and Determined. It’d be nice to write about four chapters, but I have my doubts.

Second, I have a lot of prep for Daylight’s release that I’d like to get done.

And third, I’m starting college on the 23rd, so I have a ton of blogging and beta-reading and just random stuff I’d like to get cleared up before classes start! Fingers crossed I can get it all done!

Well, I reckon that’s that! Not much went on in July, I suppose. Here's to hoping August will be much more productive!

What about y'all? How was July? What do you hope to do this month? What was the highlight of your summer?

And does anyone have any good ideas for a sign-off? Everything I can think of is too generic.

#photodump #summer #flora #goals #updates #booknews #bookishness #areyouhungrynow

Character Interview: Rina Bennet (Part 2)

Well, here it is, folks! The final half of my interview with the infamous Captain Rina Bennet. Boy, howdy, she sure is something! *chuckles ruefully* I think y'all will enjoy this one...

If you missed the first half, you can read it here! Also, I just had an idea for a Bible study inspired by Held Captive, and I could use y'all's help! All you have to do is fill out this form here with a little bit of feedback!!!

Anyway, y'all enjoy reading this question and answer with Rina! Special thanks to Issabelle, Abby, and Katherine for supplying the questions!! Oh, and if any of y'all have a question for Rina, leave it in the comments! I hear she'll be visiting my site soon, so she might be able to reply to you! *wink*

RB: Standing isn’t going to help.

GJ: Exactly! You’re still taller than me sitting, therefore I must increase my height by standing on my desk! *pushes up onto the desk in front of her, straddling her notebooks as she rises to her feet* *glares down at Rina* Ah, much better!

RB: Please get down.

GJ: Look, Rina, if you were only 5’1 and you spent an entire two hours being intimated by a woman over a foot taller than you in an interview, you’d stand on your desk.

RB: If you were being interviewed by a girl who is four feet in the air due to standing on a writing desk, you’d leave the room and never come back.

GJ: *hops down, grunting* I want to be here even less than you do, Rina. Let’s just cut to the chase. I have sixteen questions, one hour, and an ounce of patience, so let’s this over with as quickly and painlessly as possible, shall we?

RB: *waves toward Grace’s notebook* Well, start askin’, then.

GJ: These first questions come from Issabelle. She asks, “What do you think about having your own book series?”

RB: On about this again, are we? You won’t be holding my status as a figment of your imagination over my head this time, will you?

GJ: I shall give it my best effort not to.

RB: Well, that’s reassuring. *scowls* As great a travesty that my being a mere fictional character is, I must admit that I do enjoy having an entire six-book series to call my own.

GJ: *clears throat* Um, about that, Rina...you only get four of the books.

RB: Wait. What?

Two Hours Later

RB: *chuckles * You really had me going for a moment there, Grace! Ah, ‘tis good to know that I’ll still play a dominant role in the spin-off series! I do have a bright future ahead of me, don’t I?

GJ: I wouldn’t call in a dominant role, but, uh, yeah—that’s beside the point.

RB: Well, I had better answer that question, hadn’t I? You see, Issabelle, I don’t have entire book series all to myself—only four of those books includes my—what did you call it? Oh, my point-of-view. The last two shift their focus to other characters. But the point is that the first four books are the best and most engaging and thrilling and that I am the main character in all of them.

GJ: No, you’re not.

RB: *growls* Don’t feed me those lies, Grace Ann Johnson. I know the truth, just as you know that I am the main character in all four novels and that I am your absolute favorite character.

GJ: I’ll put it like this—you were my absolute favorite. I’m beginning to reconsider that. Now! *claps hands* Issabelle wants to know if you’re more a character who lets me have my way, or if you just do whatever you want, whether I approve or not?

RB: Ah, good question! Grace is likely better suited to answer it, but in my opinion, I think I’m rather obedient. I don’t put up a fight when Grace kills off my entire family—

GJ: I haven’t killed your entire family, Rina. Only your—

RB: You murdered my uncle before my eyes and made me believe that he was my father. You’re a monster.

GJ: I’m a writer.

RB: And the difference?

GJ: *sighs* Never mind.

RB: Anyway, I do, on a few occasions, push to have my way, but I’m in no way as stubborn as some of my fellow characters. Keaton, for instance, is quite the wayward one.

GJ: *raises an eyebrow* And just how do you know that, Rina?

RB: Well, surely you didn’t intend for him to swat me on the rump…

GJ: *smirks* I did. I very much did. And, on top of that, Keaton went along with it swimmingly.

RB: You are a monster.

GJ: Moving on! What’s your favorite hobby?

RB: Hmm. I wouldn’t say I’ve much spare time—especially now with the twins. Before they came along, I always enjoyed fighting with Elliot and Keaton. But recently, I’ve taken a liking to learning the harpsichord with Xavier’s cousin Louisa and puttering about in the kitchen with Cook. I am most assuredly not an expert at either, but in due time I should like to be.

GJ: What’s your favorite color?

RB: Green. ‘Tis always been a favorite of mine, and surprisingly so. I should like blue, you know, or red—at least, Xavier seems to think that red is my color. I’ve not the foggiest notion why, though. *shrugs*

GJ: You look good in red, you know.

RB: *scoffs* I look absolutely horrible in whatever I wear, and everyone knows it.

GJ: If you say so. Anyway, next question. Issabelle asks “Would you rather own a floating bookshop—a bookshop on a ship (if you don't believe that's a thing, let me kindly point you to The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates by Caroline Carlson) or a floating restaurant.”

RB: A bookshop on a ship? *lifts an eyebrow* Wouldn’t the books get soggy?

GJ: *shrugs*

RB: Oh, well, I mean, Xavier would be intrigued by such an idea, but you know I can’t read. A floating restaurant sounds interesting, however. Should my culinary abilities increase exponentially, I might invest in such a venture. But what’s this about pirates, hmm? Surely your friend knows that there is no such thing as a honorable pirate—or even a very nearly one. Why, pirates are cruel, murderous—

GJ: *holds up her hand* We know, Rina. It’s a series of books—not an actual crew of pirates.

RB: Oh. I see.

GJ: On that note, Issabelle wonders if you’re interesting in learning more about the books?

RB: If I could read, I imagine I would be. Perhaps you should look into them, Grace.

GJ: I will, but I’m not the one Izzy’s addressing. Moving on… She asks: “Are you generally an optimistic person or a pessimistic person? (If you are unsure, please kindly proceed to the next question.)”

RB: Hmm…let me think a moment...optimistic or pessimistic. Dash it, I don’t rightly know! Well, on to the next question, then!

GJ: Are you enjoying her long list of “nonsensical” questions? If yes, she says, you’re an optimistic person and her new best friend. If no, good luck in life.

RB: My, the stakes are high now! Haha, I’d suppose I’m enjoying these questions. They have truly prompted me to think more on my purpose in life, not to mention about the guiding hand of fate—more commonly known as Grace.

GJ: *rolls her eyes* Optimistic you are, then. I’d wager you and Issabelle would be good friends indeed, did she not have eyes for Xavier.

RB: Wait. What is this you say? *surges from her chair* Your little friend has eyes for my husband?!

GJ: Oops. Rina, let me explain. *extends her hands in a peaceful gesture* Issabelle has read your books, you see, and she greatly admires Xavier’s character. In fact, she’s the main reason why I’ve yet to kill him off.

RB: KILL HIM OFF?! YOU WOULD MURDER MY XAVIER??!!

GJ: NEXT QUESTION! Do you believe the pen is mightier than the sword?

RB: *sniffs* Right now, I’m beginning to think that it is. If with a pen you could kill my husband whereas with a sword I—excuse me, others have failed—then, aye, your pen is leagues mightier than my sword. Murderess.

GJ: The proper term is authoress, thank you very much. Have you considered ever testing to see if your answer to the above question is correct?

RB: I think I just did. *swipes at her eyes*

GJ: Aw, quit with the dramatics, Rina. You know you’re a terrible actress.

RB: Dramatics? I am not being dramatic! You nearly killed my husband!!! Surely I have the right to be outraged!

GJ: *frowns* Are you tired after going through all of Issabelle’s questions?

RB: The questions I don’t mind—‘tis these troubling revelations they have uncovered.

GJ: Mmhmm. Would you believe that Issabelle’s not very good at coming up with questions? (At least in her opinion.)

RB: *chuckles mirthlessly* Oh, I wouldn’t say she’s not good at coming up with questions—she’s done a fabulous job, in my opinion. ‘Tis simply that my answers and yours replies are less than satisfactory. It is indeed good to know the truth of the matter, however, for which I am most grateful to Issabelle for exposing. You have my eternal thanks, luv.

GJ: This next question comes from Abby. What is your favorite animal?

RB: You won’t curse me or threaten to kill any of my loved ones for my answer, will you?

GJ: *groans* No. Just answer the blamed question.

RB: A favorite animal, you say? Well, certainly not horses. Cats are fine, I suppose. Dogs…ach, not those mangy mutts. Perhaps...perhaps the kraken? Or does that not count?

GJ: *facepalm*

RB: I’ll assume it does! Next question?

GJ: Katherine asks: “What is your favorite type of fish to eat?”

RB: To eat? Ooh...there are so many! I’m partial to quite a few of them, really. Trout is especially nice. In all honesty, my tastes lean more toward crab and shrimp, however. Ah, crustaceans are truly lovely! Much better than turtles, if you ask me. Never did develop a taste for turtle.

GJ: *shudders* With good reason! How could anyone eat a turtle? Ugh, Brits.

RB: I assure you that Britishers are not the only folk who eat turtles. Let’s move on, shall we?

GJ: Do you have a favorite seashell?

RB: The conch. I had one once...when I was a little girl...but our ship was caught in a violent gale, and the shell crashed to the floor and broke. I’ve not been able to find one quite like it since. ‘Twas a lovely shell, you know—quite large, the most beautiful pale orange, as smooth as a babe’s backside.

GJ: *rolls her eyes* Look, Rina, we only have one more question. Let’s try and make it through this as quick and painlessly as possible, shall we? Do you like islands?

RB: Islands? Oh, aye, whyever would I not? Well, if I were marooned on one, I imagine I’d not enjoy it, of course. But the occasional visit is always a treat. Such as when we careen the Rina, you know. ‘Tis a welcome reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the city and the constant rocking of the sea. I couldn’t handle being shipwrecked on one, though. Now that...nay, I’d not much be liking an island then—at least a deserted one. Or one with cannibals.

GJ: Okay! *claps hands* It looks like we’re done here! Thank you so much for joining me today, Rina. It’s...it’s been a pleasure.

RB: Oh, yes, I’m sure it has. Well, if anything, I enjoyed answering questions from the lovely Issabelle (I owe you for sparing my husband’s life), and the two dears Abby and Katherine. Do thank them for supplying us with questions, will you?

GJ: *sighs* Of course. I’ll be seeing you in jail, Rina. Good day to you. *leaves the room*

RB: Wait. WHAT?! JAIL?! Oh, no, you don’t, you slimy little… *stalks out behind Grace, muttering a few choice words*

About the Captain

(Image not available)

Born in 1655 as Catherina Winterbourne, Rina was raised by her uncle (who may, or may not, have abducted her when she was a baby...but that's a story for another day), infamous pirate captain Maverick Blackstone, until the day of his death in 1673, when Rina was elected captain in his place.

Since then, Rina has been pardoned for her crimes and given a letter of marque by the British monarchy. She is now married to Xavier Bennet and has two twin sons, Richard and Maverick.

You can find her aboard her ship, the Rina, or with her husband's family in Port Royal. Upon occasion, she visits London. Most of the time she laments the lack of properly tailored shirts for women and time travels to the 21st century to be interview by popular historical romance author, Grace A. Johnson.

Celebrating One Year!

Today, August 2nd, marks ONE YEAR since my site went live!!!! *throws confetti and chocolate and candy everywhere* I'll be celebrating my first anniversary in the car for a five hour drive to the Gulf Coast, where we'll be vacationing for four days, but y'all are more than welcome to enjoy the festivities...and learn a little more about the start of my website!

Originally, I blogged a little bit on Goodreads...back in late 2019 to early 2020...and it wasn't until the summer of last year that I started thinking about a website. Actually, I've wanted to have a website/blog for YEARS, but I was leaning more toward games and videos rather than chatting about books.

Anyway, my first idea was actually a site for teenagers who felt called to be missionaries - I wanted a blog, a forum, the whole works, to help connect teens across the world. Well, suffice it to say that didn't pan out. Once I started researching website building, I jumped into designing an author site. #noregrets

Within two days, I had a site. It didn't change much until my recent revamping of the whole thing, so except for adding a few pages back in December, my author site stayed the same. Well, at first, it was novelist056.wixsite.com/graceajohnson. Not my preferred URL. I gave in and paid for the premium site + custom domain back in December, so I'm the simple and lovely graceajohnson.com now!

I'd transferred my Goodreads posts here, but my very first official blog post was Name of the Week: Rina. You can check it out !

So, real quick, let's check out the stats (because I'm sure y'all find that sooo interesting)!

My top five posts from the last year are:

Short Story Writing Prompt Contest (215 views) Reflections Tag (182 views) Guest Post: How to Defeat Writer's Block by Kayleigh Idea (152 views) Author Interview: Julie Lessman (Plus a Giveaway!) (135 views) Author Interview: Issabelle Perry (134 views)

I have 84 site members/followers (hope to get it up to 100 by the end of the year), I've published a total of 242 blog posts (so far), and I've had 2,965 site sessions - most of which were in the US, Malaysia, South Africa, and Canada!

I'd give y'all my favorite post or whatnot, but how am I supposed to choose from 242 posts?

ANYWAY, I know I'm not the best at throwing parties, so I suggest y'all just chillax, eat ice cream, read this interview I did with my friend Daisy the other day, and have fun!!! I'll see y'all after vacation! *waves*

#happyblogiversary #oneyearanniversary #blognews #partytime #celebrate #loveyouguys #thanksforallthesupport #anyonehaveanysuggestionsforagoodsignoff #peaceoutmylovelies

Coming Soon: The Secret of Emerald Cottage by Julie Lessman

Y'all may have heard me talk about Julie Lessman a few times before. Actually, you've probably heard me talk about her a LOT. She's one of my favorite authors, a good friend, and a huge influence in my writing! Anyway, she's releasing her FIRST EVER MYSTERY!!!

*excessive cheering ensues*

Technically, this is a romantic suspense - and, being a Lessman novel, it's 50% romance and 50% mystery/suspense instead of 20/80...which makes my romance-lovers heart very happy. For non-romance lovers, this book is much tamer than her regular romances (and I'd know because I got to beta-read it!!!) and involves more character development and Christian elements than most inspirational romantic suspense does. So, who knows, you might be a wee bit interested!

The Secret of Emerald Cottage release on SEPTEMBER 20, 2021, and I'm here to convince you to read it!

Would it help if I mentioned that the preorder price - which lasts until release day - is discounted?

Eh, probably not. No one likes cheap things, after all. *winks*

About the Book

She’s sweet & cozy mysteries. He’s fun & cozy flings.

Till a deadly secret reveals not-so-cozy things.

Twenty-six-year-old Molly Stewart—ex-Navy nurse and former evidence technician for the Charleston Police Department—has been burned by love. So when her friend, Pastor Chase Griffin, begs her to move to scenic Lake Loon to be a nurse and companion for Miss Lilly, his elderly landlady, she jumps at the chance. The secluded and cozy cottage on a clear mountain lake seems the perfect place to heal from her fiancé’s betrayal as well as indulge in one of her greatest passions—cozy romance. First with reading them by the bookcase and then hopefully, if dreams come true, solving them one day as a licensed detective. But when Miss Lilly’s estranged great nephew shows up, it’s no mystery as to why he and Molly butt heads. Because it only takes one stolen kiss—while she’s sleeping, no less—to discover he’s an even bigger player than the ex-fiancé who broke her heart.

When international playboy and Irish soccer star Brec McGill learns his long-lost great aunt is in a coma from a drowning accident, he rushes to her side. Not only is he anxious to reconnect with his only living relative he spent summers with as a boy, but her cottage on Lake Loon, Georgia is the perfect respite to heal from game injuries and escape a tabloid scandal. At thirty-three he’s disillusioned with the game, his fiancée, and life in general, craving nothing but a little peace and solitude to get his head on straight. But when he discovers his aunt’s cottage is not only inhabited by a crusty Aunt Lilly he hasn’t seen in ten years, but a pretty prude of a nurse as well, his plans take a nose-dive in the lake. Because suddenly it appears not only was Aunt Lilly’s accident no accident … but somebody out there wants to see them all dead.

Preorder Your Copy

About the Author

Julie Lessman is an award-winning author whose tagline of “Passion With a Purpose” underscores her intense passion for both God and romance. A lover of all things Irish, she enjoys writing close-knit Irish family sagas that evolve into 3-D love stories: the hero, the heroine, and the God that brings them together.

Author of The Daughters of Boston, Winds of Change, Heart of San Francisco, Isle of Hope, and Silver Lining Ranch series, Julie was American Christian Fiction Writers 2009 Debut Author of the Year and has garnered over 21 Romance Writers of America and other awards.

Voted #1 Romance Author in Family Fiction magazine’s 2012 and 2011 Readers Choice Awards, Julie’s novels also made Family Fiction magazine’s Best of 2015, Best of 2014, and “Essential Christian Romance Authors” 2017, as well as Booklist’s 2010 Top 10 Inspirational Fiction and Borders Best Fiction. Her independent novel A Light in the Window was an International Digital Awards winner, a 2013 Readers’ Crown Award winner, and a 2013 Book Buyers Best Award winner, and her independent novel, Isle of Hope: Unfailing Love was listed on Family Fiction magazine’s “Top 15 Novels of 2015.”

Julie has also written a self-help workbook for writers entitled Romance-ology 101: Writing Romantic Tension for the Sweet and Inspirational Markets. Contact Julie through her website and read excerpts from each of her books at www.julielessman.com.

#julielessman #romanticsuspense #comingsoon #indie #newbook #newrelease #christianfiction #contemporary #romance #favoriteauthor

Cover Reveal: Beyond Her Calling by Kellyn Roth

GUYS IT'S HERE. THE COVER FOR BEYOND HER CALLING IS HERE! WHICH MEANS BHC WILL BE HERE VERY, VERY SOON! *squeals incessantly*

This is a post that needs no introduction...simply lots of pictures. And fangirling. And chocolate. *showers everyone with Hershey's Kisses and confetti*

Let's start with an up-close peak at Ivy and Keefmore in the background... Isn't it just SO lovely???

Come to think of it, I should probably do this whole post with a Scottish accent in honor the setting. Dinna ye think so? Ach, I would, but ye prolly wouldna understand me all tha' weel.

ANYHOO...This is by far my favorite cover for The Chronicles of Alice and Ivy...I just LOVE the color scheme and the scenery and the sheep and Ivy's pretty face and her hat and just...augh. It's too beautiful.

About the Book

Ivy Knight feels that her life may never start. Though her loving family assures her that her place in the world is close to home, she still feels a push to move out of her comfort zone. Hoping against hope, she travels to her old friends at McCale House, seeking a purpose.

Jordy McAllen has just returned to Scotland after his education in London. He fears that what everyone has always said about him may be true: he can’t be a good doctor, let alone a good man. Determined to prove himself, Jordy snatches up the opportunity to become the doctor in the village of Keefmore near his parents’ farm.

When an old friend decides to travel to Keefmore and visit a relative, Ivy follows. She soon finds herself drawn to Jordy, but as their attraction grows, they both face doubts. A relationship between the two of them feels improbable—and might just require a step of impossible faith.

Preorder Your Copy

Kindle preorders are available now, so snag your copy for on $2.99!

Or, if print's more your style (or your bank account looks like mine), you can shelve it on Goodreads!

MORE OF THE LOVELINESS!

More From The Chronicles

Yes, I have given the series a nickname. It is simply "The Chronicles." (Mainly because the full name is too much of a mouth-full - or keyboard-full - but if you'd like to imagine that's because it's the only chronicles you'll ever want to read, have at it!)

Anyway, if you're looking for more about Alice & Ivy, check out these posts!

Becoming Miss Knight Releases Today! Author Interview: Kellyn Roth Review: The Dressmaker's Secret by Kellyn Roth Review: Ivy Introspective by Kellyn Roth Review: Becoming Miss Knight by Kellyn Roth Coming Soon: At Her Fingertips by Kellyn Roth Character Q&A: Ivy Knight Review: At Her Fingertips by Kellyn Roth

#aliceandivy #historicalromance #historicalfiction #romance #setinscotland #myheartbelongsinscotland #iloveivy #coverreveal #coverlove #comingsoon #newbook #indie #christianromance #christianfiction #kellynroth

Review: Letters to My Father by Crissie Ann Leonard

I was so excited when I began this novel to join Wiletta on her journey—because from the first moment I saw the title of this book, I knew it would be a lovely, inspiring story full of Jesus, and I was right! But what I didn’t expect was for it to be so gripping!

Letters to My Father was a smoothly written story that was both unique and engaging. The events flowed so well—from Wiletta discovering the letters to meeting up with all of the writers—and the pacing was even and balanced. It was well developed, even being only 88 pages, and the story kept my attention throughout!

I absolutely loved how full of Scripture and how very uplifting and touching this story was! Leonard didn’t shy away from the Word or from tackling tough issues from a biblical perspective, and I appreciated that. Not everyone’s story ended with a happily ever after, but others in their lives came to know Christ on a deeper level and Wiletta and her friend Faith were also touched by their stories in a way that was inspiring and realistic.

I know a lot of reviewers have said the concept was unrealistic, and while it probably hasn’t occurred yet, I have no doubt that it could through God’s divine intervention, and that’s what makes the concept of Letters to My Father that much more interesting! I appreciate Leonard taking a chance with the premise and writing a story that didn’t seem strange or speculative at all—merely pure and impactful.

On top of that, the story was very well-written, and Leonard did great with the first-person POV. I didn’t find a single mistake or typo, and her writing style was uniquely her own.

To be honest, this was definitely outside of my genre, so I probably wouldn’t have chosen to read this book, but I’m certainly glad I got the chance to! It’s a true gem!

All in all, Letters to My Father is a must-read for those struggling in life, those simply in need of a refreshing dose of Christ—like Wiletta—and those who are looking for a short but encouraging book!

Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the author, and I received compensation for my honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Book

Forty-three-year-old Wiletta Jayne is a God-loving woman in the midst of a spiritual drought. Her strong relationship with God has been disrupted by her chaotic lifestyle, and she feels lonely and lost. She decides to take some time off from work and visit the beach, where she hopes to reconnect with God’s voice. On the way, Wiletta feels a strong pull to visit a garage sale, where she finds a small stack of letters for sale. Knowing they are meant for her, she buys them and begins reading through them while on her vacation. In the letters, Wiletta discovers personal stories of despair, loneliness, joy, and more. God then instructs her to find the authors of the letters, so she reaches out to her best friend, Faith, who is a private investigator. Together, Wiletta and Faith set out to find these people, help them to know God’s love, and heal their hearts so they can seek him again. This novel tells the story of a woman led by God to a collection of letters written by strangers and the journey she takes with a friend to find and help the letters’ authors.

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About the Author

Crissie Ann Leonard is an accounting associate at a nonprofit firm who has loved literature since she could read. Building on that love and personal experiences, she has spent the last decade writing novels based on life, faith, growth, and healing. She has been a lifelong writer and first began with short stories and poetry, only to be sidetracked by life—joy and sorrow, love and loss. She lives in Ohio with her family. Her great loves are God, her cat Smokey, her family, and Chewbacca from Star Wars. When God’s purpose rose to meet her pain, this book was born.

My Writing Journey

Welp, here it is, y'all. The full story of how I became a writer. This was originally a page in its own right on my site, but I took this down to share here on the blog! I hope y'all enjoy learning about my super-writer origin story! *winks*

By the way, if you're interested in knowing more, then you should TOTALLY check out my recent interview with Kristina Hall here! She asked some fabulous questions!

My love affair with books all began when I memorized Tell Me the Christmas Story by Joni Walker at three years old. My mom would read to my sister and I every night, and, being a homeschool family, our house has always been full of books. Anyway...I went on to read The Girl with Green Hair, The Sign of the Beaver, and my nana's Nancy Drew books at five multiple times, then the Left Behind series for kids nearly three times over when I was six/seven. I devoured any kind of book - but I really loved mysteries, fantasy, and end-times books, like The Chronicles of Narnia, Gilbert L. Morris's The Seven Sleepers series, and the Kingdom series by Chuck Black. As for writing...ha, ha, ha. My sister and I would play post office when I was, like, eight, and I would still scribble my message rather than writing English words like I should have. Don't get me wrong, I could write, but I hated it and my handwriting was, to say the least, crappy.

Something began to blossom in me, as time went on. I’d actually typed out a couple drafts (aka, two sentences) on Notepad (that little Windows accessory no one ever uses), about princesses…I think...when I was five. Of course, our PC crashed not long after that, actually, so all of that gorgeous prose has been lost in cyberspace for ten years. After that, I tried my hand at writing Barbie picture books, complete with Mattel sticker illustrations. Making up stories was almost as fun as reading, as long as it didn’t require a pencil. When I was almost nine, I made a book for my younger brother’s birthday, complete with beautiful (I’m being sarcastic) illustrations by yours truly and scribbled words.

It was that year, 2014, after my ninth birthday, that everything changed. Suddenly, I wanted to write. It was painstaking, and I only churned out a chapter of my first actual in-a-notebook-in-somewhat-legible-script-that-was-intended-to-become-a-real-book-one-day book. It was a “romantic mystery” based off of a situation at church, where my sister thought one of the boys in her Sunday School class liked her. Names were changed for protection, of course, but I played the big-sister detective and she the victim of notes and teasing. *digs around in a box FULL of old papers and drawings and notebooks* I might *gulps in a breath of air before diving back into box* can find *shakes head while continuing to shuffle through paper* the original manuscript… *rises, choking on dust bunnies* Nope. Then, I tried again, this time with a series about four thirteen-year-old spy girls, which lasted two whole chapters! It wasn’t until I starting reading more that I started writing more. More meaning things that were actually worth writing. I can thank it all on a certain process of mine. I relied on the Christianbook magazine we got in the mail to lead me to the next best series or book, then I'd get it through Pines (Georgia's online library system). Well, I stumbled upon Melanie Dickerson's The Golden Braid in the magazine and placed a hold when I was ten- or eleven-ish. Needless to say, I fell headfirst in love. I'm not a Disney princess girl... (to be honest, I've only ever watched The Little Mermaid, Tangled, and Frozen - hasn't everyone? - and have finally read the summaries for the rest of the movies on Wikipedia within the last couple years. Yeah. I live under a rock; cut me some slack.) ...but, there was something about this Rapunzel retelling that captured me.

Suddenly, the stories I told myself at night shifted from an ice cream shop's new flavors (I love ice cream, BTW) to my own medieval romances. Granted, my idea of romance at ages eight through ten were horribly askew - I'll save you the horror story - and my knowledge of, well, history and culture and princess-y things was seriously lacking. My characters ended up being named things like Jossalinda Lonesel (no kidding; made it up myself ) and Jordan Melenese, and were captured by bad guys, thrust into revealing dresses, and saved by their previously-slighted prince fiancé. (No. Seriously.)

Of course, the more I read, the more that changed. After reading all I could of Melanie Dickerson, I picked up The Baron's Honourable Daughter, a decidedly more informative and adult novel, which introduced me to Regency-era England. Watching Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman introduced me to the Wild, Wild West. Reading Jody Hedlund took me to Victorian-era Michigan, which truly opened up a whole new world for me. By this time, I had created a riot of stories and stored them all in a fashion-designing book. For real. I designed the clothes of my main heroine, gave her a name, and kept her story locked within the pages of my drawings. At the time, I wanted to focus on two things: reading and ballet. I could venture into the world of writing, which I sucked at (pardon my language), when I was at the ripe old age of 16. Then one thing led to another.

My previous attempts at books a couple years before opened the door for my "Camp Love" series, which I plotted (as my only contemporary series) along with my medieval and Regency tales. "Camp Love" lasted two chapters before a new idea, "Finding Love on Horseback," flew into my funnel (and I quote Thomas the Train ). I got it into my head that I could start writing, and, six chapters later, I proved myself right. Now, "Finding Love on Horseback" stinks. I wrote those six chapters—which amounted to about 9,300 words—in a span of two months. Its successor, "The Lady's Knight”—which I'm currently revamping for the third time—was written, and nearly finished, in about the same amount of time not but a couple months later, reaching a total of around 14,500 words. (I’m now able to write twice that much in two weeks, thank goodness.) My third story (coming in between a great deal of trial and error), "The Lady Pirate," has morphed into my debut novel, Held Captive, which was a hit! If I do say so meself... However, before I fell in love with my first pirate novel, "Beyond the Inner Storm" took precedence. This story was inspired by Jody Hedlund's Beacons of Hope series and my love for lighthouses. It was my first completed manuscript at 43,330 words and 21 chapters. I've actually shared the entirely of this hopeless—yet somewhat endearing—story of mine on my blog. It even had a sequel, “A Dream Fulfilled,” that I nearly finished before I decided to revisit “The Lady Pirate.” (Check out my blog post about how “The Lady Pirate” became my debut novel, Held Captive!) The rest, as they say, is history. I'm now on book 3 of my series, Daughters of the Seven Seas, which includes Held Captive, Prisoner at Heart, and A Christmas to Remember - not to mention the new companion novella, The Gift of Her Heart, which gives me a place to start a prequel series about the Arlington family...eventually.

It took a lot to make it to this point, but now that I’m here, I can look back with a lot of happiness and gratitude, knowing that all of that hard work (and sorry attempts at writing) really paid off! As my writing journey continues, I hope you’ll join me. You can keep an eye on my progress and catch the occasional sneak peek on my blog, Of Blades and Thorns, or follow me on Goodreads, BookBub, and Amazon for updates! Oh, and if you have any questions, you can contact me at the bottom of the homepage!

#mywritingjourney #abouttheauthor #writer #mystory

Review: Between the Wild Branches by Connilyn Cossette

*Warnings*

#1 This is a long review, so pull up a chair and grab a bowl of popcorn. You’ll be here awhile. #2 When I read a review, I want substantial information. So I will not skimp on the details. Which may mean some spoilers, so watch out.

I don’t know if you noticed, but, uh, I’m not doing my usual thing. As in the star rating, short summary, and favorite quote thing that I do for ARCs. Yeah...it’s just...this book. I can’t. I can’t give it a star rating because my rating is off the spectrum. I can’t give you a synopsis because it’d come out way too gushy. I can’t even pick a favorite quote because every single word in this book was like peach ice cream—aka, heavenly.

So why am I here writing a review when it’s basically futile?

Because I’m like technically supposed to and stuff, so it may seem like I’m being forced to collect my thoughts and still my racing heart against my will.

I mean, I don’t guess they can force me to write a review...but I know I should. Not just because I got an ARC of this book but because IT DESERVES IT.

Actually, it deserves more than my crappy attempt at a review, but I’ll give it my best.

Too late for that. Already gave the thing my heart.

Technically, Lukio has my heart, but that’s not the point. Oh, wait. It is.

So, yeah. If you want a detailed, slightly less obsessive review on all the technical aspects of Cossette’s writing, her storytelling abilities, and how well she weaves biblical events and Scripture with her own imagination, I suggest reading my review of To Dwell among Cedars.

Because I’m not doing that here.

Okay, okay, I’ll give you a little bit.

Cossette wrote this book really well and I enjoyed reading it and it’s good and stuff and like anyone would like this because it’s pretty good and blah. Blah. Blah.

WHO CARES.

WHAT MATTERS IS WHAT I FEEL, NOT ALL THIS BORING FACTUAL MUMBO-JUMBO.

I LOVE THIS BOOK.

I LOVE LUKIO. GOSH, I LOVE HIS GUTS. (Okay, that’s gross. But basically true.)

I LOVE MARIADA.

I LOVE SHOSHANA. (Y’all are gonna find this hard to believe, but I didn’t like her as much as I adored Lukio. Shocker, I know.)

I LOVE JARU AND ZIEV AND GALIT AND YONAH AND ALL THE OTHER PRECIOUS PEOPLES.

I LOVE THE TWISTS. OH MY WORD AT THE TWISTS!

AND THE ENDING.

OH

MY

LANTA

T H A T E N D I N G.

I WANT AN ENDING LIKE THAT.

*clears throat*

Well, there are my feelings for you. They’re, uh, they’re pretty strong, don’t you think? Anyway, I think I can expound upon those a little more, don’t y’all? I’m pretty good at that, you know. Expounding. Making things more complicated than they really are.

Coming into this book, I was scared out of my wits. The ending of To Dwell among Cedars left us all on the edge of our seats, dying to know what happens to Lukio as time goes on. I mean, the kid left for Ashdod, ran into his whacked-out cousin, and became a brutal fighter. It’s really hard to expect good, happy, whimsical things when that’s the beginning of your story.

So of course I was terrified that Lukio was going to be really hard and bitter (like, even worse than he already was), have thirty-five concubines, visit the shrine every day, have eighteen illegitimate young’uns and sacrifice half of them, and just be a thoroughly vile person. What, after all, can you expect from a Philistine?

Not to mention that finding out Shoshana was sold into slavery got me really worried. The last things I wanted were (a) for the story to be full of flashbacks to all of the trials and abuse (or full of new trials and abuse) that she had to endure and (b) for Shoshana to have turned into a weak, pathetic whiny. I mean, after all she went through, I wouldn’t blame her for whining, but I prefer to read about heroines who persevere, trust in God, and are optimistic. Maybe that’s asking for a Disney princess instead of a realistic person, but c’mon, guys. Admit it. There is nothing more inspiring than reading about people who surrender to God, have faith in His promises, and push through adversity with their head held high.

But all of this is entirely beside the point. Why?

Because Cossette completely assuaged all of my fears!

Lukio was, yeah, hard and bitter, but he was also still a tender little boy on the inside! Like, his love for animals and the downtrodden and little munchkins like he used to be MELTED MY HEART. And the way he was so concerned for Shoshana, even after she told him that they were nothing but strangers?

MY HEART SHATTERED, YOU GUYS.

LUKIO IS SO PRECIOUS.

(Not to mention he really reminded me of one of my own characters, which just gave me serious warm fuzzies. It’s a writer thing.)

And then Shoshana was so strong, but not at all a feminist. I mean, I had a hard time connecting with her (too busy connecting with Lukio, I reckon), but she was never annoying or excessive in any manner. I just felt sympathy for her and was so proud of her for being tough and helping others.

BUT MARIADA.

Y’ALL. I know in my heart that I can’t spoil things for you, BUT MARIADA. Just but Mariada, because that’s really all I can say. I was, again, terrified that I would hate her character and she’d be just other source of conflict and whatnot, BUT NO. SHE WAS PERFECT.

To be honest, I liked her more than Shoshana. Not to mention she really, really needs a story of her own. (Please, Mrs. Cossette, please! Give Mariada a happily ever after! She deserves it!)

Then there was Jaru and my precious baby Ziev and ALL THE TWISTS. GUYS, COSSETTE THREW ME FOR A LOOP!

Seriously, it doesn’t get any better. It just doesn’t.

Except for one thing: the ending.

From the reunion…

To the way Lukio—ahem, Natan—stepped out in faith…

TO THE WEDDING. (Or, well, lack of...)

THE ENDING WAS THE MOST PERFECTEST ENDING IN THE HISTORY OF ENDINGS. (And that’s improper English. Do I care? Nope. Not in the least.)

I, no lie, want an ending just. like. that. (So, uh, if my future husband is reading this, take some pointers from Lukio. Please and thank you.)

So, um, yeah. I think there are more things I could say...no, I know there are...but I just can’t. Sorry, you guys, but y’all are just gonna have to be satisfied with this nonsensical, gushy word vomit.

Yeah, I’m pretty sure this was not what the publisher meant by a “review.” Oh, well. Would it help if I suggested you buy the book? You think it would? Okay.

BUY THIS BOOK. YOUR HEART WILL THANK YOU.

Disclaimer: A complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher, publicist, or author, including NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

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About the Author

Connilyn Cossette is a Christy Award and Carol Award winning author whose books have been found on both 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. Connect with her at www.ConnilynCossette.com

#biblicalfiction #romance #slowburnromance #bestheroever #pureawesomeness #christianfiction #biblicalromance #historicalfiction #iaminlove #newfavorite #lukioismine