Robin E. Mason's Blog: Robin's Book Shelf, page 75
May 21, 2022
BLOGWORDS – Saturday 21 May 2022 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY-on-SATURDAY – MULTI-BOOK REVIEW BLITZ – A ROSE FOR THE RESISTANCE by ANGELA K. COUCH
Book: A Rose for the Resistance
Author: Angela K. Couch
Genre: Historical Fiction/Romance/Christian
Release date: April, 2022
THE BLURBA French Woman and German Soldier Create a Truce
Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this new series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.
With her father in a German POW camp and her home in Ste Mere Eglise, France, under Nazi occupation, Rosalie Barrieau will do anything to keep her younger brother safe. . .even from his desire to join the French resistance. Until she falls into the debt of a German solder—one who delivers a wounded British pilot to her door. Though not sure what to make of her German ally, Rosalie is thrust deep into the heart of the local underground. As tensions build toward the allied invasion of Normandy, she must decide how much she is willing to risk for freedom.
Click here to get your copy!
THE AUTHOR
To keep from freezing in the great white north, Angela K Couch cuddles under quilts with her laptop. Winning short story contests, being a semi-finalist in ACFW’s Genesis Contest, and a finalist in the 2016 International Digital Awards also helped warm her up. As a passionate believer in Christ, her faith permeates the stories she tells. Her martial arts training, experience with horses, and appreciation for good romance sneak in as well. When not writing, she stays fit (and toasty warm) by chasing after four munchkins.
The story of A Rose for the Resistance has been in the making for a while. Rosalie and Franz came to life for me in the first novel I started writing as a teenager… (not even going to mention how long ago that was). Though much of that early work will never see the light of day, I am glad I can finally share them with you.
Every November 11th since I was a child, I would sit with my dad and watch WWII documentaries and movies like A Bridge too Far, or The Longest Day which featured Sainte-Mère-Église during the D-day landings. So many of those stories beg to be remembered and I tried to include as much as I could in this novel, even in passing. Stories such as John Steele of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment who dropped into the warzone of Sainte-Mère-Église that night and his chute caught on the spire of the church. He hung limply for hours, pretending to be dead, before the Germans took him prisoner. John later escaped and rejoined his division. Or, Henry Langrehr who landed five miles from his drop zone, crashing through a greenhouse on the way down. He was unharmed from the fall, but was later wounded and captured. He lived into his nineties to tell the tale.
Many of the events and deeds of The Resistance in the novel are also pulled from history. The French citizen’s willingness to risk their lives to transport weapons and information, and to staunchly resist the brutal German occupation. It is estimated that approximately 90,000 men women – and children – were killed, tortured, or deported by the Germans for their efforts.
Though many of the characters in this story are fictional, there are so many men and women who truly did live through the horrors of the War in Europe, and more importantly risked or sacrificed their all for the freedom and lives of others.
I pray we never forget.
MY REVIEWReading a story by Ms. Couch is always a treat for the reader, with pages from history skillfully woven into a gripping story.
Nothing equals the horrors of war, and for all of our real-time news, we cannot know the depth of that horror by watching it or reading about it.
Rosalie wanted nothing more than to stick her head in the sand and hide until the war was over. Ultimately, of course, she realized she couldn’t sit idly by. Not only did she join the Resistance—albeit reluctantly—but in the end she was quite active.
Franz. Poor fellow, born on the wrong side of the border. A Nazi soldier and not by choice. A past that haunts him [SPOILER] and a bleak and barren future ahead of him.
Oh, how my heart ached for Rosalie’s mother. She, too, bore unimaginable wounds [SPOILER] and feared for her daughter and son. This reader would like to believe that, in Rosalie’s place, I would have had the courage to act. Courage where fear threatened, and yet caution in her every move and action. (Unlike her brother, who threw himself fully into the fray.)
With news of the coming Allied invasion—only gained at great risk by contraband radio—hope sustained them. Little did Rosalie know the part she would play [SPOILER.]
Wonderfully told story, beautiful tribute to the real heroes, both men and women, soldier and civilian, who “risked and sacrificed their all for the freedom and lives of other.”
I, too, pray we never forget them.
ROBIN’S FEATHERS
ALL | THE | FEATHERS!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day-on-Saturday, #TRD, Book Review, A Rose for the Resistance, Angela K. Couch, Celebrate Lit Publicity
BLOGWORDS – Saturday 21 May 2022 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY-on-SATURDAY – MULTI-BOOK REVIEW BLITZ – TIME AFTER TYME by KAY DiBIANCA
Book: Time After Tyme
Author: Kay DiBianca
Genre: Cozy mystery
Release date: November 29, 2021
THE BLURBTime After Tyme is a fun and thought-provoking mystery about secret codes, university intrigue, and two young girls who fancy themselves 21st-century Nancy Drews.
When strange, coded messages turn up in the chapel prayer box at Bellevue University, the minister suspects a recent campus death may have been murder, so he enlists the help of amateur sleuths Kathryn Frasier and Cece Goldman to decipher the codes and solve the mystery. But when a couple of young girls get wind of it, they decide to find the killer on their own. Almost everyone on campus has something to hide, and the story fluctuates between the rational search for the truth by the adults, and the occasionally misguided, but surprisingly perceptive, insight of the children.
Set on the campus of a modern university, Time After Tyme is both a joyful romp through a cozy mystery and a serious look at the search for truth. The book reminds us of the seasons of our lives, from the irrepressible curiosity of youth to the treasured experience of maturity.
Click here to get your copy!
THE AUTHOR
Kay DiBianca is an award-winning author who loves to create literary puzzles in the mystery genre for her readers to solve. Her characters come to life as they struggle to solve murders and create relationships amidst the ongoing themes of faith and family. Her first novel, The Watch on the Fencepost, won an Illumination Award for General Fiction and an Eric Hoffer Award for Mystery. The second book in the Watch series, Dead Man’s Watch, was a Silver Falchion Award finalist.
Kay is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Sisters in Crime, and the Collierville Christian Writers Group. An avid runner, she can often be found at a nearby track, on the treadmill, or at a large park near her home. Her background in software development fuels her fascination with puzzles and mysteries, and her dedication to running helps supply the endurance and energy she needs to write about them.
Kay and her husband, Frank, live, run, and write in Memphis, Tennessee. You can connect with Kay through her website at https://kaydibianca.com
MORE FROM KAYWhen ten-year-old Reen Penterson overhears the words “foul play” in a conversation not meant for her, she jumps to the conclusion that a murder has been committed and says, “Foul play? Murder! My heart pounded and my future life unfolded in front of me like a YouTube video. I could solve the mystery and expose the killer! I’d be famous. I’d be rich. I’d be one of those people who gets a college degree without having to go to school.”
To aid in her “investigation,” Reen enlists the help of her nine-year-old cousin, Joanie Finelson. And the chaos begins.
Writing Time After Tyme was great fun for me. This is the third book in the Watch series of cozy mysteries, and I wanted to add another dimension to the stories. Since I intended to dedicate the book to my best friend from childhood, my cousin Joan, I thought the misadventures of two young girls would be the perfect addition. Although Reen and Joanie are secondary characters in the book, they steal the show from the adults with their misguided attempts to find a killer.
Set on the campus of fictional Bellevue University, the story revolves around the recent death of the university librarian, Mr. Tyme. When strange, coded messages are found in the university chapel prayer box, main characters Kathryn Frasier and Cece Goldman are asked to decipher them. While Kathryn and Cece work to solve the mystery behind the codes, Reen and Joanie are turning things upside down in the search for a killer.
There were several things I particularly enjoyed about writing this book. I loved creating the coded messages, each of which relates to a Biblical proverb. I also liked exploring the secrets many of the adults in the book harbored to avoid being associated with Mr. Tyme’s death.
But more than anything else, I enjoyed the all-out approach to solving the mystery by the two young girls. At times, their unfiltered approach to their quest made me laugh out loud and reminded me of the wonder of that special time of life.
MY REVIEWWho doesn’t love a good secret code? And tied with a murder?
Somehow, this reader never delved into the Nancy Drew stories, but I am a huge Agatha Christie fan. With a minister, two young adult ladies, and two young girls on the trail, this kitschy story is a perfect cozy mystery.
Ms. DiBianca’s characters are vivid and genuine and colorful—especially Reen; the girl is a trip! She unfolds her story with clues and red herrings, and springs a great twist on the reader at the end.
Reen. Not spoiled so much as precocious and unsupervised—and unaware of the danger she is putting herself in with her ‘investigation.’ Joanie. Reen’s cousin, who looks to Reen as her heroine.
Kathryn and Cece. Perhaps more the “Nancy Drew” characters in this story; older, wiser. And aware of the danger of discovering a murderer.
A clever story that keeps the reader turning pages to the surprising twist at the end.
ROBIN’S FEATHERS
FOUR FEATHERS
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day-on-Saturday, #TRD, Book Review, Time After Tyme, Kay DiBianca, Celebrate Lit PublicityApril 27, 2022
BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 26 April 2022 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – EVERY STAR IN THE SKY by SARA DAVISON
ABOUT THE BOOK
Book: Every Star in the Sky
Author: Sara Davison
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release date: March 2, 2022
THE BLURBShe is willing to testify against her trafficker. If she can stay alive that long.
“You’re safe here, Starr.”
How many times has Detective Cole Blacksky said that to her since helping her escape the life she’d been forced into eight years earlier?
Starr desperately wants to believe him, but she knows Brady Erickson, her former captor, too well. Although Cole has promised her protective custody on his family’s remote ranch, no place on earth is safe enough. Brady will stop at nothing to permanently silence her before she ever reaches the witness stand.
And he is powerful enough to do it.
If Starr wants to help Brady’s other victims, she has no choice but to put herself in God’s hands. And Cole’s. But the longer she and Cole stay hidden, the more her life is at risk.
And her heart.
Click here to get your copy!
THE AUTHOR
Sara Davison is the author of four romantic suspense series—The Seven Trilogy, The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo Trilogy, and Two Sparrows for a Penny, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, she is a Word, Cascade, and Carol Award winner. She currently resides in Ontario with her husband Michael and their three mostly grown kids. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason. Get to know Sara better at www.saradavison.org and @sarajdavison.
A few years ago, I attended a women’s conference in the Canadian capital city of Ottawa. The theme of the conference was human trafficking, which had always seemed to me something that happened in other countries of the world. The speaker informed us that, in fact, sex trafficking is very much an issue in Canada. In fact, she went on to say that if we were staying in a hotel that night, she could pretty much guarantee that somewhere in the building a young girl would be trafficked against her will while we slept peacefully in our beds.
That fact—and the way my subsequent research has borne up that truth—shocked, horrified, and deeply impacted me. And so, Every Star in the Sky was born. This romantic suspense novel puts a face and name and story to the scourge of human trafficking. While the fictional tale of one woman’s experiences, it represents the reality of countless women and shows the devastating toll this evil takes, not only on those in captivity, but on those who love them and desire to see them restored to freedom and eventually physical, mental, and emotional healing.
Every Star in the Sky is a love story. Not only between a woman rescued from trafficking and the man who risked everything to save her, but between God and every human being created in his image victimized by this unspeakable practice. The theme of this series, which I hope and pray comes across clearly to every reader, is that we are never alone. God sees what we are going through. He never leaves or forsakes us. He knows the name of every star in the sky, and he knows us deeply and intimately.
As the main character in the story reflects: “And if you know every star by name, you must know every one of us by name.” When no one around her, not even friends like Ruby, knew her real name, she had clung to the truth that God knew it, that it was engraved on the palm of his hand. Without that knowledge, she would have been afraid her name might be lost, since she was so determined not to let her true one slip out to Brady that even in her own mind she had become Starr. But God had kept her name in trust for her until Cole freed her, and now God had given it to her again. She hadn’t planned to tell it to Cole tonight, but something had nudged her to. Had assured her it was safe. That he was safe.
While the problem of human trafficking may seem overwhelming, prayer is our most powerful weapon against the forces of darkness. Pray for all those held in captivity, that they would experience God’s love and presence with them, that they would find freedom, and that all who participate in this evil would one day be brought to justice.
MY REVIEWI so appreciate Christian authors who are willing to write about the ugly side of life. Who show that bad things do, in fact, happen to good people. And that it is only the grace of Father God that sustains them (us) and sees them through. Ms. Davison reminds the reader that slavery is not limited to plantations in the Sough (of the U.S.) nor to a couple of hundred years. Rather, slavery has many forms, has existed from the beginning of time, and continues to the present day.
The author not only braves that front, but she offers the reader a positive means to help—to pray, even if we cannot do something tangible.
So often I think we forget that our Bible heroes were men and women just like us. We tend to relegate them to mere historical figures, who no longer walk among us. But Starr was very much a ‘Daniel in the lion’s den,’ looking to God for her rescue. Trusting that He would make a way of escape. With faith so strong she was able to encourage the other girls, to comfort them.
Trauma leaves scars, though, no matter how much its victim knows and trusts God to rescue. [SPOILER]
I’ve read stories where one of the characters is a “Jesus figure.” I don’t mean someone with a Jesus complex, but one who lives the love of Christ, whose life touches others with their actions. Usually that person is a believer ministering to one who is not. Ms. Davison, however, flips that; it is Cole who demonstrates Christ’s love. Starr’s faith is strong but she is wounded.
Cole knew the Bible early in life, but his faith waned, nearly completely petered out. Yet, he is the one God manifests His love through, ministering to both Starr and himself.
Ms. Davison writes such taut stories, such vile topics. Such profound truth. Her books are always page turners, urging the reader on to the end, nudging the reader to pray—if not for fictional characters, for the very real people trapped in very real circumstances.
ROBIN’S FEATHERSALL | THE | FEATHERS!
I received a complimentary copy of this book but was under no obligation to read it or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Every Star in the Sky, Sara Davison, Celebrate Lit PublicityApril 22, 2022
BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 19 April 2022 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – INHERITANCE OF SECRETS by ROBIN PATCHEN
Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Inheritance of Secrets by Robin Patchen, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
ABOUT THE BOOK
Title: Inheritance of Secrets
Series: Coventry Saga #6
Author: Robin Patchen
Publisher: JDO Publishing
Release Date: April 19, 2022
Genre: Christian romantic suspense
THE BLURBFrom a USA Today bestselling author comes the latest in the edge-of-your-seat Christian romantic suspense series that will keep you reading all night long.
“I didn’t do right by your mother. Or by you. Find her and do what I never had the courage to do.”
Her father’s deathbed confession changed everything for Aspen Kincaid. The mystery of her mother’s disappearance was unsolvable, or so she’d believed.
It seemed her dad had lied to her all her life.
After inheriting a house in New Hampshire—a house Aspen hadn’t known her father owned—she travels thousands of miles, desperate to fulfill his dying wish. But some residents of Coventry don’t want Jane Kincaid’s daughter digging into things they think should remain buried forever.
Renovating the secluded old house on the mountain should be the next step in Garrett McCarthy’s contracting career, but Aspen’s arrival in town stirs up old animosities in Coventry that he’d known nothing about. All he wants is to complete the job, hoping it’ll open doors to new opportunities. But when he’s asked to keep an eye on Aspen’s activities, he feels he can’t refuse. How can he honor his beautiful, vulnerable client and remain loyal to the people who need his help?
Join Aspen and Garrett as they attempt to solve a thirty-year-old mystery—without becoming its latest victims.
Page-turning suspense, heartwarming romance, and a plot-twisting mystery that’ll keep you guessing until the very end. Preorder Inheritance of Secrets today.
PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookDepository | BookBub
MORE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES
Robin Patchen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Nutfield and Coventry Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. Working in marketing and public relations, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while she homeschooled her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. Visit https://robinpatchen.com/subscribe to receive a free book and stay informed about Robin’s latest projects.
CONNECT WITH ROBIN: Website | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
MY REVIEW
Oh what tangled webs we weave…
Secrets never stay buried. They follow you as a shadow, and they will eventually, in some way, somehow, be revealed.
Aspen’s father had secrets. He thought he was doing the right thing keeping certain sordid details from his daughter. Ms. Patchen braves the difficult topic of mental illness and the far-reaching and long-lasting effects it can have and the swath of destruction it can leave in its wake. [SPOILER]
Aspen walks in blindly to ghosts of such destruction. Wanting nothing more than to honor her father’s last request, she forges ahead in her task, intent on selling the house and leaving for a warm climate.
But her search becomes convoluted and dangerous [SPOILER.]
Aspen’s heart, though, is playing the most dangerous game of all—falling for the hot contractor hired to renovate the house.
Garrett, too, is falling into the danger zone, and tasks himself with keeping her safe.
This is my second Coventry Saga book, and I’ve grown to think of the characters as friends. I appreciate the circle of friends and sense of community the author has established throughout the series. No quaint little town, though; Coventry has more than its share of mysteries—and dead bodies. Ms. Patchen ratchets up the suspense with each page, hurtling the reader on a tempestuous journey.
ROBIN’S FEATHERSALL | THE | FEATHERS!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
TOUR GIVEAWAY
(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and paperback copies of the first 5 books in the series, Glimmer in the Darkness, Tides of Duplicity, Betrayal of Genius, Traces of Virtue, and Touch of Innocence!
Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight April 19, 2022 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on April 26, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
ENTER GIVEAWAY HEREFollow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Inheritance of Secrets, Robin Patchen, Coventry Saga, JustRead PublicityMarch 29, 2022
BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 29 March 2022 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – TRIPLE REVIEW BLITZ – TOUCH OF INNOCENCE by ROBIN PATCHEN
ABOUT THE BOOK
Book: Touch of Innocence
Author: Robin Patchen
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Release date: January 25, 2022
THE BLURBFrom a USA Today bestselling author comes a gripping story of mystery, romance, and pulse-pounding suspense.
How can she save the little girl next door from being exploited if nobody believes her?
Grace used to try to save people, but that was before she realized how powerless she is. Now, she avoids emotional ties, working from her secluded cabin, content with her aloneness. When eight-year-old Lily starts hanging around, Grace enjoys her company but carefully keeps her distance—until she discovers the girl is being exploited. Little though she wants to, she must get involved, even if it means risking her own safety to secure Lily’s.
Andrew can’t help but be drawn to his new neighbor and her beautiful foster child. When he learns about Lily’s disturbing history, he offers to help Grace prove her suspicions about the girl’s father. But the more they learn, the more puzzling Lily’s history seems. They work together to unravel the mystery, determined to ensure Lily ends up with a family who loves her.
But Lily’s father isn’t giving up his muse—or his obsession—that easily. He believes Lily is rightfully his, and he’ll do anything to get her back.
Don’t miss this thrilling page-turner, the latest in the addictive Coventry Saga.
Click here to get your copy!
THE AUTHOR
Robin Patchen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Nutfield Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. After college, working in marketing and public relations, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while she homeschooled her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. Visit https://robinpatchen.com/subscribe to receive a free book and stay informed about Robin’s latest projects.
I love everyman-hero stories.
I know detectives and FBI agents and other law enforcement officers are fighting crime and solving mysteries all the time, but I love stories where regular folks—the kind who live next door and work in supermarkets or sell insurance—suddenly find themselves in the middle of a mystery—one only they can solve.
Maybe it’s my own longing for adventure (while living a life that consists largely of sitting in my office wearing yoga pants and tapping away on a keyboard) that leads me to write these kinds of stories
Touch of Innocence has that everyman… er, woman character, a reclusive former child therapist who wants nothing more than to be left alone. The problem is, Grace has a gift (which she calls a curse) that enables her to “see” that her eight-year-old neighbor, Lily, is being exploited by her child-pornographer father. But since Grace doesn’t have any proof, only the impressions she received when she touched the child’s palm, the police don’t do anything to rescue little Lily.
So Grace takes matters into her own hands.
As the villain so aptly puts it, she “blows up her entire life for the sake of a girl she barely knows.”
And that all happens in the first chapter. Then it gets really interesting.
There’s so much talk in the world about doing things for the greater good, for the benefit of the many, not the few, but that wasn’t Jesus’s way, was it?
Jesus didn’t die for the collective good. He died for you and me. He left the ninety-nine to seek out the one.
In a way, Touch of Innocence asks if one forgotten little girl is worth the cost of the heroine’s security, maybe even her life?
What is the value of one life, and how much are we as believers willing to sacrifice to save?
I think it’s a question worth exploring.
A little FYI about the book: I was very careful not to have any explicit scenes. Though the reader gets the sense of what Lily’s been through, there are no descriptions or images you’ll wish you hadn’t seen. I did my very best in this story to highlight a terrible thing that’s happening all over the world while at the same time honoring my readers and, above all, the Lord.
MY REVIEWI applaud Ms. Patchen for not only addressing such a horrible topic but omitting the gory details.
Sometimes it’s not a bad thing to stick our proverbial nose in where it doesn’t belong. This book throws down the gauntlet, challenging us all to stick our noses in. To step out of our comfort zone. To make us aware, even, that it’s happening all around us.
Sometimes doing the wrong thing is actually doing the right thing. [SPOILER]
Grace was securely tucked away in her cocoon, removed from heartache and risk. And her life purpose. Until Lily. Grace took up the challenge and stepped way outside her comfort zone.
[SPOILER]
Ms. Patchen takes the reader deep into the turmoil of Grace’s situation. Exposes the struggle in her heart—fighting not to love the little girl she has come to care for so dearly. Resisting even when Lily says, “I love you.” Raising the stakes, one terrifying nuance at a time. Lulling Grace into pseudo comfort. Then spilling a new hair-raising detail into the fray.
Andrew proved to be an anchor for Grace, and for Lily. Extending not just neighborly assistance, but personal care and concern.
My own heart raced as—well, there is just so much of this story that just can’t be fully expressed in this review. Let me just say this is a book you will not want to put down!
ROBIN’S FEATHERSALL | THE | FEATHERS!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
TOUR GIVEAWAY
To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away the grand prize package of Convenient Lies, book 1 in the Nutfield Saga, and Glimmer in the Darkness, book 1 in the Coventry Saga, along with a coffee mug!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/1bc9a/touch-of-innocence-celebration-tour-giveawayBLOG STOPSBook Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 23
Blogging With Carol, March 23
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 24
Texas Book-aholic, March 25
Inklings and notions, March 26
For Him and My Family, March 27
Betti Mace, March 28
Spoken from the Heart, March 29
deb’s Book Review, March 29
Locks, Hooks and Books, March 30
Mary Hake, March 30
Maureen’s Musings, March 31
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, April 1
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, April 2
Blossoms and Blessings, April 3
Livin’ Lit, April 3
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 4
Simple Harvest Reads, April 5 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Touch of Innocence, Robin Patchen, Coventry Saga, Celebrate Lit PublicityBLOGWORDS – Tuesday 29 March 2022 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – TRIPLE REVIEW BLITZ – FALSE PRETENSE by HEATHER DAY GILBERT
Beloved amateur sleuth Tess Spencer returns in this fourth and final Murder in the Mountains mystery.
Tess has her work cut out for her—from her day job at the police station to her nights on the campaign trail with her husband, she’s stretched thin. Her two young children also keep her busy, but thankfully she has a supportive mother-in-law who lives just next door.
When the legendary Mothman makes a terrifying appearance and a local librarian goes missing, Tess feels compelled to get involved, convinced something evil has been unleashed on her little town. Then another woman disappears—this one bearing an eerie resemblance to Tess—and the police receive a cryptic message hinting that a serial killer is on the prowl.
After a nightmarish turn of events completely upends the Spencer family, Tess musters her courage to hunt for the monstrous murderer in the woods…even if she has to walk straight into the Mothman’s lair to do it.
False Pretense brings a stunning and memorable conclusion to the award-winning Murder in the Mountains series.
THE AUTHOR
Award-winning novelist Heather Day Gilbert enjoys writing mysteries and Viking historicals. She brings authentic family relationships to the page, and she particularly delights in heroines who take a stand to protect those they love. Avid readers say Heather’s realistic characters–no matter what century–feel like best friends. When she’s not plotting stories, this native West Virginian can often be found hanging out with her husband and four children, playing video games, or reading Agatha Christie novels.
Find all her books and her newsletter signup at heatherdaygilbert.com.
MY REVIEW“In West Virginia folklore, the Mothman is a humanoid creature reportedly seen in the Point Pleasant area from November 15, 1966, to December 15, 1967… Man-Sized Bird … Creature … Something.” – excerpted from Wikipedia.
I always enjoy a visit to picturesque Mayberry-like Buckneck, where family and friends look out for one another. A pleasant community where nothing exciting happens—at least until murder strikes!
I first met Tess Spencer in Miranda Warning, and appreciated her curious mind and sharp mind. No matter what life throws at her (even murder) she tackles the challenge and comes out the winner.
Ms. Gilbert takes Tess and all her characters—and the reader—through twists and turns. For every answer, more clues pop up. Not to mention dead bodies.
The author drew on local myth and skillfully wrapped a convincing story around it, with [SPOILER.] This reader was eager to get to the end, and yet not—it’s the last visit with Tess Spencer.
ROBIN’S FEATHERSALL | THE | FEATHERS!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, False Pretense, Heather Day Gilbert, Murder in the Mountains Series, Miranda Warning, Trial by Twelve, Guilt by AssociationBLOGWORDS – Tuesday 29 March 2022 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – TRIPLE REVIEW BLITZ – CHAIN OF MERCY by BRENDA S. ANDERSON
THE BLURBManhattan businessman Richard Brooks was at the top of the world, drunk with success, wealth, and women, and he proudly lived that prodigal lifestyle, until one disastrous evening, when that world came crashing down.
Richard flees to Minneapolis where he repairs ancient boilers instead of solving corporate problems, and he’s determined to live the solitary life he now deserves.
But Executive Sheila Peterson has other plans for the handsome custodian. Richard appears to be the perfect match for the no-strings-attached romance she’s after, but she soon discovers that he’s hiding more than the designer clothes in his closet.
THE AUTHOR
Brenda S. Anderson writes authentic, gritty, life-affirming fiction that shows God at work in people’s messy lives. She enjoys live music and theater, walking the shores of Lake Superior, and sharing hot cocoa with friends and family. She lives near Minneapolis with her newly retired husband. Together, they plan to travel across the United States, checking items off their bucket list, beginning with a bus trip to Niagara Falls.
Readers can learn more about Brenda S. Anderson at http://www.brendaandersonbooks.com
MY REVIEWA book like this—so rich, so deep, so intense—one hardly knows where to begin.
When we lose sight of Truth, we stumble into darkness. We feed on lies. Lies that lead us farther and farther away from the One who loves us most. Even when disaster and tragedy strike, why do we still resist Father God’s mercy and grace?
But no matter how far we run, no matter how we try to hide, we can never escape the unfathomable love of God.
Richard Brooks fought and resisted God’s love—and especially His forgiveness—until there was no fight left in him.
Growing up in a Christian home, I can’t imagine not knowing God and the Bible. Or to live without His guiding hand. Sheila Peterson knew that void, seeking to fill it with the world’s offerings.
Even in the combustible atmosphere between Richard and Sheila, God didn’t abandon. [SPOILER]
Ms Anderson braves not only the volatile topic of abortion, but the father’s perspective—I applaud the author’s boldness. The range of emotions that seize her characters keeps them walking a tightrope. The dialogue is tight and convincing, characters both lovable and maddening.
I’ve not read this author before but I already have added the other books in this series to my to be read list.
ROBIN’S FEATHERSALL | THE | FEATHERS!
I purchased this book, and offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my own honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Chain of Mercy, Brenda S. Anderson, Coming Home Series, Memory Box Secrets, Hungry for Home
February 25, 2022
BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 22 February 2022 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – THE GIRL WHO LOST A KINGDOM by JANE ANN McLACHLAN
THE BLURB
Queen Joanna 1 of Naples struggles to rule a kingdom devastated by war, plague, famine and rebellion. Her niece and namesake, Duchess Joanna of Durazzo, struggles to make sense of a world that has been in turmoil since she was a child. When Queen Joanna swears she will return Naples to its former peace and prosperity, the young Duchess Joanna swears she will always be loyal to her queen. But as their kingdom is increasingly beset with insurrection and war brought on by the terrible “Free Companies”—huge bands of mercenaries and criminals that roam across Europe following the wars and the black plague of the mid-14thC, murdering and plundering everywhere they go—the line between loyalty and survival thins. Will either Joanna be able to keep her oath?
During the second half of her reign Queen Joanna 1 celebrates the greatest victories of her life and endures her greatest defeats. Under her rule Naples becomes the most enlightened kingdom of medieval Europe. But as Europe becomes increasingly embroiled in wars, both political and religious, Queen Joanna is caught up in the Great Schism within the Catholic Church. Can she maintain her kingdom until the end, and will she have an heir to leave it to?
Enjoy the exciting finale to Queen Joanna’s reign!
THE AUTHOR
Jane Ann McLachlan was born in Toronto, Canada. She started writing stories when she was five years old, and has been reading literary fiction, science fiction and historical fiction in equal measure all her life. She received her B.A. in English Literature from York University and her M.A. in Canadian Literature from Carleton University. Before becoming a full-time writer she taught at Conestoga College.
She has three published science fiction novels under the pen name, J. A. McLachlan: Walls of Wind, and two young adult science fiction novels, The Occasional Diamond Thief (winner of the Alberta Publishers Award (APA) for Science Fiction and featured in the National US magazine, VOYA) and The Salarian Desert Game (runner up for the APA and listed in Canadian Top Books For Teens). She has four published historical fiction novels under Jane Ann McLachlan: The Sorrow Stone (winner of the Royal Palm Literary Award for Historical Fiction), The Lode Stone, The Girl Who Would Be Queen, and The Girl Who Tempted Fortune. She is also the author of a writers’ workbook titled Downriver Writing: The Five-Step Process for Outlining Your Novel; two College textbooks on Professional Ethics published by Pearson-Prentice Hall; and a memoir, IMPACT: A Memoir of PTSD.
She lives in Waterloo, Ontario, with her husband who is also a writer, and their bilingual dog, Frenchy, a papillion breed. They have three grown children and six grandchildren.
MY REVIEW
Through the eyes of the author and the four books of this series I have grown to love Queen Joanna. Her heart and courage despite her circumstances—unimaginable to the modern mind—her unwavering faith and confidence in God.
Ms. McLachlan brings history to life with the depth of her knowledge of the era, the details that make any story real, the dialogue (without losing the reader to unfamiliar manner of speech and jargon.) I was appalled to learn, for instance, that it was accepted that husbands beat their wives! Frustrated at the control the Church had over Joanna’s every action. I ached for her that she had no surviving “issue.” The posturing and viciousness to gain a kingdom.
And still, Joanna’s manner was stately and fitting of her station, no raging outbursts or temperamental and irrational actions.
The level of research Ms. McLachlan puts into her stories is evident on every page, with every vivid and vibrant scene, urging the reader to the [SPOILER] heart wrenching end.
ROBIN’S FEATHERS
ALL | THE | FEATHERS!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, The Girl Who Lost a Kingdom, Jane Ann McLachlan, The Kingdom of Naples Series, The Girl Who Would be Queen, The Girl Who Tempted Fortune, The Girl Who Sold Her Crown
February 24, 2022
BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 22 February 2022 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – LOVE UNFAILING by TARA TAFFERA
Anna Andros, a new Christian, becomes enraptured by the worship leader on stage each Sunday. His love for the Lord appears as solid as his strong muscles on display each week. The attraction is mutual, and Anna is drawn in by his charm.
Meanwhile, she becomes closer to another man, this one a lifelong Christian and family friend. Conflict arises as she is torn between the two men in her life. Is the worship leader as genuine as he seems? Or is the one she has known for years who God has in mind for her?
A crisis at the church puts things into perspective for Anna. Who is the one who will stand beside her? Why is the pastor turning a blind eye to the hurt Anna endured? Will God answer prayers and give Anna the healing and love she so deserves?
THE AUTHOR
Tara Taffera is a journalist living in Stafford, Va., with her husband of 24 years, and her three daughters. In 2020, she realized her dream of writing her first novel, Love Ordained. She has always loved to read, and anyone who knows her knows how fast she can plow through a good book. Her mother always says, how as a youngster, she was always asking to go back to the library for more books. She started writing Love Ordained more than 20 years ago, and she finally made it a priority in early 2020, and finished the book—a contemporary Christian romance. It was published on February 15, 2021. Book 2 in the series, Love Unfailing, was published in September 2021. Love Unfailing won a Silver in the romance fiction category in the Illumination Awards, a program that celebrates exemplary Christian fiction. The book was also named a semi-finalist by Indies Today.
The love and devotion of Anna’s family and friends sustains her, even in her darkest moments. I adored that Anna could call on her “besties” for a spontaneous girls night; those are friendships to treasure.
Dialogue will make it or break it for this reader, and some of the dialogue didn’t seem real to me. There were a lot of immature actions and reactions. There were also a couple of issues I had trouble with: the pastor’s reaction [SPOILER.] I also felt that Anna overreacted to Garrett’s outburst [SPOILER.]
But the story-thread of God’s love that never fails, and Anna’s friends who demonstrate that love to her, is powerful and very real.
ROBIN’S FEATHERS
THREE FEATHERS
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, Love Unfailing, Tara Taffera, JustRead PublicityFebruary 9, 2022
BLOGWORDS – Tuesday 8 February 2022 – TUESDAY REVIEWS-DAY – BOOK REVIEW – NO MATTER HOW FAR by CHLOE FLANAGAN
No matter how far she wanders, grace calls her back.
Thanks to good friends, a solid job, and a bright future, Brea has a sense of home for the first time in years. Nevertheless, it still feels like part of her will always be running from a past that wounded her heart and wrecked her faith. When a sudden, sinister phone call interrupts her life, threatening the younger sister she adores and the life she so desperately wants to rebuild, she will have to face old heartaches and new dangers to survive. Can she learn to put her trust in her friends and God once again, or will she be left to wander alone?
CONTENT WARNING: sexual abuse and suicidal ideation
THE AUTHOR
Chloe S. Flanagan is an author, technical writer, blogger, and graduate of New York University. She enjoys exploring the Christian walk frankly and thoughtfully in her fiction and in her blog, The Candid Corinthian. When she’s not writing, Chloe loves music, travel, reading books in all genres, and spending time with family.
I am reminded of a quote from one of my all-time favorite books, A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle, “Love. That was what she had that IT did not have.”
That was what Brea had. Love. Her weapon against the world, against her past. Against the circumstances of her life.
And mostly, she had love for her sister. Love that drove her to fight, no matter the cost, to protect her.
Trust, however, was in short supply for Brea. Especially when the ones who were supposed to love and care for her [SPOILER.]
Ms. Flanagan gently nudges Brea through the minefield of her life, planting faithful friends to lead her safely through, and show her the love—and faithfulness—of God.
ROBIN’S FEATHERS
FOUR FEATHERS
I received a complimentary copy of this book, but was under no obligation to read the book or to post a review. I offer my review of my own free will. The opinions expressed in my review are my honest thoughts and reaction to this book.
#Blogwords, Tuesday Reviews-Day, #TRD, Book Review, No Matter How Far, Chloe Flanagan, The Potter’s House BooksRobin's Book Shelf
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