Down to Davy Jones

 

Once more, our reluctant hero Ricky Bradshaw faces a life-threatening event. His mom is sick. Like, really sick. Desperate to try anything to get a miracle, and having watch the movie Jesus Revolution with his Mom, Ricky agrees to be baptized in a creek by the Pirate Preacher. But things go from bad to worse to apocalyptic when Ricky doesn't come up for air. In the next moment, he's on a ship with Jonah the prophet, in the middle of a raging storm.

Sensing that the gods want someone to be sacrificed, the crew of barbaric men — none of whom are fond of bathing —casts lots to see who's gonna be the unlucky chump that goes into the sea. Ricky's all like, "Don't pick me, don't pick me!" but before he can show his stick, Jonah steps up like the whale of a guy that he is.

Except, surprise surprise, fate has other plans. Because out of nowhere, this giant octopus grabs Ricky and drags him down, down, down into the abyss. For a few harrowing moments Ricky and Jonah share a really tiny space in the gut of the Kraken. Then the Kraken gets sick of Ricky and ...

When Ricky finally washes ashore, he realizes he's in the underworld, where the crew of the Flying Dutchman sails around collecting souls of the dead. And wouldn't you know it, they want Ricky's soul most of all. Talk about a bad day. But even a bad day in the underworld can be a fun, adventurous sail, when there's love and sacrifice, demon-pirates and scores to settle, hope for a miracle and the chance to meet the one who made the wind and sea.

Down To Davy Jones is a fictional retelling of past pirate escapades based on future events.

My thoughts: While I haven't read the previous books in this series, I enjoyed this one! I like how Ricky is transported back to the past and meets up with Jonah, going along with him on his adventures. I would have liked more to the story, but it was enjoyable as it was! Perfect for my 10 year old as well! I enjoyed the blend of fiction and the Biblical story of Jonah. This is a great book to read aloud with your kids or have them enjoy on their own. I appreciated the elements of faith. I look forward to going back and reading the other books in the series! 
I received this book from the author. This is my honest review.

Purchase a copy here! This post contains affiliate links.

Hunted at Christmas

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Hunted at Christmas by Dana R. Lynn, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Hunted at Christmas
Series: Amish Country Justice
Author: Dana R. Lynn
Publisher: Love Inspired Suspense
Release Date: September 26, 2023
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Wanted by a bounty hunter. 

 Chased by a killer. 

When single mother Addison Johnson is attacked by a hit man, she learns there’s a price on her head. And Isaiah Bender—the bounty hunter hired to track her down for crimes she didn’t commit—is her only hope for survival. Protecting Addison and her young son from armed assailants means seeking refuge in Amish country. But when their holiday hideout is discovered, can he clear an innocent woman’s name and keep her alive?  

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

My thoughts: This book starts off with a bang when Addie hears someone in her house. A widow and single mother who has dealt with a stalker, she immediately flies into flight mode. I can only imagine how scary that would be! I loved the suspense in this story and how things move along at a fast pace. I haven't read the other books in the series, but I still enjoyed Isaiah and Addison's story! This is a great, cozy mystery to pick up and enjoy.

I received this book from Just Read. This is my honest review. 

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | ChristianBook | Bookshop | BookBub

More in This Series

 

more Amish Country Justice series titles

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About the Author

Dana R. Lynn is an award winning author of romantic suspense and Amish romance who believes in the power of God to touch people through stories. Although she grew up in Illinois, she met her husband at a wedding in Pennsylvania and told her parents she had met her future husband. Nineteen months later, they were married. Today, they live in rural Pennsylvania and are entering the world of empty nesters. She is a teacher of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing by day and writes stories of romance and danger at night. She is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray with the Steve Laube Agency. Dana is an avid reader, loves cats and thinks chocolate should be a food group.

Connect with Dana by visiting danarlynn.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(3) winners will win a $10 Amazon gift card, a pen and a mug!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 27, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 4, 2023. 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 for pen & mug. Egift card only in case of CAN winner. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Rekindling Hope

 

A birthday pushing forty? He couldn’t care less.

Dating for the first time at his age? Yeah, he’s taking notes.

Agent Quincy Adams, aka “Q,” is on a mission to educate himself about romantic relationships—and more specifically, the pretty art therapist who’s captured his heart. For now, her signature smile has outlasted his bumbling ineptitude.

Easy-going Hope Montgomery has been sweetly silencing her biological clock, but Christmas separations trigger alarm bells. Is she a patient saint or a hopeless coward?

In a humorous turn of events, struggling newlyweds disrupt Q’s assumptions about the world and inadvertently nudge him toward a second chance for a holiday romance. If you enjoy near kiss misses and light-hearted inspiration, you’re a click away from a two-for-one love story!

NOTE: Rekindling Hope can be read as a standalone, but it is a follow-up to the Seth Browne Novels. Think of it as a Christmas special episode. Some readers can jump right in mid-season; others will better appreciate the story's socially awkward hero by reading the preceding trilogy first.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this heart warming holiday story! While it is tied to a series, I didn't find that to keep me from enjoying the story! I thought that Agent Q was an interesting character and I liked that the story is told largely from his viewpoint. I always enjoy when there is more than one main character, so I loved that this book is not only about Q and his girlfriend, but also the Browne's and a special child. This is a sweet, well written story! I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received this book from Just Read. This is my honest review. 
Purchase a copy here! This post contains affiliate links.

London Forgery

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for The London Forgery by Heidi Eljarbo, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: The London Forgery
Series: A Fabiola Bennett Mystery #1
Author: Heidi Eljarbo
Publisher: Independently Published
Release Date: August 29, 2023
Genre: Historical Cozy Mystery, Dual Timeline

1973. Art historian Fabiola Bennett sees herself as a prudently observant deer who becomes a daring and even mischievous lioness if the situation calls for it. And that’s exactly what’s required when greedy criminals steal, forge, and tamper with treasured artwork. When the crooks add murder to their list of crimes, the chaos is complete. 

A mysterious note is delivered anonymously at the door of the National Gallery in London, and the director immediately calls Fabiola’s office in Oslo and pleads with her to come without delay. The message is confusing, but it seems one of her favorite eighteenth-century portraits is in trouble. 

Fabiola hops on the first plane and meets up with her vibrant side-kick Pippa Yates and the ever-loyal Detective Inspector Cary Green from New Scotland Yard. But she is not naïve enough to think untangling the purpose and meaning of the mysterious note will be as simple as a walk in Hyde Park. These things never are.  

1750. Newly married Robert and Frances Andrews, members of the landed gentry of Suffolk, England, hire young and talented Thomas Gainsborough to paint their wedding portrait. Their desire is a lovely conversation piece showing their wealth and class, an artwork to remember them by for generations to come. 

Little do they know the gifted artist portrays their personalities exactly how he perceives them, and the artistic symbolism is not as flattering as they’d hoped for. Even the looming clouds in the distance promise a troublesome future.  

This is the first book in a new dual timeline series by Heidi Eljarbo—an intriguing spin-off from the much-loved Soli Hansen Mysteries. 

Fans of Lucinda Riley, Rhys Bowen, Kathleen McGurl, Kate Morton, and Katherine Neville will love this cozy historical art mystery, which takes the readers back to the nostalgia of the groovy seventies and the classical Georgian era of the eighteenth century.

My thoughts: This is the first book that I have read by Heidi Eljarbo and I thoroughly enjoyed it! I loved the mystery, as well as the chance to go back in time to visit the painting of a masterpiece. I have enjoyed seeing some of Thomas Gainsborough's paintings, but I wasn't familiar with this one and the unfinished part of the painting. I thought it was interesting for the author to come up with a story to explain it. This is a wonderful start to the series, and I look forward to reading more by the author! 

I received this book from Just Read. This is my honest review.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

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About the Author

Heidi Eljarbo is the bestselling author of historical fiction and mysteries filled with courageous and good characters that are easy to love and others you don't want to go near.

Heidi grew up in a home filled with books and artwork and she never truly imagined she would do anything other than write and paint. She studied art, languages, and history, all of which have come in handy when working as an author, magazine journalist, and painter. 

 

After living in Canada, six US states, Japan, Switzerland, and Austria, Heidi now calls Norway home. She and her husband have a total of nine children, fifteen grandchildren—so far—in addition to a bouncy Wheaten Terrier. 

 

Their favorite retreat is a mountain cabin, where they hike in the summertime and ski the vast, white terrain during winter. 

 

Heidi’s favorites are family, God's beautiful nature, and the word whimsical.

Connect with Heidi by visiting heidieljarbo.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will win a print copy of "The London Forgery", an eBook "Of Darkness and Light" and a $10 Amazon gift card!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 26, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 3, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. No shipping restrictions. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Shadowcast

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Shadowcast by Crystal D. Grant, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Shadowcast
Series: The Gateway Trilogy
Author: Crystal D. Grant
Publisher: Quill and Flame Publishing
Release Date: September 20, 2023
Genre: Fantasy Romance (Clean)

He has known nothing but darkness for years. Now it’s time to let it consume him. 

After witnessing the brutal death of his brother at the hands of the Steward Knights, Mason Grey turns to vengeance. Using his Gifts to read and control the minds of others, he climbs the ranks of the Dark Army, determined to earn the coveted Shadowstone-a powerful tool against the light-wielding Stewards. But when he is wounded in battle, he finds himself recovering in the home of a chatty peasant girl...without the use of his Gifts. Even worse, the girl mistakes him for one of the Stewards he despises. 

Seria Gayle longs to be seen as more than the town washerwoman. When she finds an injured Steward in the woods, she welcomes the chance to use her healing skills and hopes it will earn her some respect. But as she nurses the sullen stranger back to health, she discovers he is nothing like the knights she has long admired. 

When Mason's true identity is revealed, Seria is devastated and humiliated. But she is offered a chance at redemption by the very prince that Mason hates. Now Mason struggles between two choices: accept the Shadowstone to avenge his brother or pursue this newfound light in the form of a peasant girl. With time running out and war looming, will Mason and Seria defy their own convictions for a chance at love or stand against one another like they've sworn to do?

My thoughts: I enjoyed this story and the unique world that it was set in! Mason has been through a lot, with so much loss in his childhood. Filled with revenge and a sense of purpose, he has known where his path leads. Until he encounters the light through Seria and the chance at something more in life.
I loved the characters and that this story is told from several view points. I don't generally read stories like this, with one of the main characters being on the side of darkness, but perhaps I should change that since I appreciated the chance at redemption. This is a well written story and I look forward to reading more by the author!

I received this book from Just Read. This is my honest review.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop

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About the Author

Crystal D. Grant is a daydreamer who adores freshly-baked cookies and anything with fur or feathers. During the day, she strives to instill a love of books and learning within her young students. As a hearing-impaired, home-school graduate, she found her voice in writing and has had multiple short stories and poems published. When she’s not reading or writing stories that sweep her away to another time and place, she watches classic movies and TV shows that do the same. Or she works on jigsaw puzzles. Crystal currently resides in smalltown Missouri, where she is always looking for space for another scented candle.

Connect with Crystal by visiting crystalgrantauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will win a signed copy of Shadowcast, book swag, and exclusive color art from the book!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight September 18, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on September 25, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

Just Don't Fall

 

Before Logan Barnes was hockey’s hottest bad boy, he was my brother’s best friend … and my first crush. Oh, yeah--and the guy who ghosted me and broke my teenage heart.

Now Logan is back in Harvest Hollow, but not willingly. Recovering from an injury (and some bad press), he’s stuck playing for our minor league team.

Which means I’ll be working with him almost daily.

As the hockey team's social media manager, it’s my job to wrangle all the guys into filming TikTok trending videos. But Logan doesn’t want to be wrangled.

Turns out … neither does my heart.

Because my old crush never died.

And when Logan becomes my accidental fake boyfriend, those old feelings flare hot enough to melt the ice.

But this is all totally one-sided. Totally fake. Isn't it?

No matter what signals he seems to be giving me or how real things start to feel, I know Logan’s not home for good.

I survived Logan leaving me once. But this time, I’m not so sure my heart will recover …

My thoughts: I haven't really read any books about hockey, since it isn't my sport of choice, but I enjoyed the introduction to the this hockey team! They are so much fun, with their camaraderie and antics for social media. I loved how unique this story was. While it falls in the fake dating trope, there is also the never been kissed trope, since Parker has only had several disastrous almost kisses. I thought it made the fake dating part all the more fun for her to have never been kissed. 

I loved this story and all the characters! They came together to form an interesting family. The team's relationship with Parker is so cute!

This is a wonderful book to pick up and read as the weather gets cooler! I look forward to reading more in the series!

I received this book through Netgalley. This is my honest review.

Purchase a copy here! This post contains affiliate links.

Just Friends Forever

 

The lines around the friend zone are blurrier than ever

Stephanie “Stevie” Jacobs

Marriage to an A-list actor has its perks, but no one ever tells you about the drawbacks—paparazzi infesting your life like cockroaches after the divorce, for one. So when my longtime friend Troy offers me the empty side of his duplex while I get back on my feet again, the only possible answer is, “How soon can I come?”

I’ve never seen Troy as anything but a friend, but when the gossip columns pin down my location, they’re determined to make more of things between us, despite my assurances he’s dating someone. The media are a tenacious bunch. Heck, they almost have me convinced, which is totally crazy. Right?

Troy Sheppard

My friendship with Stevie has survived a lot, including the day I caught the crazy bug and told her I wanted to be more than friends. Thankfully, that’s far behind us. I’m here for Stevie—as a friend—now that she needs a soft place to land away from the gossip-hungry tabloids.

There's just one problem: I may have seriously underestimated the power of the paparazzi—and possibly my feelings. Both seem bent on bringing the past into the present, but there's no way I'm going down the road to rejection a second time.

My thoughts: I have read just about everything that Martha Keyes has written, so it has been fun to go from her Regency and Scottish fiction to more modern day tales. I enjoyed this one, since I love best friends to something more. It was interesting to have the addition of Stevie having been married to an actor, and going from having a very public life to trying to acclimate to being both single and trying to escape from the paparazzi's attention. The book was quite unique. I appreciated how Stevie works through the unexpected changes in her life. 

This is a delightful story, filled with fun characters and interesting escapades! 

I received a copy of this book from the author. This is my honest review.

Purchase a copy here! This post contains affiliate links.

Expired Vows

 

Fire. Family. Faith.
Last Chance Fire and Rescue

She sees the promise of freedom. He vowed to always be the hero.

EMT Trace Bently came back to Last Chance County to escape his past. After the loss of his wife, he gave up a promising career as a police officer for the chance to save lives every day as part of the Fire Department. When a hostage situation demands the help of a local counselor, Trace realizes the past he left behind has found him. He’s being given a second chance to save the life of someone he cares about.

If he can face the grief he buried.

Family Counselor Kelsey Scott has to secure this grant or admit failure. She can’t afford to lose any more pieces of the life she wants because of her own choices. When Kelsey becomes the target of a series of dangerous attacks, Trace steps in determined to protect his wife’s best friend. This hero breaks down all her resistance, but Kelsey can’t risk her own heart.

Even if it’s what will set them both free.

Another thrilling installment in the Last Chance Fire and Rescue series.

Last Chance Fire and Rescue
Book 1: Expired Return
Book 2: Expired Hope
Book 3: Expired Promise
Book 4: Expired Vows

Last Chance County by Lisa Phillips
Book 1: Expired Refuge
Book 2: Expired Secrets
Book 3: Expired Cache
Book 4: Expired Hero
Book 5: Expired Game
Book 6: Expired Plot
Book 7: Expired Getaway
Book 8: Expired Betrayal
Book 9: Expired Flight
Book 10: Expired End

My thoughts: I have read some of the other books in this series, but not all of them. I appreciated that, as a reader, I didn't feel like I was lost in the story, having missed some of the other books. While I know there was more to some of the other characters, since they had starred in other stories, I didn't feel like it took away from my enjoyment of this one to not know all of those stories.

I enjoyed the characters in this book! Trace walked away from being a police officer, since he feels like it cost him his young wife. When Kelsey stumbles into his life again, things take a crazy turn as they work together to find out who her stalker is. I like that there was some twists and turns to the story! This is a wonderful mystery with a great message of hope and healing. 

I received this book from Just Read. This is my honest review.

Purchase a copy here! This post contains affiliate links.