Oath of Honor

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Police officer Isabelle St. John loves her crazy, loud, law-enforcement family. With three brothers and two sisters, she's never without someone to hang out with--or fight with. And she knows they'll be there for her when things get tough. Like when her partner is murdered and she barely escapes with her own life.

Determined to discover exactly what happened, Izzy's investigation sends her headfirst into a criminal organization, possibly with cops on the payroll--including someone from her own family. With her dead partner's handsome homicide detective brother Ryan shadowing her every move, Izzy's head is spinning. How can she secure justice for her partner when doing so could mean sending someone she loves to prison? And how will she guard her heart when the man she's had a secret crush on for years won't leave her side?

With her signature fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat action, Lynette Eason invites readers into a captivating new series where justice is a family affair.

My thoughts: This book was excellent! I fell in love with the main characters, since they are well written and there is such a variety of characters, which makes me excited about this series. The mystery is well written, with many things going on, and had me guessing til just about the very end. This is a great start to a new series. I highly recommend Oath of Honor if you are looking for a well written mystery to enjoy as the weather turns cold.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck

This post contains affiliate links.

Becoming a Christian is the best and worst thing that has ever happened to Sarah Hollenbeck. Best because, well, that's obvious. Worst because, up to this point, she's made her very comfortable living as a well-known, bestselling author of steamy romance novels that would leave the members of her new church blushing. Now Sarah is trying to reconcile her past with the future she's chosen. She's still under contract with her publisher and on the hook with her enormous fan base for the kind of book she's not sure she can write anymore. She's beginning to think that the church might frown on her tithing on royalties from a "scandalous" book. And the fact that she's falling in love with her pastor doesn't make things any easier.

With a powerful voice, penetrating insight, and plenty of wit, Bethany Turner explodes onto the scene with a debut that isn't afraid to deal with the thorny realities of living the Christian life.

My thoughts: I thought that this was an interesting story, since it was quite different from the normal Christian romance fare, and I mean that in a good way. Not that I don't enjoy some of the other, but this one was refreshingly honest. I liked that Sarah struggled to find out how to mesh her old life with being a new Christian, and owned up to her struggles. While there were a few things I would of changed or added, I thought that this was a fun, humorous read. I look forward to reading more by Bethany!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Hurt Road

Third Day guitarist Mark Lee is no stranger to heartache and hopes deferred; the road to success is never traveled without missteps along the way. Life is messy and uncertain and full of surprises. And one of the best things he's ever done is let go of his expectations about how life should be in order to embrace life as it is a moment-by-moment walk with God.

Hurt Road is the engaging true story of a man who, as a teen, found in music a refuge from the uncertainties of life. Who set out to discover a better way to live than constantly struggling to make sure life turned out the way he planned it. Who stopped substituting what's next for what's now and learned the truth--that coming or going, God's got us.

Poignant, funny, and thoughtful, Hurt Road dares anyone feeling knocked down or run over by their circumstances to give up control to the One who already has the road all mapped out. Includes black and white photos

My thoughts: This is an excellent book! I enjoyed reading more about Mark Lee, who plays the guitar for Third Day. I love how he is very honest, and especially appreciated how he addresses that God doesn't promise us an easy life when we chose to follow Him and that just because we are obedient does not mean we will always feel blessed.
I highly recommend this great book!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Education A la Carte

Every parent wants the best possible education for their child--one that fits their child's unique needs, challenges them to grow, and equips them to succeed. But there are so many options--public, private, and charter schools, plus homeschooling and online schooling--that it's easy for parents to feel overwhelmed and, well, undereducated about the choices. What's more, while one schooling option may be right for one child, it may be challenging for another. And sometimes the same child will thrive in one environment in elementary school but falter in that same environment in middle school.

What's a parent to do?

Parenting expert and longtime educator Dr. Kevin Leman can help. In this practical book, he clearly explains the pros and cons of various schooling options so that parents can make an informed choice about the kind of education that will help their child thrive. He shows parents how to stay involved and engaged with their child's education every step of the way, knowing that the choices they make about school now will reverberate long into that child's future.

My thoughts: I always enjoy the books I pick up by Dr. Leman, since they get me to think about other options, even if I don't always agree with what he has to say. With this book, I found it interesting to read how birth order can affect the type of student (though, it isn't limited to birth order) your child can be. I also like how he presented the different types of education for parents to review, just to know that one isn't limited to one specific type. I thought this book was informative and interesting! A great resource for parents wanting to explore different options.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

The Day the Angels Fell

It was the summer of storms and strays and strangers. The summer that lightning struck the big oak tree in the front yard. The summer his mother died in a tragic accident. As he recalls the tumultuous events that launched a surprising journey, Samuel can still hardly believe it all happened.
After his mother's death, twelve-year-old Samuel Chambers would do anything to turn back time. Prompted by three strange carnival fortune-tellers and the surfacing of his mysterious and reclusive neighbor, Samuel begins his search for the Tree of Life--the only thing that could possibly bring his mother back. His quest to defeat death entangles him and his best friend Abra in an ancient conflict and forces Samuel to grapple with an unwelcome question: could it be possible that death is a gift?
Haunting and hypnotic, The Day the Angels Fell is a story that explores the difficult questions of life in a voice that is fresh, friendly, and unafraid. With this powerful debut, Shawn Smucker has carved out a spot for himself in the tradition of authors Madeleine L'Engle and Lois Lowry.

My thoughts: This is the first book I have picked up by Shawn, so I wasn't sure what to expect. And, a fictional book that deals with death? Well, I gave it a go, and it was hard to put down. We all struggle with the question of death at some point in our lives, and this book does a wonderful job of addressing some questions. It's wonderful and hard to put down! I look forward to reading more books by this talented author.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Over Maya Dead Body

FBI Special Agent Serena Jones arrives on Martha's Vineyard with her family, ready for a little bit of R&R and a whole lot of reminiscing as they celebrate the engagement of an old family friend. But crime doesn't take a vacation, and she's soon entangled in an investigation of a suspicious death tied to an antiquities smuggling ring.

When her investigation propels her into danger, Serena must stay the course and solve this case before anyone else dies. But just how is she supposed to do that when the two men in her life arrive on the scene, bringing with them plenty of romantic complications--and even a secret or two?

My thoughts: This book was the perfect conclusion to the series! I enjoyed the fun combination of mystery and art that this series brings to readers. It is such a fun trip into the cultured world surrounding art! I also loved Serena and her chance at love. This one is an excellent series to pick up if you love art, mystery, or are just looking for a engrossing read. Two thumbs up!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

On Love's Gentle Shore

Fifteen years after she left Prince Edward Island, Natalie O'Ryan had no plans to return. But when her fiancé, music producer Russell Jacobs, books their wedding in her hometown and schedules a summer at Rose's Red Door Inn, she sets out to put the finishing touches on the perfect wedding. But she can't possibly prepare for a run-in with Justin Kane--the best friend she left behind all those years ago after promising to stay.

Justin's never forgotten Natalie or the music career he always dreamed of pursuing. He'd been prepared to follow her off the island until his dad died and he was left to run the family dairy farm. He's done the best he can with the life that was thrust upon him--but with Natalie back in the picture, he begins to realize just how much joy he's been missing.

After Natalie's reception venue falls through, she must scramble to find an alternative, and the only option seems to be a barn on Justin's property. As they work together to get the dilapidated building ready for the party, Natalie and Justin discover the groundwork for forgiveness--and that there may be more than an old friendship between them.

My thoughts: I enjoyed the return to Prince Edward Island and catching up with the characters from this series who feel like old friends. The series is a lot of fun and I love the taste of island life/culture! I also enjoyed the introduction of Justin and Natalie and their history together, and how that fit in with the present and her hopes for a future with Russell.
This is an excellent series about dreams, love, and finally finding a place to belong.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Under A Summer Sky

High school art teacher Nicole Anderson is looking forward to a relaxing summer in Savannah, house-sitting and managing an art gallery for a family friend. The house is luxurious in a way that only old money could make it, and the gallery promises interesting days in a gorgeous setting. Yet it isn't long before her ideal summer turns into more than she bargained for: a snooty gallery employee who's determined to force her out, a displaced adolescent roosting in the attic, and two of Nicole's close childhood friends--who also happen to be brothers--vying for her attention.

With a backdrop of a beautiful historical city, incredible architecture, and even an alleged ghost or two, combined with the opportunity for romance . . . anything can happen!

Bestselling and award-winning author Melody Carlson invites readers to spend the summer surrounded by beauty and tantalizing possibilities for the future.

My thoughts: This book is the perfect summer read! I enjoyed the whimsical tale of one young woman getting a fresh perspicacity on her life when she steps out of her comfort zone to manage an art gallery for a family friend over the summer. I didn't know a lot about Savannah and it's history, so it was enjoyable to get to know more about the city with this delightful story! If you are looking for a good summer read, then I highly recommend this one!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Naomi's Hope

Despite growing pains in her 1846 Amish community in Indiana, Naomi Schrock has settled into a comfortable life in her parents' home with her adopted son, Davey. Surrounded by family and friends, she tries not to think about the fact that she's not at the top of any man's list of potential wives. Yet when Cap Stoltzfus moves into the area and befriends Davey, Naomi finds herself caught between the plans she has made for her future and the tantalizing thought that Cap might be part of a life she never dared to hope for.
When a couple shows up claiming to be Davey's true family, Naomi and Cap must unite to make the decision that will determine the boy's future as well as their own. How can she relinquish him to these unknown relatives? And can God somehow bring wholeness to her heart?

My thoughts: While I didn't read the first two books in this series, I felt like Naomi's story did an excellent job of standing alone. I do look forward to going back and reading the other books in this series, since I enjoyed the themes of this story, like struggling to see good when things are going wrong. I enjoyed my first visit to Pleasant Prairie and look forward to reading more of Jan's books!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Freedom's Price

Without fortune or a future in England, a young woman travels to America in 1856 to find her mother's family. Will the handsome rogue she encounters help her chances of a new life--or destroy them?

My thoughts: While I enjoyed the other books in this series, I think I liked the different elements in this one the best. I enjoyed Catherine's character, as she stumbles upon family secrets hen she arrives at the plantation her mother was raised in. The villain is truly horrible in this story, though it does bring to light the terrible abuse that would go on. This story is an excellent historical novel!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Under a Desert Sky: Redefining Hope, Beauty, and Faith in the Hardest Places

There comes a time in life when we find ourselves in the desert place of burning questions. Why? Why me? But even as we shake our fist heavenward, the heart whispers another question. Who? Who are you, God? It is a question of relationship, a question we all murmur in the hardest places.
Against the backdrop of the Sonoran Desert, Lynne Hartke asks her own hard questions as cancer arrives like a thief with one goal: to take it all. Hair. The contents of a stomach. A marriage. A life. As her days become a blur of doctors' appointments, treatments, and surgeries, she wrestles with a tumble of tangled emotions, a shaken faith, and self-doubt. Cancer is now not only threatening her own life, but, in a surprising twist, the lives of both her parents as well.
Through her raw, lyrical words, Hartke invites fellow sojourners to discover that in life's hardest places, they are not alone in their fear, they are not foolish to hope, and they are never forgotten by a loving, pursuing God. Never.

My thoughts: Wow, this book is a beautiful one on how to survive in the deserts on life. How to thrive when the difficult comes. I appreciate Lynne's honesty and thoughts as she opens her heart on dealing with cancer. This is a great book, especially if you or a loved one are dealing with a cancer diagnoses.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Sacred Privilege

Life as a pastor's wife offers meaningful opportunities to play a significant part in God's work, to witness and participate in the beauty of changed lives. Yet it also carries the potential for deep wounds and great conflict that can drain the joy out of service. Is it worth it? Oh, yes, says Kay Warren, wife of Pastor Rick Warren and cofounder of Saddleback Church. It is more than worth the risk--it's a sacred privilege.
Drawing on more than forty years in ministry in every possible size church, Kay provides encouraging principles and life lessons, along with intimate personal stories, that will give readers the confidence needed to lead and live well. Pastor's wives learn to
- accept who they are
- adapt to change
- help their children survive and thrive
- protect their private lives
- deal with criticism
- live with integrity
- develop an eternal perspective
Whether she is excited, struggling, or feeling broken and tired, every pastor's wife will find hope and encouragement for their calling in Kay's warm and wise words.

My thoughts: This book is an excellent one to give the pastor's wife at your church! I loved Kay's honesty as she shares about crucial things that a pastor's wife is up against, like criticism and helping your children deal with the PK label. I feel like Kay takes her scriptural job, to be a mentor to younger women, seriously with the writing of this book.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Friends, Partners, and Lovers: What It Takes to Make Your Marriage Work

Great marriages don't just happen--they're made, intentionally, day by day. Yet most of us enter the covenant of marriage thinking that the role of spouse will be easy, natural, effortless. Rarely is this true. In fact, the number one cause of divorce isn't adultery or finances or disagreements. It's apathy--a lack of intentional emotional, physical, and mental investment in the relationship.
With engaging stories and clear, simple language, pastor Kevin A. Thompson explains the three critical roles of a spouse--friend, partner, and lover--and shows how to nurture those roles in order to keep a marriage healthy and strong. Using solid biblical principles, he helps couples understand how to grow their friendship, be a supportive partner through the good times and the bad, and develop a healthy and satisfying sex life.
Friends, Partners, and Lovers offers essential insight for couples at any stage of marriage but will be especially helpful to those who are struggling and those who are engaged or newly married and looking to start their marriage on strong footing.

My thoughts: I've read a lot of marriage books over the years, especially when my husband and I were preparing for our wedding day. After a while, a lot of them start to sound the same, but I was thrilled to find out that this one is different! I feel like Kevin has more to say with focusing on being not just lovers, but also friends and partners. I appreciated the stories that he shares to drive points home.
This is an excellent book on marriage, whether to read yourself or give as a gift!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

A Moonbow Night

After fleeing Virginia, Temperance Tucker and her family established an inn along the Shawnee River. It's a welcome way station for settlers and frontiersmen traveling through the wild Cumberland region of Kentucke--men like Sion Morgan, a Virginia surveyor who arrives at the inn with his crew looking for an experienced guide. When his guide appears, Sion balks. He certainly didn't expect a woman. But it is not long before he must admit that Tempe's skill in the wilderness rivals his own. Still, the tenuous tie they are forming is put to the test as they encounter danger after danger and must rely on each other.
With her signature sweeping style and ability to bring the distant past to vivid life, Laura Frantz beckons readers to join her in a land of Indian ambushes, conflicting loyalties, and a tentative love that meanders like a cool mountain stream.

My thoughts: This story was incredibly fascinating! I haven't read as much about this time in history, when Kentucke was considered part of the untamed land and Indian raids were a very real fear. I thought that Laura did a fabulous job of bringing the story to life. While parts of it are sad, with life being so hard back then, she doesn't just focus on the hardships. This is an excellent story for those who love history. Laura is a master at historical details.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Rescue Me

When Deputy Sam Brooks commits to something, nothing can sway him--not just on the job as liaison between the Mercy Falls sheriff's department and PEAK Rescue, but in his private life. He's the one who stuck around to take care of his mother after his father's accidental death. And he's the one--perhaps the only one--who believes Sierra Rose is the perfect girl for him. Safe, practical, and organized, she's nothing like her hippie, impulsive, bleeding heart sister, Willow.

Willow, however, has been in love with Sam Brooks for as long as she can remember. But she wants her sister to have a happy ending. Besides, Willow has other things to focus on--namely, nabbing the job as youth pastor for her small-town church. Best thing for her to do is to purge Sam from her heart.

Neither can predict the events that will bring them together in a fight for their lives in the forbidding wilderness of Glacier National Park. Stranded, injured, and with the winter weather closing in, Sam and Willow will have to work together to save a crew of terrified teenagers. As they fight to survive, they might just discover a new hope for love.

My thoughts: While I read the first book in this series (and enjoyed it), I think I liked this one even better! The characters in this story were easier for me to relate to, with their insecurities and dreams. I loved getting to know Sam, as he battles with his version of the perfect girl causing him to miss what is right in front of him, and Willow, as she struggles with trying to make up for not having a formal education. While I thought this story would have more about Sierra, I found out that I have to wait for book four to get more of her story.;) I did enjoy getting to know the other members of the rescue team better and look forward to reading the next book in this series!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

A Primary Decision

Forces Conspire to Take the Worthington Family Down

Sarah Worthington never expected to become the US attorney general--at least not this early in her career. Plunged into the vicious vetting process, with all sides digging for secrets in her family closet, she steels herself for the path forward. Nothing will deter her from making her mark on the world in the biggest way possible--even if that means prosecuting the current president of the United States. Yet powerful forces conspire behind the scenes to take the Worthington family down, and the president orders her to close the investigation. Will she comply? Or turn the tables to pursue her ultimate dream--the US presidency?
This exciting conclusion to The Worthington Destiny series will have readers on the edge of their seats--just in time for the 2016 presidential race.

My thoughts: This was such a fun and interesting series that meshed fiction with Kevin Leman's studies on birth order. I loved reading this series, since it was filled with suspense and political intrigue. This one was the perfect one to read this past month, with the presidential election we just had.;)
If you enjoy reading suspenseful series that have a lot going on, then I highly recommend this one!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Honor Redeemed

Two Men Vie for Her Affection--Survival Will Depend on Choosing the Right One
Two years ago, Prosperity Jones waved farewell to her beloved David as the army sent him to faraway Key West. Now with her parents gone, she has but one prospect for the future: make the dangerous journey from Nantucket to Key West to reunite with David and secure a happier life. Arriving penniless in the South, Prosperity is dismayed to find David married to someone else. Scrambling to survive and nursing a broken heart, she gains the friendship--and the affection--of a kind doctor. Could he be the answer to her loneliness? Or will her life be upended by circumstance yet again?
With a deft hand, Christine Johnson fills the reader's senses with the sights, sounds, and smells of Key West in this heartwarming story of honor lost, honor redeemed, and a love forged in adversity.

My thoughts: This book wound up surprising me, since it had a lot of twists and turns in the story that I didn't see coming. I loved the history embedded in the story! It's a wonderful, rich story with a lot going on. I especially appreciated the attention bringing all the characters to life.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Without Warning

Taut Writing and Breakneck Pacing That Will Keep Readers Up All Night
Katie Singleton, a partner with the Elite Guardians Protection Agency, stumbles upon her next assignment quite by accident. Spotting blue lights at a familiar restaurant, she stops to investigate, only to discover that owner Daniel Matthews has become the target of someone who will go to any lengths to put him out of business.
Daniel might be concerned, but he's not convinced that a bodyguard--and a female one at that--is necessary. A new attack and his niece's urgings are enough to make him reconsider. He and Katie must figure out who's behind the intimidation and threats--before a would-be killer strikes again.
Witty dialogue and a simmering attraction will have readers flying through this tension-laced thriller. Eason exercises complete control of her readers' emotions as they race through the pages to discover the truth

My thoughts: I need to lay off the mysteries, since they keep me up way to late at night! While I enjoyed the first book in this series, I think that I liked this one even better! There were a lot of plot twists and I just couldn't believe how much Daniel and Katie had to go through before discovering who was out to get Daniel. I enjoyed the characters and cannot wait to read the next book in the series.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

Mommy Needs a Raise

Goodbye, Board Room and Legal Briefs--Hello, Dimples, Diapers, and Destruction
Women know that raising children will be different from climbing the corporate ladder. But nothing can truly prepare them for the mind-muddling world of motherhood. It doesn't take long for a new mom to question whether her tyrannical, diapered boss really understands her value to the organization. Because honestly? She's not always sure herself.
With her signature wit, lawyer-turned-full-time-mommy Sarah Parshall Perry says what all new moms are thinking when they trade annual reports for homework help and yoga pants. Perry invites moms to laugh alongside her amidst the "Are you kidding me?!" moments that come with the job of raising humans. This book is story of every mother who gives up one thing to get something better--and ends up finding out what she's worth along the way.

My thoughts: While I didn't give up being a professional to be a stay at home mother, I do appreciate a lot of the thoughts in the book. Sarah is a very engaging writer as she shares her journey from board rooms meetings to play dates. While the whole book is excellent, filled with humor and keen insight, I especially appreciated the last chapter and the reminder to live in the moment, since raising children can seem like you are stuck in the same place for eons, but it really does go quickly. It's deceptive that way.
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.

What Matters Most

Deeply Emotional Writing Highlights the Complexities of Human Relationships
Leta Breckenridge is forced to drop out of college to care for her dementia-ridden mother. After learning a severely delinquent account may force her mother into a less desirable facility, Leta steps out of her comfort zone and lands a high-paying job at an Austin public relations firm. But her dream job turns into a nightmare when she learns the firm is a front for a political opposition machine--and that the research she's been collecting will be used against her new love interest, Nathan Emerson.
Nathan is a rising political star being pressured to run a bid to unseat the current governor of Texas. He's already in a relationship with a woman much better suited to be a politician's wife, but he's never met anyone like Leta. Could this feisty, challenging woman hold the key to his heart?

My thoughts: This book was an enjoyable glimpse into the world of politics (especially since we have a presidential election coming up) and some of the games that go on behind the scenes.
Leta is just an ordinary woman, trying to make the most of the situation that she has been put into when her mother's dementia kept her from finishing school. When she has the chance to land a decent job that will help her get out from the mountain of debt, she jumps at it, little realizing there will be consequences.
I've enjoyed all the stories that I have read by Kellie, since she does a wonderful job at bringing to life the characters in her stories, along with their situations. This one may be my favorite yet out of her books!
I received this book from Revell in exchange for my honest review.