The Swindler's Daughter

 

A surprise inheritance. A cache of family secrets. A choice that will change her life forever.

Lillian Doyle has lived her entire high-society life with her widowed mother, believing her father died long ago. But when news arrives that her estranged father only recently passed away--in jail--Lillian is startled to find that the man has left a business and all of his possessions to her, making her a rather unusual heiress.

When she goes to take possession of her father's house in a backwoods Georgia town, the dilapidated structure is already occupied by another woman who claims it was promised to her son, Jonah. In her attempts to untangle the mess, Lillian will discover not only a family she never knew she had but a family business that is more than meets the eye--and has put a target on her back.

To discover the truth and take hold of the independence she's always dreamed of, she'll have to make friends with adversaries and strangers--especially Jonah, the dusty and unrefined cowboy who has secret aspirations of his own.

My thoughts: This story puts Lillian through the wringer, with finding out that her father has been alive all these years, and that she has an inheritance left by him. As she seeks to unravel the mystery surrounding him, she is thrown in the path of Jonah and his mother. While everything seems to be going terribly wrong and with a mischief maker on the loose, Lillian must figure out what it means to be the Swindler's Daughter and how that will impact her future. 

I enjoyed the historical aspect of this story, as well as the mystery surrounding Lillian's family. The characters are well written, and the book was enjoyable!

I received this book from Revell. This is my honest review.

Purchase a copy here! This post contains affiliate links.

The Secret to Happiness

 

Escape to Cape Cod--where you just might find the secret to happiness

Callie Dixon had the world by its tail . . . until it all slipped away. Fired from her dream job after making a colossalmistake, she's escaped to her aunt's home on Cape Cod for time to bounce back. Except it isn't a home, it's an ice cream shop. And time isn't going to help, because Callie's bounce has up and left. There's a reason she made that mistake at work and she's struggling to come to terms with it.

Things go from bad to worse when Callie's cousin Dawn drags her to a community class about the secret to happiness. Happiness is the last thing Callie wants to think about right now, but instructor Bruno Bianco--a curiously gloomy fellow--is relentless. He has a way of turning Callie's thoughts upside down. Her feelings, too.

Could Bruno be right when he says that hitting rock bottom is the very best place to be? If so, how is that supposed to help her find exactly what--or who--has been missing all along?

My thoughts: I really fell in love with Callie's story, since there is a beautiful lesson in this book about letting God work in the hard parts of our stories. I felt for Callie, as she seeks for a refuge in the small ice cream shop in the picturesque Cape Cod. I love how some of the characters from the first book are in this story, as well as some new faces. I would recommend reading this series in order. 
This is a wonderful book to pick up and enjoy! I received this book from Revell. This is my honest review. 

Purchase a copy here! This post contains affiliate links.

The Parent's Battle Plan

 

You are not alone--there is hope and healing for every hurting heart.

Today's technology has made sinful experiences and deadly choices accessible to our teenagers and young adults with just a click. And parents are left with the disappointments--and devastating fallout--of their children's choices.

Through sharing her own story of praying three very wayward prodigals home, Laine Lawson Craft offers not only hope and insight, but also a practical, tried-and-true battle plan for parents walking this heartbreaking season of life. You'll discover how to

· handle the emotional roller coaster of trust
· deal with your children's self-destructive choices
· pray emboldened by God's promises
· fight for your child's destiny
· and more

You can win the war of darkness over your children--even when you don't get the miracle you asked for.

My thoughts: I really appreciated this book and the information that it provides for parents! While my children are still young, I didn't know that a lot of this book would be relatable, but I think that it was eye opening to look at what we are doing now and how to help guide children. This is a wonderful resource for parents of all ages!

I received this book from Bethany House. This is my honest review.

Purchase a copy here! This post contains affiliate links.

Expired Hope

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Expired Hope by Megan Besing & Lisa Phillips, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Expired Hope 

Series: Last Chance Fire and Rescue #2 

Authors: Megan Besing & Lisa Phillips 

Publisher: Sunrise Publishing 

Release Date: April 25, 2023 

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

She battled every fire she ever faced.

He’s risking everything for the chance to belong. 

Veteran and therapist Natalie Atkinson watched her Army career explode in her face. All she ever wanted was to help people carry their burdens. Seeking a new future in Last Chance County doesn’t start so well when she’s the one being rescued from a client’s burning house. To make matters worse, now she’s stuck evaluating the truck and rescue squads for the fire department. When the chief overhears why she left her last job, she’s determined to prove to him and her boss that she’s still the right therapist to assess his crew. 

No matter if success takes everything she’s got. Fire Chief Macon James is the right man for the job. He doesn’t need a therapist interfering with the running of his crew or putting his position in jeopardy when a counselor is what tore his family apart. He’s got to get his firefighters to be a team, and he can do it without Natalie’s help. After an explosion destroys her car, it quickly becomes clear she might need him as much as everyone thinks he needs her. If these two stubborn hearts will surrender, they could have everything they want. 

Or it could all go down in flames.

My thoughts: I enjoyed the first book in this series and was thrilled to pick up this one as well! The action and suspense are fast paced, making the story hard to put down. I thought that the authors did a wonderful job of bringing the characters to life, as they struggle with their pasts and try to form a future. I love when authors team up to write a book like this, since it is interesting to see how their styles blend. Lisa Phillips and Megan Besing did a great job with this book!

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

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

More Books in this Series

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About the Authors

Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over 50 books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.

Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). As a worship leader for Calvary Chapel churches in her local area, Lisa has discovered a love for mentoring new ministry members and youth worship musicians.

Connect with Lisa by visiting authorlisaphillips.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.  

Despite adoring happily-ever-afters, Megan Besing didn’t unlock a love for reading until her mid-twenties, which quickly expanded into writing. Her stories have won many awards, but her most cherished achievements are being a wife and mother. She lives in a pocket-size Indiana town, centered around extended family. She’s always planning a road trip with a view, yet her favorite place may just be on her front porch drinking tea.

Connect with Megan by visiting meganbesing.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates. 

Discover the world of Last Chance County at www.lastchancecounty.com.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a paperback of Expired Hope and a $10 Gift Card to the Sunrise Shop!

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 26, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on May 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. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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

Tactical Force

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for Tactical Force by Lynn Shannon, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Tactical Force
Series: Triumph Over Adversity #6
Author: Lynn Shannon
Publisher: Creative Thoughts, LLC
Release Date: February 28, 2023
Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Some wounds never heal.

As a former Navy SEAL, Walker Montgomery faces danger without flinching. But not even a combat zone halfway around the world was far enough to escape the trauma of his teen years. His younger sister was murdered and the killer never caught. Since returning home, he’s been quietly working the case, unable to move on with his life until justice is served.  

She’s a survivor. 

Hayley Barlow has her own tragic childhood. Abducted and held captive, she barely escaped the clutches of the same killer that murdered Walker’s sister. The invisible scars on her heart and the brand on her shoulder are souvenirs she can’t get rid of. When Hayley receives a taunting phone call from her attacker, she turns to Walker for help.  

A race to stop a killer. 

Walker is committed to safeguarding Hayley, but their closeness fractures the walls surrounding his heart. As the killer draws them into a deadly game of cat-and-mouse, nothing is as it seems. Walker is used to taking the fight to the enemy, but this time, with Hayley’s life on the line, it may cost him more than he’s willing to lose.

My thoughts: This story starts off at a fast clip, with Hayley home for her mom's funeral and back in the crosshairs of a serial killer. I thought that the author did a fantastic job of keeping the story moving and introducing all the characters. The suspense was chilling and the twists and turns kept me reading until the final page. I will say, this book is part of a series and I feel like it would be the best enjoyed in order, since some of the previous main characters pop in and out of this story. 

All in all, a wonderful read!

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

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

More Books in this Series

       

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About the Author

It took an international move from Texas to Greece before Lynn Shannon turned her love of reading into a passion for writing. Now she spends her days penning fast-paced inspirational romantic suspense. Her novels combine intriguing mysteries with heartfelt romance.

Lynn lives with her husband, two children, an extremely spoiled dog, and a turtle who hibernates half of the year. The experience of a different country has provided amazing new foods—like Yemista and Kourabiedes—to accompany pecans and Blue Bell ice cream on her favorites list. She also never passes up coffee, chocolate, or the chance to watch cute animal videos. 

Connect with Lynn by visiting lynnshannon.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(2) winners will each receive a $25 Amazon.com gift card + paperback copy of Tactical Force.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 18, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 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 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!

Holding on to Hope

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Holding on to Hope by Janet W. Ferguson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Holding on to Hope
Series: Coastal Hearts
Author: Janet W. Ferguson
Publisher: Southern Sun Press LLC
Release Date: April 1, 2023
Genre: Christian Contemporary Romance

A fun road trip romance to the Grand Tetons!

Always the wedding planner, never the bride. 

Hope Rodriguez loves planning weddings. There’s nothing more special than helping a bride become a princess for a day, but she’s not sure that’s her calling in life anymore. If only she had her own special someone. Her only current prospect leaves her with more questions than answers about where she falls in his list of priorities. Yet, when a lifelong friend asks her to plan a destination wedding across the country in only two weeks, she’ll have to figure out how to pull off the impossible…alone. 

After being burned as a child and deserted by his family, Caleb Donnelly has an intimate relationship with pain. Despite all he’s endured, one ache refuses to leave him—the throbbing in his heart where Hope is concerned. So when Hope needs help with their friend’s wedding, he can’t stop himself from volunteering to travel two thousand miles to Jackson, Wyoming. As long as he keeps his feelings in check, he might not ruin their friendship. Because a beautiful woman like Hope could never love a scarred man like him. 

When Hope and Caleb’s plans go up in flames, it’s their hearts that might never recover. 

Grab your copy of Holding on to Hope...a Southern Contemporary Christian Romance novel from the Coastal Hearts Series.

My thoughts: Another wonderful story by Janet Ferguson! I have read most of her books and am always blown away by the depth to her books and characters.

I enjoyed meeting Hope and Caleb. I could relate to Hope's loneliness at being "the last one standing" when it comes to marriage, since I was in a similar spot when I was in my 20's. I loved the themes of this story and how the two of them get to know one another, as well as the love of God more fully, through the course of the story. This is a wonderful book and series to pick up! Can be enjoyed as a stand alone but, trust me, you will want to read the other books!

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

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

More Books in This Series

 

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About the Author

Janet W. Ferguson is a Christy Award finalist and the FHL Readers Choice Award winning author of realistic inspirational fiction. An avid reader, she loved books so much she found a job as a librarian so she could be around them all day. Then she turned that love of story into writing faith-filled novels with characters who feel like best friends. You’ll laugh and cry as the quirky heroes and heroines chase their happily ever after.

Janet and her husband live in Mississippi where they say y’all a lot, and she forces him to visit the beach as often as possible. They have two grown children, one really smart dog, and a cat that allows them to share the space. 

Connect with Janet by visiting janetfergusonauthor.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a print copy of Holding on to Hope, a throw, a Hope rock & a Hope cross knickknack.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight April 17, 2023 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on April 24, 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. 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!

Lone Star Sweetheart

 

Excerpt 

How could she survive the night without a cookie? Katherine Brunopulled her hair into a slapdash ponytail and eyed the empty snack table with disgust. The only redeeming feature of Sweetheart's monthly town meetings was the tantalizing assortment of homemade goodies she could dunk in her coffee. Had someone forgotten to post there freshmen signup sheet? The community center’s Faux-wood panel walls closed in on her at the thought. If this wasn't the best place to drum up support for pet adoption, she would duck out the back way. The animal shelter needed foster families. She'd planned to write an article for her job at The Sweetheart Clarion, but the editor fired her before she finished. Of course, he hadn't used such a negative term. He'd hemmed and hawed about flagging readership and online portals for five minutes until she asked him to cut to the chase. No sense dragging out the inevitable. It wasn't the first time she'd been fired,and, thanks to her uncontrollable tongue, it probably wouldn't be the last. A cluster of men stood behind Katherine in assorted versions of plaid flannel and jeans. “It's indecent! How could a woman betray her own husband?” What had put their sleeveless undershirts in a twist? She poured herself a steaming cup of java.