The Locket's Revenge

 

A Trinket Could Unleash a Tempest

Locklyn Adair thought that finding the Sea Enchantress would lift her family’s curse. But the ramifications of her desire for a tail reach further than she could ever have dreamed. Now the entire Undersea Realm is in peril, as Circe, armed with the locket capable of controlling the Loch Ness monster, journeys to the North Sea in pursuit of revenge.

Darin Aalto’s specialty is tracking down treasure. When it looks as though a magical locket has fallen into evil hands, he joins Locklyn and her crew on an expedition to recover it, hoping to find a key to his past identity along the way. Despite having no memory of the Mermaid leading the quest, he wonders if she was more than a friend all along.

As a vengeful enchantress, fiery monster, and impending war threaten the Undersea Realm, Locklyn and Darin must decide what they are willing to sacrifice in order to stop the locket’s revenge.

 My thoughts: I have been anxiously awaiting the continuation of Locklyn and Darin's story since reading the first book, since it left off with a massive cliff hanger! I was thrilled to jump back into their unique world of mermaids, mermen, and mystery. I thought that the author did a wonderful job writing the characters and with the world building, as well as there being plenty of twists and turns to the story that I did not see coming. This is a wonderful story to gift or keep, and is great for young adults on up.

I received this book from Celebrate Lit. This is my honest review.

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

L.E. Richmond was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest by an American writing teacher and a German bookseller. Her childhood largely consisted of imagining stories for her Playmobil

characters and checking out as many books from the library as would fit on six library cards. Now she spends her time chasing three little Muggles, reading aloud to the hazel-eyed young man who has her heart, and attempting to transfer the stories in her head into words for others. Her passion is for words and stories that thrill the soul, and she is endlessly amazed by the One who not only used words to bring this world into being but also crafted the most epic story of all time.

 

More from L.E.

Somebody is going to die. But they didn’t at first.

Minor spoiler alert, a character is going to die near the end of The Locket’s Revenge. But in my first draft of this story, this person didn’t die. It wasn’t until I was going back through and trying to flesh out the book a bit that I realized that this character needed to die. My family knows that I am a discovery writer, but they still laughed when I told them how so-and-so squeaked through alive on the first draft, but the death sentence came in the second one. To me, this is actually one of the most fun things about being a discovery writer. During the drafting process, I get to experience the story for the first time, just like any reader. Most of the time, I don’t actually know what is going to happen next. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Blog Stops

Texas Book-aholic, October 31

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 1 (Author Interview)

Wishful Endings, November 1

Artistic Nobody, November 2 (Spotlight)

Fiction Book Lover, November 3 (Author Interview)

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 4

A Reader’s Brain , November 5 (Author Interview)

Inklings and notions, November 6

Simple Harvest Reads, November 7 (Author Interview)

Blogging With Carol, November 8

Stories By Gina, November 9 (Author Interview)

Min Read and Reviews, November 9

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 10

Holly’s Book Corner, November 11

Guild Master, November 12 (Spotlight)

Becca Hope: Book Obsessed, November 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, L.E. is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5483

Across the Star Kissed Sea

 

Mediterranean Sea, 1811

May Byam grew up following her father to his work at the ropemaking factory and listening to her uncle’s tales of life aboard a Royal Navy ship. After tragedy and scandal shatter her family, May is desperate to escape the shame that follows her. Despite her mother’s pleadings against it, May signs on as a lady’s maid to the young wife of a naval captain. If she’s going to run, she may as well do it in honor of her late uncle and cousin and where there is food, shelter, and perhaps even adventure. But the frosty reception she receives from the ship’s clergyman makes her feel far from welcome.

Heartbroken young Chaplain Elias Doswell returns to a harsh life at sea, but preaching to disinterested sailors isn’t the escape he’d hoped for—until a captivating young woman boards the ship. However, a case of mistaken identity ensures that he starts off on the wrong foot with the newly hired lady’s maid, who clearly wants nothing to do with him. But the close quarters of the ship forces the pair together, and May begins to see a side of the handsome clergyman she didn’t expect. As they struggle to navigate their deepening feelings, the danger of war with the French looms on the horizon, threatening their lives—and their love.

My thoughts: I enjoyed this series and the unique setting of the story! May and Elias have both had a rough go of things, with May bearing the brunt of her father's convict status and having to work to earn her living and Elias with not being suited for battle or having luck finding love. When a horrible first impression leaves them at odds, they must learn to get along better in such close quarters. 

Overall I enjoyed this story, though there were times that May was exasperating with her choices of who she choses to put her faith and friendship with. Most of us can relate to both her and Elias, since they are flawed characters who deserve a second chance. I would recommend reading Georgana's Secret first to fully appreciate this story, since there are several cross over characters. 
 I received this book from Just Read. This is my honest review.

Purchase a copy here! This post contains affiliate links.

I'll Be Home

 

Welcome to the Blog Tour for I'll Be Home by Sara Davison, Darlene L. Turner, Helena Smrcek, and Melanie Stevenson, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: I'll Be Home
Authors: Sara Davison, Darlene L. Turner, Helena Smrcek, & Melanie Stevenson
Publisher: Independent (Fab Four Press)
Release Date: October 29, 2024
Genre: Contemporary Christmas anthology

With chaos and confusion all around them, can they find their way home this Christmas? 

The people in these four stories are all searching for something—an escaped convict, a job promotion from a love interest, connection to a lost parent, answers across time. 

Christmas should be a time of wonder and celebration, but the obstacles each faces seem insurmountable. Even, at times, life-threatening. 

Perhaps they will find what they are seeking during this season of miracles and hope. Or maybe, with God’s help, they will discover that the longing of their hearts takes them to places—and people—they didn’t even know they’d been searching for.  

I’ll Be Home is a collection of four stories of faith, hope, love, (and trains) that will warm your heart, encourage your soul, and draw you home this Christmas.  

My thoughts: I loved this variety of stories for the upcoming holidays! I loved that the only theme they really followed was to be centered around Christmas and being good, clean reads. The first story starts off with a suspenseful twists, then there is a historical story with a dual time, a chance encounter, and finally an Anne of Green Gables style story. I can be more of a mood reader, so this is the perfect collection for me, since it touched on several of my favorite genres. This is a great collection of Christmas reads to pick up and enjoy this time of year! (though, I would also read them in the summer time, since I love Christmas in July!)

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

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub

Also Available

     

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About the Authors

 

Sara Davison is the author of The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo, two sparrows for a penny, and In the Shadows series, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a Holt Medallion, Cascade, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason.

Connect with Sara by visiting saradavison.org to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

Darlene L. Turner is an award-winning and a Publishers Weekly best-selling author and lives with her husband, Jeff in Ontario, Canada. Her love of suspense began when she read her first Nancy Drew book. She’s turned that passion into her writing and believes readers will be captured by her plots, inspired by her strong characters, and moved by her inspirational message.

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

 

Helena Smrcek is an award-winning author, screenwriter, public speaker and writing coach. She is known for her thrilling and heartwarming stories. Her career began as a high school freelancer, leading to three decades in publishing. She co-founded Write!Canada and The Word Guild and has graduated from multiple writing programs.

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

Melanie Stevenson is an award-winning author and lives in Ontario, Canada, surrounded by her husband and four children. She attended the University of Waterloo and obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts. Melanie's first book, One More Tomorrow, was shortlisted in the Word Alive Press publishing contest out of over two hundred entries across North America and was published in 2019. In 2020, she won Best Romantic Fiction for One More Tomorrow and Best New Canadian Author at The Word Awards—Canada's top Christian literary awards. Her mission is to create stories of excellence that impact hearts and lives. Paper, canvas, and dirt are her favorite blank pages.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon card plus a paperback copy of I'll Be Home!

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 29, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 5, 2024. Winners 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!

Kristen

 

One cookbook connects them all...
Kristen ~ Book Nine in a string of heartfelt inspirational stories, featuring different women throughout the decades from 1920 to 2020.
Kristen Borstad has always taken the scenic route through life. It’s 2002; fresh out of university with a master's degree in English literature, she returns to the cozy ambiance of the local bookshop she's worked at throughout college.

When the bookshop's owner presents Kristen with an opportunity to take charge for a few months, she accepts. As she delves into the daily responsibilities, Kristen begins to discover her passion for the job.

Amidst the book-lined shelves, Kristen hires an employee who ignites a flame within her heart. As their friendship blossoms, Kristen grapples with conflicting emotions, unsure if the love she's found is just a delightful distraction or a signpost pointing her toward the future she truly desires.

Will Kristen realize that her dreams have been waiting for her right in front of her eyes? Or will she continue her quest for fulfillment, forever searching for what might already be within her grasp?

Join Kristen on a tender and uplifting journey as she navigates the crossroads of life, faith, and love. In this heartwarming tale, discover the extraordinary potential that lies within embracing the present and opening one's heart to the unanticipated blessings of life's sweetest surprises.

My thoughts: Kristen is at a cross roads in her life, with having graduated and trying to figure out where she wants to go from there. I love how doors open for her to find out some things about herself and discover where her talents lie. While the romance could have used a little bit more fleshing out, I appreciated the focus of her journey being Christ centered and even Josh's approach to their relationship. This is a delightful story! I look forward to reading more of the books in the series, since I love that they span so many different decades. 

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

Purchase a copy here! This post contains affiliate links.

Fiance Finale

 

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Fiancé Finale by Angela Ruth Strong hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Title: Fiancé Finale 

Series: Love Off Script #3 

Author: Angela Ruth Strong 

Publisher: Kregel Publications 

Release Date: October 22, 2024 

Genre: Contemporary Christian Romance 

Charlie Newberg is sure about one thing: Nicole Lemaire is the woman God wants him to marry. There's a slight problem, though—he's already left her once. The day before their wedding. To make a documentary. 

But he's got a plan. The marketing firm she works for is the ideal choice for promoting his new film. Collaborating will give him the perfect chance to propose again, so he conspires with her boss to make sure she runs the campaign for the same kind of documentary Charlie left her—basically at the altar—for. 

Despite Nicole's resistance, the two work well together. But Charlie's going to need more than teamwork to convince the jilted bride to give him a second chance. In fact, he might need to fall in love in a way he's never really understood.

My thoughts: I've enjoyed this series and have been looking forward to seeing how Nicole and Charlie's story was going to work out, since it seemed like an impossible situation. After Charlie leaves to film a documentary instead of sticking around to say "I do", Nicole has thrown herself into work and moving on with her life. When a second engagement ends, Charlie takes that as God's answer to his prayers about getting back together with Nicole. I thought that the author did a good job of exploring some difficult themes, with a broken engagement, learning to work together, how to handle what you think is an answer to prayers (and how to not handle it!), and dealing with difficult choices. I appreciate the changes Charlie makes in the lives of others with his documentaries, though he doesn't always handle balancing it with relationships. This is a wonderful story about flawed characters who have a beautiful story. I highly recommend picking this book up after reading the first and second books in the series, since they do tie together. 

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

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop | BookBub

More Books from this Series: 

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About the Author

Angela Ruth Strong is the founder of IdaHope Christian Writers. Her books have earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, been a finalist for the Christy, won the Cascade Award, and become Amazon best sellers. Her book Finding Love in Big Sky, Montana released as a movie in 2022. Strong lives in Meridian, Idaho, with her husband.

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

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Fiancé Finale and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight October 23, 2024 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on October 30, 2024. 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!

Guarding Truth

 

The truth might destroy them both…

The one thing that Former Army Ranger turned elite bodyguard Juliette Montgomery regrets is never telling fellow solider Caleb Styles her true feelings. But how could she? They were co-workers, and then the guy went and saved her life. And that turned out to be the one thing that cost them their relationship.

So Juliette has moved on, trying to forget Caleb—and her feelings.

Caleb hasn’t forgotten her either. But he has no idea she now lives in Savannah, Georgia…especially since his life is full as guardian of his niece, Ivy, after her parents were killed.

And then he discovers that his brilliant niece’s computer skills have attracted a notorious hacker group. More, when Ivy tracks the hackers, she endangers Caleb's cyber-security company.

Enter his need for the Elite Guardians.

The last—very last—person Juliette thought she’d see again is Caleb Styles, let alone be assigned to protect him. And now, suddenly, the very last thing she needs is to let her heart take over. She must protect them both—which means ignoring…or trying to ignore—the attraction between them.

Caleb never understood why Juliette walked away from him…but he can’t deny that his feelings for her never died. Except maybe she doesn’t share those feelings because her only goal seems to be protecting Ivy. And, it’s probably for the best.

After all, they need all their wits about them to find the hackers and unravel their plans.

And then they discover the hackers’ true intent—and it becomes a race against time. But it too late to protect their hearts from the truth?

An electrifying blend of suspense, chemistry, and unbreakable bonds, this romantic thriller is a must-read for fans of the Elite Guardian series.

My thoughts: I have enjoyed many of the previous Elite Guardian stories, so I was thrilled to read this one! I enjoyed getting to know Jules and Caleb, with their past coming up when the present brings them together again. I thought that the authors did a wonderful job of writing some twists into the mystery, which kept me on my toes! I thought that some of the different elements with the cyber crimes and other jobs was unique and interesting to explore. This is a great, cozy mystery to start as the days grow colder, since it is hard to put down!  I received this book from Just Read. This is my honest review.

Click here to purchase a copy of the book! This post contains affiliate links.

Waterfall

 

A dead body, a flood, and a boy’s rescue. Can Annalisa Carabelle keep the boy safe while racing to discover a killer before it's too late?

All Annalisa Carabelle wants is a successful summer season for the bed-and-breakfast she co-owns. She never expected the flood, the boy who needed rescuing, or the man who came from nowhere to help. The dead body? Well, the wound to the head proved it had nothing to do with do with the deluge.

Richard Jordan’s plans for the summer include as much scrambling up waterfalls as possible. He needs the adrenaline rush because life has proven routine, even pointless. But both the woman and the boy called him a hero, and maybe the dead body is a wake-up call. Life might be worth living if he and this intriguing woman can find the killer and make sure he doesn’t kill again.

But they’ve got too many suspects, and even the police are baffled. With the family protecting the killer, he might just get away for good, unless they force his hand—and stay alive while they are doing it.

My thoughts: When they save a young boy from nearly drowning, Richard and Annalisa are thrown together and team up to uncover the elements that don't add up. I loved the strong element of faith in this story! I also enjoyed getting to know the characters, as they tried to work through the mystery, as well as their different views on faith and God. I thought that the author did a great job with the pacing and suspense. I look forward to reading more of Linda K. Rodante's mysteries! 

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

Purchase a copy here! This post contains affiliate links.