Review of Life After by Katie Ganshert

From the Back Cover:

It could have been me.

Snow whirls around an elevated train platform in Chicago. A distracted woman boards the train, takes her seat, and moments later a fiery explosion rips through the frigid air, tearing the car apart in a horrific attack on the city’s transit system. One life is spared. Twenty-two are lost.

A year later, Autumn Manning can’t remember the day of the bombing and she is tormented by grief—by guilt. Twelve months of the question constantly echoing. Why? Why? Why? Searching for answers, she haunts the lives of the victims, unable to rest.

Paul Elliott lost his wife in the train bombing and wants to let the dead rest in peace, undisturbed and unable to cause more pain for his loved ones. He wants normalcy for his twelve-year-old daughter and young son, to see them move beyond the heartbreak. But when the Elliotts and Autumn are unexpectedly forced together, he fears she’ll bring more wreckage in her wake. 

In Life After, Katie Ganshert’s most complex and unforgettable novel yet, the stirring prose and authentic characters pose questions of truth, goodness, and ultimate purpose in this emotionally resonant tale.

For more information about Katie Ganshert and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts:

Life After, oh, Life After...

Life after having the pleasure of reading you is bittersweet. There were times I had to put you down and weep, so overcome with sorrow. Other times you gut punched me with such poignant truths. And other times my heart felt like it would burst from joy and smiles.

Autumn feels like she's drowning from guilt. Oh, so much guilt. But she's not afraid to ask questions. BUT once she's willing to listen, then God answers. They're just not the answers she's been expecting. And Paul, he's struggling with guilt, too. I really loved his resolution. I don't want to give away any spoilers... ; ) Suffice it to say that he experiences a dump of God's sacrificial love.

As you may have guessed, this is not a light read. This is one of those books that does not avoid the hard, the hurt, and the pain that life gives you. It tackles those questions head on, kind of like an angry bull attacking the man in red. What you're left with is a deeply moving, beautiful story with stellar writing.

Four and a Half Stars. A fabulous novel! I'm looking forward to whatever Katie writes next!

I received Life After by Katie Ganshert from WaterBrook & Multnomah. All opinions expressed are my own.

God bless you guys, and I'll see you next time!

Hugs!
~V. Joy Palmer

Review of For Love and Honor by Jody Hedlund

Description:

Lady Sabine is harboring a skin blemish, one, that if revealed, could cause her to be branded as a witch, put her life in danger, and damage her chances of making a good marriage. After all, what nobleman would want to marry a woman so flawed?

Sir Bennet is returning home to protect his family from an imminent attack by neighboring lords who seek repayment of debts. Without fortune or means to pay those debts, Sir Bennet realizes his only option is to make a marriage match with a wealthy noblewoman. As a man of honor, he loathes the idea of courting a woman for her money, but with time running out for his family’s safety, what other choice does he have?

As Lady Sabine and Sir Bennet are thrust together under dangerous circumstances, will they both be able to learn to trust each other enough to share their deepest secrets? Or will those secrets ultimately lead to their demise?

For more information about Jody Hedlund and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts:

I should inform you that Lady Sabine happens to be my long lost ancestor. Don't be intimidated. ; )

Ok, while I'm regretfully not really related to Lady Sabine, I found her to be a lot of fun! She's witty and has a bit of a smart mouth. Also, I found her to be genuine. Sabine has this terrible, purple birth mark on her arm, one that she has struggled with all her life. People have feared her, rejected her, and treated her with disdain - all for something God used to make her unique! I liked the back and forth battle Sabine endured as she learned to accept herself.

And Sir Bennet is such a knight. "Honor" is his middle name. (I mean, I assume it is. I don't think we actually learn his middle name, so it must be "Honor." That's logical.) However, this handsome knight still has a lot to learn when it comes to God, mercy, and yes, honor.

It still had its fluffy moments, but a bit of fluff never hurt anyone. It can be rather nice. All things considered, this was such an enjoyable story and an easy read! Anyone who loves knights and fairytales should definitely read this book. Right. Now. This may be my favorite story in the series!!

Five Stars. I very much enjoyed the conclusion to this sweet series! For Love and Honor is the third and final book in Jody Hedlund's young adult, medieval series. If you enjoyed An Uncertain Choice and A Daring Sacrifice, then you will want to meet Sir Bennet and Lady Sabine. Fans of Melanie Dickerson would probably enjoy these books, also!

I received For Love and Honor by Jody Hedlund published by Zondervan from BookLook Bloggers. All opinions expressed are my own.

God bless you guys, and I'll see you next time!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

Review of Still Life by Dani Pettrey

From the Back Cover:

Someone is out there. Watching her. Waiting.

Blacklisted in the photography business over a controversial shot, Avery Tate answered an ad for a crime scene photographer. She expected to be laughed at, but crime scene analyst Parker Mitchell hired her outright--and changed her life. But six months ago, when her feelings for Parker became too strong, she left his employ to sort out her heart.

Now, for the first time, Avery is facing the world that rejected her to attend the gallery opening of a photography exhibit and support her best friend, who modeled for the show. But the only image of her friend is a chilling photo of her posing as if dead--and the photographer insists he didn't take the shot. Worse, her friend can't be found. She immediately calls Parker for help. As Avery, Parker, and his friends in law enforcement dig into the mystery, they find themselves face-to-face with a relentless and deadly threat.

For more about Dani Pettrey and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts:

If you like to watch Criminal Minds, Bones, NCIS, or even Psych, then you will LOVE Still Life by Dani Pettrey!

First things first, I would recommend that you read Cold Shot, the first book in the series, before reading Still Life. Otherwise the dynamics within the group might confuse you.

The first chapter immediately drew me into the story, but the first third of the novel moved at a slower pace. Then it took off like lightning again! Excellent pacing! A certain fellow was supremely creepy. *shudder* Twists and turns plague you on every page. Also, as some of my fellow bloggers have mentioned, this cover is seriously swoon worthy! I loved Parker (and his accent!) and Avery. I enjoyed seeing them grapple with trusting God in ways they hadn't been.

Between 3 1/2 and 4 Stars. A good, enjoyable read. Still Life is the second book in Dani Pettrey's Chesapeake Valor Series. Book three, Blind Spot, releases in October 2017! I found the set up for this upcoming book to be very well done.

I received a copy of Still Life by Dani Pettrey from Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. All opinions expressed are my own.

God bless you guys! See you next time!

 Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

Review of Unfolding by Jonathan Friesen

Description:

Jonah wishes he could get the girl, but he’s an outcast and she’s the most perfect girl he knows.

And their futures seemed destined to fork apart: Jonah’s physical condition is debilitating, and epileptic seizures fill his life with frustration. Whereas Stormi is seemingly carefree, and navigates life by sensing things before they happen. And her most recent premonition is urging her to leave town.

When Stormi begs Jonah for help, he finds himself swept into a dark mystery his small town has been keeping for years. And the answers Stormi needs about her own past could possibly destroy everything Jonah has ever known—including his growing relationship with Stormi herself.

My thoughts:

Wow. Just wow.

This book kept me up very, very late. And I have a baby. Staying up all night reading is not a luxury I can afford to take. However, I could not stop reading Unfolding!

Ok, so this is not a light, easy-breezy story. This is an intense, edge of your seat, flinching due to every small noise kind of story. But what do you expect with a small town riddled with secrets and a secret society and...I'd better not say that part. ;) The writing voice is different, yet so unique. And I absolutely adored Jonah! His perspective and voice would have been make or break it to the story. Jonah sounded like a real dude. ;) Also, speaking as someone who's had a lot of involvement with disable adults, I found his feelings regarding his disabilities to be realistic based on what I've seen. However, I am by no means an expert.

Fans of paranormal, mysterious, secret society YA and/or of Ted Dekker will love Unfolding by Jonathan Friesen. Seriously. You will want to buy this book immediately.

What are you waiting for?

I received a copy of Unfolding by Jonathan Friesen published by Blink from BookLook Bloggers. All opinions expressed are my own.

God bless you guys, and I'll see you next time!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

Review of An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter

From the Back Cover:

Lord Trent Hawthorne couldn't be happier he is not the duke in the family. Free to manage his small estate and take his time discovering the life he wants to lead, he has grand plans of someday wooing and falling in love with the woman of his choice. When he finds himself honor bound to marry a woman he barely knows, his dream of a loving marriage like his parents' seems lost forever.

Life for Lady Adelaide Bell was easier when she hid in her older sister's shadow--which worked until her sister got married. But even with her socially ambitious mother's focus entirely on her, the last thing she expected was a marriage of convenience before she's been introduced to society.

With nothing going as expected, can Trent and Adelaide's marriage of obligation survive their own missteps and the pressures of London society to grow into a true meeting of hearts and minds?

My Thoughts:

This was such a sweet, delightful story!

 Kristi Ann Hunter has crafted a story set in the Regency period that remains true to the times, yet is delightfully quirky. This family is a riot!

Trent struck me as afraid of commitment, which was hysterical given that he suddenly found himself married. I loved seeing him ask and learn the answers to marital bliss. Adelaide proved to be sweet. She was very shy and had been neglected by her family to horrendous lengths, so it was great to see her finally stand up for herself!

The story definitely picked up for me once more of Trent's family got involved. There were times that I was frustrated with Trent and Adelaide, but let's be honest, when do we handle everything perfectly? So I really, really loved that the author wrote flawed characters. We are not always going to like every decision every character makes in every book. I consider it a mark of a good author when the characters make me feel real emotions.

This story fell somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars for me. I'm honestly not sure which! LOL. I will confess, this was my first book by Kristi Ann Hunter. However, it won't be my last book by her! An Uncommon Courtship is book three in the Hawthorne House Series. I'm very much looking forward to the next book in the series!

I received a copy of An Uncommon Courtship by Kristi Ann Hunter from Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. All opinions expressed are my own.

God bless you guys! See you next time!

 Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

Review of Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig

From the Back Cover:

This Is the Way the World Ends.

Four years after a tragic mission decimated his team, Cole "Tox" Russell has been disavowed by the United States. And that's fine--he just wants to be left alone. But when a dormant, centuries-old disease is unleashed, Tox is lured back into action.

Tox and his former Special Forces team regroup to work with FBI deception expert, Kasey Cortes, and fiery archaeologist, Tzivia Khalon, to search the globe for answers--and a cure. As the mission leads from one continent to another, it becomes clear they're not just fighting a plague but battling an ancient secret society whose true goals remain hidden.

With time running out and the threat for a global pandemic rising, Tox and his team realize their sole chance might be to reach back through centuries of silence to find the only answer that can save them all.

My Thoughts:

Hold on guys! I have to duck and cover.

*glances over shoulder*

Okay, I'm good. ;)

This is one of the. best. suspense novels that I have read in a very long time! Oh, my gosh. I loved, loved, loved Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig! The action. The plot. The secrets. The romance. The faith. And I know I mentioned this already, but seriously, the action!

I've gotten kind of picky about suspense/thriller novels with threads of romance. Maybe that's what happens when you binge read Dee Henderson and Ted Dekker books. Usually the romance feels forced and underdeveloped, and there's usually not enough action for me. I am happy to report that Tox more than lived up to my expectations!

If you were to look up "soldier" in the dictionary, you would see a picture of Tox. No joke. He is the embodiment of patriotism, honor, regret, and loyalty starting at you with blue eyes. I loved Kasey, and the romance between Tox and Kasey is a long time coming so sweet. Tzivia was a spitfire; I can't wait to see what happens with her!

I loved how the author mixed in more secret societies than National Treasure and an ancient, Biblical plague. The action grabs you by the throat from the first page and doesn't die until the last page. Scratch that. We know there's more action to come since this is the first book in The Tox Files. AHH! I can't wait.

I received a copy of Conspiracy of Silence by Ronie Kendig from Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. All opinions expressed are my own.

God bless you guys! See you next time!

 Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

Review of The Shattered Vigil by Patrick W. Carr

From the Back Cover:

A Single Terrible Choice Faces the Vigil. Hide in Safety and Let Darkness Take Over the Land or Face the Growing Danger and Risk All of Their Lives.

Their victory over the dark forces during the feast of Bas-solas should have guaranteed safety for the continent. Instead, Willet and the rest of the Vigil discover they've been outsmarted by those seeking to unleash the evil that inhabits the Darkwater. One of the Vigil has gone missing, and new attacks have struck at the six kingdoms' ability to defend themselves.

Worse, a deadly new threat has emerged--assassins hunting the Vigil, men and women who cannot be seen until it's too late. To thwart the perilous new risk, the church makes the drastic decision to safeguard the Vigil by taking the surviving members into protective custody. But there are secrets only the Vigil can unearth, and so Pellin makes the heart-wrenching choice to oppose the church in a race to turn back the evil that threatens an entire continent.

My Thoughts:

The Shattered Vigil is a deep, epic tale!

In this second installment of The Darkwater Saga, the Vigil is racing the clock, trying to fight against the evil that revealed itself during Bas-solas. If you enjoy a story with layers upon layer upon twists upon right hooks, then you will adore this book! I really like how Patrick Carr is able to weave keen observations about life and deep, spiritual truths into the story. I loved the increased roll of the urchins. And invisible, zombie-like people? Well done, Patrick Carr. Well done.

The writing style is different, and sometimes I felt like it pulled me out of the story. There are a lot of descriptions and personal musings, and it left me wanting more dialogue and action. While the plot is superb, this is the kind of book that I need to break into smaller chunks.

Three Stars. Despite feeling pulled out of the story, I am invested in this epic tale. I want to know how it ends!

The Shattered Vigil is the second book in The Darkwater Saga. Read my review of the first book, The Shock of Night, here. You would definitely want to read the first book, The Shock of Night, before reading The Shattered Vigil. While each book (thus far) deals with a specific problem, the events of the second book are built on an important foundation laid in the first book.

I received a copy of The Shattered Vigil by Patrick W. Carr from Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group. All opinions expressed are my own.

God bless you guys! Hugs! See you next time. ;)

V. Joy Palmer