Review of Soul Raging by Ronie Kendig

About the Book ~

As Prophecies in the Book of the Wars Unfold, the Only Hope Is Uniting with the Enemy.

Leif Metcalfe is done waiting for answers and seizes control, a move that comes with a high price and a deadly risk: teaming up with the enemy. He can only pray what he uncovers will heal the wounds he's inflicted on those he loves.

Iskra Todorova refuses to believe Leif is irrevocably lost, despite evidence to the contrary. While trying to protect her daughter and track down Leif before it's too late, Iskra wonders if a member of the evil organization ArC has been in their midst since the beginning.

Torn apart by injuries and opposing views about Leif's treachery, team Reaper hunts one of their own. The only thing they agree on is not stopping but starting the final battle prophesied in the Book of the Wars.

For more information about Ronie Kendig and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

What epicness is this?

A series now laid to rest...

Oh, Reaper's fans are weeping...

In case you couldn't tell from my little song, I am both thrilled and devastated by the ending to The Book of the Wars Series by Ronie Kendig! Soul Raging more than met my bar of expectations -- it exceeded them! 

Each page of Soul Raging oozed with ooga chaka awesomeness! No spoilers on the plot, but suffice it to say it's got serious Marvel's Winter Soldier meets Jason Bourne vibes. I was in awe at the unexpected twists, and the way the author rattled the foundation of the story -- multiple times! -- shook me to my reader core. How the author managed to tangle and untangle each thread of the story is beyond me -- my head hurts just trying to imagine it! 

Readers will loose their heart to Leif and Team Reaper as they fight to reclaim souls! I've never rooted for Leif more than when he went where I both begged him not to go but where I needed to see him go and conquer! His redemption went so deep, to a depth so genuine, that in the final confrontation, his understanding of true salvation paired with his gift of mercy had me crying until long after I closed the back cover. Leif's journey from darkness to light can only be described as transformative redemption!

Five Stars ~ Soul Raging by Ronie Kendig is pure awesome sauce! Soul Raging is the third and final book in The Book of the Wars Series (which has ties into The Tox Files that's also by Ronie Kendig) and it should definitely be read in order! 

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright

About the Book ~

Welcome to Bonaventure Circus,
where misfits go to hide.

In 1928, the Bonaventure Circus has become a refuge for many, but Pippa Ripley was rejected from its inner circle as a baby and is no longer content to leave the reason for that rejection unquestioned. When she receives mysterious messages from someone called the "Watchman," she is determined to find him and the connection to her birth. As Pippa's search leads her to a man seeking justice for his murdered sister and evidence that a serial killer has been haunting the circus train, she must decide if uncovering her roots is worth putting herself directly in the path of the killer.

Decades later, an old circus train depot's future hangs in the balance--it will either be torn down or preserved for historical importance, and its fate rests on Realtor Chandler Faulk's shoulders. As she dives deep into the depot's history, she's also balancing a newly diagnosed disease and the pressures of single motherhood. When she discovers clues to unsolved murders of the past, Chandler is pulled into a story far darker and more haunting than even an abandoned train depot could portend.

For more information about Jaime Jo Wright and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright is the perfect read for a cozy autumn night -- spooky and full of faith! 

When I saw that part of this spilt-time novel was set in the late 1920s, I knew I NEEDED to read this story as soon as I could get my greedy little hands on it -- and the author did not disappoint my Roaring Twenties heart with Pippa's side of the story! The author wonderfully balanced the glitz and glam of the Roaring Twenties with the wonder of the circus. However, the contemporary piece of Chandler's tale proved to be just as enthralling! I was immediately swept into the small town with its dark history -- which brings us to the multiple mysteries. No spoilers, but I loved how the author kept me guessing! I loved how the author surprised me even when I was sorta, kinda right...ahem, okay...I was wildly guessing. Bottom line is that I loved each reveal that shocked me to my reader core! Bravo! 

Both Pippa and Chandler struggled with their self-image and identity, and the spiritual message layered into these complicated topics gripped my heart! The author's loving approach to physical qualities that are demeaned and ridiculed, the sensitive look at autoimmune diseases, and the mental chains that hold a person captive when they hold themselves to impossible standards was froth with piercing conviction, grace, and the feeling that the readers themselves are seen, understood, and loved. Through Pippa and Chandler's journeys, readers will be encouraged to settle their identity in their heart through the One Who gives us an identity in His steadfast love.

Five Stars ~ The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus by Jaime Jo Wright is a thrilling romantic suspense that is the perfect fall read! The Haunting at Bonaventure Circus is a standalone, but the author has other suspenseful stories in her backlist.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Nine by Rachelle Dekker

 

About the Book ~

Some secrets can't stay hidden

Zoe Johnson has spent most of her life living in the shadows, never drawing attention to herself, never investing in people or places. But when a wide-eyed, bedraggled teenager with no memory walks into the diner where Zoe works, everything changes.

Against her better judgment, Zoe, who has been trying to outrun her own painful memories of the past, finds herself attempting to help a girl who doesn't seem to have any past at all. With little warning, they must follow the only sure thing they know: a woman hundreds of miles away, will either save them . . . or be the last person to see them alive.

For more information about Rachelle Dekker and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Nine by Rachelle Dekker should be on the to-be-read pile of every devoted suspense reader! I am increasingly picky about suspense novels, and Nine contains everything I look for in a thrilling novel! Bravo!

Seriously, that suspense! Okay, I promise there will be no plot spoilers -- I wouldn't want to take the thrill of this journey away from any reader. I loved the balance of pace and character development. Additionally, Nine contains an intensity that I've found in only a handful of authors. It's an intensity that pulls you into the story world, glues you to whatever seat you can find, and burns your eyeballs because you don't dare blink! 

When the suspense and mystery ends on that final page, the truths exposed in the story will stay with its readers for a lifetime! The spiritual message revolves around identity, a message the author has a gift for unveiling, restoring, and edifying within her novels. Nine explores choosing a new identity, no matter how dark, broken, or manipulated your past may be. Rewriting your program. Choosing freedom. Choosing love. Through the intense moments of testing that each character faced, readers will be strengthened for the identity battles we face every day!

Five Stars ~ Nine by Rachelle Dekker is an edge-of-your-seat suspense! Nine is standalone with ties into The Girl behind the Red Rope, but it is not necessary to read The Girl behind the Red Rope before reading Nine.

Possible triggers ~ violence, death, abuse, abduction, torture. 

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Kings Falling by Ronie Kendig

About the Book ~

As the Race for the Book of the Wars Escalates
the World Teeters on the Brink

Leif Metcalfe and his team, dubbed Reaper, need to recover the ancient Book of the Wars if they hope to stop the Armageddon Coalition and their pursuit of global economic control. But their attention has been diverted by a prophecy in the book that foretells of formidable warriors who will decimate the enemies of ArC. While Iskra Todorova uses her connections in the covert underworld to hunt down the Book of the Wars, Leif and Reaper attempt to neutralize these agents but quickly find themselves outmaneuvered and outgunned.

The more Reaper tries to stop the prophesied warriors, the more failure becomes a familiar, antagonistic foe. Friendships are fractured, and the team battles to hold it together long enough to defeat ArC. But as this millennia-old conspiracy creeps closer and closer to home, the implications could tear Leif and the team apart.

For more information about Ronie Kendig and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Kings Falling by Ronie Kendig should come with a warning label that should henceforth be referred to as the Kendig Effect. Symptoms of the Kendig Effect include huddling in a corner while eating your own hair, rocking back and forth, and unintelligible muttering because you are both eager and terrified to read another installment from this author!

And that pretty much sums up Kings Falling!

The plot of Kings Falling -- no spoilers! -- is like playing a championship chess match while skydiving. With people shooting at you. And explosions...somewhere. Not sure where. The plot is so intricate and layered with plot twists and key details. The author even manages to take the buildup of a plot twist you expect and still make it shocking! It's...incredible! Additionally, the author takes readers on a journey of covert operations around the globe with a supernatural twist to boot! It's like National Treasure meets Marvel's Bucky Barnes meets Armageddon. THAT'S RIGHT!

Let's talk about the characters. Not only do the supporting characters leap off the pages with a life of their own, the main characters -- Leif and Iskra -- are awesome! Leif is the type of hero I one hundred percent believe we need to see more of in fiction! He's not perfect. In fact, as he navigates past trauma and current struggles, he reacts far from perfect. But he's real, and I love that in a fictional hero! And Iskra is a strong heroine that is inspirational and empowering! Despite trauma, unspeakable abuse, and horrific betrayal, she does not let the past hold her captive. And as Leif, Iskra, and the rest of Reaper navigate the darkness surrounding them, their desperate fight for light will resonate on a soul level!

Five Stars ~ Kings Falling by Ronie Kendig is a thrilling and suspenseful chess match of a story! Kings Falling is the second book in The Book of the Wars Series, and the books should be read in order of release to understand the storyline and to prevent major spoilers.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer loves to write romantic and comedic stories that proclaim God’s deep love for us. She’s a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and an avid blogger. In her spare time, Joy loves to sing (especially Disney songs), drink large quantities of coffee, and take flowery photos for Bookstagram. When Joy isn’t fighting with fictional people, she’s hanging out with her husband and their adorable little girl. Connect with Joy via www.vjoypalmer.com!

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill

About the Book ~

The case was tragic. But it was an accident. Right?

Three years ago, a collision between a fast-moving freight train and a school bus full of kids led to devastation and grief on an unimaginable scale. But a fresh clue leads San Antonio police detective Amara Alvarez to the unlikely conclusion that one of the children may still be alive. If she's correct, everything law enforcement believes about the accident is a lie. 

With time running out, Amara must convince others -- and herself -- that despite all the evidence to the contrary, the boy is alive. And she will do everything in her power to bring him home.

A fresh voice in suspense, Tom Threadgill will have you questioning everything as you fly through the pages of this enthralling story.

For more information about Tom Threadgill and his books, check out his website here!

My Thoughts ~

I almost didn't read this book.

I'm serious. The horrific deaths of innocent children made my mama heart burst into tears at the thought of something so tragic!

But I decided to give this new-to-me author a chance, and I'm so very glad I did! Because OHMYGOODNESS! I highly recommend Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill!

I really enjoyed entering Amara's story when she's trying to work her way out of Property Crimes. The daily grind, the smaller cases, and the subtle weaving of Amara's backstory, hopes, and dreams helped me feel connected to her as a character despite the fact that this is a more plot-driven story. Watching all these clues come out on a smaller scale before Amara was ushered into the multi-agency investigation also helped make this story feel more realistic. There's also, possibly, maybe a subtle romance in the works. Maybe. Regardless, I'm pining for it to happen, LOL!

Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill has an intensity to the storyline that gave me all the Taken vibes, yet the plot surprised me with the twists in the mystery. The story felt very realistic and contained doses of much-needed humor that ensured I didn't feel sad for too long! Though I recommend you have tissues for that ending! In the end, this bittersweet search for truth delivers exactly what you're looking for -- truth. 

And btdubs, I am NEVER letting my daughter ride a school bus!

Four Stars ~ Collision of Lies by Tom Threadgill is an intense suspense that's realistic, funny, and filled with the search for truth! This is the author's first book in a series featuring Detective Amara Alvarez, and I look forward to reading more books by this author in the future!

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

Review of Vow of Justice by Lynette Eason

About the Book ~

Playing dead might just get her killed.

FBI Special Agent Lincoln St. John is living his own personal nightmare. When the woman he loves, Allison Radcliffe, is killed, he devotes himself to tracking down the killers and making them pay for their crimes. He expected it to be a challenge. What he never expected was to find Allison very much alive shortly after her "murder."

As his anger and hurt mix with relief, Linc isn't sure how he's supposed to feel. One thing he does know for sure: he and Allison will have to work together to stop a killer before she dies a second time -- this time for good.

For more information on Lynette Eason and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Lynette Eason's stories achieve the perfect balance of wholesome romance and jaw-dropping suspense, but I think the author raised her own bar with Vow of Justice! Wow!

The ride Vow of Justice takes you on is nothing short of intense and startling! From the wide array of bad guys to the plethora of complications, I don't think that "twists and turns" even begins to describe the intensity of the storyline. I'd describe it as Indiana Jones running from that boulder that's going to crush him, but then add a Sith Lord about twenty feet ahead of him...While there was a complication I anticipated, the direction this complication went completely shocked me! What a brilliant and well-written angle!

The characters in Vow of Justice were wonderful! I saw Linc as very steadfast. He was steadfast in his faith when he had to forgive Allie for her deception, when he counseled Allie through some difficult moments, and when he was worried for Allie's life -- and that last one happened a lot! He was a rock of support and love for Allie as she opened her heart to him, and a hero like that is most definitely swoony! Additionally, I think Allie's emotional and spiritual journey will impact readers in a powerful way! Not surprising given the title, justice plays an important role in the story. When Allie finally confronted the ghosts of her past, she had to confront the difference between justice and revenge in her heart! And when the circumstances of the present reached a horrific climax, I read in awe as Allie chose to fight back instead of collapsing under the victim mentality that had defined every action of her life for so long! It was -- simply put -- empowering!

Four Stars ~ Vow of Justice by Lynette Eason is a thrilling, romantic ride! Vow of Justice is the fourth book in the author's Blue Justice Series from Revell. While I think readers will get the most enjoyment from reading the previous books in the series, Vow of Justice can definitely be read as a standalone.

Disclaimer ~ In accordance with FTC regulations, I received a copy of this book from the publisher. I was not compensated, nor was a positive review required. All opinions expressed are my own.

See you next time, and God bless you guys!!!

Hugs!

~V. Joy Palmer

V. Joy Palmer is the author of Love, Lace, and Minor Alterations and Weddings, Willows, and Revised Expectations, and she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. She is also an avid blogger and co-founder of Snack Time Devotions. In her spare time, Joy is an unprofessional chocolate connoisseur/binger, and she loves acting crazy and drinking coffee with the teens she mentors. When Joy isn’t urging the elves that live in her computer to write, she’s hanging out with her husband, their adorable baby girl, and their socially awkward pets.

Connect with Joy on her website, personal blog, devotional blog, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest, Goodreads, and Amazon Author Page!

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!