Review of Always Look Twice by Elizabeth Goddard

About the Book ~

Justice lies just on the other side of fear.

At the advice of her therapist, Harper Reynolds has traded her job as a crime scene photographer for a more peaceful life taking photographs of the natural world. But her hopes for a life surrounded by the serenity of the outdoors are dashed when she inadvertently captures a murder being committed. She flees the scene in fear -- and loses the camera.

Former Green Beret Heath McKade, a reserve deputy in an understaffed county, has been called in to protect Harper, a childhood friend he is surprised to see back in the area. When Harper learns that the sheriff's department can't find any evidence of the murder she witnessed, she is determined to do what she can to see justice is done. What neither Harper nor Heath could know is how many explosive secrets from the past will be exposed -- or how deeply they will fall for each other.

For more information about Elizabeth Goddard and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Always Look Twice by Elizabeth Goddard is an action-packed ride!

The author certainly knows how to craft a thrilling, mysterious suspense with unexpected components! Even after I determined the villain (proudly patting myself on the back for that accomplishment!), the author still managed to cast reasonable doubt on that villain. Additionally, the little details that made up the villain's motivation remained shrouded in mystery and well-paced action until the exciting conclusion!

While I personally didn't connect to the characters the same way I did in the previous book, Heath and Harper were well-developed characters. Their respective pasts are riddled with complications and trauma that continue to complicated their lives in relatable ways, greatly adding to the will-they-won't-they romantic tension!

The spiritual plot is light -- an extension of the characters themselves -- but overcoming fear, guilt, and trauma are key facets of the character's spiritual journeys. Depression and Survivor's Guilt play a large part in the story, and while each individual's journey through these sensitive issues looks different and has it's unique difficulties, the overall message is encouraging!

Three Stars ~ Always Look Twice is an explosive mystery with romance to boot! Always Look Twice is the second book in Elizabeth Goddard's Uncommon Justice Series from Revell. While the setting and some of the characters are introduced in the first book, Never Let Go, Always Look Twice can be read as a standalone. I'm looking forward to reading the next book -- Liam's story!

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 Unscripted by Davis Bunn

About the Book ~

Line producer Danny Byrd is well known in Hollywood for being someone who gets things done on time and under budget. But when his reputation takes a beating after his partner -- and former best friend -- makes off with their investors' money, Danny has but one chance to redeem himself and restore his ruined career.

LA layer Megan Pierce has sacrificed years of her life proving herself to impossible bosses, only to find herself disgusted at their snobbery and their specious business practices. When an opportunity to actually make a difference comes her way, she knows she has to grab it -- even though she's not entire clear what "it" is.

Danny and Megan are each other's best hope for redemption. What they never could have imagined was that they might also be each other's best hope for love.

For more information about Davis Bunn and his books, check out his website here!

My Thoughts ~

Unscripted by Davis Bunn infuses readers with layers of powerful emotions! In fact, I dare you to read Unscripted and NOT feel the emotion! Seriously. I dare you.

Unscripted is one of those unique novels that portrays a story within a story. The story was different from what I expected -- but in a good way! I don't know how the author did it, but all of the characters tug on your heartstrings, and there's also a mystery surrounding Danny that had me trying to figure out what in the world was happening! The result is a beautifully complex story.

The author draws from his own experience in the film industry (and puts it into a fictional story for people like me, LOL!) in Unscripted, showing the behind-the-scenes process to creating and filming a story. Learning about all the different people, jobs, procedures, terms, and techniques involved in filming a movie was really cool! It was like experiencing a day on set!

The spiritual plot of Unscripted is very subtle, making it a wonderful story of redemption without being in-your-face. It's a gentle drawing. The message of letting go of the past -- mistakes, hurts, ambitions -- rings true for not only the main characters, Megan and Danny, but also in the story of the film that's being written throughout the book and in the personal lives of the actors and actresses. The author truly captures real and raw emotion in a breathtaking way with this!

Four Stars ~ Unscripted by Davis Bunn is a unique story with the makings of a classic! Unscripted is a standalone, but the author has many other titles in his 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 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 One Final Breath by Lynn H. Blackburn

About the Book ~

Revenge has no statute of limitations.

When investigator Gabe Chavez had his cover blown by an aggressive reporter, the silver lining was being able to rejoin the dive team. The downside? Dive team captain Anissa Bell, a woman who both fascinates and frustrates him.

Anissa grew up as a missionary kid on the Micronesian island of Yap and always planned to return after college. But she remained stateside, determined to solve the case that haunts her -- the murder of her best friend and the disappearance of a three-year-old child.

When Anissa's fractured past collides with Gabe's investigation into the tragic shooting death of a teenage boy in Lake Porter, they'll have to put aside their complicated history with each other in order to uncover the killer's identity.

For more information about Lynn H. Blackburn and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Warning: you might find yourself holding your breath as you read One Final Breath by Lynn H. Blackburn! Remember to breathe!

If you are a fan of traditional romantic suspense, then you will love One Final Breath by Lynn H. Blackburn! The plot was layered, well-paced, and suspenseful, causing me to mentally ping-pong from one thread to the next! Each of these threads was substantial enough to be it's own story, so I was impressed by the way the author was able to bring each of these storylines to a satisfying conclusion.

My favorite part of the story was the characters! I loved the natural humor that radiated from Gabe, Anissa, and the others! Whether it was a sarcastic comment or Gabe worrying about his bad breath, I found myself smiling a lot! And the way this group of friends related, joked, prayed, cautioned, and stood by one another made me want to climb into the pages and become part of their group! I also liked that Gabe and Anissa had a history of conflict and bickering because it made their budding romance all the more swoony and fluttery!

While Gabe and Anissa both grappled with the guilt and regret of their respective pasts, Anissa's revelation (with the loving help of Mr. Cook) about her calling being just as wonderful and God-given as her family's calling to the mission field is what really touched my heart! But there are many other wonderful spiritual insights in One Final Breath; I can't begin to touch on all of them!

Three Stars ~ One Final Breath by Lynn H. Blackburn is a solid romantic suspense filled with humor and lots of Godly truth! One Final Breath is the author's third book in the Dive Team Investigations Series from Revell. The mystery/suspense can be read as a standalone, but I think readers will love these wonderful characters even more if they read the series as a whole.

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 The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden

About the Book ~

Gray Delacroix has dedicated his life to building an acclaimed global spice empire, but it has come at a cost. Resolved to salvage his family before they spiral out of control, he returns to his ancestral home for good after years of traveling the world.

As a junior botanist for the Smithsonian, Annabelle Larkin has been charged with the impossible task of gaining access to the notoriously private Delacroix plant collection. If she fails, she will be out of a job and the family farm in Kansas will go under. She has no idea that in gaining entrance to the Delacroix world, she will unwittingly step into a web of dangerous political intrigue far beyond her experience.

Unable to deny her attraction to the reclusive business tycoon, Annabelle will be forced to choose between her heart and loyalty to her country. Can Gray and Annabelle find a way through the storm of scandal without destroying the family Gray is trying to save?

For more information about Elizabeth Camden and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden wasn't at all what I expected, but what I found between these pages fascinated me!

The Spice King is rich in history and science, and I absolutely loved that about it! This is one of those gorgeous fictional stories that I could see being used in school curriculum to engage students in history and science! I loved seeing the political landscape through the eyes of Gray and Annabelle in Washington, DC during the Gilded Age. I loved learning more about the different departments of the government in this timeframe. I loved the science -- both past and present -- of botany. The details about adulterated foods in the twentieth century horrified me! All of these components were fascinating by themselves, but the addition of a political thriller/mystery that is sure to come out during the rest of the series made it even better!

Gray and Annabelle were an interesting couple! While not soulmate characters for me, I found them to be well-written and likeable. And Gray channeled some serious Mr. Darcy vibes, so he's obviously pretty awesome! Gray and Annabelle's relationship really explored the range of emotions from betrayal to forgiveness after Annabelle is pushed into a moral corner. The exploration of that fallout is an angsty trial that I could relate to -- one I'm sure many other readers will also understand. Another thing that I appreciated is that Gray's journey to not only forgiving but also understanding Annabelle's decision wasn't rushed. I also liked how the author used these things to highlight our God-given purposes in life.

Four Stars ~ The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden is a fascinating story! The Spice King is the first book in the author's new Hope and Glory Series from Bethany House! I'm looking forward to continuing the underlying mystery in the next book!

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 You Belong With Me by Tari Faris

About the Book ~

Realtor Hannah Thornton has many talents.
Unfortunately, selling houses isn't one of them.

When a business tycoon determines to raze historic homes in the small town of Heritage, Michigan, and replace them with a strip mall, Hannah resolves to stop him. She sets about helping Heritage win a restoration grant that will put the town back on the map -- and hopefully restore her disgraced family name. But she'll need help to do it.

As a foster kid, Luke Johnson never truly felt he belonged. Now he has a chance to earn his place in his hometown. But he doesn't anticipate how his relationship with Hannah will set into motion events that reveal the truth about who he is -- and who he was.

For more information about Tari Faris and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

You Belong With Me by Tari Faris stole my heart! Goodness, guys! It is so cute, fun, humorous, and full of God's grace!

I couldn't help but hear the Taylor Swift song with the same title while I was reading -- and it totally fits with this charming story! You will route for girl next door in this friends-to-lovers romance! And you also get to see Hannah's brother -- Thomas -- and his love story. So sweet! Additionally, the town of Heritage was adorable! I want to live there. Thankfully, I can live there vicariously through this sweet story because I automatically adore anything that gives me Gilmore Girls vibes!

There were so many "grace points" and wonderful insights sprinkled throughout the story as the characters navigated their messy lives. I loved how the author worked those truths into the story! And I appreciated that while the author included some things that could have been very triggering, they were handled with loads of -- yup, you guessed it -- grace, so the story still felt light and humorous! Also, I gotta say that I love it when characters overreact in big ways and make big mistakes. Why? Because that's life. It doesn't mean I don't want to shake some sense into those characters, but I can relate to those characters. We all make mistakes. We all break things. But as the Hannah, Luke, and the other characters come to understand, God can use those broken things to make something entirely new and beautiful!

Five Stars ~ You Belong With Me by Tari Faris is full of charm, romance, and the sweet balm of God's truth! You Belong With Me is the first full-length novel in the Restoring Heritage Series by Tari Faris. I'm really looking forward to the next book!

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 Finding Lady Enderly by Joanna Davidson Politano

About the Book ~

Raina's dreams are all about to come true.

But some dreams turn out to be nightmares.

Raina Bretton is a rag woman in London's East End when a handsome stranger appears in a dank alley, offering her a glittering smile and a chance for adventure. Rothburne Abbey has a unique position for her, one that will take her away from her hardscrabble life and give her a chance to be a lady.

Though Raina has traded squalor for silk and satin, something about the abbey is deeply unsettling. As she wrestles with her true identity, the ruin, decay, and secrets she finds at the heart of the old mansion tear at her confidence and threaten to reveal her for who she really is. Only one man stands between her and the danger that lurks within -- and only if he decides to keep her biggest secret hidden.

My Thoughts ~

Finding Lady Enderly by Joanna Davidson Politano is a wonderful exemplification of everything I love in a good story! You would be seriously missing out if you don't read this incredible tale!

Guys...Joanna Davidson Politano's previous books have been absolutely amazing, but Finding Lady Enderly is EVEN BETTER! It's like Cinderella meets Downton Abbey meets the author's unique writing style! Everything about the story felt so romantic and mysterious! Even the things you expected had an unexpected twist to them. I also appreciated how this story had some natural, believable consequences that still showed God's amazing grace in the character's lives. Also, Raina and her love interest (a certain man mentioned in the book blurb!) are wonderful and romantic! Their clever method of commnicating was perfect! I will never stop swooning, LOL!

The spiritual theme of Finding Lady Enderly can be described in one word: identity. And like the word itself, this beautiful story has so much meaning, depth, insight, and truth packed into its pages! Raina, her love interest, and the other characters each struggle with their identity in a way that I could personally relate to. While some of it is a subtle grappling with identity and understanding their value to another person, some of it is an intensely beautiful breaking and rebuilding of spiritual identity. If you've ever struggled with who others say you are, with how you view yourself, with how God views you, or with how you view God, then this message is for you. Reader, you will feel strengthened, cherished, and encouraged as Raina's tale opens your own heart to not only the name God has given you but also to the power in HIS name!

Five Stars ~ Finding Lady Enderly by Joanna Davidson Politano is a stunning, romantic, and powerful story! Finding Lady Enderly is a standalone, and I highly recommend the author's other novels! I am looking forward to the author's next intriguing romance!

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!