Review of A Secret to Die For by Lisa Harris

About the Book ~

Psychologist Grace Callahan has no idea that she has a secret - and a target on her back.

When one of her clients is murdered, Grace quickly realizes that computer security specialist Stephen Shaw wasn't suffering from paranoia. What she doesn't know is that someone believes Shaw gave her a vital piece of information before he died - and they are ready to silence her at any cost. Her only hope may be an old friend, Detective Nate Quinn, who has just been cleared for active duty after a bombing killed his partner and left him dealing with PTSD.

With her signature pulse-pounding suspense, bestselling author Lisa Harris takes you deep into the heart of fear in this race against the clock.

For more information about Lisa Harris and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Question: Do you know what I can always count on with a Lisa Harris novel?

Answer: A thrilling story that flies!

Seriously, I read A Secret to Die For in less than twelve hours, and when you've got a toddler, that's a miraculous feat! Lisa Harris has this ability to weave a thrilling, suspenseful story that always results in me frantically turning the pages to figure out the whodunit! And the who always surprises me!

Don't worry - this is a spoiler free zone! ;-)

The true, not-so-secret gem of this story is the spiritual journey that the characters take. This spiritual plot will strengthen many who are downtrodden and heartbroken. Grace and Nate have tragic pasts that will make you want to weep. (Don't judge me...) While the questions of grief surround them, their journey is filled with hope! They ask the same questions that we ask about death, disaster, sickness, grief, and living with God's joy despite those traumas. And I loved how Grace was actually the guiding light for Nate, drawing him back to God's loving embrace! Their sweet romance felt natural, realistically building over the duration of the story.

Three Stars ~ A Secret to Die For is a thrilling tale that will keep you guessing while strengthening your spirit! As far as I know, this is a standalone novel, but Lisa Harris' next chilling novel, releases Autumn 2019!

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

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

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 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, and Instagram!

Review of Loving Grace by April Smith

About the Book ~

Grace Summer lands herself in a melon load of trouble when she becomes torn between the boy of her dreams and the boy almost next door. As the newly crowned Watermelon Queen, she is thrust into the spotlight, meets the dreamy Warren Hartley, and continues trying to get over an accident that rocked her world. Mix in working with Beau Baron who Grace happens to fight with just about as much as breathing and the metaphorical sparks fly. Like most things in life, Grace must learn to take the good with the bad. While the good is the handsome and fun Warren Hartley, the bad is Beau Baron—or at least being around his annoying and rude self way more than she would like. For Beau, Grace is nothing more than aggravating and an irritating reminder from the night of the accident. Tensions soar as Grace and Beau fight to love themselves and maybe, just maybe, each other.

For more information about April Smith and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

Loving Grace by April Smith is a "melon load" of sweet! So stinking cute!

Seriously, if you're looking for a sweet read, then Loving Grace should be added to you TBR, like, now. The story flows, reading easy and fast. While it may seem to scream "SUMMER READ," I think it's perfect for any season. Spring... Summer... Autumn... When you wish Summer was here (#goawaywinter)... I also found the watermelon farm and pageant to be a fun, fresh setting! I actually felt like learned some stuff, too. No joke! I might even try to grill some watermelon...

Grace is such a teen! I loved that about her! She's hardworking and sweet, but she could be sarcastic and pop an attitude like no one's business! She's just a girl who loves God and is trying to navigate the ups and downs of life after a family tragedy. The aforementioned family tragedy didn't overshadow the book, and the story still felt fun and sweet despite the heartbreaking heaviness of those scenes. Grace's relationship with God just flowed through the story, but her mistakes and emotions will have readers young and old alike empathizing with her. This coming-of-age story is filled with so many examples of true love that my romantic heart could just burst from happiness! And for me, that's the best part!

Four Stars ~ Loving Grace is sure to sweeten any reader's day with a gooey heart smile! To my knowledge, Loving Grace is a standalone novel, but the author has already made a fan out of me! I'll be looking forward to whatever April Smith writes next!

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

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

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 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, and Instagram!
 

Review of The Crescent Stone by Matt Mikalatos

About the Book ~

A girl with a deadly lung disease . . .

A boy with a tragic past . . .

A land where the sun never sets but darkness still creeps in . . .

Madeline Oliver has never wanted for anything, but now she would give anything just to breathe. Jason Wu skates through life on jokes, but when a tragedy leaves him guilt-stricken, he promises to tell only the truth, no matter the price. When a mysterious stranger named Hanali appears to Madeline and offers to heal her in exchange for one year of service to his people, Madeline and Jason are swept into a strange land where they don’t know the rules and where their decisions carry consequences that reach farther than they could ever guess.

For more information about Matt Mikalatos and his books, check out his website here!

My Thoughts ~

The Crescent Stone is one of those books where all the awesome things you hear about it is totally and completely true.

SOOO GOOD!!!

The Crescent Stone had such a Narnia vibe while still professing its own unique identity. There's even extra content that will make the bookish giddy - at least I was giddy! New worlds. New magic. New races.

But circumstances that are achingly relevant to life today.

Madeline and Jason/Wu Song are more than just relatable, they are you and me and everyone around us. They represent the mix of millions of people who don't know, who are being pushed down, who are searching for truth, who are fighting for justice. Madeline's  journey of discovery was both enlightening and empowering. While her tale seems to have a hefty dose of heartbreak, I love this character for the way she looked at the truth she didn't want to be real and fought for a change of heart. Jason/Wu Song might be my favorite part of this story! His blunt snark had me laughing through each page, but his story was just as eye-opening. And his romance with Baileya will be one of my very favorites, I know this to be true!

Racial, class, and justice issues are the big themes of this novel, and God's loving heart shines on these issues through The Peasant King, the representation of God in the story. I loved this!I can't even tell you how much I loved this! So powerful!

Five Stars ~ The Crescent Stone is fantastical journey with a relevance that will pierce hearts! The Crescent Stone is the first book in The Sunlit Lands Series. The next book, The Heartwood Crown, releases Summer 2019, and I am so excited to continue this journey!!!

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

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

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 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, and Instagram!
 

Review of Fawkes by Nadine Brandes

 

About the Book ~

Thomas Fawkes is turning to stone, and the only cure to the Stone Plague is to join his father's plot to assassinate the king of England.

Silent wars leave the most carnage. The wars that are never declared but are carried out in dark alleys with masks and hidden knives. Wars where color power alters the natural rhythm of 17th-century London. And when the king calls for peace, no one listens until he finally calls for death.

But what if death finds him first?

Keepers think the Igniters caused the plague. Igniters think the Keepers did it. But all Thomas knows is that the Stone Plague infecting his eye is spreading. And if he doesn't do something soon, he'll be a lifeless statue. So when his Keeper father, Guy Fawkes, invites him to join the Gunpowder Plot--claiming it will put an end to the plague--Thomas is in.

The plan: use 36 barrels of gunpowder to blow up the Igniter King.

The problem: Doing so will destroy the family of the girl Thomas loves. But backing out of the plot will send his father and the other plotters to the gallows. To save one, Thomas will lose the other.

No matter Thomas's choice, one thing is clear: once the decision is made and the color masks have been put on, there's no turning back.

For more information about Nadine Brandes and her books, check out her website here!

My Thoughts ~

"Fawkes rocks! Fawkes rocks! Fawkes rocks!"

Sorry, that's the multitude in my head cheering for Fawkes by Nadine Brandes. They're good people, but they must have overtaken my fingers for a moment. ;-)

But seriously, Fawkes does rock!

The author did an amazing job of creating a new world within the confines of history. The era felt so vivid but not stilted. And I loved the magical color system!! I also loved how representative of God it was, God's playful and loving side that craves a relationship with us!!
 

Did I mention that Fawkes was written for the general market? That's right! This story has a huge crossover appeal, but that God stuff is still ingrained into the story in a subtle way that is sure to leave readers hungry for more.

There are so many amazingly layered truths in Fawkes! Nadine Brandes truly wrote a story that showed the reader that there are multiple points of view on any given subject - especially the difficult subjects! Thomas was so relatable to me. He wanted his father's love, but he needed to discover what truth was for himself. Emma was one of my favorite parts, and I loved the truth she represented. I also loved the natural way the main characters were convicted. Even Emma realized that she had been looking at something with a skewed viewpoint, and that is so powerful. Seeking the truth by going to the source rings loud and clear throughout the story!
 

I sobbed so hard through the entire last chapter - and not just because the book was ending! It didn't take a lot of wondering (or a lengthy Google search) to determine what would happen to Thomas' father, Guy Fawkes. But the story ended with a hope so profound that my only option was to cry it out. Powerful!!!

Five Stars ~ Fawkes reaches a new level of awesome that needs its own awesome name because saying "awesome" doesn't do it justice. Highly recommended!!! Fawkes is a standalone novel. I am sooo looking forward to reading Nadine Brandes' next historical fantasy, Romanov - a retelling of Anastasia! But what am I going to do with my life until May 2019??? *wails and gnashes teeth*

 

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

Any questions? Check out my Disclosures and Policies Page!

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 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, and Instagram!