Julie Klassen: The Seaside Homecoming

 

By Kelly Bridgewater

Disgraced eldest sister Claire Summers has been living in exile as companion to a stern great-aunt in Scotland. About to become homeless and longing to be reconciled with her estranged family, Claire answers an advertisement from someone looking for a "respectable female partner" in a Sidmouth boarding house. Is it a sign or another reckless mistake? When she meets the handsome, secretive proprietor, she wonders what he's hiding and if he's any more trustworthy than the nobleman who betrayed her years ago. Even as she is drawn to him, she fears he will reject her when he discovers her genteel façade hides a less-than-respectable past.

Meanwhile, the Summers family learn their great-aunt has died and Claire has disappeared without a word. The sisters rally together to find their lost sibling, but will their unexpected reunion heal old wounds and rekindle their bonds . . . or widen the divide?

Return to the picturesque Devonshire coast as the Summers sisters navigate romance, second chances, and the enduring strength of sisterhood in the face of adversity.

 

My Thoughts:

The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen tells Claire's story. Readers are introduced to the real reason that she was not mentioned in a good light. Also, readers will become familiar with new characters that will spark a new interest in the storyline. The family does come back into the story, wanting to rekindle their relationship with Claire. The setting is familiar and homely. The plot reminds me a little bit of Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. A continuing story of a family where the family means everything to them. There is a touch of romance and a little bit of mystery to the hero's past, but it moved nicely. Not much action, but a good novel for those who enjoy Regency novels. Right for the genre and sweetly written. I enjoyed this story. There is a hint of an upcoming Christmas novella with this setting and characters due out in September 2025, and I know that I will want to read that story to catch up with this family. Overall, The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen is a delightful read with interesting, yet adorable characters.

I received a complimentary copy of The Seaside Homecoming by Julie Klassen from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Luke 1: 1 - 21

By Kelly Bridgewater

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The Birth of Jesus

2 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. ² (This was the first census that took place while^[a] Quirinius was governor of Syria.) ³ And everyone went to their own town to register.

⁴ So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. ⁵ He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. ⁶ While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, ⁷ and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.

⁸ And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. ⁹ An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰ But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. ¹¹ Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹² This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

¹³ Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

¹⁴ “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

¹⁵ When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”

¹⁶ So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. ¹⁷ When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, ¹⁸ and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. ¹⁹ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. ²⁰ The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

²¹ On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%202&version=NIV

Colleen Coble and Rick Acker: I Think I Was Murdered

By Kelly Bridgewater

A grieving young widow. The AI program that allows her to continue to "talk" to him. And a message she never expected: "I think I was murdered."

Just a year ago, Katrina Berg was at the pinnacle of her career. She was a rising star in the AI chatbot start-up everyone was talking about, married with an adoring husband, and had more money than she knew how to spend. Then her world combusted. Her husband, Jason, was killed in a fiery car crash. Her CEO was indicted and, as the company's legal counsel, Katrina faces tough questions as the Feds take over and lock her out of her office. The final blow is the passing of her beloved grandmother.

Her most prized possession is the beta prototype for a new, ultra-sophisticated chatbot loaded onto her phone. The contents of Jason's email, social media backups, pictures, and every bit of data she could find were loaded into the bot, and Katrina has "talked" to him every day for the past six months. She has been amazed at how well it works. Even the syntax and words the bot uses sound like Jason. Sometimes, she imagines he isn't really dead and is right there beside her. She knows it's slowing her grief recovery, but she can't stop pretending.

On a particularly bad day, she taps out: Tell me something I don't know. The cursor blinks for several moments and seems frozen before the reply flashes quickly onto the screen: I think I was murdered.

Distraught, Katrina returns to her cozy Norwegian-flavored hometown in the northern California redwoods and enlists the help of Seb Wallace, local restaurateur and longtime acquaintance, to try to parse out the truth of what really happened. They must navigate the complicated paths of grief, family dynamics, and second chances, as well as the complex questions of how much control technology has. And staying alive long enough to do that is far more difficult than either of them dreamed.

 

 

My Thoughts:

I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker had more suspense in this story than the first one. Is it a top-notch suspense novel? No. I still think it lacks a lot of nail-biting moments and characters running for their lives. Pretty safe. I honestly never thought the characters were in any danger. Near the end when the climactic moment occurred, then the main heroine’s, Katrina, life was in danger, but really nothing throughout the novel. The plot featured a lot of family issues for the hero, Seb. He is trying to handle his father and family while trying to deal with the romance with Katrina. Trying to solve the mystery of the AI texts that Jason, Katrina’s deceased husband who claims he was murdered. Growing feelings. Nothing really spiritual to the characters or the plot. Overall, I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker is a lackluster suspense novel. Didn’t really capture my attention. Reads more like a Contemporary Women’s fiction with a hint of suspense near the end.

I received a complimentary copy of  I Think I Was Murdered by Colleen Coble and Rick Acker  from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating:  3 out of 5 stars

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Happy Thanksgiving

 By Kelly Bridgewater

God,

As we come to the close of another year and move into a season of Thanksgiving, remind us to be thankful for what we have.

A roof over our head, food in our belly, and the grace of your love.

Allow us to share what you have provided to us with others who might not have as much. Be thankful for what we do possess.

Learn to love and keep on loving others around us.

Shelter the poor. Keep them fed. Feed them physically and spiritually.

Amen.

Enjoy your time with your family.

Happy Thanksgiving!

wallpapercave.com

 

Hannah Linder: Never Forgotten

By Kelly Bridgewater

All He Wanted was Justice. All She Wanted was His Heart. Georgina Whitmore, not accustomed to any man being unaffected by her charms, is plagued with the disappearance and rejection of Simon Fancourt. Twelve years later, Mr. Fancourt returns to British society with two children and a mad hunger for justice. Racing against time, Simon works to uncover the men responsible for his wife's horrific murder, protect his children, and fulfill his father's unexpected will by marrying Georgina--the last thing in the world he wants to do. Though her heart throbs to accept, she would rather lose him again than have his name without his love. She denies his proposal of matrimony, knowing it will cost them both. But as tragedies unravel and secret enemies narrow their sights on Simon, Georgina risks her life--and her reputation--to protect him and the children. Will the danger scorch them alive? Or will it, for the first time, open his heart to her?

 

My Thoughts:

Never Forgotten by Hannah Linder is a Regency mystery novel. I have read all of Linder's novels, but this book definitely has gotten better than her previous novels. The mystery was a little more of a mystery with twists and turns. The Regency aspect of the novel in London rang a little more of a Regency style novel from the characters, their lifestyles, their elaborate homes, and their business dealings. I like how Linder incorporated the prison lifestyle into this story. Made a little more of a realistic novel. I wish there was more of diving into this aspect of the mystery. I wanted to see the hero diving into the underbelly of the prison system. As for the characters, they both had an interesting past that came into the present storyline. It was predictable as much as the romance was predictable, but it was nice to see both characters struggle and want different things as the story moved along. Overall, Never Forgotten by Hannah Linder has felt like a much better Regency mystery than her previous novels. If fans like cozy historical mysteries, then this would be a good book to pick up and read.

I received a complimentary copy of Never Forgotten by Hannah Linder from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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I Thessalonians 5:18

By Kelly Bridgewater

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“1⁸ Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Tiny verse.

Big Impact.

Keep in mind as we enter this Thanksgiving season.

www.biblegateway.com

Patricia Bradley: Deadly Revenge

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Deputy Jenna Hart has only been working in her sleepy hometown of Pearl Springs for seven months when city officials begin to be targeted by a killer. Twenty years ago, the construction of a dam caused people to lose their land to eminent domain. That wound has not healed with time, and someone bearing a grudge is clearly set on revenge. With the former mayor of Pearl Springs now running for the US Senate, Jenna will have to call in backup to ensure his protection.

That's where Agent Maxwell Anderson comes in. He and Jenna used to work together in the Chattanooga Police Department, and there was even a smoldering fire of attraction. Now they team up to track down the killer before a big political rally that promises to bring not only the former mayor into the crosshairs but hundreds of civilians as well.

As the sparks of romance reignite and the threads of the investigation get tangled when another suspect comes into play, Jenna and Max will have to draw on all of their skills to stay alive and prevent the wave of disaster poised to hit the community of Pearl Springs. The question is, can either of them fully trust that the other has their back?

My Thoughts:

Deadly Revenge by Patricia Bradley features two mysteries rolled into one. Bradley does a wonderful job at creating the mystery from the heroine and hero's perspective. The plot kept me guessing as I flowed through the pages. Even though Bradley did tell who the bad person was pretty soon in the book, it was nice to be able to follow the story to see how she has the characters figure out the plot. On the other hand, the romance took a little time to develop trust between the two characters because of a rocky past. The storyline was a little different with the feeling of similiarity to other romantic suspense novels. Familiar readers with the previous books in the Pearl River novels will be happy to see familiar characters and a familiar setting. Overall, Deadly Revenge by Patricia Bradley fits right into the romantic suspense genre and will satisfy readers of this genre. 

I received a complimentary copy of Deadly Revenge by Patricia Bradley from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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