A. D. Lawrence: The Purple Nightgown

 By Kelly Bridgewater

 Marvel at true but forgotten history when patients check into Linda Hazzard’s Washington state spa in 1912 and soon become victim of her twisted greed.

Heiress Stella Burke is plagued by insincere suitors and nonstop headaches. Exhausting all other medical aides for her migraines, Stella reads Fasting for the Cure of Disease by Linda Hazzard and determines to go to the spa the author runs. Stella’s chauffer and long-time friend, Henry Clayton, is reluctant to leave her at the spa. Something doesn’t feel right to him, still Stella submits herself into Linda Hazzard’s care. Stella soon learns the spa has a dark side and Linda a mean streak. But when Stella has had enough, all ways to leave are suddenly blocked. Will Stella become a walking skeleton like many of the other patients or succumb to a worse fate? 

 

My Thoughts:

With each introduction to the True Colors of the Historical Stories of American Crime, they have gotten darker and darker. Which personally, I have LOVED. Many Christian fiction straws away from dark horrible stories, but this series, seems to be diving into it more. I love this. I love a good psychological thriller, so it is nice to see some more stories that dive into deeper and more horrible stories. The Purple Nightgown by A. D. Lawrence was scary, yet horrific all at the same time. I loved how this author crafted a character who was going through this horrible incident, yet was still crying out to God for help. It was a good reminder for the readers that is what we should be doing too. God is not the last resort; He should be the first resort. The writing was fabulous. I traveled with Stella to Doctor Hazzard's place and was also horrified at what I saw. Of course, the story has a predictable ending with the nice bow for readers, so they feel comforted. Overall, this is definitely a must read. I enjoyed it and can't wait for the next one!

I received a complimentary copy of The Purple Nightgown by A. D. Lawrence  from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Welcome Spring

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Spring has probably arrived in the Northern Hemisphere!

Not that I'm happy, BUT those of you who enjoy warmer weather, have fun.

www.wallpapercave.com

Susan Sleeman: Hours To Kill

By Kelly Bridgewater

Just as Homeland Security Agent Addison Leigh reaches the pinnacle of her cyber investigation into a firearms smuggling ring, she's attacked and left for dead. Her estranged husband, ICE Agent Mack Jordan, is notified that she's at the hospital in a coma. He may have let his past military trauma ruin their short marriage, but she never gave up on their relationship, and he remains her next of kin.

Mack rushes to her bedside, where he promises to hunt down the man who attacked her. Mack failed her once when he bailed on their marriage, and he's not about to let her down again. But when she wakes up in the hospital, she remembers neither the attack nor ever being married to Mack. And when a second attempt to take her life is made, it's clear something very sinister is going on, and Mack and Addison are in for the ride of their lives. 

 

My Thoughts:

Hours to Kill by Susan Sleeman is a fast procedural story of the hunt for a stalker. From the first page, Sleeman takes readers for a ride with the suspense. The romance hints on the pages between the hero and the heroine. They had a past that took a while to come to the surface for the readers. As for the suspense, it was not a constant chase through to the end of the story. Instead, Sleeman takes readers for a ride as they watch the steps and the teamwork to solve the crime. She shows different aspects of the legal procedures and how many people it would take to solve the crime. When the story reached the climactic moment, it was definitely something different. Something readers would read in the newspaper, not in a fiction story. I enjoyed the aspect. Overall, Hours to Kill by Susan Sleeman keeps the reader guessing. I believe, if readers enjoyed, CSI or any other type of shows like this, then they might enjoy Hours to Kill by Susan Sleeman.

I received a complimentary copy of Hours to Kill by Susan Sleeman by Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase Hours to Kill 

Laptops vs. Textbooks

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Covid-19.

Lord, please hope we are past this horrible thing. Amen.

 

BUT,

I know majority of students had to do on-line classes this past year. Teachers had no idea what they were doing. Students had no idea what the teachers wanted. Teachers did the bare minimum to earn their paychecks. (yes, I know there were some that went above and beyond. I congratulate you for actually doing your job in the middle of the insanity.)

 

Everything was on the computer.

 

Lessons. Questions. Submitting assignments.

 

I know with the internet practically everywhere school just assumed that this would be an easy answer to all the problems having face-to-face instruction. But it was not.

 

We live in the middle of nowhere. If the sun is shining, wind blowing, storming, cloudy, or snowing, there is no internet at my house. Sometimes my boys would submit their assignments and the teachers would not receive it. But of course, as a teacher, you couldn’t reach out to the student before the assignment was due to allow them to know this. Or give them a little later to try to send it again. No, just assign an F. No explanation. No grace period.  So their grades would suffer.

 

Is the right way to be teaching our students to learn?

 

Heck, no!!!

 

What is wrong with having an actual textbook?

www.freepik.com

 

You know, those big books with tons of words, explanations, examples, and charts. So when the students were actually sent home, they would have all their assignments right in front of them. Yes, the teacher could post a lesson, but if they were still struggling, they would have a textbook to refer to.

 

Students, today, don’t even know how to take notes. When a teacher is explaining things to help with homework, they don’t know what to copy down. What is important. They don’t know how to study.

 

What a disservice we are actually doing to this generation?

 

Stop being a hover generation and actually make them toughen up. They need to face the hard realities of life. They don’t need to keep living in a bubble where everything is nice and safe. Life is full of disappointments and the only way to get far is through hard work. Employees need to understand this. Students need to understand this. PARENTS need to understand this.

 

Their kids do not need to sign up for every sport and every event at school. They need to be a kid.

 

We need to expect more from this generation instead of accepting less and less with every new child that is born.

 

As an older member of society, (I’m in my thirties.) I don’t believe we are doing a service to our futures or the future of our country. We are slowing ruining our way of life forever.

 

We need to stop this before it is too late.

 

Does anyone agree with me?

Andrea Christenson: Can't Buy Me Love

 By Kelly Bridgewater

She’s not looking for love…

Housekeeper-slash-entrepreneur Ella Bradley prides herself on being ready for anything. After all, with a father who died—and lied to her—and a stepmom and stepsister who despise her, she has no one else to depend on. But on the biggest night of her life, she’s unprepared to be trapped in an elevator with the man of her dreams.

He doesn’t mean to lie…

Wealthy prince-to-a-fortune Adrian Vassos wants nothing more than to shed his reputation as a party boy and prove that he is a savvy businessman. Even, a gentleman. But when he’s trapped with a woman who knows his reputation but not his face, he gives into the temptation to be someone else—and lies.

A disastrous beginning leads to a fresh start…

When serendipity brings them together again—this time to work off community service—can their combined sentences spark a new ending? Maybe…if Adrian’s lies don’t find him out. Again. 

The magic of Deep Haven enchants in this modern-day Cinderella story.

 

My Thoughts:

Can't Buy Me Love by Andrea Christenson with the help of Susan May Warren is  a contemporary romance fans dream come true. If readers have enjoyed all of Warren's Deep Haven stories, then they will probably enjoy this story too. With a domino effect of errors that occur, Ella finds herself thrown in Adrian's arms and path over and over again. Of course, there is plenty of predictable moments where the two characters find themselves questioning their romance and sparks flashing everywhere. The plot was a little different. She is worried about the environment; whereas, he wants to build a waterpark with chemicals galore. Tension. One of my favorite things was seeing the Christenson family again. They were my favorite family by Warren, so it is nice to see them play a part again. Overall, Can't Buy Me Love by Andrea Christenson is just what the readers were wanting. Familiarity. Romance. Tension. Definitely a book for the keeper shelf.

I received a complimentary copy of Can't Buy Me Love by Andrea Christenson through Sunrise Publishing, but the opinions state are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase Can't Buy Me Love

About the Author:

Andrea Christenson lives in the Minneapolis suburbs with her husband and two daughters. When she is not busy homeschooling her girls, she loves to read anything she can get her hands on, bake bread, eat cheese, and watch Netflix--though not usually all at the same time. Andrea's prayer is to write stories revealing God's love.

Grace Hitchcock: My Dear Miss Dupree

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Willow Dupré never thought she would have to marry, but with her father's unexpected retirement from running the prosperous Dupré sugar refinery, plans changed. The shareholders are unwilling to allow a female to take over the company without a man at her side, so her parents devise a plan--find Willow a spokesman king in order for her to become queen of the empire.

Willow is presented with thirty potential suitors from the families of New York society's elite group called the Four Hundred. She has six months to court the group and is expected to eliminate men each month to narrow her beaus until she chooses one to marry, ending the competition with a wedding. Willow reluctantly agrees, knowing she must do what is best for the business. She doesn't expect to find anything other than a proxy . . . until she meets Cullen Dempsey, and she must discover for herself if his motives are pure.

 

My Thoughts:

My Dear Miss Dupre by Grace Hitchcock is a mixture of The Bachelorette versus the Gilded Age American Royalties in New York City. While the concept is original, the ending is completely predictable. At times, I had a hard time not comparing it to Princess Dairies 2 with Anne Hathaway and Julie Andrews. Must pick a spouse in order to run the company by her side. While the father kept saying that he supporter her and even raised her to take over the company, but he was listening to the board and trying to find a husband for her anyways. At time, I also had a hard time staying focused. The story line kept getting more unrealistic and more unrealistic. I didn't want to see her pick anyone. It was really hard for her to fall in love with anyone in six months, and her parents kept coming back with a shorter time frame, then a shorter time frame over and over. Tightening the noose on her neck again and again. Did I favor a hero over any of the others? Not really. I didn't know any of them long enough. She had to spend time evenly with all the possible suitors that I don't think she even found one that she liked. Overall, the story was unique, but I really didn't find it that interesting.  

I received a complimentary copy of My Dear Miss Dupre by Grace Hitchcock from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

Purchase My Dear Miss Dupre

Psalm 40: 1-8

 By Kelly Bridgewater

"I waited patiently for hte Lord;

And He inclined to me,

And heard my cry.

He also brought me up out of a horrible pit,

Out of the miry clay,

And set my feet upon a rock,

And established my steps.

He has put a new song in my mouth--

Praise to our God;

Many will see it and fear,

And will trust in the Lord.

Blessed is that man who makes the Lord his trust,

And does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works

Which You have done;

And Your thoughts toward us

Cannot be recounted to You in order;

If I would declare and speak of them,

They are more than can be numbered.

Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;

My ears You have opened.

Burnt offering and sin offerings You did not require. 

Then I said, 'Behold, I come;

In the scroll of the book it is written of me.

I delight to do Your will, O my God,

And Your Law is within my heart."

Scripture comes for Living the Word NKJV Bible

Lynn Blackburn: Unknown Threat

 By Kelly Bridgewater

US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He's an expert at shielding others, but now the protectors are in need of protection.

FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is driven to succeed and confident in her ability to solve every case she's assigned. She's been put in charge of the investigation into the unprecedented attacks, and with Luke's life in danger, the stakes have never been higher. But it's hard to know how to fight back when you don't know who the enemy is.

As more agents are targeted, Luke and Faith will have to work together to bring a killer to justice and prevent any more names from joining their fallen brothers and sisters on the Secret Service Wall of Honor.

 

My Thoughts:

Unknown Threat is a bombing interesting story! With the opening chapter, readers are taken for a quick ride as they wonder through the word of agents being targeted and killed one by one. Who is next? Could it be the hero? Could it be the heroine? Lynn Blackburn takes readers on a journey through the life of interesting characters and an interesting plot. Blackburn does a wonderful job at crafting a story with showing the Secret Service and FBI operations. While the romance does occur, it does take over a lot of the story. As for the plot, I wanted more suspense. If these agents’ lives were in peril, then why was it not happening all the time? I kept wanting something to happen at certain moments, but then Blackburn would talk about the case through the eyes of Faith Malone, FBI Special Agent, or Luke, Selective Services. Overall, in my humble opinion, this was a predictable, yet original tale through the world of the police. I believe fans of DiAnn Mills, Colleen Coble, and Irene Hannon would enjoy this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Unknown Threat by Lynn Blackburn from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

Purchase UnknownThreat

Melanie Dobson: The Curator's Daughter

 By Kelly Bridgewater

A young girl, kidnapped on the eve of World War II, changes the lives of a German archaeologist forced into the Nazi Party and--decades later--a researcher trying to overcome her own trauma.
1940. Hanna Tillich cherishes her work as an archaeologist for the Third Reich, searching for the Holy Grail and other artifacts to bolster evidence of a master Aryan race. But when she is reassigned to work as a museum curator in Nuremberg, then forced to marry an SS officer and adopt a young girl, Hanna begins to see behind the Nazi facade. A prayer labyrinth becomes a storehouse for Hanna's secrets, but as she comes to love Lilly as her own daughter, she fears that what she's hiding--and what she begins to uncover--could put them both in mortal danger.

Eighty years later, Ember Ellis is a Holocaust researcher intent on confronting hatred toward the Jewish people and other minorities. She reconnects with a former teacher on Martha's Vineyard after she learns that Mrs. Kiehl's mother once worked with the Nazi Ahnenerbe. And yet, Mrs. Kiehl describes her mother as "a friend to the Jewish people." Wondering how both could be true, Ember helps Mrs. Kiehl regain her fractured childhood memories of World War II while at the same time confronting the heartache of her own secret past--and the person who wants to silence Ember forever.

 

My Thoughts:

The Curator's Daughter by Melanie Dobson captured my attention from the first chapter. I'm always surprised when I read another World War II novel and learn something new. I do read a lot in this genre, so there is always something new to learn. The writing was wonderful. The characters were honorable and a delight to spend time with. I love the plot twists and the duel time slips. They work well together to tell a complete story. I can't wait to own a paperback copy to add to her growing bookshelf. I highly recommend this novel to any fans of Cathy Gohlke or Sarah Sundin. This is a fabulous book. Even after putting it down, I thought about the struggles the characters had to endure and even shared the book with a friend. She said that it sounded interesting too.

I received a complimentary copy of The Curator's Daughter by Melanie Dobson from Tyndale Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4. 5 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Curator's Daughter

Are We Really Helping the Future Generations?

 By Kelly Bridgewater

Working at the University level, I see tons of students who can’t do the simple basic skill items that I was taught in High School.

Reading and comprehension has went out the window. Students don’t read instructions set clearly in an email. Students don’t pay attention to the alerts that are blinking in their face.

Simple multiplication and division that should be able to do with mental math is a thing of the past.

 

If the writing is not done in poor grammar or in emoji’s, this generation can not understand what is being asked. Are we really helping them by dumbing everything down for them?

 

I think not.

 

Read some writing of Charles Dickens.

Alexandre Dumas.

Or any other writer who wrote in the late 1900’s.

 

They use words in their stories that were common words of the day and today’s students would not understand at all.

www.istock.com

 

These are the same students that believe they have to have a college degree, but there education is not on-par with even what I was taught in high school 20 years ago. I’m surprised how many of them today don’t know how to study. Can’t write a simple 5 body paragraph. Can’t do math at all. Why are these students allowed to come to the university? They have the skills to barely pass high school, and they are here at the university level, trying to make it, but they can’t do the basics. So the high school education system has failed them, then the college professors have to go back and try to do remedial courses to try to teach them what they should already know from high school in order to pass a college class. So they flunk out of college because they can’t read thick textbooks and have passing grades. Then they cry foul and the school awards them their degree with barely a passing grade.

 

I don’t know about you, but I don’t want a doctor, mechanic, or lawyer to be working for me who could barely understand the course material and now has a job in that field.

 

I think we need to be more picky about who we allow in into our universities and allow those who can succeed and have those skills beforehand to actually be the ones who actually enter the hallowed halls of the university.

 

College is not for everyone.

 

I know plumbers, contractors, and mechanics who make more money than me, and I have a Master’s degree.

 

Because of this epidemic, my degree is really not seen as worth anything anymore.

 

Sad to say.

What about you? Where do you stand on this issue?

Rick Barry: Methuselah Project S.O.S

 By Kelly Bridgwater

About the Book

Book:  Methuselah Project S.O.S.

Author: Rick Barry

Genre: Christian suspense

Release date: October 20, 2020

Born in the final days of Nazi Germany, an underground organization is alive, growing, and manipulating events in our world today …

The survivor of a secret German experiment in 1943, Roger Greene possesses a unique physiology. To this day, his body remains youthful and heals quickly. In exchange for information about the mysterious Heritage Organization that Roger once escaped, the CIA has given him a new identity and pulled strings to get him into the modern U.S. Air Force.

Now, Roger’s main thrills are serving his country in an F-35 and spending time with Katherine, the love of his life. Suddenly, the CIA shows up and drops a bombshell—evidence that Sophie, the woman who Roger believed had died helping him escape, is alive. The Heritage Organization is holding her and others prisoner in an unknown location.

Honor-bound to rescue the woman who risked her life for him, Roger accepts temporary duties with the CIA. But just when the mission is already straining his relationship with Katherine, Roger becomes a murder suspect. A fugitive, he continues alone the mission to find Sophie. What he discovers lands this pilot deep inside a shadowy network intent on world domination.

Will Roger’s faith carry him through this quest—or will those tracking him succeed in snuffing out his long life once and for all?

A sensational standalone story, Rick Barry’s sequel to The Methuselah Project launches you into an unforgettable journey through danger, suspense, hope, and love—an experience that will keep you turning pages well into the night! 

 

Click here to get your copy!

 My Thoughts:

With fast action and unique characters, Rick Barry invites his readers back to the story of Roger Greene and the Methuselah Project that went wrong in World War II. If readers are familiar with the first story, Methuselah Project, they will be delighted to return to the horrors of the science of World War II that went on behind the scene. Today, even the science has gone a little crazy. I really enjoyed how fast the action is. It really takes your breathe away. I enjoyed how Barry had a little romance between Roger and Katherine, but it really did not take away from the constant action. I enjoyed these two novels and pray that God still gives Barry more ideas to craft unique stories with the action that I crave. 

I received a complimentary copy of Methuselah Project S.O.S. by Rick Barry through Celebrate Lit. Tours, but the opinions stated are all my own. 

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

About the Author

Rick Barry has authored 4 novels: The Methuselah Project, Methuselah Project S.O.S., Gunner’s Run, and a young adult fantasy called Kiriath’s Quest. In addition, he has hundreds of published articles and short stories to his credit. He speaks Russian and has visited Eastern Europe over 50 times. Experiences that have provided fuel for his fiction include skydiving, mountain climbing, rappelling, serving in Christian camping ministries in Russia, kayaking, wilderness hiking, white-water rafting, visiting World War II battlegrounds, and prowling deserted buildings in the evacuated Chernobyl zone in Ukraine.

 

More from Rick

More than once, I’ve told friends that if I could write only one novel in my life, The Methuselah Project is the one I’d choose. After all, that inspirational suspense story has equal appeal for men and women readers. Plus, its hero—Captain Roger Greene—is such a fun character. He’s patriotic, handsome, humble, conscientious, and he possesses a sense of humor that carries him through tough times. Sure, it’s a suspense story, but it also includes a satisfying touch of romance.

However, with the publication of its standalone follow-up, Methuselah Project S.O.S., I might have to revise my statement. In this second book I worked hard to raise the stakes, to increase the danger, and to ramp up the tension. Also, in this book we get much better acquainted with the main characters, and the romance deepens. (Sorry, no spoilers!) Even though Roger Greene and his girlfriend Katherine are my own inventions, I’ve really grown to love these two. Judging by reviews, readers have, too!

I confess that S.O.S. was harder to write than the first book. My brain insists on details and believability. For me to write it, the plot of S.O.S. compelled me to research a variety of subjects—the CIA, the Air Force, escape and evasion techniques, functional booby traps, and more. The resulting story is a roller coaster ride of action and emotions.

So, what gives me as author the most joy from these books? Probably the reviews where readers begin, “I don’t usually read this kind of book”—but then tell why they absolutely loved it. Who knows, maybe you’ll be the next one to say so!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, March 3

Where Faith and Books Meet, March 3

Texas Book-aholic, March 4

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, March 5

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, March 6

Becka Jiménez, March 6

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, March 7

Inklings and notions, March 8

Betti Mace, March 9

Blogging With Carol, March 9

For Him and My Family, March 10

deb’s Book Review, March 11

Lights in a Darkness World, March 11

Locks, Hooks and Books, March 12

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, March 13

Pause for Tales, March 13

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, March 14

CarpeDiem, March 15

Mary Hake, March 15

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, March 16

Bizwings Blog, March 16

Giveaway

To celebrate his tour, Rick is giving away  the grand prize package of a $25 Amazon gift card and a paper copy of Methuselah Project S.O.S.!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

https://promosimple.com/ps/108cd/methuselah-project-s-o-s-celebration-tour-giveaway

Tom Threadgill: Network of Deceit

By Kelly Bridgewater

Amara Alvarez's first case as a homicide detective drags her into the murky world of computer hackers. When she finds herself under attack by cybercriminals, she has no choice but to use unconventional methods to expose the truth and find a killer.

 

My Thoughts:

I read Tom Threadgill's first novel, Collision of Lies, with Revell Publishing, and the conclusion disappointed me. The climactic moment happened around Amara, not to her, so I was okay with the novel, but not taken away. While Threadgill does a fabulous job at crafting timely suspense stories, Network of Deceit was much better. I believed that Amara's characters shone so much more in this novel. She was feisty, brave, and intuitive. She was a wonderful character to follow. I loved following her as she worked through what happened to Zach. There were moments that she spoke so fast, like in the police station to the suspects, that I had a hard time following the ping-pong dialogue. This was not a bad thing. I have seen cops do in real life. They ask so many questions, so fast that they are hoping to catch the suspect in a lie or frustrate them that they tell the truth. I like the plot, the hint of romance, and the real life that Amara had to struggle with at the same time. Realistic. Overall, Network of Deceit was more up to my speed. I honestly pray that there is more novels by Threadgill. He is getting better with this novel. I can't wait to see what he crafts next.

I received a complimentary copy of Network of Deceit by Tom Threadgill from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase Network of Deceit