Monday, November 29, 2021

Elizabeth Goddard: Deadly Target

By Kelly Bridgewater

Criminal psychologist Erin Larson's dreams of a successful career come to a screeching halt when she nearly loses her own life in a boating accident on Puget Sound and then learns that her mother tried to commit suicide. She leaves her job as a criminal psychologist to care for her mother in Montana. At least she is able to produce her podcast, which focuses on solving missing persons cold cases.

Nathan Campbell's father was investigating such a case when he was shot, and now Nathan needs to enlist Erin's help to solve the case. She's good at what she does. The only problem? She's his ex.

As the two dig deeper, it becomes clear that they, too, are being targeted--and that the answers to their questions are buried deep within the past Erin struggles to explain and longs to forget.

The race is on for the truth in this gripping and complex tale of suspense, intrigue, and murder from USA Today bestselling author Elizabeth Goddard.

My Thoughts:

Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard kept the action pumping with plenty of twists and turns that will keep readers guessing and flying through the story. The action was my favorite part. Goddard does a wonderful job at amping up the suspense for the heroine. She kept throwing her and the hero in tricking spots that readers will not see coming. Romance, of course, develops, but the story does focus more on the suspense than the romance, which is the way that romantic suspense should be written. The plot was unique and different. The moment of truth for the heroine was not something I have ever read before. It was thrown in, and I was a little shocked. Did not see that coming. If readers enjoy a good chase from the bad guys and want to know why, then this is a good story close to a cozy mystery with a little more edge to the plot. Overall, Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard was a delight to lose myself in. Romantic Suspense fans should pick up this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Deadly Target by Elizabeth Goddard from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase Deadly Target

Friday, November 26, 2021

Savor the Good Ones

By Kelly Bridgewater

Last year for Thanksgiving, I remember spending five hours in the kitchen with my mother helping prepare the meal for all 14 people that came over.

We had to get the turkey in the oven.

Bake pies. We made pumpkin, pecan, chocolate, and peanut butter struesal pie.

Mashed potatoes.

Sweet potatoes.

Homemade rolls that had to rise. Punch. Re-rise. Then separate. Then re-rise before putting them into the oven.

Green beans.

Salad.

Brown Gravy.

Then debone the turkey.

And the dreaded cleaning the dishes as you go.

Just to have the meal eaten in about 30 minutes. Then the whole family rushes away, and I was stuck with the clean-up. After preparing all the food.

By the evening, the boys want to play games, but my back hurts, and I want some quiet time.

This got me thinking about authors.

I want to be a published author.

I have read a good chunk of writing instruction books.

I have studied writers I admire, so I can figure out how to write.

But how long does it take an author to do their research and compose a complete novel?

I have tried to write a number of historical novels, and I love doing the research, but an author could spend days, weeks, or months trapped in a research black hole.

Then you have to spend time crafting the story.

Some authors only write one books a year. It takes them that long to craft a wonderful book. And it shows.

But then it takes me about a day, depending on what is going on to devour the book. Then I either pass the book along, delete it off my Kindle, or place it on my shelf.

All that work for what?

As a budding writer, I have heard that you have to find some other reason to write than the paycheck at the end of the day.

This definitely proves this.

This is why I review. I want others to be able to see the wonders of a good story. I want to tell others about a story that should not just have a couple of days for it to be eaten and then shoved away until “next year.” Like a Thanksgiving dinner.

How about you? Do you share a good book with others? Or do you hurry up and move onto the next one? Trust me. As someone who reviews A LOT, I feel like I do this a lot.

I need to spend more time savoring the good stories too.

Wednesday, November 24, 2021

Susan May Warren: Have Yourself a Christiansen Christmas

By Kelly Bridgewater

Owen picked back up on the first ring. “Hey. Sorry. I’m in the middle of something here, so I couldn’t wait. I’m not sure I’m going to be able to make it, Ames. I have a small kerfuffle I’m into here, but, I’ll do my best.”

“Please try. Not to be dramatic, but it might be the last Christmas we all spend together.”

Please…come home for Christmas…

It's Christmas in the winter wonderland town of Deep Haven, and the Christiansen kids are all heading home for the holidays. But no one feels very merry.

Grace is worried about her husband's life-changing illness…

Eden is facing devastating news…

Casper is in over his head (of course!)…

Amelia is dodging a walk down the aisle…

Owen…well, Owen just nearly died, again…

But it's Darek who has news that just might destroy the family legacy.

The trip home for all is filled with secrets, memories and old dreams. But when they discover the real reason they've been asked home for the holidays, it will shake their world. It'll take a disaster for them to discover that home is the place for answers, hope and most of all…miracles.

This year, spend Christmas with your favorite small town family.

My Thoughts:

Snow. Christmas. Family. Dilemma. Faith. Have Yourself a Christiansen Christmas by Susan May Warren has all the family feels for a wonderful Christmas novella. The Christiansen’s journey through their previous seven novels were one of my favorite Warren families. Obviously, Warren loves them too since she included them in a story again. This time around Christmas. I love seeing all the family members again. I love seeing them interact with one another. I love the elements of the Christmas traditions that Warren wove into the storyline. When authors craft realistic characters and have them face realistic dilemmas, I love seeing how they actually change and grow from these circumstances. The plot was woven so well. Each individual couple has doubts and fears that creep to the front of the story line, but I love how they work through them and rely on God for the answers. Even though I read this story as an e-book copy the first time around, I will purchase it as a physical edition to add to my bookshelf. If you enjoy Christmas movies, Warren’s stories, or realistic family situations, then this is the story for you to pick up and read. Maybe even every Christmas.

I received a complimentary copy of Have Yourself a Christiansen Christmas by Susan May Warren from Sunrise Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Have Yourself a Christiansen Christmas

Monday, November 22, 2021

Patricia Bradley: Crosshairs

By Kelly Bridgewater

Investigative Services Branch (ISB) ranger Ainsley Beaumont arrives in her hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, to investigate the murder of a three-month-pregnant teenager. While she wishes the visit was under better circumstances, she never imagined that she would become the killer's next target--nor that she'd have to work alongside an old flame.

After he almost killed a child, former FBI sniper Lincoln Steele couldn't bring himself to fire a gun, which had deadly and unforeseen consequences for his best friend. Crushed beneath a load of guilt, Linc is working at Melrose Estate as an interpretive ranger. But as danger closes in on Ainsley during her murder investigation, Linc will have to find the courage to protect her. The only question is, will it be too little, too late?

Award-winning author Patricia Bradley continues her Natchez Trace Park Rangers series with a story about how good must prevail when evil just won't quit.

My Thoughts:

Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley features a chase through the park with bullets flying, a dead girl, and the burning flash of romance. The plot opened with a dead body on the scene, which definitely captured my suspense loving mind. While I wanted more focused on the forensics behind the element of who murdered the poor girl, the story focused more on chasing who did it without seeing the study of the clues on the body. Yes, the heroine does wander around the woods and goes into the church, but not much time spent on the scene. The heroine does focus on asking different people present at the campground and in the Natchez about the girl, so she does follow through later. The plot was interesting. I could not wait to see how it played out. As for the romance, the heroine and hero had been in a relationship together back in high school. Then life happened. The driven- down emotions were still just below the surface and wanting to break through the whole time of the story. The characters, especially the heroine, have a good backstory that I completely empathize with. She had spunk and determination. I like her personality. The hero fell a little flat to me. He was needy and helpful, but I really did not like him. Overall, Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley lives up to its name as a romantic suspense novel. Lots of action and romance to keep any reader interested.

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

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase Crosshairs

Friday, November 19, 2021

Happy Thanksgiving

By Kelly Bridgewater

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you enjoy good food and spend time with family making memories.

I know I will!

www.losspreventionmedia.com

Enjoy your time, hopefully, off work!

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

Nancy Mehl: Dead Fall

By Kelly Bridgewater

He has a deadly endgame in mind--and he's already chosen each victim . . . including her.

After putting to rest the most personal case of her career, Alex Donovan is ready to move on and focus on her future at the FBI's elite Behavioral Analysis Unit. When the BAU cofounder is discovered dead in his hotel room, the FBI is called in to work on the strangest case they've ever faced. How do you find a killer who murders his victims from a distance?

When it becomes clear that the killer is targeting agents in Alex's unit, they are ordered into lockdown, sheltered in the dorms at Quantico. Alex bunks with controversial agent Kaely Quinn, and as they work together, Alex discovers in Kaely the role model she's never had--despite being warned away.

As Alex questions the type of agent she wants to become, things get personal when the brilliant killer strikes close to home. Now Alex will do anything to find the killer--even at the risk of her own life.

My Thoughts:

Dead Fall by Nancy Mehl is a twist of Criminal Minds with a taste of romance. I enjoy a good suspense novel that dives deep into the killer's perspective or mind. CSI is one of my favorite series about solving the mysteries because I loved watching the science and the evidence lead toward a captured killer or bad guy. With Dead Fall, Mehl is pretty much doing the same thing with a novel format. Alex, the heroine, was in the first novel, so she is a returning character. The hunt for the clues to solve the mystery lead the story along. The characters acting and reacting to the different elements that kept the story moving along. The mindset of the Behavior Analyists kept me glued to the story. There was a touch of romance, but too much. Maybe something for later. Overall, Dead Fall by Nancy Mehl is definitely a book that I want to add to my bookshelf. If readers enjoy CSI, Criminal Minds, or these type of stories, then I would suggest picking up this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Dead Fall by Nancy Mehl from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Dead Fall

Monday, November 15, 2021

Beth K. Vogt: Unpacking Christmas

By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book

Book: Unpacking Christmas

Author: Beth K. Vogt

Genre: Contemporary/Women’s Fiction

Release date: November, 2021

As Johanna, Jillian, and Payton look forward to celebrating the Christmas holidays with their families, they’re not prepared for an announcement that changes everything they’ve grown to love and cherish.

Their parents are selling their long-time family home. One change seems to lead to another, with Payton and Zach announcing their own decision to move, while Jillian and Geoff tackle the challenge of starting a family. The only ones maintaining the status quo are Johanna and Beckett—but romantic limbo is no place to be. Then their dad’s sudden health crisis spins life further out of control.

Instead of putting up holiday lights and decorating the family Christmas tree, the Thatcher sisters are helping pack up their childhood home. Along the way, they share treasured memories, try to hold onto valued traditions, discovering the struggles they’ve endured pale in comparison to the love they share with each other.

This Christmas, Johanna, Jillian, and Payton will laugh and cry together as they realize the true magic of Christmas isn’t found in gifts or decorations, but in the love of family.

My Thoughts:

Unpacking Christmas by Beth K. Vogt brought readers back into the world of Joanna, Jillian, and Payton Thatcher. This time, like the title suggests, it is featured around Christmas time. Instead of showcasing the family Christmas decorations, the family has to pack up and prepare to move their family. As someone who moved every two years as a child, I really never had the time to make memories in a house before we moved to another one. As a married person, we have only lived in two houses, and my husband and I have made tons of memories in our home together with our three boys. Some of the chapters in this novella do feature the mother's perspective so that was a little different. I did enjoy catching up with the Thatcher sisters. It was nice to see where they have gone and moved forward in their lives since the early stories. Overall, Unpacking Christmas by Beth K. Vogt is a nice addition to the series. If it is available in paperback, I definitely want a copy of this for my personal library.

I received a complimentary copy of Unpacking Christmas by Beth K. Vogt through Celebrate Lit. Tours, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Unpacking Christmas

About the Author

Beth K. Vogt believes God’s best often waits behind the doors marked “Never.” Having authored ten contemporary romance novels and novellas, The Best We’ve Been, the final book in Beth’s Thatcher Sisters Series with Tyndale House Publishers, released May 2020. Other books in the women’s fiction series include Things I Never Told You, which won the 2019 AWSA Award for Contemporary Novel of the Year, and Moments We Forget. Beth is a 2016 Christy Award winner, a 2016 ACFW Carol Award winner, and a 2015 RITA® finalist. An established magazine writer and former editor of the leadership magazine for MOPS International, Beth blogs for Learn How to Write a Novel and The Write Conversation and also enjoys speaking to writers group and mentoring other writers. Visit Beth at bethvogt.com.

More from Beth

What’s going on with the Thatcher sisters?

Readers have asked me this question so often since The Best We’ve Been, the third and what I considered final book in the Thatcher Sisters Series, which released in May 2020. In the series, Payton, Jillian, and Johanna each had their moment center stage. Some readers told me they’d come to understand and, yes, even like older sister Johanna. Quite a feat, considering how she annoyed readers in book one, Things I Never Told You.

I ended the series with the trio of sisters in a good place – the best they’d ever been. The circumstances of their lives weren’t all tied off in nice, neat bows, but then real life isn’t like that, is it? And as the author, I was content to leave the sisters there and let readers imagine what happened next.

And then 2020 disrupted life for all of us. For me? Writing didn’t happen. I promised myself I would dive back into story in 2021. What better way than with a Christmas novella? So many readers love Christmas stories. And what better time to revisit Payton, Jillian, and Johanna and answer readers’ question: What’s going on with the Thatcher sisters?

I wasn’t sure myself. Part of the fun of writing is rediscovering well-known characters as you discover a new story. Set against the backdrop of Christmas? That was just an added blessing.

It’s been Christmas time for me throughout 2021 – a time to enjoy family traditions and face some unexpected changes. Welcome back to the Thatcher family!

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 8

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 9

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 9

Texas Book-aholic, November 10

Livin’ Lit, November 10

A Modern Day Fairy Tale, November 11

Splashes of Joy, November 11

Inklings and notions, November 12

lakesidelivingsite, November 13

Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, November 14

Simple Harvest Reads, November 14 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)

Where Faith and Books Meet, November 15

Genesis 5020, November 15

For Him and My Family, November 16

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, November 16

Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, November 17

SusanLovesBooks, November 17

deb’s Book Review, November 18

Spoken from the Heart, November 18

Locks, Hooks and Books, November 19

Christian Chick’s Thoughts, November 19

Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, November 20

Through the fire blogs, November 20

She Lives To Read, November 21

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Beth is giving away the grand prize package of a $50 Amazon gift card, a copy of Unpacking Christmas: A Thatcher Sisters Christmas Novella, and a set of the Thatcher Sisters Series!!

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/12f8b/unpacking-christmas-celebration-tour-giveaway

Friday, November 12, 2021

Philippians 3: 7 - 11

By Kelly Bridgewater

⁷But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in^[^a^] Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.” (BibleGateway.com – NIV version)

Some of my favorite verses in the Philippians. Revelation, James, and Philippians are my favorite books of the Bible. How about you? What are your favorite books of the Bible?

Wednesday, November 10, 2021

Michelle Sass Aleckson: Right Here Waiting

By Kelly Bridgewater

He lives in a world of winter.

Sled dog musher and outdoor adventurer Nick Dahlquist doesn’t mean to be a loner—he just feels at home in the woods, with his dogs, and also online in his vlogging world, where he’s amassed nearly a million viewers. But he’s just a simple guy, with simple goals—care for his dogs, teach people how to survive the cold, and run the Iditarod. Unfortunately, life turns cold when his lead dog is injured, and he’s low on funds. Good thing he has LadyJHawk to chat with. She’s become an online friend he can turn to, and he’s starting to need her more than he’d like to admit. But the last thing he wants is for some random woman to show up on his doorstep…

She doesn’t belong in his world.

Chopper pilot and Texas gal Jae Lynn Washington has been following Nick’s DogQuest videos and Get Lost in the Woods vlogs since she inherited her deceased boyfriend’s military working dog. Three years later, his encouragement and help as online chat buddies have made her wonder if he could be more than a friend. What if she moved to Deep Haven? Would that be considered stalking, even if she had a bonafide job on the Crisis Response Team?

But she’s determined to try…

When Jae shows up in Deep Haven—and on Nick’s doorstep—he’s not at all the man she met online. The last thing she’ll do is tell him she’s really LadyJHawk. And when Nick is tapped to train the Crisis Response Team, he’s pretty sure that petite, summer-loving Jae won’t last a moment in the brutal cold—a fear he pours out to LadyJHawk. As their training takes a personal turn, their chilly start begins to thaw. But is he ready to shake off his online relationship for the one in real life? And if Jae tells him the truth, will it spook him back into the woods?

When a blizzard strikes, and the CRT is called out into the storm, it might be too late…

Cozy up to this delightful, wintery twist on You’ve Got Mail set in the snowy escape of Deep Haven.

My Thoughts:

Right Here Waiting by Michelle Sass Aleckson was my favorite book of the new Deep Haven series co-authored by Deep Haven Creator Susan May Warren. Maybe it is because it features puppies. Maybe it is because it features snow. Maybe it is because it features a dangerous rescue. The plot does focus a lot of romance with hints of the rescue. This is a contemporary romance, so I understood that going into the novel. As for fitting into the genre type, it does feature just what romance fans want. A romance. Sparks fly. A little disagreement. More romance. Misunderstanding. Then the happily-ever-after. Even though contemporary romance are not my go-to genre, I do enjoy a good story set in the middle of nowhere with tons of snow. Plus, I love how Deep Haven is located in northern Minnesota. Hockey country. I LOVE hockey and watch my team, the Colorado Avalanche play whenever they are on tv. Overall, Right Here Waiting by Michelle Sass Aleckson is a delightful love story in the frozen north. Fans will be happy to see characters that familiar and known to fill the page of the stories.

I received a complimentary copy of Right Here Waiting by Michelle Sass Aleckson through Sunrise Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase Right Here Waiting

Monday, November 8, 2021

Liz Tolsma: A Picture of Hope

By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book

Book: A Picture of Hope

Author: Liz Tolsma

Genre: Christian Historical Fiction

Release date: October, 2021

A Photojournalist Risks Her Life to Save a Very Special Child

Full of intrigue, adventure, and romance, this series celebrates the unsung heroes—the heroines of WWII.

Journalist Nellie Wilkerson has spent the bulk of the war in London, photographing mothers standing in milk lines—and she’s bored. She jumps at the chance to go to France, where the Allied forces recently landed. There she enlists Jean-Paul Breslau of the French underground to take her to the frontlines. On the journey, they stumble upon a great tragedy, leaving a girl with special needs being orphaned.

Can Nellie and Jean-Paul see the child to a safe haven while being pursued by the Nazis, who are pressed by the advancing Allies and determined to destroy all they can before they flee?

My Thoughts:

A Picture of Hope by Liz Tolsma starts with an American photojournalists who happens to be in England during The Battle at Normandy and her ability to capture the fallen soldiers and the horrors of World War II. The story travels through the countryside of France. Readers will be introduced to numerous French cities after the horror causes by the Nazi’s. The story takes place in a convent, reminding me a little bit of The Sound of Music. Plenty of moments that are breathtaking as the characters encounter Nazi’s soldiers again and again, allowing them to wonder if this is the moment that they meet their death. While the concept was interesting, the plot really did not capture my attention. It appeared to be the same action occurring over and over again. Like I mentioned earlier, Nazi’s appearing all the time. The heroine stuck me as a selfish person who wanted her pictures, so she thought of herself. Yes, she did do some heroism actions, but nothing to write home to America about. Being thoroughly well-read in the World War II, this novel really did not capture my attention.

I received a complimentary copy of The Picture of Hope by Liz Tolsma from Barbour Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Picture of Hope

About the Author

Liz Tolsma is the author of several WWII novels, romantic suspense novels, prairie romance novellas, and an Amish romance. She is a popular speaker and an editor and resides next to a Wisconsin farm field with her husband and their youngest daughter. Her son is a US Marine, and her oldest daughter is a college student. Liz enjoys reading, walking, working in her large perennial garden, kayaking, and camping. Please visit her website at www.liztolsma.com and follow her on Facebook, Twitter (@LizTolsma), Instagram, YouTube, and Pinterest. She is also the host of the Christian Historical Fiction Talk podcast.

More from Liz

Why Another WWII Novel Set in France

You may well read the back cover of my latest release, A Picture of Hope, and wonder why on earth we need another WWII novel set in France. After all, Kristy Cambron just had one. Melanie Dobson and Sarah Sundin will be coming out with theirs in 2022. So why did I feel the need to write my novel with the same setting?

First of all, I’m a Francophile. I love all things French. It started when I took French in high school. Everyone else was learning Spanish, but I wasn’t into being part of the crowd. There were only a few of us in the class, and it was great fun. We had a wonderful teacher. Being able to pull out some of that French, refine it a bit, and use it in the book was a blast. But I also love French food (who doesn’t?) and everything else.

Secondly, I hadn’t written about France before. When I wrote this proposal at least five or six years ago, I didn’t know France would be so hot. God did, and the book came about in His perfect timing. I’d explored the Netherlands, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the Philippines. Such a shame that I was leaving out France, so I set about to write a novel located in that country.

Thirdly, there was so much good material to pull from. The French resistance, while small, did good work and sacrificed a great deal to get Jews out of the country and into Switzerland or Spain. The books that Kristy, Melanie, Sarah, and I write are all so different. Only the setting is the same. And when I found out that the famous mime Marcel Marceau was part of the resistance, I couldn’t help but giving him a cameo. Be on the lookout!

Along the way, I discovered some truly heartrending incidents that took place in France. They also compelled me to write this book. I long for the world to remember what happened so that we will never forget. And so that the atrocities committed there will never be repeated.

Fourthly, this was originally the third book in a series. Don’t worry – it’s a stand-alone. Maybe someday I’ll get to publish the other two. The women in the series are all American journalists in Europe. One is a reporter, the other is a broadcaster, and so I decided to make Nellie, the heroine in A Picture of Hope, a photojournalist. And where better to take pictures than on Omaha Beach soon after D-day. How she gets there is based on a very interesting true story, so be sure to read to the end for that one.

There are so many stories about WWII to be told and so many countries that participated in the conflict in one way or the other. The ground is so rich that we aren’t plowing the same parcel. You’ll find all of these books to be very different from each other, each with its own message, its own voice, and its own plot.

The focus in my book is on children with Down syndrome. I have a background in special education, and my husband and I adopted a child from the Philippines with an intellectual disability, so I’ve always had a heart for people with special needs. My daughter brings us so much joy that I wanted to share a glimpse into what these remarkable people are truly capable of.

So that is why I wrote a WWII novel set in France. Make yourself a cup of café au lait, butter up a croissant, and enjoy A Picture of Hope!