Wednesday, October 30, 2024

Jennifer Graeser Dornbush: Frozen Lives

By Kelly Bridgewater

Dr. Emily Hartford is back in Frozen Lives, the next thrilling mystery from Jennifer Graeser Dornbush.

Chicago surgeon Emily Hartford has never quite shaken off the dust of her hometown in Michigan. She may be a professional success and have a princely boyfriend in the Windy City, but she can’t seem to let go of being “the coroner’s daughter” from Freeport.

Once again, she finds herself pulled back upstate during a wintery late March when Jeremiah—the eleven-year-old son of her best friend, Jo—goes missing on the frigid shores of Lake Michigan.

To everyone’s relief, Jeremiah turns up days later, alive and unharmed. But tensions remain high, and suspicions of every sort continue to grow. Jeremiah’s account of his abduction doesn’t add up, and Emily worries about Jo’s unraveling marriage. Jeremiah’s recovery, it turns out, is not the end of their terrifying tale. It’s just the beginning …

For moving among them is a devious, malevolent force. Sowing panic while seeking to fulfill his own twisted needs, this wolf in sheep’s clothing leaves a trail of rack and ruin, heedless of the damage in his wake … and the bodies he leaves behind.

Emily solidifies her role as the coroner’s daughter when she puzzles out this madman’s chilling machinations. Risking everything dear to her, Emily is determined to go the icy distance and end his killing spree.

My Thoughts:

Frozen Lives by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush was a book that I could not put down. Dornbush showed who the villain is pretty early on in the novel. Normally, I do not like this when reading a suspense novel. But the way she crafted the novel, it was like watching a car wreck happen, and then stick around for the aftermath. You knew it was horrible, but you wanted to know how it played out. I wanted to know the villain’s mental issues. Why was he doing what he was doing? How long would the horrors happen before the rescue? Dornbush does a good job at leaving little clues and pushing the victims harder and harder. Emily and Brandon had to come to terms with where their relationship might be headed. If readers are familiar with the previous books, they would understand this plot line. As a word of Caution, there are some cuss words in the story, but they were spoken when a character was angry, so I just them and kept moving forward with the plot. It does help cement the anger of the person. Dornbush does leave the story in a cliff-hanger. Now I need the next book as soon as possible. I need to know answers to this ending. Overall, Frozen Lives by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush was a wonderful suspense novel. I think it was the best book in the series. I recommend this novel.

I received a complimentary copy of Frozen Lives by Jennifer Graeser Dornbush from Blackstone Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Purchase Frozen Lives

Sunday, October 27, 2024

Irene Hannon: Over the Edge

By Kelly Bridgewater

Trauma survivor Lindsey Barnes hasn't fully recovered from the ordeal that almost took her life, and now she's in the middle of another crisis. Not only is she the sole witness in a high-profile murder case, but someone is also pushing her to question her sanity.

Police detective Jack Tucker doesn't know what to make of her story, especially when her elusive enemy leaves no evidence behind to lend credence to her claims. Yet the more he gets to know the appealing personal chef, the more he's convinced someone is targeting not only her sanity, but her life.

And unless they can figure out who is behind the campaign to undermine her credibility, a murderer could slip away--leaving more than one body in his or her wake.

With her signature spellbinding style, the bestselling and award-winning "queen of inspirational romantic suspense" (Library Journal) delivers another riveting tale that will keep you turning pages long into the night.

My Thoughts:

Over the Edge by Irene Hannon is a suspense novel that plays with the heroine's mind. The plot was a little slow going. About sixty percent into the novel, it picked up and became a much better suspense novel. The slow building of the romance between Jack, the hero and detective, and, Lindsey, the heroine felt right for the type of story that it was. I really liked the concept of the villain. I figured out who the bad person was pretty soon. No surprise for me there. As for the setting, it is a typical town with a murder running loose and the cops trying to solve the mystery. I did enjoy seeing Jack trying to solve the mystery. I do enjoy the concept of three foster siblings, and Hannon does a good job at showing their relationship in this novel too. Overall, Over the Edge by Irene Hannon does check off the lists of what a romantic suspense novel needs. A good read for someone who enjoys their suspense novels with a slight edge.

I received a complimentary copy of Over the Edge by Irene Hannon from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Publish Over the Edge

Friday, October 25, 2024

Happy Halloween

By Kelly Bridgewater

freepik.com

Happy Halloween!

I love the spookiness of the season.

Cooler temperatures.

Costumes.

Candy.

Watching the Halloween episodes of Roseanne. Even though I have seen them a million times, I look forward to seeing all of them during Halloween.

Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, October 23, 2024

Kimberley Woodhouse: A Hope Unburied

By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book

Book: A Hope Unburied (Treasures of the Earth Book Three)

Author: Kimberley Woodhouse

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: September 24, 2024

In the bustling world of paleontology in 1916, Eliza Mills defies societal expectations to pursue her passion. Having published her early groundbreaking papers anonymously, she has finally earned her place at the Carnegie Museum and seizes the opportunity to work at Dinosaur National Monument with a renowned paleontologist. But things in Jensen, Utah, aren't what they appear. When Eliza gets the chance to dig up bones at a ranch with a dark history, it sparks a chain of events that will rock the very fabric of her carefully constructed world.

Devin Schmitt, Eliza's closest friend since childhood, harbors unspoken feelings for her but knows he will never be able to win her heart. Just as he vows to give her up for good, Eliza begs him to visit her in Utah for another grand adventure. He reluctantly agrees, and within a few days of his arrival, he and Eliza find themselves entangled in a web of danger where the stakes are much higher than they ever anticipated. In a race against time, Devin and Eliza must hold on to God as their hope as they navigate a treacherous terrain of betrayal to unbury the truth and save Eliza from those who wish to see her fail.

Bestselling author Kimberley Woodhouse sweeps you away on a breathtaking journey through the perilous landscapes of the Bone Wars era, where love and ambition collide.

My Thoughts:

A Hope Unburied by Kimberley Woodhouse capture my historical imagination and let it fly. I really loved the love story. I love a story where the couple are best friends, then they realized they have feelings for each other. I especially love it when the guy realizes first. Woodhouse did a wonderful job at showing how Devin fell and fell hard a long time ago. I loved the mystery element of the plot. I love how excited Eliza is about her job. I love how Eliza finally comes to some realization about her life, and she decides to face those issue head on. I love the idea of the Dinosaur hunt. I love the setting. Woodhouse is a wonderful writer that had me flipping through the pages fast as I couldn't see what happened. This is how Historical romance should be written. Plenty of history. Vibrant characters. Little bit of romance to tie the characters together. This has been a different, yet intriguing series that I really want to own. I'm really interested to see what she writes next. Overall, A Hope Unburied by Kimberley Woodhouse was a wonderful way to end the series. She charmed with the first book, and I devoured all three of them.

I received a complimentary copy of A Hope Unburied by Kimberley Woodhouse from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Purchase A Hope Unburied

About the Author

Kimberley Woodhouse is an award-winning, bestselling author of more than forty fiction and nonfiction books. Kim and her incredible husband of thirty-plus years live in Colorado, where they play golf together, spend time with their kids and grandkids, and research all the history around them.

More from Kimberley

A couple of years ago, I asked readers on my Facebook page what they were interested in reading in Christian fiction. When one reader and friend suggested I write about the Bone Wars, I was intrigued and instantly excited. I had no idea how much of a blessing writing the Treasures of the Earth series would be.

I traveled all over western Colorado, eastern Utah and southern Wyoming, looking at the incredible displays of bones of magnificent creatures of our past. Stopping at every tiny museum along the way, and even driving miles and miles into the middle of nowhere to find just the right setting for The Secrets Beneath. But it was going to Dinosaur National Monument in Jensen, Utah that truly helped these three books come to life.

The monument was established in October 1915 by President Woodrow Wilson. The 80 acres encompassed the Carnegie Quarry, where paleontologist Earl Douglass was digging, trying to find intact dinosaur skeletons to send back to Carnegie’s museum in Pittsburgh. Eventually, President Franklin D. Roosevelt expanded the park to encompass more than 200,000 acres.

But this monument wouldn’t exist without the determination of one man: Earl Douglass. I had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Diane Douglass Iverson, his granddaughter, during one of my research trips. She was generous with her time and memories as she shared her grandfather’s journals and memories with me. The longer we talked, the more the idea for what would be the third book of this series took shape. Though Earl is not a primary character in Eliza’s story, his presence and impact on the science of paleontology is felt through the pages.

In fact, each chapter of all three books has a quote from the book his son created out of his journal entries, titled Speak to the Earth and It Will Teach You. I am grateful to Diane for the opportunity to share his struggles, hopes, and dreams with my readers.

With this last book, I hope you enjoy Eliza’s joyful spirit, as well as her struggles to find her place in this world. She’s a spirited young woman with a passion for fossils and how God has created this incredible planet. You’ll get to visit Dinosaur National Monument with her, seeing the founding of this great national treasure through her eyes. I hope you love visiting there in your imagination and that you get the opportunity to visit on your own someday. But even more than that, I pray that, like Eliza, you find joy and confidence where God has placed you in His story.

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, October 21

Bigreadersite, October 21

lakesidelivingsite, October 22

Where Faith and Books Meet, October 23

Lighthouse Academy, October 23

Daylong Reflections, October 24

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, October 25

For Him and My Family, October 25

Texas Book-aholic, October 26

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, October 27

Jeanette’s Thoughts, October 27

Locks, Hooks and Books, October 28

Connie’s History Classroom, October 29

Mary Hake, October 29

Holly’s Book Corner, October 30

Cover Lover Book Review, October 31

Pause for Tales, October 31

Book Looks by Lisa, November 1

Lily’s Corner, November 2

Live.Love.Read., November 2

Labor Not in Vain, November 3

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Kimberley is giving away the grand prize of a $20 Amazon gift card and a paperback set of the Treasures of the Earth series: The Secrets Beneath, Set in Stone, and A Hope Unburied!!

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

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf5473/

Monday, October 21, 2024

Naomi Stephens: The Burning of Rosemont Abbey

By Kelly Bridgewater

1956: In the quiet village of Wilbeth Green, the smoldering ruins of Rosemont Abbey set the residents' tongues wagging, and everyone is quick to accuse troublemaker Paul Everly of being the arsonist. Paul has vanished without a trace, leaving only his twin sister, Louisa, certain of his innocence. Fueling her conviction is an inexplicable connection--she felt her twin's death an hour before the abbey went up in flames.

Knowing no one will believe her, Louisa embarks on her own investigation, challenging the skepticism of her neighbors and the disdain of her aunt and uncle. Even Inspector Malcolm Sinclair, once Paul's closest friend, is torn between his duty and a lingering loyalty to Paul and warns Louisa to abandon her pursuit. But Louisa is determined to solve a murder no one else believes was committed, even if it means unraveling secrets that could shake Wilbeth Green to its core.

Award-winning author Naomi Stephens presents a gripping whodunnit--reminiscent of the beloved Agatha Christie tales--of love and redemption set in a quaint British village.

My Thoughts:

The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens crafts a world of historical mystery during the 1950's. While I really wanted to like this story, I had a hard time enjoying it. The plot does not move forward at all. The characters were really never in danger. While the mystery had the potential to be a bigger, mysterious idea, it did not turn out that way. A number of cozy mysteries have the heroine trying to solve the mystery. This time the concept was no different. But I honestly did not care what happened to her. Yes, it is her twin brother that is being thrown on the chopping block, but it felt weird. The setting and time period of the novel had nothing unique about it that made me believe I was in 1950. I honestly kept thinking I was in the Victorian era. Her aunt and uncle were in charge of her. Her money. Her dating life. When I think of 1950's, I think of sock hops, school dances, beginning of rock and roll, and classic cars. A couple of times, Stephens did mention musicians, but music was such a HUGE part of the 1950's world, but it did not affect the heroine at all. Why did she not hang out with her friends at the local malt shop and talk over the clues of the case with a trusted friend there. She did some sleuthing, but not enough for my taste. Overall, The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens was dated in 1956, but I had a really hard time buying. The plot was not that interesting, and I wanted more from the main heroine. Not a book that I could recommend.

I received a complimentary copy of The Burning of Rosemont Abbey by Naomi Stephens from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Burning of Rosemont Abbey

Friday, October 18, 2024

2 Corinthians 4: 6 – 13

By Kelly Bridgewater

pixabay

⁶For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”^[^a^] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

⁷But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. ⁸We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; ⁹persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. ¹⁰We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. ¹¹For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus’ sake, so that his life may also be revealed in our mortal body. ¹²So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you.

¹³It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.”^[^b^] Since we have that same spirit of^[^c^] faith, we also believe and therefore speak,

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Corinthians+4%3A+6+-13&version=NIV

Monday, October 14, 2024

Robin Jones Gunn: Tea with Elephants

By Kelly Bridgewater

Ever since they met as teenagers volunteering at a conference center in Costa Rica 20 years ago, Fern Espinoza and Lily Graden have shared a close friendship, even though they live in different states. They can hardly believe it when their teen dream of traveling to Africa together becomes a reality. It's the trip of a lifetime--but life sure isn't what they thought it would be back when they were young.

Along with their suitcases, each woman brings along emotional baggage that weighs heavily on them. Yet the people they meet and the places they experience have the power to change their hearts--but only if they surrender to the lessons God wants to teach them in this unexpected land of emerald tea fields, graceful giraffes, and rambunctious elephants.

Pack your bags and get ready for adventure as Robin Jones Gunn invites you on a safari of the heart in this vulnerable exploration of how to move forward in faith even when the future is uncertain.

My Thoughts:

Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn reminded me a lot of her Sisterchicks series. I have loved Gunn's writing since I picked up True Friends with Christy and Katie back in high School. Now almost an empty-nester myself, there is a lot of changes coming to my life soon. It is nice to see Gunn create characters who are teenagers and handling that part of their life, then she moves into young adults, then adults, then late thirties adults. With Tea with Elephants, I enjoyed the concept and the characters, but the story really did not capture my attention. It read more like Fern's opinions on her trip. A journal entry of every day. Her thoughts. Her actions. Her descriptions. Once in a while, Gunn would thrown something to move the plot along, but I wanted more in-depth. Sometimes we had discussions between Lily and Fern, but since they were good friends, it took them a long time to allow their own walls to come down and be honest with each other. I found that odd. If they had been such good friends for a long time. Why didn't they share their woes on the plane to Africa or as soon as they entered their first cabin. Why keep it hidden from each other? Gunn does a wonderful job at describing the setting. If readers are interested in Africa, this might help hold the thirst at bay. For me, I have no desire to visit Africa, so it did not seem like a place I wanted to visit. Overall, Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn is a good friendship story, but the story lacked the movement of what I wanted to see when two friends are spending time on the side of the world.

I received a complimentary copy of Tea with Elephants by Robin Jones Gunn from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

Purchase Tea with Elephants

Friday, October 11, 2024

Election Woes

By Kelly Bridgewater

I know I have said this before, but please vote for a better president than Joe Biden.

He has raised the cost of living, house costs, gas / energy costs, taxes, grocery costs, etc . . . where the average American can not keep up.

All working for less than $20 an hour.

Do NOT say go to college and get a degree.
I have a Bachelor’s and a Master’s Degree, and I do NOT earn $20 an hour.

But this is the best job that I could find. Pension plan. Retirement plan. Paid sick and vacation time. Time off during Christmas to New Years. Don’t have to work weekends except in June.

Most jobs around me are offering less than $15 an hour, and they want you to sell your soul to the company.

No more 9 – 5 with weekends off.

No more pension plans.

No reasonable health care costs. If I added my family to my work’s health care, it would cost me $700 a month. That is almost one entire paycheck. I can’t live off the same amount for the other half.

Older Boomers have it made. Yes, I know this does not apply to everyone. But still.

They have houses paid in full that they paid $15,000.

They worked for 40 plus years at one company that gave them a very NICE pension to retire with.

Now their houses are worth at least half a million.

They want our generation to purchase these houses at 15 times or more of their actual value when we make next to nothing.

I have heard it said that we are in a Great Depression, but most young kids don’t realize it because they make payments and have credit cards. It will catch up with them one day.

Should not be drinking NASTY Starbucks.

Not going out to eat.

Or having a eight bedroom house when they are just married with granite countertops and a brand new car in the driveway.

You have to save and slowly build what you have. Just like my grandparents did.

Luckily, no debt except the house, which is ONE year away from being paid off. Thank GOD!!!

We need to remove the 99 percent of the people in the White House and start over.

Stop allowing old people that are wealthy taking away our futures.

We need men and women who represent the hurt that we are feeling as a look over generation. Even though, they want us to fund Urkaine’s war and give out small amount of money to the illegal immigrants that need to GO HOME!!!!!!

What about you? Feeling the squeeze and depression that you have nothing? Then prove it!

Vote for someone else better in office this November.

Monday, October 7, 2024

Kara Swanson: Ignite

By Kelly Bridgewater

About the Book

Book: Ignite

Author: Kara Swanson

Genre: YA Fantasy

Release Date: August 20, 2024

Can Mara survive in a world where the fire in her veins is worth killing for?

In a frozen wasteland suffocating beneath a dying sun, Mara is a young phoenix raised by her father to explode at his command. He’s the only one who can help her control her fire, and Mara desperately follows his orders to protect their phoenix family from relentless human hunters.

Her sheltered existence is shattered when her family mysteriously vanishes, thrusting Mara into a perilous quest to find them. Along the way, she unravels a devastating truth: her people may not be the innocent victims she's been taught to believe.

When she comes face-to-face with the kindhearted Eli, she begins to wonder if the humans aren’t the monsters she's always feared. What if the greatest danger doesn’t lie in the icy world outside—but in the truth of who Mara really is?

Fire and ice collide in this thrilling tale of a phoenix girl born with the power of a dying sun.

My Thoughts:

Ignite by Kara Swanson is an original, unpredictable tale of phoenixes. As the story starts, there is really nothing happening. Swanson sets up the setting and allowing Mara, the heroine, to show her storyworld. But of course, she has to do something that shoves her out of her comfort zone. She goes an adventure to find her true self and discover what her family actually is. After the first twenty percent of the novel, the story becomes interesting, and I wanted to see Mara succeed. Once Mara hits the climactic moment, it started to remind me of Satan and his followers and how they choose to leave such a beautiful place because of his pride. Not an exact re-telling just some hints of the familiar story. The fight is pretty detailed near the end of the story. Swanson does leave readers in a cliff-hanger that will leave the readers wanting to know if there is going to be a second book. Overall, Ignite by Kara Swanson is a unquie tale of discovery. Discovery of oneself's true identity. Discover of family. Discover of the lies and truths the characters live in. Plenty of action after the first twenty percent. I hope there is going to be a second book.

I received a complimentary copy of Ignite by Kara Swanson from Enclave Publishing through CelebrateLite Tours, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase Ignite

About the Author

Kara Swanson writes stories about fairy tales and fiery souls. She spent her childhood a little like a Lost Girl, running barefoot through lush green jungles which inspired her award-winning Peter Pan retellings, Dust and Shadow.

She is also the cofounder of the Author Conservatory (authorconservatory.com) where she has the honor of teaching young writers to craft sustainable author careers.

You’ll find Kara with her toes in California sand as a SoCal resident, belting Broadway show tunes on weekend drives to Disneyland with her delightfully nerdy husband, or chatting about magic and mayhem on Instagram.

More from Kara

This story is one that has lived a hundred lives, a little like the phoenix it’s about —dozens of iterations and nearly eight years discovering Mara’s story. In this icy world beneath a dying sun, I was able to craft a story of a young phoenix girl who was more terrified of her own fire than the dangers of the frozen wasteland outside her underground hideaway. Who has been convinced by the father she loves that her flame is only capable of pain and damage — until suddenly, he disappears. And for the first time, she ventures out of her hideaway to discover that the frozen world outside is actually dying for her flame. And that the parts of herself that she has feared and run from…that there may be beauty, even there. That she can choose to rise from the ash of a world that doesn’t understand her, and use the fire in her veins to bring warmth and healing.

I hope you enjoy the adventure!