Patrick W. Carr: The End of the Magi

By Kelly Bridgewater

Following his vision of the coming Messiah, the prophet Daniel creates a select group of men who will count down the calendar to the arrival of Israel's promised king. Centuries later, as the day nears, Myrad, a young magi acolyte, flees for his life when his adoptive father and others are put to death by a ruthless Parthian queen.

Having grabbed only a few possessions, Myrad escapes the city, and searching for a way to hide from the soldiers scouring the trade routes, he tries to join the caravan of the merchant Walagash. The merchant senses that Myrad is hiding secrets, but when the young man proves himself a valuable traveler, an epic journey filled with peril, close escapes, and dangerous battles begins.

With every day that passes, the calendar creeps closer to the coming Messiah. And over everything shines the dream of a star that Myrad can't forget and the promise that the world will never be the same.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

The End of the Magi by Patrick W. Carr is a unique and predictable glance into the world of the wise men from the Nativity story. While most Americans have heard of the story, Carr decides to dive deeper into the background before the birth of Jesus. It was different and unexpected of a storyline. I didn't expect to travel so far back, starting with Daniel. I'm glad Carr did though. It made the story easy to follow. While the idea captured my attention, there were moments where the story dragged. I kept finding other things to do around the house instead of read, which is really odd for me. I didn't want to come back to the story. There isn't a lot of tension and running for their lives. The story does have a predictable ending. Would I recommend this story to others? Yes, if there looking for this type of story. While the plot didn't really wow me, the writing is fabulous. Carr definitely knows how to capture a setting and keep in the individual characters' minds. Overall, The  End of the Magi by Patrick W. Carr is a wonderful read for fans of Mesu Andrews and Tessa Afshar. But for me, it didn't quite capture my attention.

I received a complimentary copy of The End of the Magi by Patrick W. Carr from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

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About the Author:

From Amazon

Greetings! I'm Patrick W. Carr and I write character-driven fantasy, be it epic, suspense, or science fiction. My next book will release in the fall of 2019.

Please visit my facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/PatrickWCarr/ or my webpage at www.patrickwcarr.com for more. (Taken from Amazon.)

Terri Blackstock: Smoke Screen

By Kelly Bridgewater

One father was murdered. Another was convicted of his death. All because their children fell in love.

Nate Beckett has spent his life fighting wildfires instead of the lies and rumors that drove him from his Colorado hometown. His mother begs him to come back now that his father has been released from prison, but it isn’t until he’s sidelined by an injury that he’s forced to return and face his past. But that means facing Brenna too.

Fourteen years ago, Nate was in love with the preacher’s daughter. When Pastor Strickland discovered Brenna defied him to sneak out with Nate, the fight between Strickland and Nate’s drunken dad was loud—and very public. Strickland was found murdered later that night, and everyone accused Roy Beckett. When the church burned down not long after, people assumed Nate set the fire to get even for his father’s conviction. He let the rumors fly and left town without looking back.

Brenna is stunned to learn that the man convicted of murdering her father has been pardoned. The events of that night set her life on a bad course, and now she’s fighting a brutal custody battle with her ex and his new wife where he’s using lies and his family’s money to sway the judge. Brenna is barely hanging on, and she’s turned to alcohol to cope. Shame and fear consume her.

As Nate and Brenna deal with the present—including new information about that fateful night and a wildfire that’s threatening their town—the past keeps igniting. Nate is the steady force Brenna has so desperately needed. But she’ll have to learn to trust him again first.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Suspense is definitely something I read a TON of Terri Blackstock is also an author who I have read everything she has written. So when I heard Blackstock was writing another book, I couldn't wait to get my hand on it. With her newest novel, Smoke Screen, I wouldn't really classify it as a suspense novel. There was an element of surprise in the plot, but it didn't have the spine chilling chase from something or someone that Blackstock's stories usually do. Smoke Screen reminded me a lot of Center of Gravity by Laura McNeil. A story where the main heroine is trying to cope with the loss of a marriage and what it does to her. While the suspense element, trying to find out who really killed the preacher, was there, it didn't really capture the whole story. There was romance between the heroine and hero. Something that started fourteen years ago and tried to resume in the pages of the story. I really liked how Blackstock created a safe and honorable hero who didn't take advantage of a weak woman as she moaned the lost of her marriage. Overall, Smoke Screen reminds me of a contemporary woman's fiction with a hint of suspense. Not a bad novel but not what I was expecting.

I received a complimentary copy of Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock from Thomas Nelson Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About the Author:

From Amazon

Terri Blackstock is a New York Times best-seller, with over six million copies sold worldwide. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist. Terri spent the first twelve years of her life traveling in an Air Force family. She lived in nine states and attended the first four years of school in The Netherlands. Because she was a perpetual "new kid," her imagination became her closest friend. That, she believes, was the biggest factor in her becoming a novelist. She sold her first novel at the age of twenty-five, and has had a successful career ever since.

In 1994 Terri was writing for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin, Dell and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening drew her into the Christian market. As she was praying about her transition, she went on a cruise and noticed that almost everyone on the boat (including her) had a John Grisham novel. It occurred to her that some of Grisham's readers were Christians, and that if she wrote a fast-paced thriller with an added faith element, she might just find her niche. As God would have it, Christian publishers were showing interest in the suspense genre, so she quickly sold a four-book series to Zondervan. Since that time, she's written over thirty Christian titles, most of them suspense novels.

Terri has appeared on national television programs such as "The 700 Club" and "Home Life," and has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country. The story of her personal journey appears in books such as Touched By the Savior by Mike Yorkey, True Stories of Answered Prayer by Mike Nappa, Faces of Faith by John Hanna, and I Saw Him In Your Eyes by Ace Collins. (Taken from Amazon.)

Psalm 75:1 and 100

By Kelly Bridgewater

 Psalm 75:1

"We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks!

For Your wondrous works declare that Your name is near."

Psalm 100

"Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!

Serve the Lord with gladness;

Come before His presence with singing.

Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,

And into His courts with praise.

Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

For the Lord is good;

His mercy is everlasting,

And His truth endures to al generations."

*Verses come from the New King James Version of the Bible

Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family and friends. Every year, we invite my family over for Thanksgiving dinner. But the last couple of years, we have had friends come with their families because their parents live a couple of states over. It is hard to drive so far with two little kids for just a couple of days. We play games after eating and laugh a lot. It is a lot of fun. The dogs and children even run around outside, burning off some of that extra energy from the pumpkin, pecan, and peanut streusel pie. I love the cooler temperatures and enjoy having everyone over for the day.

I pray your day is just as wonderful and full of memory making moments.

Serving Up Love

By Kelly Bridgewater

Bestselling novelist Tracie Peterson joins Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, and Jen Turano in this collection of four novellas, each featuring a Harvey Girl heroine. From Kansas to Texas, the Grand Canyon to New Mexico, the stories cross the country with tales of sweet romance and entertaining history.

In Karen Witemeyer's "More Than a Pretty Face," a young woman works her hardest to escape poor choices from her youth. Tracie Peterson offers "A Flood of Love," where reuniting with an old flame after more than a decade offers unexpected results. Regina Jennings's "Intrigue a la Mode" delights with a tale of a young woman determined to help support her family, despite warnings of danger nearby. And Jen Turano's "Grand Encounters" heads to the Grand Canyon with a tale of a society belle intent on finding a new life for herself.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

"A Flood of Love" by Tracie Peterson

A sweet romance sprinkled with a hint of the realities of the Harvey Girls. Peterson uses a little girl to capture readers and Gretchen's heart from the encounter in the beginning of the novella.  My favorite character was the little girl. The romance sprung up from the past and flirted across time into the beginning of the story. The plot was short and sweet. Definitely a little too fast for my taste. Not enough depth to the plot. Peterson does a fabulous job at writing a story in the word limit and allowed her character's transformation to occur in the small space.

"More Than A Pretty Face" by Karen Witemeyer

If readers are familiar with Witemeyer's previous book, More Than Words Can Say , readers will recognize Rosalind Kemp and her past which was mentioned in this novel. Witemeyer does a wonderful job at creating a character that fits right into her original writing. The romance was just right for the page limit. I enjoyed reading Rosalind's story and glad to see her reach her happily-ever-after moment. The plot kept me focused on the plot. The transformation of the character was a complete with a romantic gesture by Caleb.

"Intrique a la Mode" by Regina Jennings

Another wonderful addition to this novella collection. Regina Jennings is the only author in this collection that I have not read anything else by her. I enjoyed the mystery element mingled with the historical element of hiding things across the rail lines. Willow shares a unique way to help Graham solve the mystery. The plot was different, and I actually liked it. Again, the romance was predictable, but well-written and entertaining at the same time.

"Grand Encounters" by Jen Turano

Jen Turano is one of my favorite writers, so I couldn't wait to dive into Grand Encounters. If readers have read her Wallflower's series, than Mytrle should be a familiar character. It was nice to see a story for her, even if it was a short story. Turano again does a fabulous job at bringing her character's stories to life for the readers. Even though the romance is predictable, I really enjoy the way the romance comes to a head at the end of the story. It had me laughing, and I really proud of Myrtle standing up for what she really believed in.  The plot really captured my attention and was my favorite of the four novellas.

I received a complimentary copy of Serving Up Love by Tracie Peterson, Karen Witemeyer, Regina Jennings, and Jen Turano from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Natalie Walters: Deadly Deceit

By Kelly Bridgewater

Independent and tenacious journalist Vivian DeMarco is back in Walton, Georgia, for one reason--to do her job and get out. When her boss suddenly dies under suspicious circumstances, Vivian's only hope for finding the truth--and the next big story--is small-town law enforcement's lanky poster boy, Deputy Ryan Frost. But the deeper they dig, the more twisted the truth becomes, and Vivian finds herself fighting for not only answers but also her life. False leads, incriminating emails, and someone called The Watcher force Vivian to confront the secret of her past and decide: How much is she willing to risk for the sake of a headline?

Author Natalie Walters welcomes you back to Walton, Georgia, where everyone knows your name--but no one knows your secret.

From Goodreads

My Thoughts:

Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters is a non-stop tension driven novel with a hint of romance. Romantic suspense can go one way or other. Either too much romance or too much suspense or a nice balance of both. With Walters newest novel, the story leans more to the suspense side, which is my taste anyways. The romance is there and hinted at, but it doesn't take over the whole hunt for the Watcher. The idea of the Watcher has been done before and quite predictable, but I had a hard time buying who the Watcher was at the end of the novel. While the reality of the bad guy had me shaking my head, Walters is a fabulous writer who gives fans of the romantic suspense genre what they are looking for. The romance kept beating on just like the suspense and came to its predictable ending. Overall, Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters is a romantic suspense novel just right for the fans of the genre. With transformation characters, a good dose of suspense, and a budding romance, Deadly Deceit will definitely fit onto the shelf alongside DiAnn Mills, Irene Hannon, and Colleen Coble.

I received a complimentary copy of Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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About the Author:

From Amazon

My world revolves around GIJOE and our three adult (or almost adult) children who keep my life anything but predictable. Our boots hit the ground wherever the Army sends us but home is when we're all together no matter the zipcode. My passion is writing stories where adventure meets love and share my belief that life rooted in purpose is a story worth telling. (Taken From Amazon.)