Monday, September 9, 2019

Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker: The Girl Behind the Red Rope


By Kelly Bridgewater

Ten years ago, Grace saw something that would forever change the course of history. When evil in its purest form is unleashed on the world, she and others from their religious community are already hidden deep in the hills of Tennessee, abiding by every rule that will keep them safe, pure--and alive. As long as they stay there, behind the red perimeter.

Her older brother's questions and the arrival of the first outsiders she's seen in a decade set in motion events that will question everything Grace has built her life on. Enemies rise on all sides--but who is the real enemy? And what will it cost her to uncover the truth?

For the first time, bestselling authors Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker team up and deliver an intense, tightly focused ride through the most treacherous world of all.

From Amazon


My Thoughts:

Fear is something that encapsulates everyone and everything. Ted and Rachelle Dekker have written a fascinating novel with The Girl Behind the Red Rope covering this exact topic. What have we allowed fear to cover that doesn't allow us to fully embrace God's love? I know we all have little vises, whether we admit them or not. The plot of this novel starts with a cult feeling like Tosca Lee's latest series The Line Between and A Single Light but it goes into a totally different direction. The plot moves along at a rapid pace and captured my attention. I had some ideas about Bonnie and Rose so that didn't come as a surprise to me. Why the story is listed as a suspense novel is beyond me? A thriller. Yes. The definition of a thriller is something about to destroy humanity and this entire novel is based on the fear on the unknown and fear of not being good enough to earn heaven. Even though I believe the novel is labeled as the wrong genre, I don't think it takes away from the strong message the Dekker's are trying to portray to the reader. It is strong and makes me ponder. I journaled about the idea of fear and probably will go back and do a Bible study on the Light of God. Seems interesting to me. Overall, The Girl Behind the Red Rope is a wonderful parable story for today's readers. It was well-written and filled with truth. Just like Jesus would have done in his day. A good book for the church to pick up and read. Definitely something I will be passing on.

I received a complimentary copy of The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted and Rachelle Dekker from Revell Publishing, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars


About the Authors:

Ted Dekker
From Amazon
TED DEKKER is a New York Times bestselling thriller author. Heralded as a "master of suspense" by Library Journal, Dekker has sold millions worldwide, establishing himself as one of the most widely recognized author brands.

He began his career writing fantasy novels that explored spirituality (Black, Red and White) and has since become a major force in the mainstream fiction arena with his recent thrillers, "Adam," "Thr3e," "Skin," "Obsessed," "BoneMan's Daughters," which landed in the #10 on the New York Times hardcover bestseller list in 2009, and "The Bride Collector". Dekker has been honored with a Christy Award as well as a Gold Medallion Award for Best Fiction. "Thr3e" and his novel "House" became feature films.

Dekker was born to missionaries and grew up among cannibals of Indonesia, and his peculiar upbringing gives him a unique perspective outside the cultural bubble, allowing him the freedom to share provocative insights in his fiction. After leaving Indonesia, Dekker graduated from a multi-cultural high school and took up permanent residence in the United States, earning his B.A. in philosophy and religion, and then went into business.

In the early nineties, Dekker decided to pursue his desire to write fiction, selling his company, moving his family to the mountains of western Colorado, and writing full-time. Two years and three books later his first novel, a supernatural thriller called Heaven's Wager, was published. Dekker proceeded to write 6 more supernatural thrillers, rising to the top of many bestsellers lists and earning himself critical acclaim and legions of fans. "Thr3e" heralded his launch into mainstream fiction and was followed by "Obsessed," "Skin," "Adam," and "BoneMan's Daughters," all of which hit the New York Times bestseller list.

Ted Dekker's fans are comprised of readers of all ages, backgrounds, and belief systems who love his compulsively readable stories, authentic characters, and universal and relatable themes that he explores from a unique point of view.

He resides in Austin, Texas with his wife and children. You can find him at Teddekker.com and Facebook.com/teddekker. (Taken from Amazon.)
  

Rachelle Dekker
From Amazon
The oldest daughter of New York Times bestselling author Ted Dekker, Rachelle Dekker was inspired early on to discover truth through the avenue of storytelling. She writes full time from her home in Nashville, where she lives with her husband, Daniel, and their diva cat Blair.

Connect with Rachelle online at her website (www.rachelledekker.com) or on any of these social media platforms:

Facebook.com/rachelledekkerauthor
Instagram.com/rachelle_dekker
Twitter.com/rachelledekker

Friday, September 6, 2019

Most Anticipated for Rest of 2019


By Kelly Bridgewater

Now that fall is within reach, there is a number of books coming out from now to the end of the year that I can't wait to get my hands on.

Here they are in particular order: (All images come from Goodreads, unless noted.)

The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden 

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Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano

 
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 Memories of Glass by Melanie Dobson


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The Painted Castle by Kristy Cambron

 44441963

Synapse by Steven James

 44441975
 

 Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters

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 Smoke Screen by Terri Blackstock

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 Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright

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The Piper's Pursuit by Melanie Dickerson

 44441981

 The Bridge to Belle Island by Julie Klassen

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What about you? Do you have any books to add to this collection? Are you looking forward to any of these books too?

Wednesday, September 4, 2019

Jen Turano: Diamond in the Rough


By Kelly Bridgewater

To save her family from financial ruin, Miss Poppy Garrison accepts an unusual proposition to participate in the New York social season in exchange for her grandmother settling a family loan that has unexpectedly come due. Ill-equipped to handle the intricacies of mingling within the New York Four Hundred, Poppy becomes embroiled in one hilarious fiasco after another, doomed to suffer a grand societal failure instead of being deemed the diamond of the first water her grandmother longs for her to become.

Reginald Blackburn, second son of a duke, has been forced to travel to America to help his cousin, Charles Wynn, Earl of Lonsdale, find an American heiress to wed in order to shore up his family estate that is in desperate need of funds. Reginald himself has no interest in finding an heiress to marry, but when Poppy's grandmother asks him to give etiquette lessons to Poppy, he swiftly discovers he may be in for much more than he bargained for.

43838029
From Goodreads


My Thoughts:

I adore Jen Turano's writing. She brings the Gilded Age to life and creates remarkable and remember able characters to life. With her second addition to her American Heiress series, Diamond in the Rough, this is no exception. Poppy grew up on a horse farm in Pennsylvania and is having her season in New York. She is completely out of her element and falls, literary, over and over again on her face. She keeps getting into scraps and allowing me to shake my head in laughter as she tries to save her reputation. She transforms by the end of the season but shows her heart by wanting to do good for those less wealthy. On the other hand, Reginald, the hero, keeps his true identity a secret, but is always there to rescue Poppy. There romance appears a little disjointed, but I believe Turano wrote their romance this way on purpose. It made their happily-ever-after a little more sweeter. As for the plot, I really enjoyed spending time with these characters. I got so wrapped up in their lives that I even googled Fifth Avenue mansions during the 1890's to have an idea of how HUGE these little homes actually were. I love this story and can't wait to get my hand on the final installment. Thanks for another wonderful story, Turano.

I received a complimentary copy of a Diamond in the Rough by Jen Turano from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.

My Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


About the Author:

Jen Turano
From Amazon
Named One of the Funniest Voices in Inspirational Romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today Best-Selling Author, known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publisher Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from Romantic Times, and praise from Library Journal. She's been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers' Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. When she's not writing, she spends her time outside of Denver, CO. She can be found on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/jenturanoauthor/ or visit her on the web at www.jenturano.com. She is represented by the Natasha Kern Literary Agency. (Taken from Amazon.)

Monday, September 2, 2019

Elizabeth Camden: The Spice King


By Kelly Bridgewater

Gray Delacroix has dedicated his life to building his very successful global spice empire, but it has come at a cost. Resolved to salvage his family before it spirals out of control, he returns to his ancestral home to save his brother and sister before it's too late.

As a junior botanist for the Smithsonian, Annabelle Larkin has been charged with the impossible task of gaining access to the notoriously private Delacroix plant collection. If she fails, she will be out of a job and the family farm in Kansas will go under. She has no idea that in gaining entrance to the Delacroix world, she will unwittingly step into a web of dangerous political intrigue far beyond her experience.

Unable to deny her attraction to the reclusive business tycoon, Annabelle will be forced to choose between her heart and loyalty to her country. Can Gray and Annabelle find a way through the storm of scandal without destroying the family Gray is fighting to save?

From Amazon

My Thoughts:

Elizabeth Camden is a master at crafting a story that brings unknown elements of history to life. In her latest novel, The Spice King, Camden catches the world of artificial flavorings into a delightful story. From the moment her heroine, Annabelle walked onto the page, I admired her ability to leave the plains of Kansas and move to Washington D.C. That took guts. Plus, to bring her blind sister with her and take care of her while following her dreams is a huge accomplishment by itself. The plot was fascinating to learn and taught me more about the history of artificial flavorings versus the real stuff. It moved at a nice pace. I didn't find it slow at all. I flipped through the story at a nice rate and enjoyed what I was reading. While the romance isn't the point of the story, I think the romance between Annabelle and Gray moved a little too quickly for my taste. They barely knew each other and were dying to be together again. Overall, The Spice King was a delightful read filled with fascinating characters who taught me something about the importance of buying the real stuff. 


I received a complimentary copy of The Spice King by Elizabeth Camden from Bethany House Publishers, but the opinions stated are all my own.



My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase The Spice King

About the Author:

Elizabeth Camden
From Amazon
Elizabeth Camden is best known for her historical novels set in gilded age America featuring clever heroines and richly layered storylines. Before she was a writer, she was an academic librarian at some of the largest and smallest libraries in America, but her favorite is the continually growing library in her own home. Her novels have won the RITA and Christy Award, and she lives in Florida with her husband who graciously tolerates her intimidating stockpile of books. (Taken from Amazon.)