Grandma Ruth Doesn't Go To Funerals by Sharon J. Mondragon

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go To Funerals by Sharon Mondragon hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

I really enjoyed the first book that I read by Sharon J Mondragon, so I was excited to be invited to read her newest book, Grandma Ruth Doesn't Go To Funerals and share my review.

As I started to read the first chapter, I quickly learned why Grandma Ruth doesn't go to funerals, so of course, I wanted to keep reading to find out why that was important to the story. Grandma Ruth was the true matriarch of the family and a person with clout in town. She had a way of getting her way and through her grandaughter, seeking answers she couldn't find from home. Soon I found myself deep in the mystery, trying to figure out what Mrs. Harrington's late husband meant by what he had said to her just before passing.

The book was steeped with family and the type of traditions that I have always associated with the South. You couldn't help but love the quirks of each member of the story. I found myself rooting for them in the journeys, discovering the answers to the questions they were seeking and finding new connections. After meeting so many of the characters and the traditions and care they have for one another (and a bit of gossipy, nosiness even), I must say that Raeburne's Ferry, Georgia would be a good place to live. Every one might know your business but you know that they are looking out for you too. I simply loved the endeavor that Grandma Ruth and Mrs Harrington were working on as a way for Mrs Harrington to give back to the community with the money that she had inherited. It was the type of idea that simply warms the soul, finding a place for both the young and the old to give back to one another.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend you check it out.

About the Book

Title: Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go To Funerals 

Author: Sharon Mondragon 

Publisher: Kregel Publications 

Release Date: February 11, 2025 

Genre: Contemporary Fiction

Something is brewing in Raeburne's Ferry, Georgia--and it's not sweet tea.

In a small town where gossip flows, bedridden Mary Ruth McCready reigns supreme, doling out wisdom and meddling in everyone's business with a fervor that would make a matchmaker blush. When her best friend has her world rocked by a scandalous revelation from her dying husband, Mary Ruth kicks into high gear, commandeering the help of her favorite granddaughter, Sarah Elizabeth, in tracking down the truth. Finding clues in funeral condolence cards and decades-old gossip dredged up at the Blue Moon Beauty Emporium, the two stir up trouble faster than you can say "pecan pie." 

But just when things are starting to look up, a blast from the past waltzes in with an outrageous claim. But as Grandma Ruth always says when things get tough, "God is too big." With him, nothing is impossible--even bringing long-held secrets to light. Grandma Ruth and Sarah just might have to ruffle a whole mess of feathers to do it.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Kregel Publications | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Christianbook

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About the Author

Sharon J. Mondragón is a Southern girl at heart, having spent most of her adult life where tea is sweet and mac and cheese is a vegetable. Settled in Midlothian, Texas, she writes, facilitates the prayer shawl ministry at her church, and teaches at the local yarn shop. She's the author of the Purls and Prayers series, and her work has earned recognition from The Saturday Evening Post, ACFW, Foreword INDIES, and the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference.

Connect with Sharon by visiting sharonjmondragon.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

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Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Grandma Ruth Doesn’t Go To Funerals and a $25 Amazon gift card!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight February 12, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on February 19, 2025. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Enter Giveaway

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Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Murder in Season by Mary Winters

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

I have always been a fan of mysteries and of period fiction, so when I stumbled upon the Lady of Letters Mystery series, I knew it was from me. I read the first two books last year, after discovering the series through a reading group. The third book in the series was recently released and I was very excited to receive a copy to read. The books are all able to be read independently, but why not start at the beginning and read all three.

I really have enjoyed getting to know Amelia, Winnifred, Aunt Tabitha, Simon and Grady in these stories. The author does a great job developing them against the back drop of London in the 1860s. One of the things that intrigues me about that time is all of the dresses, the formalities, the propriety, the 'season' and such that was part of the upper class life during that time. Amelia, in spite of propriety, writes an anonymous advice column in a local paper and I love how the author mixes in those letters and responses at the opening of each chapter. They give the reader some perspective on concerns and perspectives of the times, as well as bit of humor too.

In this book, Amelia's sister has arrived in London to participate in the season. As such, Amelia and Aunt Tabitha plan and put on a ball. Of course, that is where the mysterious death of a guest occurs and forms the foundation for the sluething in the book. Amelia finds herself in places she shouldn't be and finds trouble for herself and others too. I thought I knew who-dun-it early on but with the continued sluething, found that my guess was not correct. I have enjoyed watching the obvious flirtations and the way that Amelia and Simon partner on figuring out what happened.

About the Book:

Join Countess turned advice columnist Amelia Amesbury as she tries to juggle a new Season and a new murder in this charmingly deadly historical mystery.

"A beautiful debutante, a wealthy widow, and a dead would-be baron. What could be more exciting?"

Countess by day, secret advice columnist by night, Amelia Amesbury has life happily balanced on a quill's edge . . . until her sister Margaret shows up in London under a blanket of scandal and Amelia is catapulted out of mourning and into the ton's unforgiving Season.

However Madge's Season debut is marred by a rather inconvenient death at the dining table as the infamous Mr Radcliffe takes ill and is later confirmed dead by poisoning. With Madge being the last person to have cross words with the soon-to-be baron, the ton's gossip mill - and the police - are looking to pin the murder on her.

Adding to the ton's troubles is a jewellery thief targeting the most lavish of Society's houses. Is the murderer and the thief one in the same? It falls to Amelia once again to uncover the secrets buried deep within the pages before her sister goes down for the crimes.



About the Author:
Mary Winters is the Edgar-nominated author of the Lady of Letters historical mystery series. She also pens cozy mysteries under the name Mary Angela. A longtime reader and fan of historical fiction, Mary set her latest work in Victorian England after being inspired by a trip to London. Since then, she’s been busily planning her next mystery—and another trip! Find out more about Mary and her writing, reading, and teaching at marywintersauthor.com.




No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Sniffing Out Justice by Carol J. Post

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

I had recently been reading a very sciency, non-fiction book and was just finishing it when a package arrived in the mail with a copy of Sniffing Out Justice by Carol J. Post. I was so excited to read this new book that I quickly read the remaining chapters of the book I was reading.

Sniffing Out Justice is the second book in the series but don't worry, you can read it on it's own. If you did read Searching for Evidence, you get the chance to catch up with some familiar characters and of course, meet some new ones. The author did a great job of pulling you in from the very beginning of the book, as we join Kris on a search and rescue mention with her dog Bella and runs into a crush from high school, whose dad was also once a partner in her dad's business. I always am amazed at the scenes and details that the author dreams up and uses to develop the stories. With the details in the scenes and the development of the characters, the story moves quickly and seemingly filled with non-stop, anxiety building events.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it. As I shared, the story was quick moving, action and anxiety packed and the characters were very likeable, making the story very engaging. If you enjoy suspense stories, you should definitely check out this book and the others by Carol J. Post.


About the Book:

A witness in peril. A K-9 protector.

A fight for survival.

After witnessing her best friend’s murder, Kristina Ashbaugh-Richards and her search and rescue dog, Bella, find themselves targeted by the killer. Kris can identify the criminal—and she’s exactly what he looks for in his victims. Her high school crush, Detective Tony Sanderson, vows to protect Kris and her son, but as they try to outwit a dangerous murderer, no place is safe to hide. With her life at stake, Kris’s only hope of survival is to catch the serial killer before he catches her.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Canine Defense



About the Author:
From medical secretary to court reporter to property manager to owner of a special events decorating company, Carol's resume reads like someone who doesn't know what she wants to be when she grows up. But one thing that has remained constant through the years is her love for writing. She started as a child writing poetry for family and friends, then graduated to articles which actually made it into some religious and children's publications. Several years ago (more than she's willing to admit), she penned her first novel. In 2010, she decided to get serious about writing fiction for publication and joined Romance Writers of America and her local RWA chapter.

Carol lives in sunshiny Central Florida with her husband of thirty-two years, who is her own real-life hero, and writes her stories under the shade of the huge oaks in her yard. Besides writing, she works alongside her music minister husband singing and playing the piano and holds the position of church treasurer. She enjoys sailing, hiking, camping, almost anything outdoors. Her two grown daughters and grandkids live too far away for her liking, so she now pours all that nurturing into taking care of three fat and sassy cats and one highly spoiled dog.

You can learn more about the author on her blog.


No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

An Amish Cinderella by Shelley Shepard Gray

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

I recently finished reading An Amish Cinderella by Shelley Shepard Gray. It was a very good story, with relatable characters that you couldn't help but root for things to turn out good for them.

About the Book:

Now that her friends are all marrying or moving away, Heart Beachy has started feeling lonely. Worse, everyone keeps asking when she’s going to find a man of her own. Don’t they realize Heart has her hands full at home with her widowed dad, too many chores, and a menagerie of needy, small animals? Besides, she doesn’t understand the fuss about marriage. It’s enough to make her consider finally becoming a pet-sitter, or moving to an English community, where she won’t be an oddity . . .

Newcomer Clayton Glick is utterly charmed by Heart—and completely confounded. He can’t figure out why this beautiful woman is as awkward as a teenager whenever he’s around, which is often now that he’s an apprentice to her blacksmith father. So Clayton starts assisting with Heart’s never-ending tasks, even helping her corral her unruly pets. How else can he court an adorably flustered woman who doesn’t know the first thing about courtship? Because courting is exactly what he intends . . .

Heart doesn’t know why her pulse hammers every time she sees Clayton. She only knows yielding to such emotions will mean trouble. . . But maybe with a little faith—and the loss of a shoe—Clayton can convince her to join him on the road to happily ever after.

I have always enjoyed the books written by Shelley Shepard Gray. She has a knack for weaving a nice story and does a great job developing her characters. This one, portrays an Amish girl named Heart Beachy that fills her day running the house and caring for her father after her mother dies. Her father, Levi is a gruff man but a very talented blacksmith whose work extends from the traditional shoeing of horses to commissioned pieces of art. It is clear that he loves his daughter and is thankful for her but does poorly at recognizing and acknowledging all that she does for him. As the story unfolds, the reader is introduced to the Beachy's neighbor Mary, who is a help to many in their community. and to Clayton, Levi's new apprentice who grew up in a children's home and never had a family to call his own.

Together this trio, plus Mary, navigate through some twists and turns and both sad and heartwarming moments. One of the quirks is that Heart decides in the moment to 'adopt' a fancy white rat from Mary when she needs someone to care for the rat. First, let me say that each time the rat was referred to as a fancy rat it made me smile. I've never been one to want to have a rat and the idea that they are fancy was amusing to me. Even as she offers to take care of the fancy white rat, she is not sure her father will like it but does so anyway. Fortunately for her, he is with his new apprentice when she brings it home and is distracted. In time, he definitey warms to the rat and even offers to help take in a dog and a litter of puppies to help Mary out later.

I thoroughly enjoyed this Amish romance. it was an easy and enjoyable story, with some quirks, that drew me in and kept me reading until the very end. After reading the book, I learned that it is the third in The Amish of Apple Creek series. It reads well as an independant story but is good news because now I have two other books that I will want to pick up and learn more about the others in the series.

This was an enjoyable, sweet love story that loosely aligns with Cinderella and I would recommend it for anyone that is looking for a light, quick read.
No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me. The giveaway is not specific to this blog and is not sponsored by this blog

Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore

Wow! What did I just read?

I have always enjoyed split timeline books, so when I heard about Oona Out of Order, a story with a disjointed timeline I was intrigued and put a request on the book.

About the Book:

A remarkably inventive novel that explores what it means to live a life fully in the moment, even if those moments are out of order.

It’s New Year’s Eve 1982, and Oona Lockhart has her whole life before her. At the stroke of midnight she will turn nineteen, and the year ahead promises to be one of consequence. Should she go to London to study economics, or remain at home in Brooklyn to pursue her passion for music and be with her boyfriend? As the countdown to the New Year begins, Oona faints and awakens thirty-two years in the future in her fifty-one-year-old body. Greeted by a friendly stranger in a beautiful house she’s told is her own, Oona learns that with each passing year she will leap to another age at random. And so begins Oona Out of Order...

Hopping through decades, pop culture fads, and much-needed stock tips, Oona is still a young woman on the inside but ever changing on the outside. Who will she be next year? Philanthropist? Club Kid? World traveler? Wife to a man she’s never met? Surprising, magical, and heart-wrenching, Margarita Montimore has crafted an unforgettable story about the burdens of time, the endurance of love, and the power of family.

The story starts with 18 year old Oona at a New Year's Eve party. We get to learn a little bit about her and her current group of friends. Then as the clock ticks midnight, she faints and finds herself awaking in her own body in another time. It has to be a strange experience to still be you but to know little of what's currently going on. There were times where I felt as confused as Oona, trying to figure out what was happening in each new time of her life. Some years were better than others. There were times where I was disappointed in the way she lived her life in a given year and times where she tried to impact her own outcome. I think that in part it was because she was much younger on the inside and was living a life that normally is lived by someone with more experience. There were clearly advantages and challenges to living out of order. When she finally had the chance to return to her 19th year (where the timeline first shifted), it was refreshing to see some of what she had learned about living.

This quote near the end of the book sums it up nicely:

"Oona would always try to create continuity and meaning in her life - she couldn't help it - but she'd also seie these moments of happiness and relish them. Whichever way the years flowed, it was impossible to outmaneuver their passage. Even chronology doesn't guarantee security. All good things ended, always. The trice was to enjoy them while they lasted. Oona was still learning."

This book was an interesting read and had to be a challenge to write. The author has a couple of other books that I will keep an eye out for at the library in hopes of reading them as well.

The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel

I learn about books in many different places. I am subscribed to author's and publisher's newsletters, I follow several authors on social media and each week I also check in on What Are You Reading Wednesday with a local library. Through these different modes, I often hear about books that pique my interest. That was the case with the book that I just finished reading, The Winemaker's Wife by Kristin Harmel. I read a little blurb about it and put a hold on it through the library.

As with a few books that I have read recently, there were two timelines and a few points of view used to tell the story. The first timeline was in the Champagne region of France during World War II and during modern time in New York and France. One thing that I like about the combination of then and now timelines is that it allows the reader to learn both the details of the story from a time long ago but also gain perspective on how things resolve with the perspective of the current timeline. The characters are well developed and generally, likeable. I found myself feeling bad for them during struggles, outraged by their behavior at other times and genuinely vested in their story and their outcome. Another element that I enjoyed about this book were the unexpected twists. I did start to wonder about the one twist about half way through the story but the other twist caught me by complete surprise (can't tell you what they were, that would ruin it).

About the book:

The Winemaker's Wife

The author of the “engrossing” (People) international bestseller The Room on Rue Amélie returns with a moving story set amid the champagne vineyards of France during the darkest days of World War II, perfect for fans of Heather Morris’s The Tattooist of Auschwitz.

Champagne, 1940: Inès has just married Michel, the owner of storied champagne house Maison Chauveau, when the Germans invade. As the danger mounts, Michel turns his back on his marriage to begin hiding munitions for the Résistance. Inès fears they’ll be exposed, but for Céline, the French-Jewish wife of Chauveau’s chef de cave, the risk is even greater—rumors abound of Jews being shipped east to an unspeakable fate.

When Céline recklessly follows her heart in one desperate bid for happiness, and Inès makes a dangerous mistake with a Nazi collaborator, they risk the lives of those they love—and the vineyard that ties them together.

New York, 2019: Recently divorced, Liv Kent is at rock bottom when her feisty, eccentric French grandmother shows up unannounced, insisting on a trip to France. But the older woman has an ulterior motive—and a tragic, decades-old story to share. When past and present finally collide, Liv finds herself on a road to salvation that leads right to the caves of the Maison Chauveau.

About Kristin Harmel:

Kristin Harmel is the New York Times bestselling, USA Todaybestselling, and #1 international bestselling author of The Forest of Vanishing Stars, The Book of Lost Names, The Winemaker’s Wife, and a dozen other novels that have been translated into more than 30 languages and are sold all over the world.

Kristin has been writing professionally since the age of 16, when she began her career as a sportswriter, covering Major League Baseball and NHL hockey for a local magazine in Tampa Bay, Florida in the late 1990s. In addition to a long magazine writing career, primarily writing and reporting for PEOPLE magazine (as well as articles published in American Baby, Men’s Health, Woman’s Day, Travel + Leisure, Ladies’ Home Journal, and more), Kristin was also a frequent contributor to the national television morning show The Daily Buzz.

Kristin was born just outside Boston, Massachusetts and spent her childhood there, as well as in Worthington, Ohio, and St. Petersburg, Florida. After graduating with a degree in journalism (with a minor in Spanish) from the University of Florida, she spent time living in Paris and Los Angeles and now lives in Orlando, with her husband and young son. She is also the co-founder and co-host of the popular weekly web show and podcast Friends & Fiction.

I really enjoyed this book by Kristin Harmel and would recommend it to friends (and actually already have). I plan to add her name on my author's to read list and will pick up some of her older books and watch for her new release planned for early next summer. I just started following her on social media and hope to check out the podcast that she does with three author friends. I checked upcoming events and see that I missed seeing her locally in the spring but will be on the watch for another local visit.

What have you been reading lately?

The Replacement Wife by Eileen Goudge

A few weeks ago, Goudge, who I follow on Facebook shared that there was a deal for an eBook version of her book The Replacement Wife. The book, one that was published in 2012, was one that I hadn't read. The blurb shared on the site was intriguing and I decided to request a copy from the library (I'm just not a digital book reader, give me the good old-fashioned paper version). I have read a few of her other books, including Once In A Blue Moon. She is one of many authors that I have discovered through the blog and continue to read.

About the book:

The Replacement Wife
A professional matchmaker with six months to live tries to find her husband’s next wife in this poignant novel by a New York Times–bestselling author.
Camille Hart, one of Manhattan’s most sought-after matchmakers, has survived more than her fair share of hardships. Her mother died when she was a young girl, leaving her and her sister with an absentee father. Now in her forties, she has already survived cancer once, though the battle revealed just how ill-equipped her husband Edward is to be a single parent. So when doctors tell Camille that her cancer is back—and this time it’s terminal—she decides to put her matchmaking expertise to the test for one final job. Seeking stability for her children and happiness for her husband, Camille sets out to find the perfect woman to replace her when she’s gone.
But what happens when a dying wish becomes a case of “be careful what you wish for”? For Edward and Camille, the stunning conclusion arrives with one last twist of fate that no one saw coming. At once deeply felt and witty, The Replacement Wife is an unforgettable story of love and family, and a refreshing look at the unexpected paths that lead us to our own happy endings.

The concept behind the story in this book left me feeling a little sad. On one hand, I can totally relate to a mother and wife wanting to ensure the best for her family, especially given her own childhood. On the other hand, I immediately had a sense of foreboding. There simply were too many ways that this could go wrong. When she shared the idea with her husband and with the selected candidate, both met her request with reservation and yet she pushed forward. Even those around her that she shared her plan with wondered if it was the right thing.

The story challenged me and left me wondering, would I particpate, could I stand by and not try to reason with them if I was aware of what was going on. It left me feeling frustrated for the kids who not only had to deal with their mother's illness but also the outcome of this 'game' that the adults were playing. I enjoyed getting to know the characters and I liked how the side storylines were carried forward through intersections, even as they fell from the main story. I felt that I came to know them and connected with the emotions that they were processing, feeling anger, sympathy and frustration as the story unfolded. I appreciated that the book included both a six months later and a year later look into the lives, allowing the reader to feel like although this story was finished, they knew how the characters would be moving forward.

Have you read any good books recently?

The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady by Sharon J Mondragon

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

I am always surprised by the seeming connectedness that happens in life. I recently read the book The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady, that chronicles several weeks of the Heavenly Hugs Prayer Shawl Ministry's experiences, as they are forced to move their weekly meetings into the real world while the chapel where they normally meet is being painted. Each week they meet to pray and knit prayer shawls for those that need them. In spite of the the time that they have been meeting as a group, there are things about themselves that they haven't shared. Through this experience, they come to be known as Radical Knitters, meet several people, and in connecting with these new people they wind up learning more about themselves and each other.

Earlier this month, my daughter had her Confirmation, which had been delayed due to a combination of change in our Bishop and the pandemic. One of the gifts that she received was a lap blanket from the church's prayer shawl ministry. I honestly don't know that I knew there was a prayer shawl ministry at our church and of course, saw a post about the group in the bulletin too. It just seemed so interesting to me that as I was reading about the experiences of a prayer shawl ministry that I learned about the ministry at our church and that my daughter received a gift from them.

The book was constructed of shorter chapters, making it easy to pick it up and quickly read a chapter. The settings were basic and allowed the author to focus on the character development. The characters were fun to get to know and I could see people I know in many of them. Watching them discover themselves and one another as they interacted and established connections with others in the community, was a great way to further learn about them. There were a few self-discovery scenes that were a little odd but once the story unfolded they made more sense. It was great for them to blossom through their new experience and for them to find new ways to minister in their community and see the difference that they were able to make in others' lives. Seeing the same familiar faces week after week allowed the evolution to be made visible in the story.

About the Book

A knitting group's change of scenery changes lives in unexpected ways

Margaret, Rose, Jane, and Fran had a good thing going: meet every week in the quiet of their peaceful chapel and knit prayer shawls. No muss, just ministry. That is, until their pastor boots them out of the church in his last-ditch effort to revive the dwindling congregation.

Uptight Margaret isn't having it. Knitting prayer shawls where people can watch is the most ridiculous idea she's ever heard of, and she's heard plenty. Prayer belongs in the church, not out among the heathen masses. How are they supposed to knit holiness into these shawls if they're constantly distracted by the public? But with no choice, the others embrace the challenge. They pack their knitting bags and drag Margaret--grumbling the whole way--to the mall with them. She can't wait to prove them all wrong when it fails miserably, and show the pastor that she always knows best.

Without the familiar mold the group has been stuck in, their own losses, pain, and struggles rise to the surface. And the people and situations they encounter every time they try to sit quietly and knit are taking them a lot further out of their comfort zone than they ever imagined. Can they find the courage to tackle the increasing number of knotty issues they learn about in the community--or will the tangle be too much to unravel?

Sharon J. Mondragon's debut is warm and delightful, full of real laughter, grief, and personality. It beautifully illustrates the power of women across generations to reach people for Christ

About the Author

Sharon J. Mondragon is not just a nice lady who knits. She’s the author of award-winning fiction that takes you to the place where courage and kindness meet.

Like some of the characters in The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady, she was once content to live well within her comfort zone. At the age of 19, however, she realized that she would not have much to show for such a life. She accepted the challenge and recklessly prayed for adventure.

The ensuing years as an Army spouse and the mother of five wildly individual children were filled with both thrilling and devastating moments, undergirded by the faithful hand of the God who inspired the prayer.

The Army years are over, but the adventure continues in Midlothian, Texas where Sharon lives with her husband, her laptop, and her yarn stash.

Learn more at sharonjmondragon.com.

A Book Giveaway! a Rafflecopter giveaway

The Giveaways are not hosted by A Busy Mom of Two but are part of the book tour, please see giveaway for official rules and guidelines. No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

In the summer, I especially enjoy reading light-hearted books. Books that are easy to read and that I can complete in a weekend, if I want. The new book from Angela Ruth Strong, Husband Auditions was a book that perfectly fits this bill. This rom-com book certainly had some predictable elements but as with rom-com movies, it did not detract from the story or the want to see how things wound up. I love the premise of 'testing' out a list of 'ways to get a husband' from the 1950s...test the timelessness of the ideas (and realize how much we have changed as a society in that time). Capturing and sharing the adventure on YouTube is such a modern day fit; a great way to share the successes and challenges of the list with others. I totally could see myself hooked on a series like Meri Me and watching to see what the next adventure from the list was.

This was the first book that I read by Strong and I look forward to reading more from her. Her style is easy to read and she does a great job helping the readers get to know the characters. I found myself laughing and crying with the characters; cheering for the characters to take a chance and of course, for them to win (which meant sometimes I was actually cheering for them to fail in one thing so they could win overall). I enjoyed the story so much and would love to see this book reimagined on the big-screen.

About the Book

How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s?

In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she's handed a strange present at the latest wedding--a 1950s magazine article of "ways to get a husband"--she decides there's nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can't get any more single, can she?

Her brother's roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love--Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.

When Meri Me debuts, it's an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she's looking for . . .

With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, Angela Ruth Strong has created a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating that readers will both resonate with and fall for.

About the Author

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there's nothing else she'd rather write about.

She is the author of the Resort to Love series and the CafFUNated mysteries. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. Finding Love in Big Sky was recently filmed on location in Montana and will air soon. Her latest release is Husband Auditions.

Strong also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho and teaches as an expert online at Write That Book.

Learn more at www.angelaruthstrong.com, and follow her on Facebook (Angela Ruth Strong Fan Page), Twitter (@AngelaRStrong), and Instagram (@ang_strong).

As part of the launch, you can enter to win a free copy of the book:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And, another opportunity to win, Angela Ruth Strong is giving away a free round trip ticket on Allegiant Air. Click here to enter.

The Giveaways are not hosted by A Busy Mom of Two but are part of the book tour, please see giveaway for official rules and guidelines. No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

The Perfect Daughter by D.J. Palmer

A complimentary advanced readers copy and gift package was provided to me from the publisher, through an offer made to all fan page members.

Wow! As I finished up the newest book from DJ Palmer, "Wow!" was my immediate response. The Perfect Daughter was a terrific psychological thriller that left me guessing until the very end - and I didn't do as good of a job in considering the possible outcomes as I normally do. The character development and story-telling were awesome and I found myself unwilling to put it down because I needed to know what happened. The use of multiple narrators helped really explore the many facets of the story and allow the reader additional perspective that each character brings to the story.

I'm in awe of good writers, and DJ Palmer is definitely one of my favorites. When I read a novel that rattles me like this one did, I simply have to take pause after I finish. I reflect on the book and wonder how they came up with the concept and the details needed to build up and then unravel the mystery as they reveal the story to the reader. It is truly an art and a gift, and I am so thankful for those that share their talents with the world.

I was still in the early pages of the book, learning about how Penny came to live with the Francones when I read the following: "She filled the bookshelf with some of our favorite reads and some of hers, including one she loved as a girl, The Country Bunny and the Little Gold Shoes." You may be wondering, why did that line catch your attention? Well, that was one of my favorite books from childhood as well. In fact, it was one of two of my favorites that I had a copy for my children (ther other one being Too Much Noise by Ann McGovern).

I'd love to share more about the actual story with you but I would hate to spoil anything about the book. I want to you to read the story and discover the truth for yourself. Order your copy here. And, be sure to check out his other books, many of which I have shared here on the blog (like Saving Meghan and The New Husband.

About the Book:

Grace never dreamt she’d visit her teenaged daughter Penny in the locked ward of a decaying state psychiatric hospital, charged with the murder of a stranger. There was not much question of her daughter’s guilt. Police had her fingerprints on the murder weapon and the victim’s blood on her body and clothes. But they didn’t have a motive. Grace blames herself, because that’s what mothers do—they look at their choices and wonder, what if? But hindsight offers little more than the chance for regret. None of this was conceivable the day Penny came into her life. Then, it seemed like a miracle. Penny was found abandoned, with a mysterious past, and it felt like fate brought Penny to her, and her husband Arthur. But as she grew, Penny's actions grew more disturbing, and different "personalities" emerged. Arthur and Grace took Penny to different psychiatrists, many of whom believed she was putting on a show to help manage her trauma. But Grace didn’t buy it. The personas were too real, too consistent. It had to be a severe multiple personality disorder. One determined psychiatrist, Dr. Mitch McHugh, helped discover someone new inside Penny—a young girl named Abigail. Is this the nameless girl who was abandoned in the park years ago? Mitch thinks Abigail is the key to Penny’s past and to the murder. But as Grace and Mitch dig deeper, they uncover dark and shocking secrets that put all their lives in grave danger.

I have been a fan of Michael Palmer and Daniel Palmer (aka DJ Palmer) since I first started reading their books. I started with the first book I picked up by Michael over 25 years ago now on vacation, having found a copy in the hotel gift shop. I was introduced by Michael to his son Daniel's works. They are both amazing writers, able to capture the reader and really leave you wondering. I was so excited to have received this special care package in the mail made available to fan page members simply for signing up and being willing to share (courtesy of DJ Palmer and St. Martin's Press). The tea was a wonderful treat and the cozy socks perfect for curling up for several hours when I simply couldn't put the book down. Thank you for the opportunity.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary advanced readers copy was provided.

Intermediate Thermodynamics by Susannah Nix

Recently, I had read Remedial Rocket Science, the first book in the Chemistry Lessons series by author, Susannah Nix. The series is described on her website as "…standalone romantic comedies feature smart, geeky STEM heroines who discover that romantic chemistry isn’t as predictable as the laws of science…". I had thoroughly enjoyed reading that book, so as I waited on a couple of ARCS to arrive, I was fortunate to be able to get Intermediate Thermodynamics, the second book in the series, by Susannah Nix through the library and just finished reading it.

In Intermediate Thermodynamics, our heroine is Esther, an Aerospace engineer. The other primary characters that we are introduced to are her best-friend Jinny, her co-worker Yemi and her neighbor, Jonathan. I was pretty excited part-way into the story to discover that Jonathan was the same Jonathan we first met in Remedial Rocket Science when he had a blind date with Melody. Esther also works for the same company as Melody and Jeremy, just at a different location. I was so glad to get a glimpse, even if it was minimal, into the story of the characters we met in Remedial Rocket Science.

Esther has never really paid much attention to Jonathon, finding him an annoyance most of the time when she encounters him. Esther wants to help her best friend Jinny keep from falling back into a bad relationship, so when Jonathan asks for a favor, she flips the tables and agrees to help him out as long as he will help her out. Through this deal, she winds up spending time with Jonathan and discovering that me might not be as annoying as she once thought. The challenge is now that she set them up, she can't possibly fall for Jonathan, it would be a violation of the best friend code. Her actions nearly jeopardizes her friendship with Jinny and her new found connection with Jonathan. Its her brother that finally helps her recognize what she is doing and how to try to salvage things before it is too late.

Intermediate Thermodynamics was enjoyable and the short chapters helped keep the story moving. The characters were well developed, very relatable and likeable. I liked that Esther was established in her community, unlike Melody who was struggling to find a fit; Esther had a best friend, a connection with her co-worker, and a knitting group that supported her. Esther is at the same time very comfortable in her own skin at work (perhaps too so, when her boss calls her 'aggressive') and with her friends but not so much when it comes to guys. In fact, at one point, she tells Jonathan that she thinks she was meant to be alone since she would rather spend time alone or with friends over any man she has ever dated. To this he responds, 'maybe the problem isn't you, it's the kind of men you date.' He offers up more perspective, concluding 'you should be looking for someone you actually enjoy spending time with. Ideally, you're looking for a best friend. That's the goal, isn't it? To marry your best friend'. I loved Jonathan's perspective and I could totally relate to the self-doubting reaction that Esther had, asking Jinny the next time she sees her if she has bad taste in men.

If you are looking for a contemporary, romantic comedy story, I would highly recommend checking out this book. Although a series, each book can be read on it's own. There are five other books in this series and in addition, the Nix has several other books that I plan to check out. Up next, I will be requesting a copy of the third book in the series: Advanced Physcial Chemistry. In that one, the heroine is a Chemical Engineer...my degree!...so, I really can't wait to read it.



What are you reading?

Remedial Rocket Science by Susannah Nix

Having gone to college for engineering and starting my career as an engineer, I found myself frequently in classes and on teams where the members were primarily male. In college, I joined SWE and was in an all engineering sorority. After school, it was important to me to have connections that could relate. Initially, most of these connections were co-workers in other STEM based careers. Then, a few years ago, I found and joined a mom's group on Facebook specifically for engineers. It is a great community and I enjoy the opportunity to ask questions of like-minded women, share 'nerdy' humor and help others by sharing my perspective on some of their questions. A few weeks ago, someone in that group posted about a book that they were going to check out called Remedial Rocket Science. I pulled up the description for it and thought, I want to check that out too. Our local library only had the e-book, so I had to request it through the library network. It took a while to arrive but as soon as I finished the last book, I started reading this one.

Remedial Rocket Science was the first book in the Chemistry Lessons series by author, Susannah Nix. The series is described on her website as "…standalone romantic comedies feature smart, geeky STEM heroines who discover that romantic chemistry isn’t as predictable as the laws of science…"

The book was awesome to read. Having come from a STEM background myself, I loved having a heroine who seemed to have similar priorities, interests and challenges to those that I had faced as a woman in STEM. We meet Melody at the end of her freshman year at MIT, when she meets a young man named Jeremy, who is visiting a friend in Boston for the weekend. They spend the evening connecting and exchange numbers before parting ways with the promise to reach out if he returns to Boston or she finds herself in LA. Fast forward three years and Melody is headed to California for a job interview and decides to reach out to Jeremy. They meet up for coffee while she is in town for her interview for an IT position as a local company and again when she moves out there. She learns that he has a girlfriend, amongst other things that keep her from being able to reconnect with him like she had back in Boston. This leaves Melody feeling a little bit alone in a new town, being in IT she works with a number of men, many of whom don't pay much attention or know who she is.

Melody meets Jeremy's girlfriend Lacey one night at dinner and Lacey later invites her to yoga. They become friends, spending time together at yoga and coffee after, run into each other at the company picnic and other events. Over time, their friendship did grow and there was one point where Melody reluctantly let Lacey set her up on a date with a guy ("what was it with people that were happily in a coupled wanting the rest of the world to be coupled too?"). When Melody first met him, she described him as cute..."one of her favorite flavors of cute". She found that they had some similar interests but generally didn't connect and after the date she reflected, "He wasn't so bad, really. She could see why Lacey had thought they'd hit if off." This whole experience rings so true.

I think one of my favorite quotes though is "Her feelings for [him] were like Schrodinger's Crush. As long as she didn't open the box, their relationship existed in a state of quantum superposition: both possible and impossible at the same time. She was too much of a wimp to find out whether the cat was alive or dead." What a great reapplication of a quantum theory!

Remedial Rocket Science was a very enjoyable book. It was a quick, easy read with the right length chapters to keep the story moving. The characters were well developed and so relatable.

If you are looking for a contemporary, romantic comedy story, I would highly recommend checking out this book. There are five more books in this series and she also has a number of other books. I think that I have found myself a new author. In fact, I already have requested the second book through the library network: Intermediate Thermodynamics.

What are you reading?

Cross Shadow by Andrew Huff

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me. 

Last week I shared that I had read A Cross to Kill by Andrew Huff. This week, I had the chance to read the second book in the series, Cross Shadow. I always enjoy getting the opportunity to catch up with characters that I have met before in a new adventure; this new adventure takes place about 8 months after the first book. The good thing is that if you haven't had the chance to read the first book, you can still enjoy this second book as a stand alone story.

The book opens on an ordinary day. Christine is heading out to interview for a role at a new network. We get a glance at the budding relationship with John as they chat on a video call on her walk to the train. She ends the call quickly, realizing how busy the platform is and wanting to make sure she catches her train. As she settles in on the train, her minds is racing with reflection and what-ifs. Forcing herself to be in the moment and relax, she concentrates on the car's passengers, making observations about each. When her eyes settle on a young man at the front of the car, she starts to notice things in his demeanor and his physical features...a drop of sweat trailing down the side of his face, the way he keeps his eyes on the floor, the excess licking of his lips, the oversized jacket he wore...she started to put them together, recognizing but struggling to identify the profile; until it clicked - it's at this point that the action begins and doesn't let up until the end of the book.

John is a former CIA agent turned pastor. Christine is a journalist. They have been dating since the end of the last book, although it sounds like they connect around life and don't always give their relationship the time it deserves. Christine has always been a woman that could take care of herself (which John knows and admits) and with John's training she has learned to be more aware of her surroundings, plot her course of actions and remember the small details. Even so, John can't help himself in wanting to protect her. She struggles with him not trusting her. Together, they make a dynamic team; brought together for another adventure filled with suspense, danger and challenges to their faith.

The story is fast-paced, driven by a lot of action and suspense. The author does a great job describing everything that goes on during the story; the way he writes the car chases and fights, makes it easy for the reader to visualize the scene in their minds. The twist and turns and the continual discovery of who can and can not be trusted keeps the reader guessing and at points, worried about the safety of the characters. Thankfully, they seem to have the right allies on their side (CIA, former military, law enforcement) that always seem to come to the rescue with information, identities, technology and resources, especially when things are at their worst. I'm always amazed at the technology shared in some of these thrillers - some because it sounds really cool (molar mic, glasses with embedded cameras), some because it sounds unbelievably realistic and down-right scary (military robots). Together, the high action, the suspenseful plot that keeps you guessing and the difficult situations and decisions that the characters face create a captivating thriller that you don't want to put down.

About the Book:
All journalist Christine Lewis wants is the truth. All pastor John Cross wants is to avoid it.

Former CIA agent turned evangelical pastor John Cross is busy caring for the small community of believers he ministers to in Virginia. Journalist Christine Lewis is busy with the demand for her talents from top news agencies in New York City. Neither has any time left for their relationship, which began eight months before when they paired up to prevent the detonation of a chemical bomb in the nation's capital.

But when Christine hears that her stepbrother has been arrested for murder in Texas, they team up again to discover the truth about the crime. Untangling a web of conspiracy, the couple finds themselves in the center of another dangerous situation-and in trouble far deeper than they expected.

With an assassin on the loose, a trusted colleague acting as a double agent, and unreliable artificial intelligence connected to mercenaries who have Cross on their hit list, these two may not get out of the Lone Star State alive.

About the Author:
Huff spent ten years in local church ministry as a youth pastor and creative arts pastor before pursuing God’s calling into creative storytelling and media production as the product director at Igniter Media, a church media company (ignitermedia.com).

He is a two-time finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis Contest for unpublished authors (2014, 2017) and also won the best screenplay award at the 2015 48 Hour Film Festival in Richmond, VA. A Cross to Kill and Cross Shadow in the Shepherd Suspense series are his first releases.

Huff holds a bachelor of science in religion degree from Liberty University and a master of arts in Christian education from Dallas Theological Seminary. He resides in Plano, TX, with his beautiful wife, Jae, and their two boys.

Learn more Andrew Huff and the Shepherd Suspense novels at www.andrewhuffbooks.com. He can also be found on Facebook (@huffwrites), Twitter (@andrewjohnhuff) and Instagram (@andyhuff).

This book did not disappoint, living up to the expectations set by the first in the series. Cross Shadow was another action-packed suspense story from Andrew Huff. I would recommend this book for anyone that likes a good suspense novel. The book reads well on its own but you really should consider reading the first book in the series too because it is good. The third book comes out next year but you can read the first chapter at the end of this book.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Young Vines by James Russell Lingerfelt

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me. 

This past week, I spent my evenings reading Young Vines by James Russell Lingerfelt. The book is the third one in the collection of books sharing about the lives of three college friends: Ryan, Oz and Finn. This third book features Ryan and is primarily set at his Grandmother's vineyard. You can read my reviews of The Mason Jar (featuring Finn) and Alabama Irish (featuring Oz) by clicking on each book's title. As with the other two books, each can be enjoyed on its own but if you have the chance, I would recommend reading all three.

Young Vines is a contemporary novel about life, love, loss and good friends. When Ryan learns that he has inherited his Grandma's vineyard, he reaches out to his friends to have them join him for a couple of days at the Vineyard - in part to have time together and in part to not face it alone. At its heart I think it was a love story and as with the other two books there is something so enticing about reading a love story from a guy's point of view, especially when written by a man. The vineyard is the perfect backdrop for Ryan to reflect on the memories of his time there with his Grandma and provides him a place to heal and prepare to move forward. Lingerfelt does a great job developing characters by using a mix of active story telling and reflection and his rich descriptions help bring the surroundings to life.

This book (really, the whole collection) would be a great addition to your library and makes a great summer read.

about the novel

Dr. Ryan Lockwood is known as a professor who deeply cares for his students. Having grown up as an orphan, he now serves as a literature professor at Pepperdine University, his old alma mater. Located in Malibu, California, Pepperdine holds some of his most treasured memories. It's where he dated and married his first love, and it's where he met his two best friends, Clayton "Finn" Fincannon (The Mason Jar) and Brian "Oz" Bailey (Alabama Irish).

Now, Ryan's on track to become the department Chair, a position he's dreamed of since graduate school. At just thirty-two years old, life couldn't be better. But when his wife passes away unexpectedly, and his grandmother follows soon after, Ryan falls into a deep depression.

His grandmother leaves him her vineyard in Tennessee, where Ryan spent his childhood summers. Since the estate hosts sell-out jazz concerts and the best wine in the southeast, Ryan plans to sell the estate to the highest bidder. But when he visits the vineyard, he meets Rachel Young, the twenty-five year old daughter of the vine dresser. Rachel is good-sensed, hard-working, and she's one of the prettiest women Ryan's ever encountered.

Ryan has sworn to never fall in love again, the vineyard is auctioned at three times it's value, and Pepperdine offers him his dream. Now, Ryan must make a decision: Return to his career and friends in California, or begin a new chapter in life with a young love in Tennessee.

A love story set among the beaches of Malibu, and the lakes and pastures of Tennessee, Young Vines teaches us that sometimes we must let go of old dreams to embrace new ones.

about the author

James Russell Lingerfelt is also the author of The Mason Jar and Alabama Irish.

Find James online: website, Facebook, Twitter

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

The New Husband by D.J. Palmer

A complimentary advanced readers copy was provided to me.

I have always loved how a book can transport you to another place, another time...can completely immerse you in the storyline to the point that you are there alongside the characters and living and breathing their joys, their sadness, their fears. During a time like we are living in, the ability to escape is a wonderful opportunity that awaits in books. I recently completed reading The New Husband by D.J. Palmer (aka Daniel Palmer, son of Michael Palmer) and it did not disappoint, it had me fully engrossed and wanting to keep reading (to borrow a word I saw describing another book - unputdownable).

The New Husband is a riveting thriller about the lies we tell ourselves from D. J. Palmer, the author of Saving Meghan.

Just because you love someone doesn’t mean you know them.

Nina Garrity learned that the hard way after discovering that her missing husband, Glen, had been leading a double life with another woman. But Glen's gone―presumably drowned while fishing on his boat―so she can't confront him about the affair or any of his other misdeeds. A year and a half after the accident, Nina considers herself a widow, even though the police never found a body. Following a chance encounter with Simon Fitch, a teacher from her daughter Maggie's middle school, Nina finds love again and has hopes of putting her shattered life back together.

Simon, a widower still grieving the suicide of his first wife, has found his dream girl in Nina. His charm and affections help break through to a heart hardened by betrayal. Nina's teenage son, Connor, embraces Simon as the father he wishes his dad could have been, but Maggie sees a far darker side to this new man in their lives. Even Nina’s good friends wonder if Simon is supremely devoted―or dangerously possessive.

But Nina is committed, not only to her soon-to-be new husband but also to resuming her former career as a social worker. Before she can move forward, however, Nina must first clear her conscience that she's not making another terrible choice in a man. In doing so, she will uncover the shocking truth: the greatest danger to her, and her children, are the lies people tell themselves.

Wow! That really is my first response to this story. The first couple of chapters were a little slow, as he was setting the scene and I wasn't sure where we were going, but once it got going, I didn't want to stop. I needed to know what really was going on - how did Simon seem to know so much, why did he seem to be so controlling yet not really, how was he always there at just the right points, what was Maggie seeing and why wasn't her mom and brother seeing the same things, who was telling the truth. And the twists, the turns, the unexpected...wow! (there's that word again)

I liked the story-telling method he used of having multiple characters share the story from their lens, allowing the reader to get different point of views around the same events and allowing you to draw your own conclusions. The story was so realistic and plausible, the thrill is so real and told in a way that really pulls you in to the story and the lives of the characters.

I definitely recommend this fast-paced, chilling read from DJ Palmer. Definitely a book that will have you so engrossed, you may be able to forget (temporarily) what's going on around you. The New Husband is scheduled for release in hardback on 4/14 but looks like you can get the Kindle version now.

You can learn more about DJ Palmer and his books on his website. And, since we all have a little more time now, if you love a thriller, be sure to check out other books by DJ Palmer (and Daniel Palmer) and Michael Palmer. I have not been disappointed by any of them that I have read.

As I thought back on the story, I actually found myself reflecting on the other books written by Daniel Palmer and those written by Michael Palmer. Michael Palmer wrote a number of medical thrillers and as I read them, I would always wonder how did he come up with these ideas. Concepts that were so well written and told that you knew that they could be true but didn't really want to believe that they could be true. Yet, here we are living the real life version of a medical thriller and as in the books, I feel like we don't know the whole story yet and we just keep reading, hoping that we will learn more and find the answer that will resolve this and allow us to breath a collective sigh of relief and return to (a new) normal.


No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Saving Meghan by D.J. Palmer

I won an advanced reader copy in a giveaway sponsored by the author.

It was several years ago now that I picked up my first medical thriller at a hotel gift shop while on a vacation with my college friends. The year was 1996 and we had all just graduated and were enjoying the beach before we all headed to new cities to start our careers. I had brought along some books to read but not enough to fill the days, so I found myself perusing the hotel gift store looking for a book. After reading the back cover of several books, the book Natural Causes by Michael Palmer was the one that I picked up that afternoon. That book began my love of Michael Palmer's books and led me to read all of his books and eventually to start reading books by his son, Daniel Palmer.

I have read most of Daniel Palmer's books but not quite all. He writes thrillers, mostly techno, but a few medical thrillers in the same style that his dad did. What I love about Daniel's books is that they are so realistic and plausible, that the thrill is real and are told in a way that really pulls you in to the story and the lives of the characters. Saving Meghan, his most recent (and a medical thriller) was no exception From the first chapter, you find yourself thrust right into the story, trying to pick up details and learn what is happening with Meghan and you find yourself on the same roller-coaster ride as the characters. The story line is filled with twists and turns and just when I thought I knew what was going on, something new would get introduced that challenged my theory and I had to come to a new one. My schedule caused it to take me a while to really get started with the book, only having time to read a chapter here and there, but once I had a little time and could read more than a chapter, I was hooked and I had to keep reading and wound up finishing the book over a period of two days.

Saving Meghan is a riveting new thriller full of secrets and lies from author D.J. Palmer.

Can you love someone to death?

Some would say Becky Gerard is a devoted mother and would do anything for her only child. Others, including her husband Carl, claim she's obsessed and can't stop the vicious circle of finding a cure at her daughter's expense.

Fifteen-year-old Meghan has been in and out of hospitals with a plague of unexplained illnesses. But when the ailments take a sharp turn, clashing medical opinions begin to raise questions about the puzzling nature of Meghan’s illness. Doctors suspect Munchausen syndrome by proxy, a rare behavioral disorder where the primary caretaker seeks medical help for made-up symptoms of a child. Is this what's going on? Or is there something even more sinister at hand?

As the Gerards grow more and more suspicious of each other and their medical team, Becky must race against time to prove her daughter has a deadly disease. But first, she must confront her darkest fears and family secrets that threaten to not only upend her once-ordered life...but to destroy it.

You can learn more about Daniel Palmer and his books on his website. If you are a fan of suspense and thrillers, this book is a definite must read. And, be sure to check out the other books by Daniel Palmer and Michael Palmer.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. I won an advanced reader copy in a giveaway sponsored by the author.

Summer Plans and Other Disasters by Karin Beery

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Fall has definitely struck. The days are crisp and blustery, the nights are cold. All the more reason to curl up with a blanket and a good book. This week I had the opportunity to read of another season...Summer Plans and other disasters by Karin Beery. This is the debut book by Karin Beery (and thus the first one that I have read).

Told from multiple points of view, the book focuses on Callie's summer in Michigan at the light house. She is a teacher off for the summer who heads home to work and live with her brother and hopes to rekindle an old romance (in an attempt to answer some what-if questions that she has encountered). I love that Callie is a planner but as you know (or might have guessed from the title), plans don’t always work out the way we want. Sometimes things turn out better than your plans would have, but other times they don’t. Between the challenges of her plans, the need for her to manage outside of a plan and her perpetual klutziness (and perhaps a bit of ditziness), the book provides a lighthearted story that also provides for some great lessons for the characters.

The author brought the characters to life through their own thoughts and the eyes of the other characters as she shifted telling the story from each of their views. I enjoyed getting to know Callie, a talented musician and teacher; Jack, her protective and loving brother; Ryan, her brother's best friend; and Stacey, a friend of Jack's that Callie becomes friends with. Through the course of the story, there were challenges, inner turmoil and reflection, long-standing and newly developing friendships, family, faith and humor. I wish I could have been on the beach reading this, but snuggled on my couch under a blanket, the author was able to transport me to the summer scene of the shore of Michigan. This was an enjoyable and fun book to read. I look to future books by this author, especially a sequel (please), so I can be part of the next chapter of this group's lives.

About the book

Elementary school music teacher Callie Stevens thinks she’s finally figured out God’s plan for her life—she even made a list to keep her on track.

Moving in with her brother and reconnecting with her ex-boyfriend are at the top of the list. What’s not on the list is running into her childhood crush, Ryan. God wanted her to connect with Kyle, right?

Trying to figure out God’s plan is hard enough. But a dating-averse older brother, the young blonde who adores him, a pregnant best friend, and Callie’s continual mishaps make her wonder whether her best laid plans were truly God-inspired.

Now available from Elk Lake Publishing!

About the author

Karin wrote her first novel in 2007 to cope with her husband’s cancer diagnosis (no worries – he’s cancer free now!). With the support and encouragement of her family, she submitted that manuscript. That particular manuscript has not been published yet, but Summer Plans and Other Disasters, her first published book, releases in September 2018.

Karin writes contemporary and speculative fiction stories with a healthy dose of romance, but she’s also expanded her repertoire: she writes feature stories for the local paper, copy material for businesses, and blog posts for herself and others. She even edits (offering copy editing, fiction editing, and critiques through Write Now Editing Services) and teaches (she’s the Substantive Fiction Editing instructor for the PEN Institute and can be found around the country teaching writing and editing courses at conferences and at her local college).


When Karin’s not reading, writing, or editing, she enjoys cooking and baking. She plays the piano and sings (the key of E, please). She kayaks with her husband in the summer, watches football in the fall (Go Blue!), and enjoys Christmas lights all winter long. Shy but extroverted, Karin adores her nieces and nephew and loves spending time with her family. Learn more about Karin at: karinbeery.com.

You can also follow her on:

Facebook - www.facebook.com/authorkarinbeery/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/karinbeery

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/karinbeery/

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Her Fear by Shelley Shepard Gray

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

As summer winds down, I have found myself back into the full swing of school and fall sports. On days where practice is short, I tend to stick around and read rather than driving back home. Which allowed me to read the newest from Shelley Shepard Gray, Her Fear this past week. Her Fear is the 5th in the Amish of Hart County series. Even though it is the fifth book in the series, you could easily jump in to the series with Her Fear. Some of the characters from the other stories are included, but are only minor characters.

Sadie is the main character and her back story is sad. When she becomes pregnant and her boyfriend denies that he is the dad, rather than supporting her, her parents send her to live with her odd extended family that she hasn't met. As we learn more about her home life, it is clear that even with all the strangeness with her relatives, she is better off on her own than with her parents.

The characters that Gray develops are like most of us, they are Amish, but fully relatable. The thread of suspense in this novel is not as suspenseful as in some of the other stories, but with the tense living situation, the unplanned pregnancy and scares she has there is plenty of uncertainty on how things will turn out. Her Fear is a story of hope. Sadie finds her self in a tough situation, but through her strength she finds hope and learns about the life she can have. The thread of an emerging love makes a nice balance to the suspense and gives the reader hope for Sadie's finding happiness.

I look forward to reading more books by Shelley Shepard Gray in the future. I recommend Her Fear to readers looking for a good story.

About the Book:
In New York Times bestselling author Shelley Shepard Gray’s latest novel of suspense in her Amish of Hart County series, an EMT falls for a woman with ties to an Amish community where people are dying similar, suspicious deaths.

Sadie Detweiler never imagined she’d move to Kentucky, yet here she is: a pregnant, unmarried Amish girl banished by unforgiving parents to live with kin she barely knows. The men are gruff and her cousins are secretive. Worst of all, elderly matriarch Verba becomes mysteriously ill shortly after Sadie moves in. When EMT Noah Freeman arrives, Sadie immediately notices he’s unlike any other Amish man she’s met. Noah is warm, confident, and has an easy way with practically everyone in the community, both Amish and English. Though Sadie is drawn to him, she has little hope he will reciprocate her feelings once he learns she’s with child.

Noah can’t understand how a girl as sweet and lovely as Sadie ended up sleeping on a cot in Verba Stauffer’s kitchen. He also senses Sadie is terrified of something. Concerned, he checks up on her. Eventually they strike up a friendship and soon their attraction is undeniable. When Verba later dies at the hospital and her death is followed by two others, Noah’s boss wants him to dig around the Amish community for clues. He agrees—for Sadie’s sake—because only the truth will keep her safe and by his side.

Learn more and purchase a copy.

About the Author:

Shelley Shepard Gray is a "New York Times" and "USA Today" bestselling author, a finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writers prestigious Carol Award, and a two-time HOLT Medallion winner. She lives in southern Ohio, where she writes full-time, bakes too much, and can often be found walking her dachshunds on her town's bike trail.
Find out more about Shelley at http://www.shelleyshepardgray.com.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

A Defense of Honor by Kristi Ann Hunter

A complimentary review copy was provided to me.

Where has summer gone? The kids returned to school this week and we are back to our busy school time lifestyle. As summer wound down, I wrapped up the newest book by Kristi Ann Hunter, A Defense of Honor.

A Defense of Honor is a piece of Regency Fiction, set in 1816 London and the nearby countryside. This first novel in Hunter's new Haven Manor series was a terrific story, that had a balance of suspense, compassion and love. The author does a great job transporting the reader in time and location, allowing us to feel a part of the story. The author does a great job of developing the characters at the right depth for connection with the endearing, unique characters within the story. In addition, there is a thread of humor which even further endears the reader.

The book opens at a party, Graham is bored with the status quo of the social scene and follows a flash of green that is hiding behind a potted bush, a woman who we later learn is Kit. 'Though why would a woman wear such an eye-catching color if she intended to plant herself behind the potted shrubbery all evening? Plant herself behind the shrubbery. A grin crossed Graham's face as he chuckled at his own cleverness." "His palms started to itch...It was the itch of curiosity..at last, here was something new and unusual."

From there the book takes off at a good pace and never stopped. It kept me fully engaged, as the characters paths cross paths later and the author explores the secrets going on in the book. I had a hard time putting it down, but was glad that it was a longer story that allowed me to be part of the experience for longer because even with that once I reached the end, I wanted it to continue (good thing is it is the first in a series, so another book will be coming).

The story line was more unique than most of the period fiction books that I have read in the past. Even in those stories where the characters have a cause, they are less immersed in it than in this story. The women in this story have created Haven Manor into a world of it's own. The manor is filled with delightful, innocent, charming children, who despite their challenged background, of which they are unaware, they are being raised with love, the benefit of education exposure to art and music and life skills that will allow them to support themselves as adults.

Kit's love and concern for the mothers and children that she helped was sincere, but since it was fueled through guilt she found herself justifying underhanded methods of providing for the children and the manor. It wasn't until the wrongness of the actions were pointed out by Graham that she reflected upon her actions, the way that she had justified the actions and devised a plan to undo the wrongs she had done to redeem herself. The book dealt with forgiveness, redemption, the issue of rejection, the challenges of societal norms and the reliance on God to see you through difficult situations.

Overall, it was a great story. It found balance in the threads of secrets and mystery, friendship and love, and forgiveness and redemption. Hunter writes an engaging story and I can't wait to read more.

About the Book:
When Katherine "Kit" FitzGilbert turned her back on London society more than a decade ago, she determined never to set foot in a ballroom again. But when business takes her to London and she's forced to run for her life, she stumbles upon not only a glamorous ballroom but also Graham, Lord Wharton. What should have been a chance encounter becomes much more as Graham embarks on a search for his friend's missing sister and is convinced Kit knows more about the girl than she's telling.

After meeting Graham, Kit finds herself wishing things could have been different for the first time in her life, but what she wants can't matter. Long ago, she dedicated herself to helping women escape the same scorn that drove her from London and to raising the innocent children caught in the crossfire. But as much as she desperately wishes to tell Graham everything, the risk of revealing the truth may come at too high a price for those she loves.

About the Author:
Kristi Ann Hunter is the author of the Hawthorne House series and a 2016 RITA Award winner, an ACFW Genesis contest winner, and a Georgia Romance Writers Maggie Award for excellence winner. She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia. Find her online at www.kristiannhunter.com.

I have thoroughly enjoyed all of the books that I have read by Kristi Ann Hunter and would highly recommend you check them out. I personally can't wait for book 2 in the Haven Manor series to see what comes next in the lives of the characters that I met and came to know in A Defense of Honor.

No compensation was received for this review. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family. A complimentary review copy was provided to me.