Redemption (Saint Squad #11) by Traci Hunter Abramson + Win This Book!!

 

Gage Stewart has spent five years trying to overcome his past. Once an abused and troubled teenager, he has worked tirelessly to move beyond the fateful day he was manipulated into holding a group of teenagers hostage. Now, with a new identity and a college degree in criminal psychology, he accepts an unlikely job teaching others what to do during mass shootings.

At the hotel where his class is held, Gage is immediately drawn to Skyler Prescott, the daughter of the wealthy hotel owner. Gage and Skyler quickly discover a shared desire for normalcy, and their easy friendship soon develops into something more. But after a night out ends in horror when a gunman opens fire in the crowded venue, they make an alarming discovery that threatens more than their relationship. The attack was little more than a publicity stunt to draw out the real target: presidential candidate Senator James Whitmore. Unwilling to become someone’s scapegoat, Gage must now work in tandem with the very men who ended his own life of crime before it began—the Saint Squad.

 * Goodreads * Amazon * Deseret Book *

Yessssss!  Finally!  I have a new book in the Saint Squad series to read!  Redemption is HERE!  I might be a little bit excited.  This is my favorite type of book by this author- this romantic military/government suspense.  She writes all kinds of books really well, but this is my favorite genre.  

This book had me hooked from the very beginning with Gage and Skyler.  There is an excellent build of character connections, emotion and plot that leads to such an explosive ending.  It was so exciting!  The "bad guys" are obvious to the reader from the beginning but not to the characters so there was always that extra tension of knowing something they didn't know and hoping they would figure it out.  Gage's arch was particularly satisfying and I was so invested in his growth and success.  I'm like a Gage cheerleader- "come on, Gage!  Don't give up!  You can do it!  Believe in yourself!  You've got this!  You are capable, smart and worthy of good things!"  See?  Cheerleader.

The Saint Squad novels build on each other with the same characters showing up in all the books and some cross over of plot lines.  I don't think you have to read the previous (10!!) books before reading this one but you might be more satisfied if you do.  These characters become like family after so many books and some of the inside jokes might be missed.

I really love the cover on this book.  The actual title print is awesome and I love the graphics as well.  It's a great representation of what this book is about.

This whole book just made me happy.  I'm ready for more.  

Content:  peril, violence, death, mass shootings, kissing, some Christian elements (going to church, praying).

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Autumn by the Sea (Muir Harbor #1) by Melissa Tagg + Giveaway

 

 

Abandoned as a toddler, Sydney Rose has spent years wondering who she really is, homesick for a life she's never lived. When a private investigator crashes into her world, she finds herself heading to a tiny seaside town in Maine to meet a woman named Maggie, who's searching for the granddaughter she lost decades ago.

If not for Maggie, Neil MacKean might still be back in Scotland, bereft and alone. Instead, he has a full life in Muir Harbor with an adopted family he loves and a blueberry farm to run. But the farm is struggling and strange occurrences have him concerned. Worse, Maggie's once again caught up in the past, convinced she's finally found her long-lost granddaughter.

Worried for Maggie, Neil is suspicious of the city girl who shows up at the farm. But there's something about Sydney that tugs on him, drawing out secrets he never meant to share. While Neil grapples with the future of the farm, Sydney wrestles with a past that's messier than ever. Together, they're pulled into a mystery complete with a centuries-old legend, unexpected danger . . . and a love as deep and wild as the sea.

 * Goodreads * Amazon * 

It's the beginning of a new series by author Melissa Tagg!  She's an author I'm always watching because I love her books.  She really has a knack for developing not only characters, but a sense of community and family as well.  This book really sets the stage for future books.

If ever there was a gentle way to tell a story, this is it.  The story grows slowly and really allows time to get to know the characters.  I feel like this was Sydney and Neil's story but it was also the beginning of everyone's story.  The foundation has been laid, the mystery has begun and even though this story came to an end, it really isn't over.  Some things are resolved, but so much isn't.  It's so good to know there is another book coming!

Some of my favorite things from this book:

1. Neil
2. Blueberry Farm
   
3. Setting by the ocean 
4. The definition of family in this book
5. Tree House! 
6. Tree House kisses!
7. Neil (what?  He deserves to be here twice, at least.)
8. The growing mystery
   
9.  "Lass"
10. Hidden treasure?!  I hope so.

  Content:  kissing, some mild Christian elements

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

 

Here's what up for grabs:

$50 VISA gift card

Paperback copy of Autumn by the Sea

Fall cutting board, hand-lettered by Nicole Letters

Home fall decor, also lettered by Nicole Letters

Two fall candles

Book magnet, AGAIN hand-lettered by Nicole Letters

Bookmark

And if you're like, "WHO IS THIS Nicole Letters??" she's my sister and the artist who lettered the title on my book cover!

This giveaway is open through October 8 and there's like a bajillion options for entering. Haha! Enter here

http://www.melissatagg.com/giveaway/the-book-of-my-heart

Five Kisses by Rachael Anderson

 

The first kiss crumbles her world. The second mystifies. The third unbalances. The fourth sends her reeling. And the fifth –ah, the fifth . . .

Inspired by Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew, Miss Sarah Meacham has always behaved circumspectly, until an emotional outburst directed at a well-deserved gentleman earns her the nickname of Miss Shrew. As a result, she vows to never trust—or love—again. But when her father decrees that her younger sister cannot marry the man of her dreams until Sarah has secured a suitor of her own, she is faced with a dilemma: Deny her sister marital bliss or feign an interest in the next gentleman to come along, at least until their father relents.

Mr. Ian Collum is no gentleman. A tradesman and newcomer to Brighton, he has been searching high and low for the perfect house. When he at last discovers Ivy Cottage, with its magnificent views, extensive lands, and a large oak tree reminiscent of his favorite childhood escape, he will do whatever it takes to obtain it. Trouble is, the owner of the property will only sell if Ian agrees to court the beautiful and infamous Miss Shrew—a woman as intent on eluding Ian as he is on pursuing her.

 * Goodreads * Amazon *

I ADORE this book.  Absolutely adore it.  I want to read it again right now.

The book is literally broken up into five sections- Kiss One, Kiss Two right up to Kiss Five and then. . . BONUS KISS.  😍  Yeah, I love that.  I also love both Sarah and Ian.  How could I not love them?  Honestly.  I'm pretty sure I just loved everything about this book, including the cover.  It hit my sweet spot and it all made me so happy.  This was a fantastic day of reading.  Yes, I finished it in one day.  I just couldn't help myself.

Content:  kissing

- I borrowed this book on Kindle Unlimited.  :)

The Slow March of Light by Heather B. Moore

 

Sometimes all you have is hope.

In the summer of 1961, a wall of barbed wire goes up quickly in the dead of night, officially dividing Berlin. Aware of the many whose families have been divided, Luisa joins a secret spy network, risking her life to help East Germans escape across the Berlin Wall and into the West.

Bob Inama, a soldier in the US Army, is stationed in West Germany. He’s glad to be fluent in German, especially after meeting Luisa Voigt at a church social. As they spend time together, they form a close connection. But when Bob receives classified orders to leave for undercover work immediately, he doesn’t get the chance to say goodbye.

With a fake identity, Bob’s special assignment is to be a spy embedded in East Germany, identifying possible targets for the US military. But Soviet and East German spies, the secret police, and Stasi informants are everywhere, and the danger of being caught and sent to a brutal East German prison lurks on every corner.

Best-selling author Heather B. Moore masterfully alternates the stories of Bob and Luisa, capturing the human drama unique to Cold War Germany was well as the courage and the resilience of the human spirit.

 * Goodreads * Amazon * Deseret Book *

Can I just say that I love historical fiction?  I know I say it all the time- like, every time I read a good historical fiction book.  It's one of my favorite genres and this book proves, yet again, why I love it.  I know that this book is labeled fiction, and some of it is, but some of it isn't.  It's based on real events that happened to a real person that this author interviewed in preparation to write this book.  It's such an amazing story of an amazing man and courageous, resilient people.  My heart feels changed for the better.  

The world is always in crisis somewhere, over so many things.  For Bob, it was Germany in the 1960's.  It was such a volatile time with so much violence and unrest.  I felt right there in the middle of it as I read.  This book isn't small.  It's a hefty, thick book and I read through the whole story in one day.  I couldn't put it down.  I know I'm going to be thinking of this book for a long time.

Content:  war violence, prisoner of war beatings (not much detail), peril

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Facebook page for the book: https://www.facebook.com/SlowMarchOfLight 

 

Videos: 

Surviving Prison in the Cold War: https://youtu.be/FHD7-fDgqV8 

The Making of a Spy: https://youtu.be/haUC5-6DeE0 

If you purchase The Slow March of Light this week, you can get this launch bundle free.  Just go to the publisher website and enter your purchase information.

Launch Bundle from Publisher: https://shadowmountain.com/slowmarch/ 

The Matchmaker's Lonely Heart by Nancy Campbell Allen

 

Set in Victorian London from the Queen of Mystery Romance

Amelie Hampton is a hopeless romantic, which makes her the perfect columnist to answer lonely heart letters in The Marriage Gazette. When Amelie plays matchmaker with two anonymous lonely hearts, she also decides to secretly observe the couple’s blind date. To her surprise, the man who appears for the rendezvous is Harold Radcliffe—a grieving widower and a member of Amelie’s book club.

Police detective Michael Baker has been struggling ever since his best friend and brother-in-law died in the line of fire. Because he knows the dangers of his job, he has vowed never to marry and subject a wife and family to the uncertainty of his profession. But when he meets Miss Hampton, he is captured by her innocence, beauty, and her quick mind.

When a woman’s body is pulled from the river, Michael suspects the woman’s husband—Harold Radcliffe—of foul play. Amelie refuses to believe that Harold is capable of such violence but agrees to help, imagining it will be like one of her favorite mystery novels. Her social connections and clever observations prove an asset to the case, and Amelie is determined to prove Mr. Radcliffe’s innocence. But the more time Amelie and Michael spend together, the more they trust each other, and the more they realize they are a good team, maybe the perfect match.

They also realize that Mr. Radcliffe is hiding more than one secret, and when his attention turns toward Amelie, Michael knows he must put an end to this case before the woman he loves comes to harm.

 * Amazon * Goodreads * Deseret Book *

It's a Victorian murder mystery!  After a few years of steampunk/paranormal regency style mashup books from this author, we are delving into a new genre and I'm liking it!  A lot!

From the first pages I was interested which is always nice as a reader but what is even better?  When that interest grows with every page and you become more and more invested as the story progresses.  Things really ramped up in the last half of the book and by the end I was reading so quickly, desperate to find out how it would all work out.  I really love when that happens.

Amelie (I love that name) and Michael grew on me as I got to know them better.  I'm glad that Amelie didn't stay in her delusional world too long but quickly caught on so Michael could become the star of her show (and mine too!).  I would say that this book is slightly more plot driven but the characters were good and I really enjoyed it from start to finish.

I'm really hoping that this is the beginning of a new series involving the cousins who all are a part of this book.

Content:  some violence (murders) described in some detail.  Peril, kissing.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

About the Author:

NANCY CAMPBELL ALLEN is the award-winning author of eighteen published novels and several novellas, which encompass a variety of genres, ranging from contemporary romantic suspense to historical fiction. Her most recent books, which include Regency, Victorian, and steampunk romance, are published under Shadow Mountain’s Proper Romance brand, and the What Happens in Venice novella series is part of the Timeless Romance Anthology collection published by Mirror Press. She has presented at numerous conferences and events since her initial publication in 1999.

Nancy loves to read, write, travel, and research, and enjoys spending time with family and friends. She nurtures a current obsession for true crime podcasts and is a news junkie. She and her husband have three children, and she lives in Ogden, Utah, with her family, one very large Siberian Husky named Thor, and an obnoxious but endearing YorkiePoo named Freya.