Tuesday, August 13, 2019

"Lord of Her Heart" by Sherrinda Ketchersid ... and a GIVEAWAY! (@JustReads blog tour)

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Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for Lord of Her Heart by Sherrinda Ketchersid, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

 
Title: Lord of Her Heart 
Author: Sherrinda Ketchersid  
Publisher: Lighthouse Publishing of the Carolinas 
Release Date: May 14, 2019 
Genre: Inspirational Historical Romance

He’s fighting for his future—she’s running for her life.

Lady Jocelyn Ashburne suspects something is amiss at her family’s castle because her father ceases to write to her. When she overhears a plot to force her into vows—either to the church or a husband—she disguises herself and flees the convent in desperation to discover the truth.

Malcolm Castillon of Berkham is determined to win the next tournament and be granted a manor of his own. After years of proving his worth on the jousting field, he yearns for a life of peace. Rescuing a scrawny lad who turns out to be a beautiful woman is not what he bargained for. Still, he cannot deny that she stirs his heart like no other, in spite of her conniving ways.

Chaos, deception, and treachery threaten their goals, but both are determined to succeed. Learning to trust each other might be the only way either of them survives.

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository


EXCERPT

The rusty lock would not budge.

Jocelyn blew a strand of unruly hair from her eyes and paused to still her racing heart. No matter how many times she’d practiced in the privacy of the garderobe, nothing had prepared her for the trembling of her fingers or the time wasted looking over her shoulder. Taking a deep breath, she pried the tip of her knife back into the lock, listening for the quiet catch of the spring.

“Jocelyn, make haste.” Sister Mary stood guard several paces away.

Though the smaller postern gate at the back of the abbey was far from the dormitory, sometimes sisters were known to walk the nearby flower gardens for nightly prayer. Jocelyn prayed that none would be so inspired that night. “Do not fret. I shan’t fail.”

Her heart drummed in her ears. She fought down the panic welling inside as she wiggled the tip of the blade. The lock jolted open. Closing her eyes, she almost wept with relief. Thank you, Lord. She pushed against the heavy gate, wincing as it creaked, piercing the heavy mantle of silence.

 Jocelyn turned to Mary who stood with her clasped hands pressed against her heart. She ran to her friend, hugging her tightly. “Pray for me. Pray for success in my quest.”

Mary clutched Jocelyn to her. “The important thing is that you get to safety.” She loosened her hold and smiled through her tears. “I will hold you close in my heart and pray for you constantly.”

“And I you, my friend.” Jocelyn grabbed her sack and ran.




ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Sherrinda Ketchersid is a lover of stories with happily-ever-after endings. Whether set in the past or present, romance is what she writes and where her dreams reside. Sherrinda lives in north-central Texas with her preacher husband. With four grown children, three guys and a gal, she has more time and energy to spin tales of faith, fun, and forever love.  

CONNECT WITH SHERRINDA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a signed copy of Lord of Her Heart, a 9 oz Cozy Day candle, and a personalized hand-lettered Moleskin journal!


Be sure to check out each stop on these tours for more chances to win. Full tour schedule on this tour is linked below. Giveaway begins at midnight August 13, 2019 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on August 20, 2019. Winners will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. Due to shipping cost, only US mailing addresses valid. 

For our giveaway rules and policy, click HERE.

 

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Top Ten Tuesday: Book Characters I'd Love to Be Besties With




Happy Tuesday! Today's Top Ten Tuesday link-up theme is Book Characters I'd Love to Be Besties With. I had a lot of fun coming up with this list, as it involved thinking back on some of my favorite books, way back to my childhood.

So, here we go, in no particular order...


Hermione Granger from the Harry Potter series

Hermione may be a know-it-all at times, but she has a big heart, and she loves to read and learn! (She's a girl after my own heart 😊) She's one person you'd want on your side if you were having a bad day ... or facing He Who Must Not Be Named. Others have told me they see a bit of Hermione in me, so I think she'd be a perfect bestie. (And, I would LOVE to pick up a bit of her British accent and have her bag that can hold just about everything!)



Laura Ingalls Wilder from the Little House on the Prairie series

I grew up reading and watching "Little House on the Prairie," and I still enjoy them today. Laura is feisty, independent, and intelligent, even while wearing a sunbonnet and no shoes 🙂 And she was clever enough to trick Nellie Oleson into doing just about anything! I think we could have a lot of fun together as besties. Also, I loved the fact she grew up to be a writer, as that was one of my childhood dreams.




Ramona Quimby

Who doesn't love Ramona? She never focuses on her looks, and she's happy with who she is ... messiness and all. Growing up, I was a bit of a tomboy (and I still prefer jeans and a T-shirt to a dress). As a bestie, she'd be someone who'd keep me laughing and appreciate me just as I am.





Lisbeth Salander from The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo series

Lisbeth is fierce. She makes her own rules and fights for what she believes in. Sure, she's flawed, but she doesn't let that hold her back. In fact, she uses it to push herself to be who she wants to be versus who others want her to be. She has a take-charge attitude. As a bestie, she'd encourage me to keep moving forward and stick with it, especially on the days I doubted myself.



Nancy Drew

Nancy is a young, fearless, and smart detective. She uses her skills to solve crimes, making her a hero in her town. I enjoy a good mystery, and, as besties, we'd have a lot of fun sleuthing things out, putting the puzzle pieces together, and saving the day.




Mary Poppins

Life would never be boring with Mary as a bestie. She's friends with all the animals, can sing and dance, and has the coolest friends. (Hello?! Tea parties on the ceiling!) She even makes taking medicine fun (with a spoonful of sugar). While she's magical and "practically perfect in every way," Mary knows the importance of being kind and shares that with others. My life would truly be a "jolly holiday with Mary" as a bestie. You just can't help but love her 😊




Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice

Elizabeth is lively and clever ... a true delight to those around her. She puts what's in her heart first, above societal norms. Plus, she can always be caught enjoying a good book ... just like me! As besties, we'd never run out of literary things to discuss.




Audrey Rose from Stalking Jack the Ripper series

Audrey Rose Wadsworth lives in London and works in forensic medicine. Those two things alone are fascinating enough to want her as a bestie. Even better is that she's working to discover who's behind grisly murders linked to Jack the Ripper, Dracula, Houdini, and the White City Devil. She matches wits with serial killers, and she gets to travel while doing it! As her bestie, it'd be interesting to watch her work and learn about forensics. 



Elphaba from Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Elphaba is strong, opinionated, and stands up for what she believes is right. She's encouraging in the fact that she shows she can succeed, even though she is different from those around her. In fact, she's willing to turn her back on success for something she believes in. As a bestie, she'd encourage me to embrace my uniqueness, instead of feeling pressured to blend in with others. Perhaps her confidence and strength would rub off on me, as well.




Tris Prior from the Divergent series

Tris is brave, curious, smart, and stubborn. She struggles to find her identity, all the while desiring to protect others and stand up for them. She has relatable insecurities, but she's still willing to step out in faith to have the future she's meant to have. She steps outside her comfort zone, where she learns she can be brave and unselfish. As a bestie, she could give me some help in a couple of those areas, as well as support me when I'm ready to "jump."


What about you? Who are some book characters you'd love to have as a bestie?

Monday, August 12, 2019

Monday Motivation



"You've got to get up every morning with determination if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction."
— George Lorimer


Have a wonderful week!

Sunday, August 11, 2019

"Your Battles Belong to the Lord" by Joyce Meyer



My review...


I always enjoy reading Meyer's books, as she never fails to tackle spiritual battles with biblical truths, and her latest is no exception. Here, she reminds the reader who the true enemy is (Satan), and she provides ways to apply God's Word and prayer to do battle against whatever the enemy may throw our way. Meyer wants to help the reader do battle with God at their side.

If you're looking for encouragement, this is a book to check out. It'll remind you that the enemy can be defeated. I enjoyed the sections on ways to incorporate prayer into the battle and the importance of removing thoughts that begin with "I can't" or "I'm not." My favorite chapters were "Hold Your Peace," "The Power of a Thankful Life," "Internal Rest," and the ones on spiritual warfare (and strategies for battle). 

Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book:

  • "As we learn to stop thinking about our problems and fill our minds instead with the truth that our battles belong to the Lord, we will be able to let God fight our battles for us and realize that worry is something we no longer have to do."
  • "Our problems never change the truth that God is good!"
  • "God can give us joy without things, but things without God will never give us joy."
  • "All loss of peace and upset begins in the mind."
  • "Sometimes we look for a miracle when all we need is common sense."
  • "Worry is useless, but most of us continue to do it...until we finally realize that the longer we worry, the longer we delay the help God wants to give us."
  • "When we are anxious, we use the time God has given us today to try and fix or solve something that is either in the past or in the future."

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy as part of the FaithWords blogger program, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.





Friday, August 9, 2019

First Line Friday




Happy Friday! I'm a bit late to the game, but I'm looking forward to participating in First Line Fridays, hosted by Hoarding Books, on the days I'm not doing Friday Reads.

It's time to grab the book nearest to you and leave a comment with the first line. Today on First Line Friday, I'm featuring Be a Blessing: A Journal for Cultivating Kindness, Joy, and Inspiration by Debbie Macomber.



And the first line is ...

Journaling helps me deal with all that life throws at me, both joys and sorrows.

About the book...

#1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber has inspired readers for years with stories of love and resilience, creating characters who overcome all obstacles to become their best selves.

Now Debbie shares the gifts and opportunities she has experienced as a lifelong journaler, guiding you through the process of cultivating your own creativity and well-being through journaling.

Inside, you will find the perfect tools to jump-start your journey to a more mindful life:
  • intuitive prompts and exercises to spark self-reflection
  • insightful quotes and beautiful illustrations to inspire your creative side
  • step-by-step guidance, words of wisdom, and encouragement from Debbie herself!
Let me know the first line of the book closest to you and then head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating.




If you're a blogger or just a social media-er, we'd love for you to join us, too!


Thursday, August 8, 2019

Takeover Thursday with Sandra Ardoin ... and a GIVEAWAY!


Sandra has agreed to give away one electronic copy of the book. You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends August 15, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.) 

The Story Behind the Story...

Are you one of the many readers who enjoy mail-order bride stories?

When I was given the opportunity to write such a story, I jumped at it. However, I wanted something other than the typical American West setting—something unique. As I mulled it over, the idea that popped into my head was to use a gold rush.

Again, I didn’t want to do the standard California or Colorado gold rushes, so I began researching others. That research led to the Klondike, and I decided Skagway would have made a great destination town. Unfortunately, the more I dug, the more I realized it didn’t work with the historical timing of the story I had in mind, so I returned to the research. That eventually led me to Nome, Alaska.

Nome has a fascinating history, and I could see my adventure-seeking heroine fitting right in alongside the stampeders, a number of whom left the Klondike when news came of the wealth found in Alaska.

Can you imagine picking gold nuggets off a beach?

Once word got out about finding gold on the beaches of Nome (or Anvil City, as it was called then) the population swelled to over 20,000 people. They came from all over to get in on the strike, most sailing to Nome from San Francisco or Seattle.

Every kind of business was born, especially gambling houses, dance halls, and saloons. Even Wyatt Earp owned a saloon called The Dexter. Buildings were constructed in haste. White tents lined the beach for over thirty miles, and miners established claims along the various creeks in the area. So many people arrived that the small post office had trouble keeping up with the mail, which became a key plot point in A Love Most Worthy.

The story, set in the summer of 1900, also took advantage of the weather toward the end of August. Cold, rain, wind, a little snow…it all came to a head in mid-September with
gale-force winds that destroyed parts of the new town and cost around a hundred lives. How could I ignore using that historical event as an analogy for the turbulence in the marriage of Hallie and Rance?

The story revolves around a few months in 1900, and it didn’t take long for the miners to discover that the gold was playing out. It was no longer as easy as picking it up from the beach. But Nome has more to its history, like the 1925 serum run, which made the sled dog Balta famous, or the finish line of the celebrated Iditarod. If you think you might want to try your luck at striking it rich, people still search the beaches of Nome for those elusive gold nuggets.

And that research I did about the Klondike? Some of it came in handy. Happy reading!

Blurb...

He isn't what she expected.
Life should be lived to the fullest. Her late father's philosophy sends Hallie Russell to the gold rush town of Nome, Alaska as a mail-order bride. When her new husband proves distant, Hallie sees her quest for adventure and her dream of belonging vanish quicker than a miner's golden nuggets.

But she could be what he needs.
Rance Preston's rowdy lifestyle led to tragic consequences, and his nephews paid the price. Now they need a mother, but Rance has vowed to never again let his heart overrule his head...until the high spirits of his new bride threaten his resolve.

Will they allow the gale-force winds of insecurity to destroy a bond more precious than gold?

Excerpt...

Hallie was beginning to care a great deal for all the Prestons and didn’t want to cause continued strife between the six-year-old and Rance. She bent over and cupped his chin. “Will you do something for me?”

His eyes lit and his head bobbed. “Yes, ma’am.”

“Will you be extra nice to your Uncle Rance today?”

She waited while he tilted his head and narrowed his eyes, considering her request. “I guess so, but he better not make you cry again.”

“I won’t, Robbie.” At the sound of Rance’s voice, Hallie bolted upright and spun around. He stood in the hallway near the boys’ bedroom, a paper-wrapped package clutched in his hand and Davie at his side. “At least, I’ll try not to.”

Enraptured by his steady gaze with its hint of sheepishness, Hallie’s pulse frolicked. She could blame the cavorting on his sudden appearance but feared the credit belonged to the husky drawl and gentle voice.

Really, Hallie?

Her inner heels kicked up as she fell victim to his chiseled features, those wide shoulders, and the sturdy chest on which she could lean while his arms enfolded…

She gasped. Get hold of yourself, Hallie Rus…Preston. For heaven’s sake, this isn’t the first time you’ve seen your husband, and he has no interest in your attraction anyway.

Besides, his more-or-less apology had been to his nephew, not her.

“What’s in your hand, Uncle Rance?” Robbie pointed to the package.

Rance studied it as if he’d forgotten he held it. “I brought Aunt Hallie something.”

Her breath stuttered. He’d brought her a present?

He stepped closer and held it out for her to grasp. When she took the package, the paper crinkled and yielded to her touch. Whatever it enclosed was soft and pliable. She presented him with her most generous smile. “Thank you.”

Hallie tore the paper, impatient to see the gift. She pulled out a wide ribbon…a wide, crimson hair ribbon. Her pleasure collapsed like a deflated balloon.

“I thought it appropriate for today.”

Appropriate for the Fourth of July? Perhaps. But had he not listened when she mentioned she despised the color red. It reminded her too much of her father’s death. Why hadn’t he brought her a blue or white ribbon?

Robbie wrinkled his nose. “But it’s red, Uncle Rance. She doesn’t like red.”

She balled the ribbon in her hand and swallowed her disappointment. “It’s fine, Robbie. In fact, it’s lovely.” It would be lovely…to someone else.

Hallie couldn’t deny Rance was a good man. However, she wouldn’t fool herself. Like her father, he considered her feelings irrelevant. He hadn’t bothered to remember her name. Why should she expect him to remember a tiny detail such as her disdain of the color red? To him, she was of no more interest than the cook stove. Stuff kindling in her when she grew cold, then ignore her until the next time she was needed.

She had hoped life with him would be different, but so far, her marriage felt like the same tired refrain sung over and over.



About Sandra...


As an author of heartwarming and award-winning historical romance, Sandra Ardoin engages readers with page-turning stories of love and faith. Rarely out of reach of a book, she's also an armchair sports enthusiast, country music listener, and seldom says no to eating out.

Keep up-to-date with the Love in Faith and Fiction newsletter, including information about Sandra’s October 2019 release!

Where you can find her online...

Visit her at www.sandraardoin.com


As a gift for her newsletter subscribers, Sandra wrote a short story to accompany A Love Most Worthy—a “prelude.” It provides some insight into Hallie’s story, something those who read only the novella won’t receive. So, join the Love and Faith in Fiction community and keep up with what’s new, discover what’s upcoming, and learn of specials and giveaways.


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Tuesday, August 6, 2019

Tuesday Tip: Punctuation Tips to Ponder


Misused or overused punctuation marks can really hurt your manuscript. Here are a few tips to ponder and look for in your WIP (work in progress):

Apostrophes: Misused'
Commas: Often placed, in the wrong space
Ellipsis: Used too often in stories...
Exclamation points: Overused!
Question mark: Generally used correctly?
Semicolon: Best to create a new sentence; conjunctions and commas are other options.
Periods: These are usually fine.


Monday, August 5, 2019

"Hope for Tomorrow" by Michelle De Bruin ... and a GIVEAWAY! (JustRead Publicity Tours)

 

Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour (and Giveaway!) for Hope for Tomorrow by Michelle De Bruin, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

ABOUT THE BOOK

 
Title: Hope for Tomorrow 
Author: Michelle De Bruin  
Publisher: Mantle Rock Publishing 
Release Date: October 23, 2018  
Genre: Inspirational Historical Fiction

When Logan De Witt learns of his father’s sudden death, he returns home to the family’s dairy farm. During his stay, he discovers his mother’s struggle with finances and his younger sister’s struggle with grief. Concern for his family presses Logan to make the difficult decision to leave his career as a pastor and stay on the farm. As a way to make some extra money, he agrees to board the teacher for their local school.

Karen Millerson arrives from Chicago ready to teach high school but her position is eliminated so she accepts the role of country school teacher. Eager to put her family’s ugly past behind her, Karen begins a new career to replace the trust she lost in her own father who had been in ministry when she was a child.

Logan and Karen both sense a call from the Lord to serve him, but neither of them expected that one day they would do it together.

Can Karen learn to trust again? Will Logan lay aside his grief in exchange for God’s purpose for his life?

PURCHASE LINKS*: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

EXCERPT

Following God’s leading would jeopardize her teaching career. Karen hadn’t been at teacher’s college for long before she learned that married women weren’t allowed to teach. Saying “yes” to God would mean saying “no” to everything she’d worked for, everything she hoped would bring her security.

Maybe she could let her pain and her fears go. If she did, God’s way might be better. He could have her teaching career. She’d also give Him those places that were still hurt and searching. The Lord could bring healing and peace in the way He chose.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

 

Michelle De Bruin is a worship leader and spiritual services provider. She lives in Iowa with her husband and two teenage sons. A romantic at heart, Michelle is always looking for glimpses of God’s love through the window of a good story.  

CONNECT WITH MICHELLE: Website | Facebook | Twitter

TOUR GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a prize pack that includes a print copy of Hope for Tomorrow and a $25 gift card plus a set of handmade quilted hot pads and Dutch chocolate.


Full tour schedule shown below. Giveaway will begin at midnight August 5, 2019 and last through 11:59 PM EST on August 12, 2019. 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.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

 

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
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*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

Friday, August 2, 2019

"The Enlightenment of Bees" by Rachel Linden




The Enlightenment of Bees: the story behind the story!           
       by Rachel Linden

I write stories about strong women facing big challenges and triumphing with themes about hope, courage and connection. I love to put in elements from my own interests and life experiences, especially travel, food, second chances at love and social justice issues involving women!

Here are 4 ways The Enlightenment of Bees was influenced by my own personal life experience!

  1. I worked for a faith-based international aid organization in Europe for seven years. In 2015, I helped provide aid for refugees during the crisis in Europe. I was living Budapest and volunteered at the Roszke refugee camp on the border of Hungary. My own experiences during the refugee crisis shaped Mia's humanitarian work in the camp.
  2. I was actually chased by a bull shark in Florida, just like Mia in the story! I was there with a wedding date that went horribly awry and then we were chased by a shark on the 4th of July! Very dramatic. Everyone survived but it was definitely a close call! So I just had to put it in the story, but with a happier ending. 🌝
  3. My Grandma Sally became a widow after my grandfather passed away following a fourteen-year battle with Alzheimer's disease. Amazingly she found love again at the age of 79 with a boy she'd gone to high school with! They married at 80 and spent the next seven years traveling the globe before they decided to retire for good. It was like watching a real-life senior citizen Cinderella story! Now they're both 92 and still in love, still together. They say they've been on a twelve-year honeymoon! I based the wonderful character of Nana Alice in the book on my Grandma Sally and loved exploring this beautiful and sweet late-in-life romance.
  4. I love to write about food. Somehow it always ends up being a theme in my stories. In Bees, Mia is a baker who is trying to figure out how to make a difference in the world by doing what she loves. I was raised in the kitchen baking with my mother and maternal grandmother, and I love to bake. When I bake I feel like my mother and grandmother are right there with me no matter where I am in the world. And I think baking empowers people to create community wherever they are and to offer hospitality to people, and that's a beautiful thing! It was fun to put baking into the story and show how anything, when done with love, can change the world for good.


Thanks so much for sharing, Rachel!

My review...

I’ve read Linden’s books in the past, and I really enjoyed them, so I was excited to read this one, and it didn’t disappoint.

Mia embarks on a humanitarian mission trip with her friend after losing her boyfriend (almost fiancé) and job, leaving her feeling sorry for herself and questioning everything in her life. She’s a strong heroine, and it’s great to go along on her journey to discovering her place in the world.

Linden’s latest is a coming-of-age story, but not your typical one, as this one focuses on serving others and finding your place in the world. This isn’t a boy-meets-girl sweet romance. Sure, there’s a romance angle, but the key focus is on the global refugee crisis, something I haven’t read about in a novel before. It was well-researched, and it gave the reader a realistic look at things by not having the characters fix everything so that it wrapped up neatly. The author accurately portrays cultures and crises going on in various parts of the world. Linden brings scenes to life with vivid descriptions, which allows the reader to truly feel a part of the story. Difficult topics are handled sensitively, all the while leaving the reader with a greater understanding of what’s going on in the world beyond what they see out their window.

Some of my favorite quotes:
  • “Remember, Mia, your place in this world is the space where your greatest passion meets the world’s great pain.”
  • “To be alive is to suffer, but the we survive by finding meaning in the suffering.”


Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, but I wasn’t required to leave a positive review.





About Rachel...

Rachel Linden is a novelist and international aid worker whose adventures living and traveling in fifty countries around the world provide excellent grist for her stories. She holds an MA in Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College and a BA in Literature from Huntington University, and she studied creative writing at Oxford University during college. Currently, Rachel lives in beautiful Seattle, Washington with her husband and two young children. Rachel enjoys creating stories about hope and courage with a hint of romance and a touch of whimsy

Where you can find Rachel online...


Thursday, August 1, 2019

"Never Tell" by Lisa Gardner ... and a GIVEAWAY!


The publisher has agreed to offer one print copy of  this book to one lucky blog reader (US ONLY). You can enter by using the Rafflecopter link at the end of the post. (Giveaway ends August 8, 2019. If you are the randomly chosen winner, I'll contact you.) 


I'm a huge fan of Lisa Gardner, so I'm excited to share my review of her latest book that being repackaged as a paperback (complete with a new cover!). This will release on August, 6, 2019, so be sure to check it out. It includes a sneak peek of her 2020 release, When You See Me.

My review...

Gardner's latest is the tenth installment in the series, but it can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone novel.

A man is murdered in his home, and his wife Evie is found holding the smoking gun. It appears to be an easy case. Sergeant D.D. Warren recognizes the woman from an earlier case, when Evie was accused of shooting her father. It now appears she's killed her husband. Are the cases connected?

For readers of the series, they will recognize some familiar characters. The story, told in multiple POVs, grabs the reader early on. A fast pace and short chapters keep the reader engaged. Details are revealed in a way to keep the reader guessing as the clues unfold for the characters. The more you learn, the more you find out that you were likely incorrect in what you thought was going on. D.D. is a strong heroine, which I loved. Characters, including the secondary ones, were well developed. I will likely go back and read others in the series as I wait for the next installment, which releases in 2020. The sample excerpt definitely piqued my interest! 

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy, but I wasn't required to leave a positive review.


About Lisa...


Lisa Gardner, a #1 New York Times bestselling thriller novelist, began her career in food service, but after catching her hair on fire numerous times, she took the hint and focused on writing instead. a self-described research junkie, she has transformed her interest in police procedure and criminal minds into a streak of internationally acclaimed novels, published across 30 countries. She's also had four books become TV movies (At the Midnight Hour, The Perfect Husband, The Survivors Club, and Hide) and has made personal appearances on TruTV and CNN. Lisa's books have received awards from across the globe. Her novel, The Neighbor, won Best Hardcover Novel from the International Thriller Writers, while also receiving the Grand Prix des Lectrices de Elle in France. She was also recognized with the Daphne du Maurier Award in 2000 for The Other Daughter. Finally, Lisa received the Silver Bullet Award from the International Thriller Writers in 2017 for her work on behalf of at-risk children  and the Humane Society.

For a bit of fun, Lisa invites her readers to enter the annual "Kill a Friend, Maim a Buddy" Sweepstakes at LisaGardner.com. Every year, one Lucky Still is selected to meet a grand end in Lisa's latest novel. Past winners have nominated spouses, best friends, and even themselves.

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