At Love's Command (Hanger's Horsemen #1) by Karen Witemeyer

Book Description

Ex-cavalry officer Matthew Hanger leads a band of mercenaries who defend the innocent, but when a rustler's bullet leaves one of them at death's door, they seek out help from Dr. Josephine Burkett. When Josephine's brother is abducted and she is caught in the crossfire, Matthew may have to sacrifice everything--even his team--to save her.

My thoughts:

I have been a Karen Witemeyer for quite a while and have loved her writing, looking forward to each book that she has released.  So needless to say, I was super excited to get a copy of her newest novel which is the first book in her new series.  

I liked the premise of a woman doctor in the 1800’s but unfortunately it took a long time before I got interested in the storyline.  There are some moments that were interesting, some of the characters were likeable, there is plenty of action and I almost didn’t finish reading it.  However, I did keep reading it and I’m glad that I did because all of the characters became ones that I genuinely liked.  I think the slow build up is due to the fact that At Love’s Command is the first book in the series and the author took time introducing her readers so we can look forward to finding out what life has in store for them in future novels.

This is a Christian fiction novel but there is also a lot of gun violence which was part of the storyline so this one may not be suitable for young readers. I received a copy from the publisher.  All opinions are my own.

Cross Shadow by Andrew Huff Blog Tour + GIVEAWAY

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 u 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.

You can watch the book trailer Here

My thoughts:

This is the second book in the series and could probably be read as a standalone but I would recommend reading the first book, A Cross to Kill to get to know John Cross.  I have been intrigued with the premise of this series and even more so in this novel because John is more developed which made him more likable to me.


I enjoy action packed stories occasionally and Mr. Huff certainly didn’t disappoint, he definitely delivers and blends it perfectly with suspense and a relationship with Christine Lewis.  I look forward to seeing how their relationship grows and what John will get involved in next.  I have a feeling it will be another exciting, story that will keep me reading late into the night.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher through I Read With Audra.  All opinions ae my own.

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 HERE

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What Others Are Saying

“In the tradition of Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti, Cross Shadow is a strong, taut thriller that retains a Christian sense of optimism and hope while acknowledging the existence of great evil in the world. Huff raises the stakes on every page all the way through the white-knuckle finale—like watching an action movie through the written word.” ~ Kyle Mann, editor in chief of The Babylon Bee and author of How to Be a Perfect Christian “Andrew Huff’s writing is as fast-paced and tight as his enticing story lines. Masterfully balancing a well-developed plot with a cast of characters you feel like you’ve known forever, Huff creates one page-turner after another in his Shepherd Suspense trilogy. He may be a new author, but his talented word-spinning is anything but novice and will linger long in the reader’s subconscious.” ~ Betsy St. Amant Haddox, author of All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes CLICK HERE TO ENTER

The CEO, The Puppy and Me by Jennifer Faye Blog Tour- Review +GIVEAWAY

On Tour with Prism Book Tours

The CEO, the Puppy and Me

(The Bartolini Legacy #2)

By Jennifer Faye

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 256 Pages

June 1st 2020 by Harlequin Romance

Has the search for her past…

…guided her toward her future?

Gia Bartolini’s determinedly searching for her real father. First stop on the enchanting Italian island of Lapri? A mysterious abandoned mansion…where, rescuing a trapped puppy, she falls straight into the arms of alluring Riccardo Moretti! Her passion for the all-business CEO burns bright, leaving Gia with a question: In uncovering her true roots, has fate led her to true love?

(Affiliate links included.)

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My thoughts:

What a relaxing, sweet and romantic read this novel is.  I have been waiting to read this book after finishing the first one in the series, The Prince and the Wedding Planner. It's easy to get caught up in the lives of the Bartolini family as they discovered that one of the three siblings was fathered by another man and once the information is received it makes for an intriguing storyline as plans are made to find the father.  Gia is a wonderful character and I loved traveling with her in her quest to find her biological father, I loved the time I spent with Ricardo Moretti, the CEO and I adored the puppy.  Yes, I am a huge animal lover and if you put a puppy as sweet as Gin in the story than of course I will love not only him but his humans as well.

This book is filled with loving, caring and warm characters that show you don't have to be related by blood to be family.  There's room in our hearts to love and accept every living creature on earth both human and animal.  I was happy to see  Gia to remain a strong, independent woman no matter what she came her way in life.  This is a wonderful fast-paced and delightful read.  

I received a complimentary copy through Prism Book Tours.  All opinions are my own.

GO TO JENNIFER'S CONTACT PAGE HERE and order your bookmark(s)!

Other Books in the Series

The Prince and the Wedding Planner

(The Bartolini Legacy #1)

By Jennifer Faye

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 256 Pages

March 1st 2020 by Harlequin Romance

When different worlds collide…

…sparks fly!

With her family name on the line, wedding planner Bianca Bartolini needs this royal wedding to go perfectly—she can’t afford distractions. Too bad the bride’s dashing brother has other plans! Duty-bound Crown Prince Leo has mere weeks to announce his own engagement, but none of the candidates measure up to Bianca. They’re the most unlikely match, but might that just make them perfect for one another?

(Affiliate links included.)

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And coming in September...

The Italian's Unexpected Heir

(The Bartolini Legacy #3)

By Jennifer Faye

Contemporary Romance

Paperback & ebook, 256 Pages

September 1st 2020 by Harlequin Romance

Her baby surprise proves…

…that one night will never be enough!

Reeling from the secrets that have torn his heritage apart, Enzo Bartolini is set on selling his family’s Tuscan vineyard and trying to forget the impulsive, dazzling night he and best friend Sylvie shared in Paris. While the sale moves forward, the thrilling awareness between him and Sylvie is harder to move past…especially when she upends Enzo’s world by revealing she’s carrying his baby!

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About the Author

Award-winning author, Jennifer Faye pens fun, heartwarming contemporary romances with rugged cowboys, sexy billionaires and enchanting royalty. Internationally published with books translated into nine languages. She is a two-time winner of the RT Book Reviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the CataRomance Reviewers' Choice Award, named a TOP PICK author, and been nominated for numerous other awards.

  

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TOUR SCHEDULE

Tour Giveaway

One winner will receive a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of THE PRINCE AND THE WEDDING PLANNER, winner's choice of print (US only) or ebook

Open internationally

Ends June 17, 2020

ENTER HERE

A Gilded Lady (Hope and Glory, #2) by Elizabeth Camden

Book Description

Secretary to the first lady of the United States, Caroline Delacroix is at the pinnacle of high society--but is hiding a terrible secret. Immediately suspicious of Caroline, but also attracted to her, secret service agent Nathaniel Trask must battle his growing love for her as the threat to the president rises and they face adventure, heartbreak, and danger.

My thoughts:


I have been looking forward to reading this book for a couple of reasons, first I loved the first book in the series, The Spice King but most of all it’s because I absolutely love anything written by Ms. Camden.   Reconnecting with the Delacroix was much better than I had anticipated and I loved each and every moment I spent with this entertaining family and the exciting lives they lived.


Caroline Delacroix is the secretary to Ida McKinley, who I knew very little about until I started reading this novel. As first lady of the United States, Ida was pretty demanding but given the circumstances of her health it was understandable.  Caroline is a strong, intelligent, energetic young woman who meets any challenge head on and she has many challenges not only in the White House but in her personal life.  Speaking of her personal life she is doing everything she can to help her twin brother Luke when she’s faced with yet another challenge.  Nathaniel Trask is the new head of security and he needs to keep track of everyone and everything going on around President McKinley. 

This does not set well with Caroline which leads to friction and some clever dialog between her and Nathaniel. Rich in history, with a lot of intrigue, a wonderful romance and delightful  characters made this one of my favorite books this year.  It’s going to be hard to wait until the next book is released but I can reread the first two books in the series while I wait. I received a complimentary copy from the publisher through Netgalley.   All opinions are my own.

Stories That Bind Us by Susie Finkbeiner

Book Description

Betty Sweet is still recovering from the loss of her husband when she becomes the temporary guardian of a five-year-old nephew she never knew she had. As they struggle to move forward, they build a relationship upon the foundation of storytelling and its special kind of magic.

My thoughts:

Ms. Finkbeiner writes stories where you feel you are in the middle of everything that is happening in her novels. She makes you feel like you are part of the family which she has done this once again in Stories That Bind Us.  In this book I spent time with the Sweet family.  Betty is living a life she loves in 1960’s, Michigan with her husband Norman and in-laws she absolutely adores.  Suddenly her life changes drastically when she finds herself widowed at the age of 40. The reader gets to know Norman through memories and stories shared by the family.  

Throughout this compelling book we meet various family members, discover family secrets, see how difficult mental health issues are on both a patient and those who love them.  More than that we find out that happiness and forgiveness can be restored to those who never thought it could happen in their lives.  This was an emotional read for me, at times I wiped away the tears but there were plenty of times that I smiled as I got to know the incredible characters in Stories That Bind Us.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher.  All opinions are my own

Lizzie's Heart by Susan Lantz Simpson

About the book

Fall in Southern Maryland’s Amish country is a time of fiery falling leaves, a bountiful harvest, and bracing, frost-touched days. It’s the perfect season for one irrepressible maidel to try an unexpected match . . .

Good-hearted and impulsive, twenty-year-old Lizzie Fisher has many chores—and secrets. She’s caring for kittens abandoned by their mother and practicing her drawing talent away from disapproving eyes. So the last thing she needs is someone like handsome Stephen Zimmerman constantly “helping” her out of trouble. But when she discovers they both have lovelorn siblings, she has an idea: why can’t she and Stephen bring his older brother and her older sister together? After all, how hard could matchmaking be?

Even though he’s the youngest son of an Old Order Mennonite family, Stephen is used to looking out for everyone else. Yet somehow the romantic schemes he and Lizzie cook up keep going awry—in ways that hint they may suit each other. But their deepening bond is both delightful and complicated. For bridging their differences will take bravery, compromise—and faith in their hopes and dreams . . .

My thoughts:

I am a fan of the books written by Ms. Simpson for a couple of reasons, first of all her novels are filled with sweet. Likable characters and secondly, I am very familiar with the Sothern Maryland Amish because I live nearby and visit quite frequently.  I always feel like I’m visiting friends when I read a book penned by this author.

After having read Lizzie’s Heart I can honestly say this is my favorite book that I’ve read by Ms. Simpson. Lizzie Fisher is sweet, charming and truly has a kind heart for animals and freely gives her time to help others in her community and her family.  I thoroughly enjoyed the friendship Lizzie had with an Old Order Mennonite family, Stephen Zimmerman and his mother. I felt like I really knew the Fisher and Zimmerman families and loved spending time with them. There is warmth, love and plenty to smile about. 

Overall, I though this was a sweet, fun read with an idyllic setting and a perfect weekend read. It was nice to escape to a peaceful place in a loving community.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

Secrets Resurfaced (Roughwater Ranch Cowboys #4) by Dana Mentink

About the book

Searching for the truth
could get them killed…

When new evidence surfaces about a tragic boating accident that put her ex-boyfriend’s father in prison, private investigator Dory Winslow’s determined to look into it. But now someone’s dead set on silencing her. And working with Chad Jaggert—the father of her secret child—may be the only way to survive the treacherous truth about the tragedy that once tore them apart.

My Thoughts:

Another fabulous series by Ms. Mentink, I have enjoyed this series immensely with each of the four books providing hours of fast paced, non-stop action.  One of the many things I love about the authors work is the action taking place from the very beginning so I’m always anxious to keep turning those pages as fast as I can because I genuinely like her characters. In Secrets Resurfaced, I love the family, the ranch but I was drawn to a sweet little girl named Ivy and an adorable dog named Meatball.

I thought the premise was interesting with Dory Winslow the private investigator tracking new evidence involving a boating accident that put her ex-boyfriend’s father behind bars.  Her ex just happens to be Chad Jaggert the man who comes to her rescue when she needs help. I was on the edge of my seat, feeling anxious for their safety and wondering how they would survive the situations they found themselves in.  Needless to say, there are twists and turns, blended with love, forgiveness and of course a touch of suspense.

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions are my own.