Wednesday, July 23, 2025

My Thoughts on Shadowed Witness by Angela Carlisle

 

About:

A haunting attack. A killer in the shadows. A protective love.

Murder--that's what photographer Allye Jessup knows she witnessed as she departed her studio one evening. Waking with bruises on her neck and a foggy memory, she believes she survived an attack, but everyone seems to think she simply sustained a head injury from falling down the stairs outside her studio. Plagued by an undiagnosed health condition, she is torn between the haunting reality of what she may have seen and the possibility that her mind is playing tricks on her.

Without proof the other victim ever existed, Detective Eric Thornton can hardly declare the area a murder scene. Still, he adds Allye's report to his already full caseload. But when new evidence surfaces to support her claims, Eric must stay one step ahead of a ruthless killer and uncover the truth before the suspect closes in on Allye again.



My Thoughts:

This story really pulled me in, not just for the mystery and the danger, but also our heroine's unknown illness. Allye Jessup is having some health issues that the author keeps under wraps for most of the story. So, while Allye is trying to find out who is attacking and threatening her, she has the mystery of her illness in the back of her mind as well. That only seemed to really up the stakes, and along with Allye I felt the tension and the stress seeping through the pages. 

Detective Eric Thornton has known Allye for a while, and knows she is not a liar and doesn't make things up. He just doesn't understand why her stories are not matching up to the evidence. He is also very concerned for a couple of boys whose lives have been caught up into a nightmare after their mother's accidental overdose. There are way too many drugs coming through their small town.

This story really reminded me of the old movie, Gaslight, which is where we get the term gaslighting. This was at times very chilling and eerie as there are so many hidden things going on. Another great mystery from this author that kept me up way past my bedtime.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

Monday, July 21, 2025

My Thoughts on Legends of Gold by Mary Connealy

 

About:

On a risky treasure hunt in the rugged wilderness, can love trump all odds?

After years of solitude, Tilda Muirhead's life takes an unexpected twist when she accepts a teaching position at Two Harts Ranch following her cross-country pursuit of two brothers obsessed with a treasure map left by their grandfather. Tilda is now tasked with educating those mischievous MacKenzie boys, who are bent on remaining out west with the rest of their family until they find the hoped-for treasure. Then a man named Ben arrives, claiming to be her own long-lost brother. Raised as an orphan with no memory of her past, Tilda is both fascinated and wary of Ben's sudden interest in finding her.

When Ben's motives grow increasingly suspect, rancher Josh Hart suggests Tilda and the young MacKenzies set off on a quest with him that aims to protect Tilda while unearthing the map's secrets. As they explore the wilderness, Tilda becomes captivated by the history behind the map, though she doubts it leads to anything more than old artifacts. Yet danger looms ever closer, and Tilda and Josh must rely on faith and their blossoming love to navigate the treacherous path ahead.

My Thoughts:

This is the second book in the Golden State Treasure series and continues the story of the hunt for lost treasure by the two Mackenzie boys and those of the Two Harts Ranch. This story picks up with Brody Mackenzie and his new wife Ellie, directly after the last book. We are also given Ellie’s brother Josh Hart’s and Tilda Muirhead’s story. Tilda has been searching for the boys ever since they ran away from the orphan train.

So, while this continues the overarching theme, the spotlight does shine on Josh and Tilda who have come up against another situation that has taken them by surprise. Tilda’s backstory of being an orphan has really opened her heart to orphans and what she finds at Two Hart’s Ranch is a place she might be able to call home and help orphans like herself. That is until a man shows up claiming to be her long lost brother and wants to take her back to her father and the rest of the family. There are some major secrets, so I will just leave that there. Anyway, Tilda has finally for the first time in her life found a home and a possible love match with Josh, so she is reluctant to leave.

There is quite a bit of action and adventure in this novel with a few surprise twists. The love match is a bit instant, and not a favorite trope of mine. However, the necessity for certain plot lines becomes very evident and important. I do wish there was a list of characters to refer back to. The Two Hearts Ranch has quite a few characters living and working on it.  Overall, another Hart sibling meets their love match and the mystery of the treasure looms in the background.

I was provided a copy of this novel by Bethany House publishers through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author:

Mary Connealy writes "romantic comedies with cowboys" and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has sold more than 1.5 million books and is the author of the popular series A Western Light, Wyoming Sunrise, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero. Learn more at MaryConnealy.com.

Monday, July 14, 2025

My Thoughts and More on Capturing You by Robin Patchen

 



About the Book


Book: Capturing You

Author: Robin Patchen

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

Release Date: June 24, 2025

In a town shrouded by secrets, a photographer and the reclusive heir of the Ballentine fortune join forces to unravel a deadly conspiracy.

Brooklynn Wright must win a photography contest to save her gallery, and the perfect sunrise shot at a remote inlet north of town is her best hope. But when she witnesses a smuggling operation at a hidden dock and is chased by armed men, her dreams of artistic glory become a nightmare flight for survival. Rescued by a mysterious stranger, Brooklynn is forced to take refuge with him in an abandoned mansion the townspeople claim is cursed—afraid to trust her grumpy protector but with no other choice.

Billionaire Forbes Ballentine returned to Shadow Cove for answers, not distractions. Haunted by the unsolved murder of his family twenty years ago, he’s spent his life in the shadows, hunting for the truth. He believes the network Brooklynn stumbled upon is tied to his family’s deaths, but protecting the cheerful photographer means jeopardizing the investigation he’s been chasing for decades. Especially when her presence stirs feelings he’s not prepared to face.

As Brooklynn and Forbes grow closer, so do the network’s ruthless enforcers. With everyone in town hiding something, they must navigate lies, betrayal, and deadly truths. When the network closes in, they’ll have to trust each other completely—or lose everything.

Dive into this gripping romantic suspense full of mystery, secrets, and danger, where two broken souls must uncover the truth while battling the enemies outside—and the wounds within.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

I really want to take a visit to Maine now. I have wanted to for a while, especially wanting to see the coastline and lighthouses, but if I could stay in a gothic type of mansion built long ago with many secret passageways and secrets to explore, how fun. I of course would not want killers hot on my trail, I could live without that.

This Wright novel is about Brooklyn Wright. She was just out trying to get the best photograph she has ever taken when unbeknownst to her, she stumbles upon some smugglers. Deciding to run away she runs right into the arms of reclusive billionaire, Forbes Ballantine who goes by his new name Ford to protect his identity and life from the murderers who killed his parents and sister many years ago.

Forbes has come back to solve the murder case that has haunted him his whole life. He wants to put the murderers in prison and bring justice for his family. He just wasn't planning on having to rescue and keep Brooklyn safe, nor keeping his secrets hidden from her.

This story mostly takes place in a gothic like mansion on the shores of Maine. If you like a grumpy guy and a much happier, though terrified gal romance, this is a fun and suspenseful one full of mystery and secrets.

Just for fun, I really liked the title and how it could mean many things in this story. 

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author


Robin Patchen is a USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of Christian romantic suspense. She grew up in a small town in New Hampshire, the setting of her Coventry Saga books, and then headed to Boston to earn a journalism degree. Working in marketing, she discovered how much she loathed the nine-to-five ball and chain. After relocating to the Southwest, she started writing her first novel while homeschooling her three children. The novel was dreadful, but her passion for storytelling didn’t wane. Thankfully, as her children grew, so did her writing ability. Now that her kids are adults, she has more time to play with the lives of fictional heroes and heroines, wreaking havoc and working magic to give her characters happy endings. When she’s not writing, she’s editing or reading, proving that most of her life revolves around the twenty-six letters of the alphabet. Visit robinpatchen.com/subscribe to receive a free book and stay informed about Robin’s latest projects.

More from Robin

A Mansion on the Maine Coast: The Perfect Setting for Capturing You

There’s something about old mansions that gets my imagination racing. Maybe it’s the grandeur, or the hint that secrets hide behind their towering windows. Or maybe it’s knowing that, once upon a time, entire lives were lived there.

When I first envisioned Capturing You, I knew the story needed a setting as breathtaking—and as mysterious—as the characters themselves. So I plucked inspiration from my visits to the coast of New Hampshire. I can’t help but admire the stunning mansions overlooking the Atlantic between Hampton Beach—a touristy strip filled with arcades and restaurants—and Rye, a quiet coastal community. I love to imagine the lives lived inside those walls and the histories written into their very foundations.

Naturally, when it came time to write Brooklynn and Forbes’s story, I borrowed from those daydreams.

In Capturing You, the eighteenth-century cliffside mansion functions as more than just a setting. It’s a character in its own right. Crumbling a bit with age, it stands guard over a small, secluded cove on the coast of Maine. The old home is a place of secret hiding places, bittersweet memories, and…because, you know, it’s a Robin Patchen novel…more than its share of danger. The Ballentine Mansion is the perfect backdrop for a story about a photographer who accidentally stumbles onto something she shouldn’t have seen—and a brooding recluse determined to keep her safe.

In the story, I hope you hear the waves pounding against the rocky shore, smell the salt in the air, and feel the ancient wood floors creaking beneath your feet. I hope you’ll find wonder in the whimsical spaces created by the original architect. And I hope you’ll experience nostalgia in a home that hasn’t had a family fill its halls with laughter in a generation.

Step right into that world with me—a world of danger and romance, courage and redemption, all wrapped up in a mansion that’s seen more than its share of joy and heartache. And maybe a little healing too.

I can’t wait for you to explore all its secrets with Brooklynn and Forbes.

Capturing You is available now. Immerse yourself in a fascinating mansion—and a suspenseful romance that’ll keep you reading all night long.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, July 1

Pens Pages & Pulses, July 1

For Him and My Family, July 2

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 3

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 4

Texas Book-aholic, July 5

Stories By Gina, July 6 (Author Interview)

Mary Hake, July 6

Book Looks by Lisa, July 7

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 8

Blogging with Carol, July 9

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, July 10

Life on Chickadee Lane, July 11

Paula’s Pad of Inspiration, July 12

Holly’s Book Corner, July 13

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, July 13

Pause for Tales, July 14

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card and a copy of Protecting You!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54253


Sunday, July 13, 2025

Takeover Blitz: Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink

 

Fire Mountain JustRead Takeover Blitz

Welcome to the Takeover Blitz for Fire Mountain by Dana Mentink hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

About the Book

Fire Mountain 
Title: Fire Mountain 
Series: Elements of Danger #1 
Author: Dana Mentink 
Publisher: Revell 
Release Date: July 1, 2025 
Genre: Mystery & Romantic Suspense

Fire rains from above as they fight to discover the truth and stay alive.

In the shadow of a threatening volcano, long-haul trucker Kit Garrido wakes up in her crashed big rig, unable to recall what happened or why she's suddenly in possession of someone's baby. Fiercely independent, she has to admit that perhaps this time she could use a little help. 

 As the threat of eruption grows, former cop Cullen Landry refuses to leave his cabin in the evacuation area, which is why he's the only one left who can help Kit escape the crumpled cab of her truck. He doesn't want to get tangled up in the mystery of the beautiful woman with an abandoned infant, but when he sees the bullet hole in the windshield and the bloody handprint on the interior, he realizes that he's in this thing, like it or not. 

When two armed men with ill intent approach, the race is on to stay alive, discover the truth, and find the baby's missing mother--all while a deadly mountain rains fire from above.

PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Revell | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Bookshop


About the Author

Dana Mentink

Dana Mentink is a USA Today and Publishers Weekly bestselling author. She's written more than 50 mystery and suspense novels for Love Inspired Suspense, Harvest House, and Poisoned Pen Press. Winner of two ACFW Carol Awards, a Holt Medallion Award, and a Romantic Times Reviewer's Choice Award, Dana lives in Northern California with her husband.

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


Tour Giveaway

(1) winner will receive a copy of Fire Mountain and a $20 Amazon gift card!

Fire Mountain JustRead Takeover Blitz Giveaway

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway began at midnight July 9, 2025 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on July 16, 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.


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

JustRead Publicity Tours

Tuesday, July 8, 2025

My Thoughts on Tandem Cottage by Carrie Fancett Pagels

 

About:

Newly minted computer science graduate, Alyssa, has plans to obtain work and finally live independently with her son. Summer programming for Alyssa’s son, who has Aspergers, is tossed when his biological father and new wife, an attorney, insist on summer visitation. With her plans completely upended, Alyssa pursues a job on Mackinac Island with the hopes of acquiring an internship. Young widower, Carter, who has suffered the tragic loss of his wife, is working remotely on Mackinac Island as a computer programmer and hires Alyssa as nanny for his baby girl.

Susan, a social worker with unknown links to Alyssa, is also Carter’s former group therapist. Susan consults at a Mackinac Island summer-long retreat as she mulls retirement options. With Alyssa’s estranged grandmother a famous television evangelist, Susan’s mother the senior-most congressional representative, and a mysterious artist all adding their dramatic flair to the Mackinac Island mix—what could go wrong?



My Thoughts:

This was a story of two hurting people that really needed a new start with life. The author really put them through their struggles, most of it we see in their past, yet that past still is making troubles for their present. There are some really hard subjects tackled in this novel, yet the author does it all with grace and understanding. Overall, it was a nice visit to Mackinac Island, a place I have not had the pleasure to visit yet; however, the author paints a beautiful picture of it with her words.

Alyssa is a single mom of a little boy with Aspergers. When she was sixteen, she went through a traumatic event that produced Sammy, but oh she loves her little boy, and it shows throughout the story. She is looking for a job to give her and her son a better shot at independence and life in general, when Sammy's father steps back into the picture making demands and issuing threats.

Widower and single father Carter has come back to Mackinac Island to get away from the memories of his late wife. He has experienced his own trauma throughout his marriage and her tragic death, that his family thinks it best he comes back home for a while. In the meantime, he hires Alyssa as his nanny. 

That is not the job that Alyssa needs or wants to move forward into her career, but life's demands are breathing down her back. She also genuinely likes Carter, and he is a great dad. Throw in some misconceptions and few islanders with their own issues and you have a story of hope and overcoming.

This is the third in the series and the first I have read, but the other stories sound like a great investment into the whole overarching themes of the series.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

Sunday, July 6, 2025

My Thoughts and More on Secrets of the Revolution by Megan Soja

 

 


About the Book


Book: Secrets of the Revolution

Author: Megan Soja

Genre: Christian Historical Romance

Release Date: June 10, 2025

The cause of liberty brought them together. Will it also tear them apart?

Hannah Pierce is determined to keep her father‘s apothecary shop running, despite his failing health, the heavy burden of her mother’s recent death, and the mysterious disappearance of her brother. She’ll do whatever it takes to preserve her family’s legacy, including joining a dangerous ring of patriot spies…and falling for a revolutionary printer with a brave heart.

William Abbott always keeps his promises. He vowed long ago to never abandon those in need like his father did. So when new British acts of Parliament threaten Boston and endanger his family, he throws himself into serving the Patriot cause, using his position at the printing office to gather and spread intelligence. But when his clandestine role in the newly formed spy ring causes him to cross paths with the apothecary’s beautiful daughter, he may find himself fighting for more than the cause.

As tensions in Boston reach a breaking point, Will and Hannah find their bond deepening even as the noose tightens around the spy ring. When promises and determination are not enough to protect the ones they love, they’ll need to trust God if they are to survive what is to come.

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was such a great story to read around the 4th of July. I enjoyed seeing the lead up to the eventual Declaration of Independence for our country. This story focuses on the happenings between the time of the Boston Tea party and the first battle of the war for independence. Whether this is a refresher or you learn something new, this was a great account of what was going on in our great nation at that time.

This is also Will's story after his decision to remain in Boston after his dear John letter. This is also Hannah's story as she is trying to cover for her father's forgetfulness at their apothecary. Their romance is set against the backdrop of spies and liberty at a very crucial time in history. I learned a few new things and the author's notes are great and help lead to further research. I like that the stories in this series so far really take us on a slower walk through the years amidst pivotal points of history leading up to the war.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own. 

About the Author


Megan Soja is a multi-award-winning author who writes stories with strong faith, rich history, and sweet romance. She lives in western NY with her husband and two daughters and loves having adventures, both big and small, with her family. When she’s not writing, she enjoys reading, hiking, canoeing and kayaking, and playing French Horn.

 

 

 

 

More from Megan

In Secrets of the Revolution, my hero and heroine, Will and Hannah, are both drawn into participating in a Patriot spy ring in Boston. As I was planning their story, I drew inspiration from a group of famous real-life spies that operated in New York City during the American Revolution – the Culper Ring.

The Culper Ring was established in 1778 and successfully ran for five years without a single spy being discovered. Even today, we do not know the identity of all the members. They used a variety of methods to communicate, including ciphers, codes, and invisible ink, all of which served as inspiration for details in my story. I even used some of the numerical codes from the actual Culper Code Book to encrypt a letter that Will receives.

While researching the Culper Ring, I came across an especially interesting woman – Anna Smith Strong – and I knew she would be the perfect model for the part that Hannah plays in Secrets of the Revolution.

Anna’s role in the spy ring was to relay signals when information had been left at a specific location. Her family farm on Seaton’s Neck in Long Island provided prime location for her work, and she communicated through a brilliantly simple manner that went undetected throughout its operation. When a message was ready to be picked up amongst the coves of Long Island, Anna would hang a black petticoat on her clothesline, followed by a number of white handkerchiefs to indicate which location to use. Her clothing signal was easily spotted by fellow spy Caleb Brewster, who would periodically row out into the Sound, or Abraham Woodhull, whose nearby farm provided a clear view. The Culper Ring accomplished more than any other spy network during the war, thanks in part to Anna’s work.

As you discover Hannah’s role in Secrets of the Revolution, I hope that knowing Anna’s real history makes my story come to life all the more!

Blog Stops

Holly’s Book Corner, June 26

Pens Pages & Pulses, June 26

Devoted Steps, June 27

Books You Can Feel Good About, June 28

Texas Book-aholic, June 29

To Everything There Is A Season, June 29

Inkwell Inspirations, June 30

Simple Harvest Reads, June 30 (Guest Review from Marilyn)

Locks, Hooks and Books, July 1

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, July 2

Life on Chickadee Lane, July 3

Blossoms and Blessings, July 3

Babbling Becky L’ Book Impressions, July 4

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, July 5

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 6

Pause for Tales, July 6

Cover Lover Book Review, July 7

For Him and My Family, July 8

Bizwings Book Blog, July 9

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, July 9

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Megan is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54248


My Thoughts and More on Following the Clues by Dana Mentink

 



About the Book



Book: Following the Clues (Security Hounds Investigations Book Four)

Author: Dana Mentink

Genre: Inspirational Romantic Suspense

Release date: May 27, 2024

A search-and-rescue mission
reveals a lethal secret.

After K-9 handler Kara Wolfe witnesses her childhood friend Beau O’Connor survive a targeted hit-and-run, she’s shocked to learn his mother’s missing. And Beau, who can no longer recognize familiar faces after an earlier attack, can’t shake the feeling these terrifying incidents are somehow connected. With the tracking skills of her blind bloodhound, Kara will help Beau locate his mother—but someone will do anything to sabotage their search. With the culprit on their trail, can they uncover a sinister plot…before their rescue mission turns into a fight for survival?

 

Click here to get your copy!

My Thoughts:

This was another great thriller suspense from author Mentink that had a couple of interesting situations. The dog team was an interesting one. I had never heard of a blind dog having their own guide before. But that is exactly what is happening with K-9 handler Kara Wolfe's dog. Her tracking dog is blind, but she has an Australian shepherd dog that guides her. Her tracking sense still works, she just can't see. What a genius solution to keep this dog working and it just goes to show how great dogs are.

The second interesting topic is the brain injury that Kara's love interest, Beau has. He cannot recognize faces. Not even his mother or his love Kara. That would be quite a dilemma as now that his mother has gone missing, he cannot recognize the danger even if that person was staring him in the face. I enjoyed this suspense that seemed to have the ante upped for the unique obstacles these two faced.

I was provided a copy of this novel from the author. I was not required to post a positive review, and all views and opinions are my own.

About the Author


Dana Mentink is a USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestselling author as well as a two-time American Christian Fiction Writers Carol Award winner, and a Holt Medallion winner. She is the author of over fifty titles in the suspense and lighthearted romance genres. She is pleased to write for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense, Revell and Poisoned Pen Press.

 

 

 

More from Dana

The only thing more fun that writing about bloodhounds, is adding in some colorful new canine characters who aren’t quite your standard tracking champions. In this book, you’ll get to know Phil who was introduced at the end of book #3. He’s a livestock protector who steps in as a guide for Millie the bloodhound when her vision becomes impaired. Phil takes his job VERY seriously. He flat out refuses to wear a vest, or play with toys, and he doesn’t particularly like people, but he will lay his life down to protect Millie and Kara Wolfe. It was so much fun having this unlikely hero rise to the challenge as Kara and her ex-boyfriend must root out a saboteur on the local fish hatchery property. The secret they unearth will shock you, I hope! Please enjoy the adventure with Millie, Phil, and the rest of the Wolfe pack!

Blog Stops

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, June 24

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, June 24

Bizwings Book Blog, June 25

Carla’s Book Crush, June 25

Bigreadersite, June 26

The Avid Reader, June 26

Vicky Sluiter, June 27

Texas Book-aholic, June 27

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, June 28

Devoted To Hope, June 28

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, June 29

Betti Mace, June 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, June 30

Labor Not in Vain, July 1

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, July 1

Stories By Gina, July 2 (Author Interview)

EmpowerMoms, July 2

Blogging With Carol, July 3

Because I said So – adventures in parenting, July 3

Simple Harvest Reads, July 4 (Guest Review from Donna)

For Him and My Family, July 4

Lily’s Corner, July 5

Blossoms and Blessings, July 5

Holly’s Book Corner, July 6

Pause for Tales, July 6

A Good Book and Cup of Tea, July 7

Lights in a Dark World, July 7

Giveaway



To celebrate her tour, Dana is giving away the grand prize of a $75 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of the book!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54246


My Thoughts on Shadowed Witness by Angela Carlisle

  About: A haunting attack. A killer in the shadows. A protective love. Murder--that's what photographer Allye Jessup knows she witnesse...

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