About the book (provided by Litfuse)...Plunge into forensic artist Gwen Marcey's world, full of cold-case murders, shady politics, and a den of venomous suspects. Add Carrie Stuart Parks' new Gwen Marcey novel, When Death Draws Near, to the top of your must-read list. Gwen accepts temporary work in Pikeville, Kentucky—a small town facing big-city crime. But before she can finish her first drawing of the serial rapist who is on the loose, the latest witness vanishes. Just like all the others. Can Gwen uncover the truth—and convince anyone to believe her—before she becomes a victim herself? 

And I thought . . . When I was offered the opportunity to read and review this book  I was excited.   I am a fan of thrilling suspenseful and a little romantic books.   I  opened it and began reading the day I received it.  I got to the end of chapter two and put it down.  It didn't 'click'.

A few weeks later I picked it up again.  I got a little farther along but I just couldn't get into this book. 

This weekend because this review is due I picked up with the intention of reading it all the way through. 

And honestly it finally began to become interesting to me.  But as I finished the last page I was back to my first impression.  I didn't like this book. 

The story was good.  The story was filled with bumps and twists and turns.  The reader is caught of guard at the end wondering just who is behind all the violence.  

But I didn't connect and frankly I really didn't like the main character.  I got annoyed with her constant turning everything that happened around her or circumstances to her own past misfortunes and failures.  The past was always on her mind and seemed to be always brought into the present through her references.  

When she receives a phone call from her ex-husband informing her he was sending their teenage daughter to her my thought was ridiculous!  Who in their right mind sends their daughter to their ex 

(who they already have issues concerning parenting with)who is on assignment out of town knowing that these assignments tend to lead to danger.  

And Gwen the main character just says o.k and goes and picks her up at the airport!  This is after she has already had two attempts made on her life for investigating the towns recent murders and rape cases.  

The craziness continues after the daughters arrival and until the end.  Which btw turns out o.k. for all. 

Personally I could have left all that drama out of the story and I think it would have been much better.  

Admittedly I have not read the 1st two installments in this series.  And maybe if I had I would have liked the story and the main character better.  Maybe I would have understood the reasoning.  

For more information about the authors other works and other books in this series visit her website

Litfuse is offering a giveaway . . . 

Join Carrie in celebrating the release of When Death Draws Near by entering to win an Undercover Artist Starter Set. 

One grand prize winner will receive: 

• A copy of When Death Draws Near
• A $30 Michael's or Hobby Lobby gift card (winner's choice)
• Colored pencils
• A sharpener
• A pencil case
• An eraser
• A coloring prayer book
• A coloring notecard set
• A lap desk

 

Enter today by clicking the icon below, but hurry! The giveaway ends on August 22. The winner will be announced August 23 on the Litfuse blog. 

I received a complimentary copy of When Death Draws Near from Litfuse in exchange for my honest 

receive. 

This review is posted at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and CBC. 

This review is posted on Good Reads and My Journey Back.

God Made You Just Right--Children's Book Review

                                                              
About the book (from Amazon)...
A bright and cheerful reminder that God made each of us special and unique

Here is a message that every parent will want to share with his or her child: You're brilliantly created and there s no one else like you! With easy-to-understand descriptions and simple, rhyming text, Jill Roman Lord shares the message that God created each of us in just the right way in a manner that even the youngest child will understand. Bright and engaging illustrations from Amy Wummer pair perfectly with the text and enhance the appeal of the book. Ages 2-5.

And I thought ...
What a precious little book filled with God's plan and promises for each child.  It's a small little toddlers board book.  An excellent introduction to God's love and promises for the toddler.   

Parents will love reading this little book to their children. 

The illustrations by Amy Wummer are delightful depicting children baking cookies, building sandcastles, running and jumping and playing.  

I love that the story is based on Jeremiah 29:11 and is printed on the last page.  Giving parents an opportunity to share this verse with their toddler over and over every time they read the book. What a great verse to be the first verse a child learns!

I recommend this book for parents, grandparents and teachers.  Its a great book for a church nursery or toddler classroom.  

5 big 'ole stars are 'Just Right' for God Made You Just Right!  You won't be disappointed.  

A complimentary copy from Worthy Publishing was offered to me in exchange for my honest review. 

This review will be posted at My Journey Back  Good Reads. 
And the following retailers . . . 
Amazon, Barnes and Noble and CBC.  

Fetching Sweetness-Dana Mentink--Book Review

                                                   
Celebrate the release of Fetching Sweetness with Dana by entering to win the Sweetness Unleashed Prize Pack!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of Fetching Sweetness
• A $75 Visa cash card
• A library book necklace
• A dog-inspired insulated shopping tote

About the book (provided by Litfuse)...

Fetching Sweetness (Harvest House, July 2016)

Standing between Stephanie and her dream is one hundred pounds of lovable trouble.

It should have been so simple for Stephanie Pink: Meet up with Agnes Wharton in a small town in California, retrieve the reclusive author’s valuable new manuscript, and be promoted to a full-fledged literary agent.

But Agnes’s canine companion, Sweetness, decides to make a break for it before Stephanie can claim her prize. Until Agnes has Sweetness safely back at home in Eagle Cliff, Washington, Stephanie will never set eyes on the manuscript she needs to make her dreams come true.

When Stephanie tracks the runaway mutt to a campground, she meets Rhett Hastings—a man also on the run from a different life and a costly mistake. Rhett agrees to help Stephanie search for the missing dog…thus launching a surprising string of adventures and misadventures.

Once Sweetness gets added to the mix, it’s a recipe for love and loss, merriment and mayhem, fun and faith in the backwoods of the Pacific Northwest.

About the author...

Dana Mentink lives in California, where the weather is golden and the cheese is divine. Dana is an American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year finalist for romantic suspense and an award winner in the Pacific Northwest Writers Literary Contest. Her suspense novel, Betrayal in the Badlands, earned a Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice Award. Besides writing, she busies herself teaching third and fourth grade. Mostly, she loves to be home with her husband, two daughters, a dog with social anxiety problems, a chubby box turtle, and a feisty parakeet.

Find out more about Dana at http://www.danamentink.com.

And I thought...Another winner!  I loved the fun and 

quirky story and characters.  This is my second chance

to read the work of Dana Mentink. This is the second book in the Love Unleashed Series.  I am looking forward to many more.  

This story is creatively written and just fun.  I read it in a couple of days because I couldn't put it down.   

I caught myself reading funny sections to the Cowboy. I caught myself giggling.  

The main character 'Sweetness' was a mix of quirkyness, goofiness and tender hearted.  Who had a habit of collecting other strays.  'Sweetness' captured the hearts of the 'people' characters in the book and this reader. 

Miss Mentink weaves together a fun and sweet romantic story around the crazy lives of a young couple that are both facing challenging things in their lives.  Each are dealing with their own questions about God and their faith.  

Fetching Sweetness is worthy of my 5 star rating. 

This review is posted at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, CBC and Good Reads.  Visit the retail sites to read additional reviews or purchase.  

This review will be posted at My Journey Back and my favorite link parties including: The Art Of Homemaking, Share Your Cup, Create With Joy

I received a complimentary copy from Litfuse in exchange for my honest review. 

More Than Rivals--Ken Abraham--Book Review

A Championship Game and a Friendship That Moved a Town Beyond Black and White                                                                                                                                                    
                                                                    Source
About the book (provided by Baker Publishing) . . . 

A New York Times bestseller!"A monster slam dunk that will impact your life."--Pat Williams, founder and senior vice president, Orlando Magic

In 1970, one small southern town was a powder keg ready to erupt. 
But it was also on the verge of something incredible.
Eddie Sherlin and Bill Ligon grew up on opposite sides of the tracks in Gallatin, Tennessee. They knew the barriers that divided them--some physical landmarks and some hidden in the heart--but those barriers melted away when the boys were on the basketball court. After years of playing wherever they could find a hoop, Eddie and Bill rose as leaders of their respective high school teams. And at the end of the 1970 season, all-white Gallatin High and all-black Union High faced each other in a once-in-a-lifetime championship game. What happened that night would challenge Eddie and Bill--and transform their town.

A fast-paced true story of courage, determination, and forgiveness, More Than Rivals offers hope and inspiration for our times.

"A riveting true story. This book will inspire and touch the hearts of young and old alike."--Roscoe Orman, actor; entertainer; and for forty years played Gordon on Sesame Street

"Read it immediately. It is truly an outstanding story."--Charles Martin "C.M." Newton, former basketball coach, Vanderbilt University; former athletic director, University of Kentucky

"A true story about a friendship that transcended the past, reconciled the present, and imagined a new future."--Skip Prichard, CEO, OCLC; leadership insights blogger at www.skipprichard.com

"This book will make you laugh, cry, and want to get to know people who don't look like you. A must-read."--Yolanda Conley Shields, CEO, Let's Go Innovate; author, Letters to Our Sons

Ken Abraham is the New York Times bestselling author of many books, including Against All Oddswith Chuck Norris and Let's Roll with Lisa Beamer. His work has been featured on 20/20, Dateline,Larry King Live, Good Morning America, The CBS Morning Show, The Today Show, and many more. Learn more at www.kenabrahambooks.com.

And I thought . . . 

I can't say much more than the qualified people who have already endorsed this book.  

Borrowing from a few . . . 'monster slam dunk' , 'riveting',

'outstanding', 'you'll laugh and cry'.

I can add one word 'timely'.

          Everyone needs to read this 5 star book. 

I received a complimentary copy of More Than Rivals

from Baker Publishing in exchange for my honest review. 

This review will be posted at:

My Journey Back

This review is posted at these retailers Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and CBC.

This review is posted at Good Reads and linked at blog parties including:

The Art Of Homemaking, Share Your Cup, Create With Joy

                                                            
About the book (provided by Baker Publishing) . . . 
Intensity. Skill. Tenacity.
The bodyguards of Elite Guardians Agency have it all.
Katie Singleton, a partner with the Elite Guardians Protection Agency, stumbles upon her next assignment quite by accident. Spotting blue lights at a familiar restaurant, she stops to investigate, only to discover that owner Daniel Matthews has become the target of someone who will go to any lengths to put him out of business.

Daniel might be concerned, but he's not convinced that a bodyguard--and a female one at that--is necessary. A new attack and his niece's urgings are enough to make him reconsider. He and Katie must figure out who's behind the intimidation and threats--before a would-be killer strikes again.


Praise for Always Watching 

"A thrill ride from the first page until the last. Set aside some time, because you won't want to put it down."--RT Book Reviews, 4½ stars, Top Pick

"A stellar beginning to what promises to be another terrific series from this inspirational author." --Bookpage 

"With each new novel, Eason continues to get better. Always Watching is among her best."--LifeIsStory.com


Lynette Eason is the bestselling author of the Women of Justice series, the Deadly Reunions series, and the Hidden Identity series, as well as Always Watching in the Elite Guardians series. She is the winner of an ACFW Carol Award, the Selah Award, and the Inspirational Readers' Choice Award. She lives in South Carolina. Learn more at www.lynetteeason.com.

And I thought ...
This was another page turner.  A very hard book to put down.  Full of Twists and turns. A thriller of sorts.  
Ms. Eason's talent for taking a suspenseful fictional story and adding faith elements is unequaled. 
While the characters question their faith do to past hard ships they are thrown together and have to run for their lives and find out just who the villain is.  
Each character in this story is like able.  Even the villain(s). 
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in suspenseful thrillers.
Possibly a great book to introduce someone to a new faith in God. 
Although Without Warning is part of the Elite Guardians series it is a stand alone book. (I encourage the reader to read book 1 it was great too.  My review is here)
I'm adding Lynette Eason's Without Warning to my list 
of 5 star books.  

I received a complimentary copy from Baker Publishing in exchange for my honest review. 

This review is posted at Amazon, CBC, Barnes and Noble 
and Good Reads. 
This review will also be posted at
MyJourneyBack-TheJourneyBack and linked at:
The Art Of Homemaking, Create With Joy, Share Your Cup

Legends--Eric Blehm--Book Review

                                                          
About the book (provided by Penguin Random House . . .

The unforgettable account and courageous actions of the U.S. Army’s 240th Assault Helicopter Company and Green Beret Staff Sergeant Roy Benavidez, who risked everything to rescue a Special Forces team trapped behind enemy lines.

In Legend, acclaimed bestselling author Eric Blehm takes as his canvas the Vietnam War, as seen through a single mission that occurred on May 2, 1968. A twelve-man Special Forces team had been covertly inserted into a small clearing in the jungles of neutral Cambodia—where U.S. forces were forbidden to operate. Their objective, just miles over the Vietnam border, was to collect evidence that proved the North Vietnamese Army was using the Cambodian sanctuary as a major conduit for supplying troops and materiel to the south via the Ho Chi Minh Trail. What the team didn’t know was that they had infiltrated a section of jungle that concealed a major enemy base. Soon they found themselves surrounded by hundreds of NVA, under attack, low on ammunition, stacking the bodies of the dead as cover in a desperate attempt to survive the onslaught.

When Special Forces Staff Sergeant Roy Benavidez heard the distress call, he jumped aboard the next helicopter bound for the combat zone without hesitation. Orphaned at the age of seven, Benavidez had picked cotton alongside his family as a child and dropped out of school as a teen before joining the Army. Although he was grievously wounded during his first tour of duty in Vietnam and told he would never walk again, Benavidez fought his way back—ultimately earning his green beret.

What followed would become legend in the Special Operations community. Flown into the foray of battle by the courageous pilots and crew of the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, Benavidez jumped from the hovering aircraft, and ran nearly 100 yards through withering enemy fire. Despite being immediately and severely wounded, Benavidez reached the perimeter of the decimated team, provided medical care, and proceeded to organize an extraordinary defense and rescue. During the hours-long battle, he was bayoneted, shot, and hit by grenade shrapnel more than thirty times, yet he refused to abandon his efforts until every survivor was out of harm’s way.

Written with extensive access to family members, surviving members of the 240th Assault Helicopter Company, on-the-ground eye-witness accounts never before published, as well as recently discovered archival, and declassified military records, Blehm has created a riveting narrative both of Roy Benavidez’s life and career, and of the inspiring, almost unbelievable events that defined the brotherhood of the air and ground warriors in an unpopular war halfway around the world. Legendrecounts the courage and commitment of those who fought in Vietnam in service of their country, and the story of one of the many unsung heroes of the war, whose actions would be scrutinized for more than a decade in a battle for a long overdue, and what many believe was an unjustly denied, Medal of Honor.

The case was reopened thirteen years later, in 1980, when a long lost—and believed dead—Green Beret eyewitness whom Benavidez had rescued that day, came forth and wrote a statement that revealed, once and for all, what happened on that fateful day in May of 1968.

About the author . . . 

Eric Blehm is the award-winning author of the New York Times bestsellers Fearless and The Only Thing Worth Dying For. His first book, The Last Season, was the winner of the National Outdoor Book Award and was named by Outside magazine as one of the “greatest adventure biographies ever written.” He has dedicated his life to telling the stories of those who serve.

In 1999, Blehm became the first journalist to accompany and keep pace with an elite Army Ranger unit on a training mission. His access into the Special Operations community and reportage set an important milestone for American war journalism two years before reporters began to gain widespread embedded status with the U.S. military in the War Against Terror. Blehm’s immersion with the Rangers is what led him to the previously untold story of an elite team of eleven Green Berets who operated in the hinterland of Taliban-held Afghanistan just weeks after 9/11 (The Only Thing Worth Dying For), as well as to Fearless (Waterbrook/Multnomah; Random House), the heartrending and inspiring story of Naval Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) Adam Brown, who overcame tremendous odds in his rise to the top tier of the U.S. military: SEAL Team Six. FEARLESS is currently being adapted for film by Relativity Media.

Blehm’s current book, Legend (Crown Books, Penguin RandomHouse), tells the unforgettable story of the U.S. Army’s 240th Assault Helicopter Company and Green Beret Staff Sergeant Roy Benavidez, who risked everything to rescue a Special Forces team trapped behind enemy lines during the Vietnam War. Major General John K. “Jack” Singlaub, U.S. Army (ret.), commented on Legend: “I fought beside and led U.S. Special Operations soldiers, sailors, and airmen during three wars—WWII, Korea, and Vietnam—including the men [of SOG] depicted in LEGEND. Never have I read a more powerfully honest, realistic, or moving account of the war in Southeast Asia. Eric Blehm masterfully encapsulates the hearts of the men, their impossible mission, and the quagmire of politics of the era and wraps it up in a single bloody battle that portrays the American fighting man at his best.”  Blehm lives in Southern California with his wife and children.

The Cowboy Thought . . .  Master storyteller.  Eric Blehm tells the stories of those who've served.  He is masterful in the way he brings to life these stories.  This was a phenomenal book and is worthy 5 stars.   His writing is honest and real.  The story is powerful. Included in the book is a section of photo's.  The author did an exhaustive amount of research to be able to offer this powerful story.  The reader interested in military history would enjoy reading this book.  I look forward to reading more of his works.  

For more information visit the authors website 

I received a complimentary copy of Legends in exchange for my honest review. 

This review is posted at Amazon, Barnes and Noble and Good Reads click on the bold type for a direct link to read additional reviews or purchase. 

This review will be posted at MyJourneyBack-TheJourneyBack click to visit my lifestyle blog.  

A Beauty Refined--Tracie Peterson--Book Review

About the book (provided by Litfuse)...

What does it take to reveal the true beauty of a hidden gem?

Phoebe Von Bergen, the daughter of a German count, is excited to visit America for the first time while her father purchases sapphires in Helena, Montana. Little does she know, however, that her father’s intentions—both for her and the gemstones—are not what she thinks.

Ian Harper, a lapidary working in Helena, finds the dignified young woman staying at the Broadwater Hotel more than a little intriguing. Yet the more he gets to know her, the more he realizes that her family story is based on a lie–a lie she has no knowledge of. And Ian believes he knows the only path that will lead her to freedom.

Meeting Ian has changed everything for Phoebe, and she begins to consider staying in America, regardless of her father’s plans. But she may not be prepared for the unexpected danger that results when her family’s deception begins to unravel.

Purchase a copy: http://bit.ly/29Sh70o

About the author:

Tracie Peterson is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than one hundred books. Tracie also teaches writing workshops at a variety of conferences on subjects such as inspirational romance and historical research. She and her family live in Montana.                                                                                 Website | Facebook | Pinterest And I thought . . .  I truly can't say enough good things about this book.   To tell you the truth I haven't recently been too interested in Historical novels.  I began my adult reading career reading Historical Romance.  And then I found contemporary. I was hooked.  And then I found Contemporary Suspense.  But because of Tracie Peterson's worked I am now a fan of Historical Romance again.   And now a fan of Tracie Peterson.      A Beauty Refined is book 2 in the series.   I look forward to reading more in this series. The story was interesting from page one.  I have to admit I expected a boy meets girl romance.  Followed by events that separate them.  And then the two getting together in for a happy ending.   I was very wrong.   And that was refreshing.            There is a Happy Ending  The romance is only part of the story.  The storyline as described above is about the challenges Phoebe faces once she learns about lies and deceptions in her family.   The story also has a bit of intrigue. There's some plotting, double-dealing, and  underhandness in more than one character.  These aspects of the story make it not a typical romance.   And I liked that. A Beauty Refined is worthy of my 5 star rating.  I wish to thank Litfuse for allowing me the opportunity to read this book.  I received a complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.  A huge thanks Tracie Peterson for  re-introducing me to Historical fiction.  This review is posted at  MyJourneyback-thejourneyback.blogspot.com At at the following link parties: The Art of Homemaking, Share Your Cup,  Create With Joy This review is posted at the follow retailers Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and CBC. This review is also posted at Good Reads.