When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir Review

 

When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir is an awesome yet heart wrenching story about the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus fire that occured in Hartford, Connecticut on July 6, 1944. I'd never heard of this horrendous circus fire, but thanks to the author, this event, and it's aftermath, was brought to life. 

Evelyn Benson is a war widow who lives with her brother and his family while helping to pay the bills by working as a waitress. Hank is living the life as a circus clown in the Ringling Brothers circus to attempt to remain hidden from something in his past. 

Both of their lives are drastically altered after the fire. During this time, Hank desires a relationship with Evelyn, but with so many secrets in his past, will it ever work out? 

Both also are on a spiritual journey, struggling with questions of why God would allow such suffering in their lives.  I loved their individual growth and how it affected their relationship with each other. And I loved the spiritual truths shared. I loved this passage, "A mental picture floated into Evelyn's mind on wings of a dove, seeing herself seated in God's lap in much the same way. She could almost feel HIs embrace, snug and comforting. She leaned into it with a new understanding. Evenlyn was but a child in the universe God created. She'd never receive the answers to her questions when her capacity to understand was limited by her humanity. Evelyn would have to demonstrate to God the same trust Lily had placed in her-to guide her safely through life's circumstances, no matter how inexplicable or how much they contradicted her belief in a loving, powerful God."

What really kept me swiping through the pages of my book was the anticipation of needing to know what the status was of certain family members after the devastating fire. Following their journey to reunite with loved ones. Not knowing if loved ones were alive and missing or deceased. So emotional knowing this was based on a true event. The author truly had me in tears as I read these stories of fictional people, knowing they were based on reality. Though, I will say, some of my tears were happy tears. Such an emotional story. 

I loved this book, and cant wait to read more by this author.

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Love's Promise by Penny Zeller Review

 

Love's Promise by Penny Zeller is a wonderful conclusion to a wonderful series. I am sad to see the Wyoming Sunrise series come to an end though. We get to see beloved characters again, and meet characters we only briefly saw before, or were only mentioned. 

This story revolves around Silas and Amaya. Silas was first introduced in Dreams of the Heart as a member of a posse. Amaya was also mentioned in that book as the fiance of Russel, who was tragically killed in that same book. These two characters first meet after Silas heads out to see if the stagecoach that Amaya happens to be on is making its way safely to Poplar Springs, Wyoming. However, like the first book of this series, Forgotten Memories, a tragic incident with a stagecoach first brings these two characters together. 

Amaya and Silas become friends, but Amaya isn't willing to take the relationship to the next level due to her feelings for her deceased fiance. Silas would love to be more than just friends, but doesn't feel he is worthy anyway because of his hidden past. A past that catches up with him in Poplar Springs with some dire consequences. Will they be able to work their way through their issues? I sure was rooting for them to be able to do so. 

But there was so much more to this book than just the love story. Amaya is in Poplar Springs to help her grandparents at the mercantile and help take care of her grandfather who has been declining in health. Silas is around to help as well, though he needs to be seeing to the needs of his ranch. I loved both of their relationships with Amaya's grandparents.

There are also some children in need of a home that play an important and sweet part in this story. And there are humorous matchmaking scenarios that sort of involve Amaya and Silas, though not the way you would think. 

Faith plays an important roll in this story and I loved seeing the forgiveness, redemption, and trusting in God themes.

I just love this little town and the people in it. And I love that we get to see characters we have come to love from the previous books of the series. The author does a lovely job giving updates on all the characters. It's like she knew the readers would want to know how everyone was doing. (Of course she did.)

I just loved this book and will miss reading about all these characters I have come to love. 

I highly recommend this entire series, and don't miss the prequel

I received an ARC of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Friday Fun - March 29, 2024

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with three different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, and First Line Friday.

This week I have two books to share with you.

I'm reading When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir. 

I am also reading Always Think of Me by Lori Keesey as a part of the launch team. This book releases next week on April 2nd. 

        Book Beginnings on Friday     

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join C arrie for First Line Friday.)

Here are my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selections:

  When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir:

"A wiry roustabout removed his sweat-soaked cap and mopped his brow."

I'd never heard the word roustabout before so was a bit stumped at first, but I figured it out. Knowing when the book takes place, I figured this roustabout had been working hard in the summer heat.

Always Think of Me by Lori Keesey:

"Georgie, my brindled goofball of a canine, hated the river."

I had to wonder why the dog hated the river and wondered if I'd find out. I also wondered if the river was important to the story.

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections:

When the Flames Ravaged by Rhonda Dragomir:
 

"Before she could douse the boys, Darla wrangled her aside. 'Get your head out of the sand, Evie. You need this job, and for now, Charlie needs you. Don't mess this up.' Darla pressed her forehead to Evelyn's. 'You can do this.' She drew back, but her eyes darted back and forth as she sought Evelyn's. ' Don't think about yesterday or tomorrow. Just today. Today you wait tables.'"

Always Think of Me by Lori Keesey:

"My heart sank. So much for finding the woman of my dreams. That had been Bryan's goal for me when we ventured out into the crowds. Why couldn't I be attracted to someone who wasn't attached or pining over a former love?"

Reviews:

Last week I shared two books in my Friday Fun post. Here are the links to my reviews. I still need to finish Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter.

Love's Promise by Penny Zeller

Single Dad Center by Latisha Sexton

Single Dad Center by Latisha Sexton Review

 

Single Dad Center is another wonderful story by Latisha Sexton. 

I loved meeting Archer, the team captain of the Denver Dragons and his daughter Indy, or Indigo, plus Ronnie, or Veronica, the daughter of the team's scout. I've only read one of the other books in this Dating a Denver Dragon series, A Hart for Christmas, which is the other one written by Latisha Sexton. But I do want to read the other stories as well. 

I felt really bad for Ronnie, as we first see her as she is driving home after being betrayed by her boyfriend, um now ex-boyfriend. Not only is she without a boyfriend, she is without a job, though she does still have her best friend, her dad, and the Denver Dragons team. 

I fell in love with Indy right away, and loved her relationship with Ronnie. Ronnie was temporary nanny to Indy because the current nanny had to leave. And Indy took right to Ronnie. 

So, now we have a nanny and her employer who aren't supposed to be falling for each other, but realize they are. But, neither one is ready for another relationship. 

I will say, I understood both of their reasonings, but there were definitely some times I was not real happy with the way Archer treated Ronnie. It made me wonder if a relationship between them would work. 

I did love the faith in the story, and how we see the importance of forgiveness and how Jesus can change a person. 

Loved the book and highly recommend it. 

I received an ARC of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Friday Fun - March 22, 2024

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with three different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, and First Line Friday.

This week I have two books to share with you.

I'm reading Love's Promise by Penny Zeller. This is the final book in her Wyoming Sunrise series and it released this past Tuesday. 

I am also reading Single Dad Center by Latisha Sexton as a part of the launch team. This book released today.

        Book Beginnings on Friday     

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join C arrie for First Line Friday.)

Here are my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selections:

  Love's Promise by Penny Zeller:

"Silas set a veriety of items on the counter at the mercantile."

Well, that's a very normal, everyday sort of beginning. 

Single Dad Center by Latisha Sexton:

"'How do I get my anger out?'"

Good question. I assumed I'd learn quickly how she got her anger out and hopefully find out why she was angry.

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections:

Love's Promise by Penny Zeller:
 

"The tears formed in Silas's eyes, tears he'd not allow anyone-not even the reverend-to see. He swallowed hard and took a deep breath as the emotion washed over him. 'Thank you, sir. For everything.'"

Single Dad Center by Latisha Sexton:

"He doesn't respond, just keeps staring at me as if he's never seen me until this moment, his eyes trailing across every inch of my face. I can't help but notice that he still has one arm wrapped firmly around me. A weird tension flows between us and the longer I sit here, pressed against him with a wiggly pup between us, the more I want to erase the remaining distance until our lips meet."

Reviews:

Last week I shared three books in my Friday Fun post. Here are the links to two of them. Plus the link to Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse. I still need to finish Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter.

Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn

The Mapmaker's Secret by Jennifer Mistmorgan

Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse

Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse Review

 

Oh wow, I just loved Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse. This is the author's second novel in the Treasures of the Earth series and it was just as awesome as the first. I truly can't choose a favorite out of the two. Even though these books are a series, they can truly be read as stand alone stories. And I'm one who is picky about making sure I read books in order if there is anything that could cause spoilers being read out of order. 

The majority of the book takes place in Colorado during the spring and summer of 1889, during the Bone Wars, though we see some earlier years in the first couple of chapters, where the author gives some background for Martha's love of paleontology and a bit of her spiritual upbringing. 

The story is told from four points of view, Martha Jankowski who is determined to unearth the next big dinosaur discovery for the museum, Jacob Duncan who is a paleontology student who dreams of working on a dinosaur dig, Cole Anderson the Pinkerton agent, and the unnamed, mysterious villain.

 

There is actually a competition going on between two dig sites and a deadline to get their respective dinosaurs dug up and into the museum. Martha is horrified at the behavior of other paleontolgists who have made a bad name of the profession in their competitiveness, and she is determined to do things honorably with her team. But with the other team stick to the rules? Jacob finds himself caught in the middle, and also finds himself falling for Martha, but there are things that are coming between them. Will Martha be able to trust him? 

We get our first glimpse of the villain at the beginning of the book and learn more about this person as the story progresses, but it isn't until almost the very end of the book that the author reveals who exactly this villain is. Let me just say, I didn't really see it coming, even though I had considered this person for a bit. There have been murders that stretch back quite a few years, and it is Mr. Anderson the Pinkerton agent who is adding up the clues in the background. We don't see much of him or the villain, just a bit of a chapter occasionally to remind us that there is more going on besides a maybe-love story and a dinosaur bone competition. 

There are murders that are shown, but not with any horrid details, and a bit of violence at one point with a character being beat up. Nothing too disturbing, at least for me. 

Additionally, there is a spiritual focus on redemption through Christ and forgiveness. We see a character's spiritual growth and stuggle. 

All in all, another wonderful book by Kimberley Woodhouse. I can't wait to read more from this series. My only disappointment was not being able to see the characters from the first book. I admit, I was hoping they would show up even if just briefly. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

The Mapmaker's Secret by Jennifer Mistmorgan Review

 

Wow, The Mapmaker’s Secret by Jennifer Mistmorgan is a wonderful WWII historical romance novel. I was pulled right into this story about Grace and Jack that takes place in England during the last couple of years of WWII.

Lieutenant Jack Marsden is actually an American who is being sent in to spy on WAAF Corporal Grace Deroy because there is the belief that she has been leaking secrets to the Nazis. The military has taken over her family’s estate, as they did with multiple homes during the war, and they are suspicious as to why she would insist on being stationed there.

So, Jack’s job is to get close to Grace to ferret out the truth of the situation.

We see both Grace and Jack’s point of view, so we know she is hiding something, but it’s almost clear from the beginning that she is not the one guilty of leaking the secrets.

Jack himself doesn’t feel like she’s the traitor, but is he thinking clearly, seeing as he has become infatuated with her?

Jack’s superiors are adamant that Jack get to the bottom of what’s going on. They insist he needs to get closer to her, no matter how he feels.

What exactly is the secret (or secrets) that Grace is keeping hidden? Are her secrets in any way connected to the leak?

She really doesn’t want something to come out, yet there is someone who is going to great lengths to make sure her secret is brought to light, but why?

I loved all the intrigue and the mystery, the inclusion of faith with forgiveness and redemption through Christ, and the love story that was brewing. But will the love be able to survive the fact that Jack and Grace’s relationship began with a huge deception?

I also loved learning more details about things that went on behind the scenes during WWII, with the mapmaking to help with the accuracy of the Allies’ bombing.

This was my first book by this author and I loved it. I do wish I had had a chance to read Heart in the Clouds first. Though The Mapmaker’s Secret can work as a stand alone story, it is obvious from reading it that there are a bunch of characters that are first introduced in Heart in the Clouds. I know some people don’t mind reading series out of order, but if there is anything that is going to be spoilerish when it comes to how relationships turn out or such, I would much prefer to read in order. That said, I have every intention of reading book one as soon as possible. I am sure it will be as good as this second book, which is a book I highly recommend, especially for fans of WWII romances. The author brought these characters to life and I sort of pictured what was going on in their lives in relation to other books I have read, wishing they could all meet up, even though the stories are written by different authors.

I received an ARC of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

Friday Fun - March 15, 2024

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with three different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, and First Line Friday.

This week I have three books to share with you.

I read Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn. This is the first book in her Gossamer Falls series and it just released this week. 

I am currently reading an ARC of The Mapmaker's Secret by Jennifer Mistmorgan as a part of the launch team.

I just started reading Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter. This book also just released this week.

        Book Beginnings on Friday     

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join C arrie for First Line Friday.)

Here are my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selections:

  Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn:

"Landry Hutton didn't believe dreams came true anymore."

Had to wonder why.

The Mapmaker's Secret by Jennifer Mistmorgan:

"'You want me to do what!'"

Now I needed to know you was being asked to do something, and why it appeared he or she had a problem with it.

Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter:

"In a world where surprises were not always the good kind, Chloe Anderson knew she'd better savor the moment."

Wondered what the good surprise was that she wanted to savor.

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections:

Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn:
 

"Cal climbed into his truck, cranked the engine, and stared at Landry's door. He had no idea what he was doing. He didn't think Landry knew either. And for tonight, leaving well enough alone was the best outcome."

The Mapmaker's Secret by Jennifer Mistmorgan:

"'Yes, and someone has gone to an awful lot of trouble to make that second one look like me. But I was home with a cold when it was taken. You can bet there's a third picture somewhere that is too indecent to print.'"

Love, Unscripted by Denise Hunter:

"Because his muscled leg, complete with California tan, was right there, she turned and stared out her window. She'd tossed and turned all night, worrying about this plan and wondering if she'd soon regret it."

Reviews:

Last week I shared three books in my Friday Fun post. Here are the links to two of them. I still need to finish reading Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse.:

Heart of a Royal by Hannah Currie

The Ark and the Dove by Jill Eileen Smith

Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn Review

Never Fall Again by Lynn H. Blackburn is a great start to a new series. I enjoyed getting to know Landry and her daughter Eliza, plus Cal and his family, plus the extended community in this closeknit town of Gossamer Falls, North Carolina.

Landry has been tucked away at The Haven, trying to keep a low profile while creating pottery and teaching classes, keeping her daughter and herself safe. However, the story begins with her deciding it was time to get her own place, and thus she meets Cal when she goes to the construction business that her friend Bronwyn recommends. Soon after however, there is a suspicious fire at her pottery shop at The Haven. There are a couple of questions. Who was the target, The Haven resort or Landry herself? And who would have anything against either The Haven resort or Landry?

Later on in the story it becomes obvious who the true target is when there is another attack, which ratches up the suspense a bit. Prior to that the relationship part of the story takes a more central spot of the story. The relationship between Landry and Cal, which they are determined to keep at the friendship level because of their backgrounds. This relationship extends to his family, full of southern hospitality, and the friendship that Landry's daughter makes with a member of Cal's family.

Though a bunch of time seems to go by with a minimal amount of suspense, the suspense really takes off toward the end of the book with a sinister twist. And once you realize who the antagonist is and what the person is after, it explains why there was quite a bit of time between the attacks.
I really enjoyed the story, though I did wonder where all the suspense was in this suspense book. So, that is why I decided to mention that in my review.

I enjoyed getting to know Cal and his family and friends. And I loved that Landry and Eliza were treated as family. There was the mystery of not knowing who the bad guy was, and not knowing what direction the evil and danger was coming from. Faith was part of the story as the family was Christian, though we see those who are struggling with situations.

I can't wait to continue this series.

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

The Ark and the Dove by Jill Eileen Smith Review

 

The Ark and the Dove by Jill Eileen Smith is the second book I have read by this author. I did sort of have a bit of trouble getting into the book at the beginning, but I did enjoy this story of the time of the flood of Noah's day from the Bible. I admit that one of my problems was I ended up comparing it to two other books I read last year that are set during the time right before and during the flood. And I know that the details are all speculative in all of these stories, even though they are set during the true, biblical story from Genesis. 

The story begins at the time of the marriage between Shem and his wife, who the author gave the name Sedeq. Japheth is already married to Adataneses. Both women's families begin to shun them as they are now in the family of the "crazy" man Noah who keeps preaching about the Creator and an upcoming judgement. Noah and Zara, his wife are desperate to find a wife for Ham, their third son, before they start actually building the ark, so they don't have to deal with even more rejection. After a wife is found the family spends their time preparing for the flood. I love that the author has Noah and his family wondering how everything will work out, working through the details, really showing how all this could have come together and the opposition they probably faced from the sinful, unbelieving people that lived near them.

Almost the entire first half of the book leads up to the start of the flood. About another quarter or so of the book is the time that they spend ON the ark. The author has done a great job showing what life may have been like for these eight humans who were tasked with taking care of the many many animals that were on the ark. She also delved into how their relationships could have been, the strain of being cooped up for over a year, the conflicts that may have arisen, and the fact that their was still sin following them into the ark and the post-flood world. 

The remainder of the book reaches a few hundred years into their lives after leaving the ark, toward the end of Noah and Zara's lives. It was sort of shocking to realize all of the descendants they would have seen filling the earth. The author even mentions in her notes in the back of the book that Noah's son Shem would have lived to the time that Jacob and Esau were born. Personally, I had made a chart of the patriarchs' births and deaths through the time of the flood earlier this year. It really is eye opening to realize that the younger of these generations could have known Adam and Eve. To me, this brings the Bible into clearer reality. Just like bibilcal fiction, such as The Ark and the Dove does for me. Bringing this time period to life, even though obviously the author has to speculate and fictionalize details. 

I found that Jill Eileen Smith's story was well reseached, even though I did question some of her timeline. I am not at all saying I am an expert. It really made me want to do some more digging myself. 

One thing that surprised me was that the story is not told exclusively through Zara's viewpoint. We also see through Noah's eyes and the sons and daughters-in-law. Though Zara does narrate an introduction into each new section of the story. Those parts are in first person, while the rest of the book is written in third person. 

It was a bit disconcerting for the story to suddenly switch from one point of view to another, plus at times it took a bit to realize some time had passed since the last paragraph. Usually when I read books where the viewpoint changes it is with the next chapter. There were sometimes multiple points of view in the same chapter. 

And the other thing that bothered me a bit, was that I didn't really feel we got a sense of how evil the world really was. A world so evil it needed God to finally take action. The Nephilim are shown as being part of the evil, and there are these creatures called Watchers, who we discover are meant to be demons I guess. But these were mostly in the background and I didn't really get the sense of evil. 

Despite these concerns, I really did enjoy this book, but it did lower my rating. 

I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts. 

Friday Fun - March 8, 2024

Welcome to my Friday Fun post. This is where I share with three different book parties that post on Fridays: Book Beginnings on Fridays, the Friday 56, and First Line Friday.

This week I have three books to share with you.

I read Heart of a Royal by Hannah Currie as a part of the review team. This is the first of the three book Daughters of Peverell series. 

I am currently reading an ARC of Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse, the second n her Treasures of the Earth series. This book releases next week!

I am also reading The Ark and the Dove, the newest release by Jill Eileen Smith. 

        Book Beginnings on Friday     

(Please join Gilion Dumas for Book Beginnings every Friday to share the first sentence (or so) of the book you are reading, along with your initial thoughts about the sentence, impressions of the book, or anything else the opener inspires. Please remember to include the title of the book and the author's name.)

and

First Line Friday

(Please join C arrie for First Line Friday.)

Here are my Book Beginnings/First Line Friday selections:

  Heart of a Royal by Hannah Currie:

"If mortification could kill, I'd be six feet under."

Oh oh, who's embarrassed and why? 

Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse:

"Martha! Step away from the ridge."

I wondered whether Martha was in danger. And then I wondered, knowing this was the main character, whether perhaps this was from her childhood.

The Ark and the Dove by Jill Eileen Smith:

"I never thought my life would turn out this way, and to be honest, I would never have chosen this path, given the choice."

So, is that a good thing, or a bad thing? Is she happy with the way her life turned out, or does she have regrets?

Now for:

The Friday 56

The Friday 56 is normally hosted over at Freda's Voice. But Anne from My Head is Full of Books is taking over for a while. 

Rules:

*Grab a book, any book.
*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your eReader
(If you have to improvise, that's ok.)
 *Find any sentence, (or few, just don't spoil it) that grab you.
*Post it.
*Add your (url) post below in Linky. Add the post url, not your blog url. It's that simple.

Here are my Friday 56 selections:

Heart of a Royal by Hannah Currie:
 

"'Here, let me help,' I said instead to the mother in front of me, trying one-handedly to put a coat on her toddler while holding a bandage against a gash on her other child's arm. Not that I was much help, the tips of my fingers the only parts of my hands now not covered in blood."

Set in Stone by Kimberley Woodhouse:

"She wanted to be different. Wouldn't it be wonderful if she could find bones, display them, give lectures around the country, and get people excited about paleontology and geology? Instead of double-crossing other digs through bribery, spying, thievery, dishonesty, and rushing to publish in journals to oudo the competition-she would do things well. Respectfully. And demand such integrity from all of her teams."

The Ark and the Dove by Jill Eileen Smith:

"Forty days had now passed, and as dawn approached on the forty-first day, Zara awoke to silence. She blinked against the strange lack of sound and sat up, shaking herself. What had happened? And then she knew."

Reviews:

Last week I shared three books in my Friday Fun post, plus I  hadn't quite finished reading Fake Engagement at the Rusted K by Cali Black. Here are the links to my reviews:

One Wrong Move by Dani Pettrey

The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright

Levi's Vow by Penny Zeller 

Fake Engagement at the Rusted K by Cali Black 

Fake Engagement at the Rusted K by Cali Black Review

 

Wow! The second book in Cali Black's The Fake Series was really intense. I admit, I wasn't sure if I was going to finish it once I started. I knew this series wasn't marketed as Christian as the other books I have read by her have been. I knew it was going to have sizzle, and I still agreed to read it. So, when things did get a bit more sizzly than I am used to, I almost set it aside. Almost. And I have to say, I am very glad I did not.

Yes, this book has things I am a bit uncomfortable reading. But yes, it is clean as in, you won't find swearing or detailed intimate encounters. She leaves the real gritty for behind closed doors, which I appreciated. Because otherwise, I would have set it aside. But woo, the sizzle is still there. There is talk of sex and points where the characters are staring at each other's bodies and talking about them, and there is a bunch of premarital sex in the past. So, is you want none of that in your books, you will probably want to avoid this story.

The story alternates viewpoints between Ren Connor, one of the sisters of Ridge from the first book in the series, Fake Relationship at the Triple Z, and Cash Warren, famous bad boy, country music star who Ren meets through Ridge. Ren is hired as Cash's nanny, to take care of his newborn son. We don't know where the mother is,which of course raises questions in and of itself. Ren herself is dealing with issues because of her ex, the father of her daughter Ellie.

Due to an unexpected turn of events, Ren and Cash are suddenly fake engaged and spending time in the spotlight trying to convince the world of their relationship. But they both have feelings for each other, but don't think the other has feelings for the other, at least feelings that will lead to a lasting relationship.

There are quite a few twists in this story, along with some danger and suspense. Plus dealing with some legal issues for more than one reason. All things that kept me swiping from page to page to see what would happen next and how everything would resolve.

And though this isn't labeled as a Christian book, the author has still found a way to bring faith into the story.

I received an ARC of this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to write a favorable review. These are my own honest thoughts.

The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond by Jaime Jo Wright Review

 

I wish I hadn't taken so long to read this book. I had taken it out from the library several years ago, after reading Jaime Jo Wright's first book, The House on Foster Hill. However, I had to return it to the library, and just hadn't had a chance to get back to it. Then I realized it was the only one of her published books that I hadn't read yet. Because I have been participating in so many reading challenges and launch teams, I've found it hard to get to books on my TBR pile. So, when I realized The Reckoning at Gossamer Pond would fit one of my challenges for February, I jumped at the chance to finally read it. And I'm so glad I did. It's another awesome, creepy, dual-timeline story by Jaime Jo Wright. Though, not as creepy as some of the books she has written since. 

As with her other books we follow the story from the viewpoints of two ladies, one from the past and the other from current day. The book starts out from the viewpoint of Libby Sheffield finding a dead body in Gossamer Grove, Wisconsin in the early 1900's. Libby is the daughter of a local newspaper man, and she had found an obituary for this deceased man, before he had been found dead. So, something suspicious is definitely going on. 

In the current day storyline, Annalise, who owns a coffee shop, and is trying to get property to help the poor of their town, discovers she has inherited a run-down trailer where an old man has died, holding a picture of her along with a newspaper article, and tons of other pictures inside the trailer.

Very stalkerish, and she needs to find out why he was so interested in her. 

There is quite a lot of mystery in this story, in both timelines, and I love the way the author brings the stories together, and we find out slowly how they relate to each other. She has such the talent of doing this in all her stories, and this one was no different.