Last to Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn

Last to Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn
Book 3 in the Gossamer Falls Series
3.5 Stars, rounding up to 4.

Nice end to the series! We get Mo and Bronwyn's romance! This is 75% romance/25% suspense - mostly due to the nature of their relationship, past and everything they need to work out together.

This is the end to the Gossamer Falls Series, a Christian Romantic Suspense series. Bronwyn is strong woman who has poured her heart into The Haven, her family's resort. Financial discrepancies come up, tension builds, and she thinks there is more at play here other than financial issues. She gets help from Mo, her first love, and that adds an emotional layer to everything. Mo is a standout guy, he's a former Army Intelligence officer so he brings a lot of skills to the tables for the investigation. 

I enjoyed my time with this one, as I was really ready for Mo and Bronwyn's romance. I am not always crazy about flashbacks in romance books, so those bits took me out the story a smidge. However, I do love the family thread and other characters we get throughout the book from previous books. Because of that, I recommend each book is read in order so you're not spoiled.

Also, while I love a good romance in the romantic suspense reads, I think I would like a bit more of the suspense elements to keep the plot moving, if that makes sense.

Overall, glad to have finished this series and would recommend!

*Content/Trigger Warnings: Mentions of drug trafficking, shootings, alcohol, deaths, someone trying to kill Bronwyn, cancer of grandparent, eating disorder, weapons, general crimes, nothing explicit but general themes of those items. Romance is kisses only and no language.  

Thank you to Revell for sending me a complementary copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3P9ShBT
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780800745387_last-to-fall
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

Break My Fall by Lynn H. Blackburn

Break My Fall - Lynn H. Blackburn
Book 2 in the Gossamer Falls Series
4 Stars

Love this series - great romances and family dynamics! So pumped we got Police Chief Grayson Ward and Dr. Meredith Quinn's romance story! 

This is a Christian Romantic Suspense series - we have small town danger, steady suspense and a good romance. Gray watches out for Meredith, loved that. At the beginning of the books, we see someone cut Meredith's fuel line so Gray was right there in the thick of things to keep her safe. While they had a rough start to their romance though, it was more realistic.

Gray had been through some hard things, loss of loved ones, so he was quite guarded in the romance department but Meredith knocks down his walls little by little. They try to resist their feelings because of several things but ultimately let their past go to proceed with things together. 

Some of the bits did drag on a little bit, but I still enjoyed my time with it. I liked the romance and their interactions better then the suspense aspect too. It's nice to see characters in their early 30s too, more realistic look at things.

The suspense has drug lords, corruption, unexpected movements...I would say its a bit more morbid than usual but nothing extremely detailed at the same time.

What else can I say? Read if you like a good romantic suspense, families that have each others backs, light faith elements, brother's best friend, law enforcement MMC, etc. 

Ready to read Mo and Bronwyn's romance next!! :)

Content/Trigger Warnings: Past loss of sibling, parents, loved ones recounted, death, gun shoot outs, drug lords, car accidents, mentions of human trafficking and domestic violence, mentions of bodies death, decomposing, loss of limbs, mention of breast cancer, a brief almost panic attack, kisses only clean romance, no language

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3P8EV8W
Baker Book House:  https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780800745370_break-my-fall

*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Why Did Jesus Have to Die? The Daily Grace Company Lent Q&A Book

 

Why Did Jesus Have to Die? The Daily Grace Company Lent Q&A Book
5 Stars

Thank you Daily Grace Co for sending me a complimentary copy of this to read! I loved it. I took my time with this one and it was very in depth, bringing lots of questions we have to the table. It also explained some of the other points of view people have and brought us back to scripture to explain the truth where possible. My favorite parts were on the Jesus Ascension portion. It was filled with the hope of Christ.

Highly recommend for anyone needing something theologically rich, especially around Lent season as we celebrate the Lord.

Daily Grace Co: https://collabs.shop/ghiyvq

10% Off Daily Grace Company Order with Discount Code BOOKLOVERAMANDA

The Hired Man by Sandra Dallas

 

The Hired Man by Sandra Dallas
5 Stars

Secular Historical Fiction

Standalone Book

Wow. Honestly y'all. This book blew me away. I have never read a Sandra Dallas book until now and while this had some heavier topics, I was completely immersed in the storytelling, the characters and the setting. (*See trigger warnings at the end if needed.)

Set in 1937 Colorado during the Dust Bowl period, lots of dust storms are brewing, food is scarce, times are hard, work is few and far between....We follow Martha Hellen, the POV throughout the story. She is I believe either 15 or 16. A young man by the name of Otis helps a young boy out of a dust cloud/storm and Martha Hellen's Mama wants to help him by letting him stay in exchange for work on their property. He is considered a "vagrant", an out of towner...not welcome by most of the community. However, they believe in helping the less fortunate....this leads to a story of heartache, loss, unknowns....

Like I said, I was completely immersed in this book. I listened to the audiobook for the first 50% (amazing narrator) and then there was soooo much going on, I had to stop and grab my e-book ARC because I NEEDED TO KNOW! 

I think what stands out for me on this is the ending with the twist - it TOOK ME OUT. I never saw it coming. 

Martha Hellen and her family - I loved them. Such good examples of parents during that time - good, hardworking people who had been through so much hardship but never gave up. Martha Hellen was a good friend, also someone who never gave up. 

What else can I say....I think the ending was brilliant honestly because it was so unexpected. I had to go back and re-read it like 4 times to make sure I was reading it right! That's how blown my mind was with it. 

I definitely want to read more of Sandra's books. She sure does tell a WILD and good story!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for the complimentary ebook and audiobook to honestly read for review. All thoughts are my own.

*Trigger/Content Warnings: Death, Poverty, Language - 2 to 3 GDs, few other smaller words, situational language I guess you would say....I didn't care for the language personally. Sexual assault, murder, bullying, sexism - may be other things I missed but there is no romance really in this, it's a historical fiction story showing the realities of the hard things that happened during that time. It won't be for everyone but I really liked the story overall.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8421617259
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4sbNnCW
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links,

Shadowed by Dani Pettrey (Novella)

 

Shadowed - Novella Prequel to the Alaskan Courage Series by Dani Pettrey 
(Novella is on Amazon as an E-Book or you can get it as part of a Novella Collection in Sins of the Past - A Romantic Suspense Novella Collection with 2 other novellas by Lynette Eason and Dee Henderson)
5 Stars

Once again, love this series. This prequel introduces Ben and Libby, that you see in the Alaskan Courage Series as the parents to the McKennas. Loved getting to see them  together and how they got together. Also nice that it was set in 1979 Alaska and not a  modern time.

Ben is a young Alaskan fisherman who nets the body of a Russian open water swimming competitor. Libby is another swimmer who knew the woman and is pulled into trying to figure this case out with Ben. 

I think it's best to have gotten acquainted with Ben and Libby from the books 1+ and then going back to this novella, it made me appreciate their back story more.

It was fast paced, quick romance. Always enjoy the faith elements in these books. While I don't have a ton to say, it was a good, edge of your seat prequel to the series. 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8418668656
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4rnUuGZ
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

DNF Review - All Booked Up by Melody Carlson

All Booked Up by Melody Carlson - DNF

Did Not Finish after roughly one third of the book. 

The premise is a recent widow opening her home to renters and the promise of found family and second chances is warm and appealing, but the execution left me disengaged and unwilling to continue.

What I liked:

- The setup feels like we could have some good bookish elements with the books and depth from grief of loss. The library and bookish elements add charm to it for any book lover. The characters are kind of like golden girls style ladies if you will so that's fun in general. I love a good friendship story, especially with older characters, so I really wanted to love this but it just wasn't working... see below.

Why I DNF’d:

Honestly, for me, the characters just felt too surface level. I felt like I wasn't getting to know them well enough to care. I could never really "connect" to them I guess. Too much gossip and petty conflicts for my taste. That is pretty true to the Golden Girls I guess, but I still couldn't come to care for them. The romance was awkward, just didn't connect because this guy is the center of everyone's interest.

I do like some of Melody's books, but this one just wasn't for me. I saw a review mention this would probably be great as a series for each character and I fully agree.

Content/Trigger Warning: Clean romance, no language, grief from spouse loss

Thank you to the publisher for sending me a copy to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own. 

Prayer by Courtney Reissig

Book Review: Prayer by Courtney Reissig

4.5 Stars

What a beautiful devotional book. Jam packed in under 55 pages, Courtney brings us so many beautiful reminders of prayer. I am in a hard season right now and this brought me comfort in the hardship. She reminds us that "prayer is the avenue to bring our many burdens before the only one who can provide true relief" and that "peace is waiting for us on the other side" of it. So many times I don't know what to even say to God. So many times I think I have to have it all together before I come to Him. But I don't. He sees me in the EXACT moment I need Him. He's always wanting that relationship. He wants us to give Him our burdens. He wants to give us REST in Him. Courtney's book says "When we turn to God in our need, we see outside our own circumstances to a God who holds all things together (Heb 1:3)." May I never forget just how good He is. May I always shift my focus to His faithfulness on the hard days. May I not focus on my circumstances but focus on His goodness and His glory. May I never think of God as a genie in a bottle granting requests....but as perfect, in infinite wisdom, knowing what's best for me in His will for my life. May I grow in patience and perseverance in any season of waiting, because He loves me and has a plan and purpose so good for my life.

This book reminded me of those things and I highly recommend it. I purchased the many other books in this - the Disciplines of Devotion series - and I can't wait to dive in to them.

Thank you Crossway for providing a gifted complimentary copy of this book to honestly read and review. All thoughts are my own.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/8412827077
Crossway's Site: https://www.crossway.org/books/prayer-tpb/ (I recommend getting directly from them because Crossway+ Members get a discount. Here is more info about the free Crossway+ Membership: https://www.crossway.org/plus

If you prefer Amazon, here is that link: https://amzn.to/3Nci5wl

*Amazon links are affiliate link and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.