Anchoring You by Robin Patchen

 

    

Anchoring You by Robin Patchen 
5 Stars

Book #9 in The Wright Heroes of Maine Series but can be read as a Standalone

OK. I AM IMPRESSED. New to me author and now I need to read this entire series y'all!! I was SO INVESTED.

A girl over a yacht in the Caribbean. Modern day pirates raiding the boat. Drugs on board she didn't know about. The DEA informant that saves her life. Both going on the run, in hiding, pretending to be in a relationship for safety. Beautiful faith moments. LET'S GO! 

That's all we need to know, right! 

I grabbed a copy of this book from NetGalley to read when I had some extra time. I decided to pick it up the week after release and read it in ONE DAY. I was IMMEDITALEY hooked with the action packed scenes and connection to our couple, Jasper (Jaz) and Kenzie. 

I loved Robin's writing, it was exactly what I look for in a good Christian romantic suspense. If I am honest, I have struggled finding a new favorite romantic suspense book lately and THIS WAS IT! 

I LOVED the faith discussions, as Jaz had ran away from the Lord due to his past and feeling unworthy. He knew the truth deep down, but felt like God wouldn't love him because of his mistakes. Yet Kenzie shows him the true love of the Lord and how God is big enough for all of our mess, no matter what it is. Amen.

While this was technically book #9 in this series, I don't feel like I was spoiled or missed anything for other books. Regardless, I plan to go back and read the series because I loved it so much.

Content/Trigger Warning: Murder, Modern-Day Pirates, Drugs, Cartel, Action Packed Suspense, Attempted Sexual Assault

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4f743YH

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

The Fire We Inherit by Laric Tolleson

The Fire We Inherit by Laric Tolleson 
5 Stars 

"Every adult in Las Vegas is dead. Now the kids run the city." 

I really liked this book! It was a wild ride! THE ENDING THOUGH. I need another book stat!! I picked it up off Kindle Unlimited and was impressed with the writing. Very engaging. The author reached out to me on Instagram and I decided to check this out on KU and I am glad I did!

After being exposed to a mysterious illness, all the adults were killed, leaving the children to run the city of Las Vegas, as they were immune. Our main character is Aiden Brann who starts his first day as a firefighter in a city run by kids. The city's peace is under threat by the group called "The Children". 

I haven’t read a dystopian book in a long time and this checked all the boxes. The author really built a vivid post-apocalyptic world too. Lots of action, danger, emotions and depth. 

It had some harder themes of loss, grief, death, post-apocalyptic world and survival, but the author handled it well. I think many teens would like this book, just be aware of some of those themes. 

I did miss a few times when I was in flashback scenes and had to re-read to make sure just because they call the time periods "the before" and "the after" but the flashbacks really add to the narrative and I am glad they were added. You got to see Aiden with his parents and when everything happened, which added depth and connection.

While this is not a Christian Fiction read, it lives out this scripture: "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13

Overall, I would recommend this for anyone who likes survival stories, dystopian worlds, firefighters, and heroes who stand out.

Content/Trigger Warnings: Parental death, sibling death, child death briefly mentioned, someone dies in a car fire details explained, action, post-apocalyptic crazy world details, survival details, nothing explicit as I think the author handled it well, no language, no explicit romance details

*This is on Kindle Deal for $0.99 until 5/28/26 or on Kindle Unlimited to read now!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4f1PvcN *Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Considering Sparrows by Kevin Burrell

Considering Sparrows by Kevin Burrell 
4 Stars

I heard about this book from my friend Keisha and I am so glad I read it. If you’ve ever looked at birds and thought they were just background noise, this book will completely change your perspective! This was so fascinating to me! I don't know a lot about birds so I loved how Kevin blending scripture, theology, science and bird behavior and characteristics together in a very meaningful way!

I read half of this while I was out at an anniversary getaway with my hubs at a cabin and it was perfect to read on the back porch in the rain, listening to the birds. 

It truly felt like an invitation to pause, look around, and notice the ways God speaks through creation too. The illustrations were beautiful too.

While some details/chapters went over my head a bit, this is definitely a book I’d recommend for readers who enjoy nature, birds and Christian non-fiction. Thank you to the publisher for a e-book to read for review. I purchased a physical copy also to mark up, as it had some good nuggets to remember. :) All thoughts are my own.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4nM25ip
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9798217152261_considering-sparrows

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

Silent Menace by Angela Carlisle

 

Silent Menace by Angela Carlisle

Book 3 in The Secrets of Kincaid Series

3.5 to 4 Stars

Angela's series has certainly kept my interest through the end! Hailey was a strong and relatable character as she tries to rebuilt her life and protect her daughter after the fallout from her late husband's crimes. Peter was a protective hero, former bodyguard, who tries to keep her safe.

Hailey is a CPA and her daughter is hearing-impaired, so we saw ASL rep in this story and I loved that represented. She finds anomalies in the accounts for a major client. 

Threats to Hailey increase and Peter and Hailey work together to stay safe and expose a complex cover-up before she becomes the next victim.

High suspense, lots of threats and mystery of who was targeting Hailey. Lighter romance and faith bits.

While this can technically be read as a standalone, I definitely recommend reading the earlier books first to fully appreciate the character connections and backstories. 

If you enjoy Christian romantic suspense with protective heroes, small-town settings, faith themes, and edge-of-your-seat action, this series is one I would recommend. Books 1 & 2 are my favorites of the series as I connected to those characters a bit more and liked the storylines more, but glad to have finished the series. I think I wanted more romance and connection with Hailey and Peter personally, but enjoyed it.

I did pre-order a copy but had a e-book copy from NetGalley. Thank you to the publisher for the NetGalley copy. All thoughts are my own.

Trigger/Content Warnings: No spice or language. Past death of spouse, PTSD, some violence and injuries.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4v8W0PO
Baker: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780764242526_silent-menace
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

Miss Beth Bettencourt by Eva Marie Everson

Miss Beth Bettencourt by Eva Marie Everson

4.5 Stars 

This was my first book by the author and I was impressed! What a tender, character-driven Southern historical romance that slowly unfolded in the best way. Set in the 1960s in Georgia, the book leans heavily into grief, forgiveness, faith and learning to let others in. 

The depth Eva brought to the table for Beth was so good. Beth was so interesting to me, this book was like a character study on her to me. She was almost 30 years old, unmarried and carrying years of betrayal and hurt from her twin sister's betrayal when she ran off with her fiancé many years ago and then the grief from her passing away added a layer of complexity to the book of everything she had to process through.

The book opens up with David "Marty" Martin accidentally found asleep in her house, but it was all a misunderstanding. He mistakenly picked the house as his old army buddy's house so the charges are dropped. Under the circumstances....Beth offers him a job and a place to stay. 

Marty brought a lot to the book as his relationship with Beth developed naturally through conversations and patience with each other and I loved that. He is a Christian and southern gentleman. You can see how his faith really brings a lot to the story in his prayers. He tries to help Beth process through old feelings, grief and hardship and her old fiancé comes back to town trying to talk to her and give her back the ring that should have been hers...

Forgiveness is a major theme in this as Beth wrestles with this bitterness she has carried for years. 

I overall really enjoyed Beth and Marty - both of their stories were so well weaved together, and seeing the reveals in the end - WOW, unexpected!

Molly was also a really great addition as a sassy southern character I loved.

I liked the faith aspect added in with Marty, but would have liked to see a bit more with Beth's journey in her faith specifically. 

Looking forward to more by Eva! Thank you to the author and publisher for a complimentary copy of the book to honestly read for review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Content/Trigger Warnings: Death of sibling past recounted, grief from that loss, fiancé running off with sibling storyline, sadness surrounding that situation, a few colloquial southern uses of the Lord's name, a couple of references to old superstitions/wives tales involving a moonstone, romance was kisses only. The book lightly acknowledges racism and discrimination but not a main point.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4uoffF3
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/9780825453342_miss-beth-bettencourt
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.

 

Gospel Centered Motherhood by The Daily Grace Co

 

Gospel-Centered Motherhood by Daily Grace Co
4 Stars

I read this with my friend Taylor for mother's day this month. I bought this a long time ago and glad I finally got to it! We both enjoyed it, some days more than others, and the experience itself of reading through two each day and sharing with each other the struggles of motherhood we both each have was the best experience. If I didn't have that experience reading with her, I am not sure I would have loved it as much. 

It felt like having bible study together. We both thought it had good reminders for Mamas. I think it could have had some more "meat" to it, if you will, but I liked the reminders. It wasn't trying to fix you as a parent but it reminds you of the important of patience, sharing the Gospel with your child, our calling as Mama's etc. That God is with us in the every day tasks.

Short daily devotionals, application questions, etc. 

As with most Motherhood books though, since I am a special needs parent, I would say I didn't get a ton from many entries since some of the things don't apply to me in my situation with my little boy, but I think a lot of Mama's would enjoy this as a short devotional with encouragement. 

I think more practical tips could have been added and it would have added more meat to the book but I enjoyed reading it with Tay!

Link: https://collabs.shop/1qp3ps

*Get 10% Off Your Daily Grace Company Order with Discount Code BOOKLOVERAMANDA

Living Hope by Mandi Blake

 

Living Hope by Mandi Blake 
Book #3 in the Unfailing Love Series
3.5 to 4 Stars
Rounding up to 4 Stars on Goodreads

This was an emotional read that explores grief, healing and the power of hope in the Lord during life's hardest seasons. Mandi pulled you in from the beginning on this with Natalie being held by gunpoint at work and Jake saving the day...

Natalie is exhausted, lonely and determined to care for her sick mother. You feel the weight she is carrying from the beginning and it makes her struggles real. Watching her navigate the overwhelming grief after her mother's death added an emotional depth to the book.

I enjoyed this one. I really liked how Jake showed up for Natalie and walked with her through the grief she was dealing with. 

This one is one I think will be most memorable out of the series so far because of the depth Mandi added and I really see her progression in her writing journey throughout this series.

Good faith, going to church, seeing the Lord give peace, sweet romance, a good Christian romance!

Content/Trigger Warnings: Death of a parent shown from cancer, grief explored

Amazon: https://amzn.to/4dho7X0
*Amazon links are affiliate links and a commission may be earned on items purchased from these links.