BookLoverAmanda

Vanished by Dr. David Jeremiah with Sam O'Neal 4 Stars  This is one book I found very interesting as it is SO timely for our world today and preparing our hearts for the end times of our world. I have several of Dr. David Jeremiah's non-fiction on my to-read list and this book really prepared my own heart to dive into those sooner rather than later.  This follows John "Haggs" Haggerty who is a leader of a special military unit that is very involved with stopping potential pandemics before they spread and he essentially has a front row seat to the increase is the "birth pains" leading to the Rapture, such as the plagues, earthquakes, famines, wars etc. Everything is becoming more intense and his own personal life is a mess as it is. He's trying to patch things up with his daughter and still struggles from the grief of his relationship with his ex-wife.  Right when things seem to be looking up.......we see major changes and events take place, getting close...

Love on the Run by Mandi Blake 5 Stars (Book 5 in the Love in Blackwater Series) OK this makes book 16 I have read by Mandi - how AWESOME is that?! AND NO SURPRISE FRIENDS - ITS A 5 STAR FOR MEEE! I LOVED THIS ONEEE SO MUCH!  I am so connected with our characters in this series that it just MAKES the story for me to see them all connected as a friend group and truly live life together!  In this one - we have so many things I love in books! - Dual POV - Laugh out Loud Moments  - MMC Protects and Takes Care of our FMC - FMC Stands up to her Controlling Parents (Relatable) - Clean, Christian Romance - Runaway Bride - Best Friend's Brother - Beau and Anna go on her honeymoon after her failed wedding, ANYWAY :) - Forced Proximity  - MMC Reading his Bible - Prayers and Moments of Faith  - Bookstore Visits - Coffee & Dinner Dates - Snowboarding/Snowmobile Activities - Christmas Town in Freedom, Colorado (tied in from Mandi's other book) - Christmas Tree Lighting Ev...

The Codebreaker's Daughter by Amy Lynn Green 4 Stars Amy Lynn Green always delivers compelling historical fiction stories and this one blends wartime intrigue, mother-daughter dynamics and roles of women in intelligence work during WWI and WWII. Read if you enjoy: • Codebreaking and wartime secrets • Strong mother-daughter dynamics • Dual timelines with journal entries • Hidden histories from the Great War • Women working behind the scenes in WWII • Historical fiction with emotional depth • Uncovering family legacies • Intelligence work through words We follow Dinah and her mother Lilian. We see the behind the scenes work Dinah does for the OSS in DC as she breaks through code and ultimately learns about her own mother's work as a codebreaker in WWI, as she reads through her mother's journal entries. She is trying to make sense of the entries and uncover the secrets her mother has kept hidden all this time.  We learn all about her mother's family history...

Forged in Secrets by Kendra Warden Book 2 in the Forge Brothers Security Series  I really liked this one! Ben and Gracie worked together to find her missing childhood friend, Katie, and there was so much suspense going on! Lots of working the puzzle out if you will - what happened to lead to Katie's disappearance? Gracie is the office manager for the team and they have worked together for a while - she helps keep the team afloat and as a grump, Ben is keeping his feelings at bay - trying not to let anything come up, but as time goes on, he realizes he can't keep them hidden. Really enjoyed the characters, suspense and the reliance on God in this story. Looking forward to book 3! Read if you enjoy: - Clean Christian Romantic Suspense  - She Falls First - Grumpy/Sunshine - Friends to More Trope - Private Security  Content: panic attack shown on page, kisses only, ptsd discussed  You can read this one as a standalone or after reading book 1, Forged in Peril. Goodreads:...

Forged in Peril - Kendra Warden 4 Stars I really enjoyed this Christian romantic suspense! Kendra's writing style is great! Bristol and Cameron knew each other some time ago....she broke his heart and is back - but she's not the same girl he once knew. She has been through some very traumatic things in her past and a dark secret threatens her career. She needs help from Cameron as someone is obviously after her...is it the man from her past assault she has tried to heal from for so long? She's a paralegal and he a private security operative. He will do anything to keep her safe and she finally feels safe for the first time in a long time with him.... This is the first book in the Forge Brothers Security series and I found myself really connected to these characters and loved the romance! It was just the right amount for me. Very sweet, protective MMC Cameron and Bristol had really been through some heartbreaking things. We had a lot of focus on second chances and I really l...

The Pharisee's Wife by Janette Oke  5 Stars WOW, what a powerful and thought provoking story. This is a biblical fiction - with fictional characters during biblical times, during the time of Jesus' ministry. We follow a young Jewish woman, Mary, who has a strong story of hardship, faith and redemption. Enos is a rising Pharisee and sees her in the market and decides to make her his bride. She is quickly swept up into a world that she never asked for. The marriage promises to lift her family out of poverty, but it becomes clear Enos views her more of a possession to help him in his circumstances, than a partner. Her training is to become the wife of a religious Pharisee who has a goal to take down Jesus, the miracle-working Prophet of their time.  Mary was so strong in everything she went through with Enos - it was POWERFUL. I cried with the forgiveness shown in the end and in a couple of other places with Jesus mentioned. The ending author's note also got me crying! I was s...

 The Lawyer and the Laundress by Christine Hill Suntz The Lawyer and the Laundress - Christine Hill Suntz 5 Stars  This is Christine's debut novel with Tyndale and I LOVED it so much y'all! This truly was an AMANDA book!  Tropes and Buzzwords: - Marriage of Convenience  - Canadian Settings - Single Dad with a sweet little girl  - Clean Historical Romances - Faith Threads  - Found Family - Family Reconciliation Set in Canada, 1837, we follow our leading lady, Sara O'Connor who is somewhat in hiding from her wealthy father after a sad departure many years ago. After her husband passed away, she's been guarding her heart and working head down as a laundress ever since. Enter widower James Kinney and his daughter, Evie. Evie is the SWEETEST little girl, you fall in love with her from the moment she steps on page. Sara works as a laundress as the school Evie attends and they grow a quick bond together as Sara tries to step in and protect Evie from the leaders of...

                          From the Valley We Rise by Elizabeth Musser 4 Stars My first Elizabeth Musser book was By Way of the Moonlight in 2022. I loved that book so much, so her newest release, From the Valley We Rise was one of my most anticipated releases of 2025. Set in 1944 following the D-day invasion of Normandy, leading up to the second D-day invasion, she once again wrote a deeply moving and unforgettable story of courage, sacrifice, and hope. This book weaves together the lives of three characters, Isabelle, Peter, and René. They each navigate betrayal, loss, and the high cost of freedom during WWII. Isabelle’s commitment to rescuing Jewish children, even among the chaos was inspiring. Peter is an American chaplain grappling with past wounds and brings a powerful perspective of faith and healing. René’s journey from devastation to resilience was emotional. We really see a glimpse into France...