Echoes Among the Stones by Jaime Jo Wright

 

Echoes Among the Stones - Jaime Jo Wright - 4.5 Stars - A surprising read for me! Loved this!

What a surprising read for me! I picked this up when trying some of my friend's favorite books and this was SUCH a surprising book. I listened to this mostly on audio and read the last 25% on kindle. 4.5 rounding up to 5 stars.

The narrator pulled me in immediately. I think if I physically read the beginning portions, I may have not been so interested but the narrator did such a great job with the two timelines.

This is a Christian fiction mystery-thriller but this wasn't creepy in any way to me. I felt like it leaned more mystery then thriller.

We have Aggie, who travels to Wisconsin to visit her grandmother, Mumsie. She is dealing with the loss of her mother and still learning how to grieve that loss. Aggie sees her grandmother obsessing over an old, unsolved crime scene - recreating it in a dollhouse - and you as the reader start to wonder how is she connected to the past timeline....

In the past during 1946, we see Imogene Grayson coming home to discover her sister has been killed. She sets out to try and solve the murder but the case grows cold fast. We follow her journey as she tries to figure out what happened to her sister Hazel.

I personally loved the alternating timeline and seeing how her grandmother was connected to the past timeline. I really liked some of the faith at the end surrounding grief. "Don't let grief tie your years up into a lifetime of regrets. Let the good Lord take care of your aches and heal you. So that you don't miss out on the good - on the blessing He hides in the middle of all that hurting." Jaime did a wonderful job explaining how we struggle with grief and how she handled it was beautiful and heart-breaking at the same time.

I did NOT figure out who the murdered was the end - this book sure did keep me on my toes and guessing the entire time.

Def a fav of 2023 for me. The only reason its 4.5 and not 5 fully -- is I wanted a little more romance but overall such a good read.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5460598874
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rwn9AB
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/38654
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mHWHokCowI&t=103s

Dark of Night by Colleen Coble

 

Dark of Night - Colleen Coble - 4.5 to 5 Stars - What a great second book in this series! SO action packed! (Book 2 in the Annie Pederson Series)

WOW I didn't think I would love this as much as I did but what a great second book in this series! 4.5 to 5 stars. I loved this better than book 1! In book 2, we follow the family drama that occurred in book 1 (not going to say, because spoilers) but Annie is trying to figure out what to do about the newly found information from book 1 and how to tell those who need to know. A big part of this story though was a woman named Michelle Fraser is abducted and they are needing to figure out who took her so Jon and Annie are working to piece together that puzzle as well.

I just loved this so much, I had the same feeling I did as when I read the If I Run trilogy by Terri Blackstock. So fast paced and SO much happening! My favorite part of this story is our characters, Annie and Jon and the relationship with Annie's daughter. There was a bit more faith sentences I LOVED at the end of this, but still has more of a light faith element. Either way, still loved those parts of the story at the end. Make sure you read book 1 before picking this up because this book picks up right where book 2 leaves off.

You will NOT be able to put this series down, it's just that good!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5448881142
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Ol5EMB
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/459711
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CNQJYuJxRg

Edge of Dusk by Colleen Coble

 

Edge of Dusk - Colleen Coble - 4 Stars - My first Colleen Coble and it DID NOT disappoint! LOVED! (Book 1 in the Annie Pederson Series)

This was my first Colleen Coble book and it did not disappoint! Really liked this story - 4 stars. It kept me engaged the entire time, I really connected with our characters and it had so much drama, suspense and action! Highly recommend the audiobook because the narrator really keeps you invested in the story.

This story is about Annie Pederson, a law enforcement ranger whose life changed forever the night her little sister was kidnapped. She has recently been through additional trauma with the loss of her husband and parents in a boating accident. She has truly been through it and then they discover remains that bring up old cold cases, a dead body that starts a new case, and the investigations take place. Her first love, Jon, comes back into town - he seems like a suspect in one case but is trying to clear his name there while rekindling his relationship with Annie. The story takes off here...

I really liked our characters and how fast paced this story was. The narrator really made the story for me. The first little bit was just OK but around 35% when some DRAMMMMA comes in, ya'll I was invested and NEEDED TO KNOW the tea! LOL Also liked the light faith elements and hope we have more in the next book. We saw more faith content at the end but it was still a small portion of the story I would love to see expanded upon in the next books.

By the end of this book, so much was revealed....I have to know what happens next so I'm gonna try to get book 2 ASAP! If you like romantic suspense, you will love this.

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5356271313
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Q3nTas
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/418294
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CNQJYuJxRg

A Match in the Making by Jen Turano

 

A Match in the Making - Jen Turano - 4.5 to 5 Stars - A GREAT matchmaking story with lots of humor! (Book 1 in The Matchmakers Series)

4.5 stars, rounding up to 5. We love a good matchmaking story and this one will not disappoint! So much humor, great characters, and a story that reels you right in!

This is the second Jen Turano book I have read so far and ya’ll – she brings so much great, witty banter to the table between characters that is over the top, but also believable. I LOVE IT! We have a fun match making story of Gwendolyn who is hired to find the perfect match for Mr. Walter Townsend, the catch of the season, but could the perfect match be her after all?

Such a delightful story as SO many other reviews have said. The humor she brings is what makes the story – you find yourself laughing out loud and feeling all the heartwarming feelings you want to from a story like this. This is a great lighthearted read that I really needed this week. The romance in more of a friendship building - slow burn - realization/beginning a relationship at the end of the story. I did somewhat want a bit more of a romance development sooner, but loved the time spent on Mr. Townsend's children with Gwendolyn - it makes sense why it was done the way it was because the who plot is we are trying to find a mother for his unrully children. Which, the children were HILARIOUS throughout the story. I loved seeing what they were going to get into next! :)

Speaking of Gwendolyn, she is a new favorite character of mine because she stands up for what she beleives in, speaks her mind and cares about others in such a way that she truly stands out. She goes above and beyond in so many aspects of this story, I loved it.

I can't wait to read book 2!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5351562568
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3rykXbF
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/465081
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CNQJYuJxRg

Honest June: The Show Must Go On - Tina Wells

Honest June: The Show Must Go On - Tina Wells - 4.5 Stars - loved June's journey into theater! (Book 2 in the Honest June Series)

This continues to be an amazing series about sweet June learning what it means to tell the truth and have integrity! In this story, we follow June as she goes out for the main lead in the school production of The Wiz. With June still under here fairy godmother's spell, honesty remains a requirement for June. She is constantly getting herself in tons of shenanigans and learning what the right thing to do should be in each one. She is discovering herself, her talents and growing as a young girl. The ending had me shocked - ya'll I gotta get to the next book asap!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5441494867
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3DwqrGZ
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CNQJYuJxRg

Please Return to the Lands of Luxery by Jon Tilton

 

Please Return to the Lands of Luxury - Jon Tilton - 4 Stars - A fun middle grade dystopian story!

What a fun middle grade dystopian story! Great characters and a heartwarming story with life lessons for kids. 4 stars!

This story is all about a young girl, Jane, who lives in a junkyard with her friends and others. We see it as its own little world. One day, Jane finds a doll that has a note on it to return to a totally different world. She is determined to return this little doll to its rightful owner so she embarks on the quest to do so. Her 2 friends, Timothy and Rodney realize she is gone and they set out to find her. Jane finally makes it to where she can return the doll but realizes the owner is no longer there. She meets someone that helps her find the rightful owner and boy is it an adventure! This doll leads her to a couple who hasn't been able to have children of their own and they feel it's the right time to adopt and help this young girl. What happens next will keep you guessing as we follow Jane and her friends along the way.....

Really enjoyed the story as we see great themes of friendship, doing the right thing, helping others, forgiveness, bravery, and so much more in this short story. That is something I always want in a good middle grade! The world was also very interesting here. I did want a little more story at the end after everything "happened" but overall enjoyed the story and think it's perfect for kids/teens.

Thank you to the author for sending me a copy of the audiobook to honestly read and review. The narrator does a great job!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5419186013
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OaQ9GS
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CNQJYuJxRg

Castle of Refuge by Melanie Dickerson

 

Castle of Refuge - Melanie Dickerson - 4.75 to 5 Stars - I LOVED this! I truly related to our main character. An ugly duckling retelling. (Book 2 in The Dericott Tales Series)

What a SURPRISE ya'll! LOVED this so much. This is an "Ugly Duckling" retelling - book #2 in The Dericott Tales series and I thoroughly enjoyed this one! 4.75-5 stars, rounding up to 5.

"Their scars were not things to hide and be ashamed of. Their scars kept them humble, which was pleasing to God, and kept their hearts soft. And it was a bond between them that she was confident would never break."

Set in the late 14th century in England, we follow 2 sisters, Audrey and Maris. They are daughters of a viscount and their father expects Audrey to get married - specifically to Lord Edwin Dericott - but things take a turn for the worse when her older sister, Maris, purposefully causes Audrey to get scars on her face by tripping her into the fire. Maris is sent away for many years but after 4 years, she returns and her father plans to marry off Audrey to a man she doesn't want to marry.... Audrey flees her father's house in fear of Maris and his plans in search of her own destiny. When she flees, she ends up finding herself sick and in need of help. She passes out near Lord Edwin Dericott's Castle and he takes her in to help her. The story takes off here.

I really enjoyed this ya'll. I could really relate to Audrey and her scars - as I have a scar on my face from an accident as a child and felt many of the feelings she felt / went through in this story. The quote I reference at the beginning of the review - AMEN - we are not ashamed of our scars, they keep us humble and heart soft - which the Lord loves. I could relate on a personal level and it just truly impacted me on her journey. Love the faith content here and our characters. Loved seeing Audrey teaching young kids and finding her purpose.

There were some things at the end with Maris I wish could have been expanded on, but I overall loved the story, romance, setting, growth, making life changing decisions, etc. Maris was such a broken character who had personal trauma and needed help with her mental health. She blamed her sister for everything in her own life that didn't turn out as she intended and hated her for it. She needed the love of the Lord in her life and I would love to see a short story or redemption arc for her in some way as all Audrey wanted to do was be kind to her sister no matter what she did to her. I will say Melanie Dickerson sure knows how to write a villain!

Edwin and Audrey were the perfect couple. My heart<3 Loved them.

Can't wait to continue on with this series!

Goodreads Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4738696351
Amazon: https://amzn.to/3OcUr0x
Baker Book House: https://bakerbookhouse.com/products/265265
YouTube Review Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CNQJYuJxRg