An Uncommon Woman by Laura Frantz
Stephanie's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

An Uncommon Woman is a riveting tale of the days of the untamed frontier. I have not researched this period of history, but it is obvious that Ms. Frantz has. The description of the landscape, the tools used, the methods of farming, the clothes worn, and even the food eaten feels real and must have been substantiated by hours and hours of research.

The heroine, Tessa Swan, is a girl raised with only brothers and in a time and environment where there is no need or room for refinement and fripperies. As Tessa states, they at all times feel like "a moving target" and can never really relax and enjoy life. Only inside the recently constructed fort can the settlers let down their guard and, for a space of time, forget about marauding Indians.

It is in this fort that Tessa meets the first man in her life that causes her to think about marriage! The newly appointed Captain Clay Tygart is as wild as the frontier. He was captured and lived among the Indians as a young boy, and that life will always be a part of who he is. Then, Tessa is captured, and Clay comes face to face with his former life.

It's such a great novel! But I can't give it all away. This is a "must-read" and a very enjoyable, as well as, intriguing story. There are many other characters woven into this story; just enough to keep it interesting, and not so many that you lose the focus. Enjoy how the plot weaves in and out of the many lives described in these pages!

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this stand-alone novel by Laura Frantz. I think readers aged 12 and up should be able to safely read this. There is some blood and violence between the Indians and the settlers, but it seemed tastefully done to me. There is romance as well, but except for stolen kisses, Ms. Frantz kept this book clean.

Do you need a fast-paced, riveting novel? Try this one!




Stephanie Garrett is a busy homeschooling mom of three who somehow always finds time to read. She has been a voracious reader since childhood and even won a bicycle in elementary school for having read the most books! She enjoys learning and growing and never turns down an opportunity to try something new. Her first love is the Lord and service to Him, second is family, and third...is reading. She believes that anyone who learns to read with comprehension can go anywhere and do anything! She also enjoys music, theatre, sewing, and mathematics.



Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Deadly Deceit by Natalie Walters (Harbored Secrets Book #2)
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

When Natalie Walters published her debut novel, Living Lies, in May 2019, right away I knew she was an author to watch! (See my review of Book 1 here.) And Book Two in the Harbored Secrets series only confirms that I was right. Deadly Deceit was published in November 2019 by Revell Books.

One of the things that makes Walters' books stand out is the setting. The fictional town of Walton, GA, has the perfect cozy, southern, small-town vibes. The tagline for the series is "Walton, Georgia: everybody knows your name--but no one knows your secret." And that couldn't fit any better. The author does such a fabulous job of describing the small town and its citizens in a vibrant way that instantly draws the reader in. The "small-town setting" trope can be a bit overused, but Walters re-imagines it in a way that makes it stand out and does away with the stereotype.

As vibrant as the town is, the characters are even more so! Vivian DeMarco and Ryan Frost are our main characters. Ryan is a deputy with the sheriff's department and a total-nerd-turned-town-poster-boy. He's a bit on the arrogant side, but in an endearing way instead of irritating. I loved his protectiveness toward his family and those he cares about, and his backstory was very realistic and did a great job of explaining some of his personality and thought processes.

Natalie Walters Photo Credit: Emilie Hendryx Haney

Vivian is a reporter, and only in town long enough to do her job and get out. I love how her mindset about the town changes as she gets to know its people. I didn't expect to like Vivian at all, but her story instantly grabbed me and I found myself really connecting with her. Both of these characters are really great counterparts to each other, and there are a lot of scenes of hilarious banter between the two, as well as some more heart-touching scenes as together they work through the past and fears.

I could go on about the rest of the cast of fabulous characters, but I'll let you pick up the book and get to know them yourself!

The suspense side of the story is, as expected, very intense and keeps you turning pages. I had my suspicions as to what was going on, but there's so much happening I was constantly guessing!

All in all, Deadly Deceit is an action-packed story full of humor and epic dialogue, heartwarming scenes, sweet romance, and more. Walters is an incredibly talented author and her beautiful writing style quickly and easily draws you into the story. I highly recommend this to all romantic-suspense lovers! I am very much looking forward to the release of the series finale, Silent Shadows, in March 2020!

Content Advisory: Walters includes some pretty heavy topics in this story; including murder, blackmail, rape, and forced prostitution. The author does a great job of not dwelling on these topics too heavily, which I greatly appreciated, but nonetheless, I would recommend the reader be aware of these issues to be able to make an informed decision regarding this book.

Download a free book except here.




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

The Heart of a King: The Loves of Solomon by Jill Eileen Smith
Stephanie's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

Jill Eileen Smith has found her niche writing novels about Biblical characters. The Heart of a King: The Loves of Solomon follows this trend and explores what it may have been like to live in the palace of the King of Israel, and, in fact, what it may have been like to be one of the many wives of the wisest man who ever lived.

The Society of Extraordinary Raccoon Society on Boasting by Randall Goodgame, Illustrated by Joe Sutphin
Stephanie's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

This is the second book in the "Slugs & Bugs" series called The Society of Extraordinary Raccoon Society, or SOERS. If you have listened to the Slugs & Bugs music, you might already be familiar with The SOERS as they are favorite characters from the songs.

In the inaugural SOERS book, two young raccoons, Maggie and Morty, are introduced to sharing instead of stealing. Now we join the reformed raccoon pair as they begin to boast to each other about how much better he or she is sharing compared to the other! Into this scene steps wise old Chauncey, who lyrically guides them to the understanding that when we give, we should not boast of the deed. The two repent yet again and go on to give gracefully.



This is a cute book with a clear message. This volume did a great job of making the message simple and easy to understand. The artistry is still great, colors are vibrant, and the scenes are interesting.

This is a good book for children ages 4 to 10 to discuss both sharing and not boasting.

Also, note that the odd typesetting issue from the first book was corrected in this one so the line breaks and rhyme schemes flow much more naturally.




Stephanie Garrett is a busy homeschooling mom of three who somehow always finds time to read. She has been a voracious reader since childhood and even won a bicycle in elementary school for having read the most books! She enjoys learning and growing and never turns down an opportunity to try something new. Her first love is the Lord and service to Him, second is family, and third...is reading. She believes that anyone who learns to read with comprehension can go anywhere and do anything! She also enjoys music, theatre, sewing, and mathematics.



Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Out of the Embers by Amanda Cabot (Mesquite Springs, #1) 
Lilian's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

When a fire destroys the orphanage where she worked, Evelyn Radcliff flees to the Texas Hill Country with an orphan in tow and a killer in pursuit. Will a rugged horse rancher hold the key to her future—and her past?

This is such a beautiful story! In the past, I've heard a lot about Amanda Cabot and the well-spun stories she writes, but I've only now gotten a chance to read one of her books and I have to say, it was beautifully done!

The main female character, Evelyn Radcliffe, is fleeing from someone she constantly feels is watching her but she's not sure why. Along with this, she's also adopted a little sister—an orphan child she just met named Polly—as well as coming to terms with her parents' death. I loved seeing how Evelyn dealt with the "Watcher" with fear and cautiousness but still courageousness, and the plot twist near the end involving the "Watcher" was just incredibly done and I never saw it coming!

Our male lead character, Wyatt, although seemingly having the perfect life, deals with struggles with his family and pressures from the town. Both of them grow so much towards God and together throughout this book which I really loved.

This shorter novel really packs a suspenseful punch! One of the most tastefully written books I've read in a long time, and I'm looking forward to reading more of Cabot's works.

Free Resources:
Book Excerpt
Reading Group Guide




Lilian S. has been a hardcore bookworm since the tender age of 7 and a book reviewer for a couple of years. She is currently a student and in her spare time enjoys singing, graphic designing, and interacting with other Christ-minded readers. A couple of her favorite genres in both books and movies are: Christian contemporary, fantasy, and dystopian. She occasionally enjoys science and historical fiction and likes a good suspense novel as well. Lilian is also an athlete (Ultimate Frisbee, anyone?), a blogger at Green Tea With Books, and founder at reviewer site Stellae Books.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Dark Ambitions by Irene Hannon (Code of Honor Book #3)
Sarah Grace's Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks

Editor's Note: Our reviews of Book #1 and Book #2

I have read nearly all of Hannon's romantic suspense books, but I think Dark Ambitions might just be my favorite!

Synopsis:

Danger lurks when ambitions turn deadly . . .
Former Army Night Stalker Rick Jordan usually has his camp for foster children to himself during the winter months. But someone has visited recently--leaving a trail of blood. One of the two clues left behind tips Rick off to the identity of his visitor, who soon turns up dead. The police deem it an accident, but Rick isn't convinced.
With the help of private investigator Heather Shields, he sets out to decipher the remaining clue. Except someone doesn't want them to succeed--and will stop at nothing to keep them from finding the truth.

From the start, I really liked both of our main characters. Heather Shields, former homicide detective turned private eye, and Rick Jordan, former Night Stalker turned youth ministries worker. Both of these characters were very unique and had a lot of depth and chemistry that made them great together and individually. I was so excited for the return of the Phoenix, Inc. crew, featured in Hannon's Private Justice series, which I also highly recommend.

Irene Hannon Photo Credit: © DeWeesePhotography.com

The romance got to be a bit much for my tastes, but I enjoyed the story so much I was able to ignore that for the most part. I also loved Heather's father and the sweet relationship he and his daughter shared. Their relationship helped to further the plot in a unique that shall go unmentioned for spoiler's sake.

The story starts out with Rick trying to find an old army friend he believes to be in trouble, and hiring Heather to help him. From there, the plot quickly turns deadly. Many twists and turns keep Heather and Rick—and the reader—on their toes. Hannon also includes her trademark action and suspense liberally throughout, as well as some witty banter from the Phoenix, Inc. guys that lightens the story a bit. With so many leads and so many potential "bad guys," you are kept guessing until the end.

All in all, I greatly enjoyed this newest release from veteran author, Irene Hannon! Full of everything you expect to find in a romantic suspense novel combined with Hannon's experienced writing style, I highly recommend this book to all fans of romantic suspense!




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

The Society of Extraordinary Raccoon Society by Randall Goodgame, Illustrated by Joe Sutphin
Stephanie's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

The following book is part of the "Slugs & Bugs" story collection.

This book, The Society of Extraordinary Raccoon Society, is the first of a series of books featuring a few fun, masked raccoons!

Let me pause a minute and say, the illustrator, Joe Sutphin, did a great job! The colors are rich, the scenes are fun, and the facial expressions are easily read. The paper used for this book is the good, heavy, slick kind that is perfect for a quality children's book.

Now, back to the story. At first, I couldn't decide if this book was supposed to rhyme or not! A friend pointed out to me that I was breaking up sentences in the middle do to a fluke in the typesetting. Once I got past that, the story made sense and was fun.

Randall Goodgame

An older raccoon, Chauncey, takes two younger raccoon siblings, Maggie and Morty, on a tour of the Raccoon headquarters. There they learn that the natural raccoon inclinations of stealing and such are habits that can be broken! Chauncey explains that when you learn to give to others joyfully, you will receive even greater joy yourself. "God loves a cheerful giver"! By the end, the two young raccoons have learned to share, and dance off happily to go play. Enjoy the journey with them!

Note: There was a side activity happening that was expressed in the pictures only and not in the words, and though I usually catch such things, I totally missed it this time! At the end of the book, when I caught on, I had to turn back and try to figure out what exactly had happened. See if you can catch it!

Kids ages 4 and up would probably catch the message in this book, and children younger than 4 would still enjoy the lyrical words and the vibrant colors, even if they miss the message.

For all the above reasons, I give this book 4 out of 5 bookmarks.





Stephanie Garrett is a busy homeschooling mom of three who somehow always finds time to read. She has been a voracious reader since childhood and even won a bicycle in elementary school for having read the most books! She enjoys learning and growing and never turns down an opportunity to try something new. Her first love is the Lord and service to Him, second is family, and third...is reading. She believes that anyone who learns to read with comprehension can go anywhere and do anything! She also enjoys music, theatre, sewing, and mathematics.



Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Scarlett's Spectacles by Janet Surette
Stephanie's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

Looking for another way to emphasis to your children that their outlook on life produces a specific end? Look no further than "Scarlett's Spectacles: a cheerful choice for a happy heart" written by Janet Surette and illustrated by Shane Crampton.

This book is great! The pages are thick cardboard that would be next to impossible to destroy (minus spilled juice), the illustrations are fun and engaging, and the words are written lyrically so the story flows without interruption. It is very easy for a child to notice the grumpy expression and sour attitude that Scarlett portrays, but it isn't an attitude that receives any glory. Only once the attitude changes and the face brightens do you really want to get to know Scarlett and enjoy her day with her! The message is there and very powerful, but not in an overt and preachy way.

This book takes us through the days and disappointments of a little girl who is determined to be upset, until the day her epiphany comes, and she realizes her mom is right! Life can be full of joy when we have a happy heart. This is a book to read again and again until the message becomes part of the fiber of a family. And parents, you won't mind reading it multiple times! Oh, hallelujah!

Sample Page

I would recommend this book for children ages 2 - 7 for boys, had 2 - 10 for girls. Since it is a book about a girl, I'm not sure older boys would really enjoy it.

Get started young with character training! Read Scarlett's Spectacles to your tots and children, and see what good will come.





Stephanie Garrett is a busy homeschooling mom of three who somehow always finds time to read. She has been a voracious reader since childhood and even won a bicycle in elementary school for having read the most books! She enjoys learning and growing and never turns down an opportunity to try something new. Her first love is the Lord and service to Him, second is family, and third...is reading. She believes that anyone who learns to read with comprehension can go anywhere and do anything! She also enjoys music, theatre, sewing, and mathematics.



Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson
Stephanie's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

Sing along now: It's beginning to feel a lot like Christmas...after reading Christmas in Winter Hill!

It's hard to get in the Christmas Spirit when you live in hot, sunny Phoenix, Arizona, but after reading Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson, I feel ready to bust out the Christmas tunes and drink peppermint tea while watching the snow fall in a snow globe!

Mrs. Carlson did an excellent job penning a Christmas tale that has the exact right mixture of realism AND a good healthy dose of Christmas optimism!

This short novel packs a lot of action into a brief number of pages and doesn't get hung up on the past, the psychology of the heart, or meander too long down Sob-Story Lane. While it is obvious that the life of the main character Krista Galloway hasn't always been picture-perfect, and has in fact housed a lot of hurt, the focus is on the healing, growth, and future of her hurting heart. The romance is clean and fun, the action is believable and continuous, and the villain is present without being scary.

I would recommend this book to anyone 12 and up who loves a good, happy, warm and fuzzy, Christmas tale! It's not a long and involved read, so it would be perfect for a cold evening, or a warm patio swing.

Any time is the right time for a little Christmas spirit!




Editor's Note: Our podcast reviewed another Christmas story by Melody Carlson titled A Christmas by the Sea in Episode 22.


Stephanie Garrett is a busy homeschooling mom of three who somehow always finds time to read. She has been a voracious reader since childhood and even won a bicycle in elementary school for having read the most books! She enjoys learning and growing and never turns down an opportunity to try something new. Her first love is the Lord and service to Him, second is family, and third...is reading. She believes that anyone who learns to read with comprehension can go anywhere and do anything! She also enjoys music, theatre, sewing, and mathematics.



Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Storm Rising (The Book of the Wars: Book 1) by Ronie Kendig
Lilian's Rating: 4 out of 5 bookmarks

Ronie Kendig really kicks off this series off with an absolutely brilliant start! Storm Rising is one of the most intricate suspense novels I've ever read (note: ever read, and you could definitely say I've read a lot of books haha), and I'm sure looking forward to reading more in this series as well as more of her writing!

When I first heard about this book, I wasn't sure if it would interest me that much because I had never read anything like that before and the whole Book of the Wars and storms thing sort of turned me off to it at first, though I'm not sure why. But I'm glad I took the opportunity to check it out because I really loved it (and the cover is stunning)!

Let's start off with the characters. I'm not sure I've ever read about a character as unique as Iskra. Right from the start, she amazed me with her intelligence and lethal ability as an assassin, but what intrigued me as well was how Ms. Kendig expounded on Iskra's little quirks which pulled me in and showed me her other lovable characteristics. And Leif! I personally love the name Leif, so I started off loving him. As the plot became more intricate, Leif's character was also deepened and slowly I began to relate more to him. I want to talk about Hristoff, Iskra's boss, too though—his behavior absolutely sickened me! See the spoiler note below if you wish to know more detail.

Ronie Kendig

In either the first or second chapter Ms. Kendig started to introduce so many characters (mainly members of Leif or Iskra's teams) and I didn't think I would be able to really enjoy the book because I thought I would have a hard time remembering all of them, but surprisingly it wasn't at all too difficult! It was definitely one of the more difficult things to do as part of the reading but I was very impressed with how Ms. Kendig made it easy for me as the reader to remember who everyone was!

The writing style flowed very well and I found it very enjoyable to read! Ms. Kendig definitely has a talent for writing, and I'm eager to catch a glimpse of more of her series. I do think that a little more faith aspect could have been introduced because I personally got the impression from Storm Rising that God isn't very personal and that He isn't very involved in our lives, which definitely isn't true.

Overall, Storm Rising marks my first book from Ronie Kendig and I couldn't be more excited to devour more of her books! I was very impressed with the intricacy in the suspense aspect of it and I would strongly recommend it to readers over 16. I definitely wouldn't be comfortable recommending it to even mature teens under 16 due to the behavior of one character mentioned above.


Note: Book 2 of the series, Kings Falling, is slated for a March 2020 release.

Spoiler note: To view, highlight the following section with your cursor. [Iskra is often mentioned as having been raped multiple times in the past by Hristoff, and having a daughter because of this. Iskra and her daughter are held captive by Hristoff and essentially slaves of him, and Iskra goes on a mission to trade the prize for her freedom. While she's on her mission, Iskra's daughter is abused by Hristoff, which is mentioned in very slight detail.]




Lilian S. has been a hardcore bookworm since the tender age of 7 and a book reviewer for a couple of years. She is currently a student and in her spare time enjoys singing, graphic designing, and interacting with other Christ-minded readers. A couple of her favorite genres in both books and movies are: Christian contemporary, fantasy, and dystopian. She occasionally enjoys science and historical fiction and likes a good suspense novel as well. Lilian is also an athlete (Ultimate Frisbee, anyone?), a blogger at Green Tea With Books, and founder at reviewer site Stellae Books.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

The Gryphon Heist by James R. Hannibal
Victoria's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

Wow! This book really packed a punch! I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoys spy, action and thriller books! I found it highly enjoyable and it may even be a book that I would re-read in the near future.

Synopsis:

Talia Inger is a rookie CIA case officer assigned not to the Moscow desk as she had hoped but to the forgotten backwaters of Eastern Europe--a department only known as "Other." When she is tasked with helping a young, charming Moldovan executive secure his designs for a revolutionary defense technology, she figures she'll be back in DC within a few days. But that's before she knows where the designs are stored--and who's after them. With her shady civilian partner, Adam Tyler, Talia takes a deep dive into a world where only criminal minds and unlikely strategies will keep the Gryphon, a high-altitude data vault, hovering in the mesosphere.
Even Tyler is more than he seems, and Talia begins to wonder: Is he helping her? Or using her access to CIA resources to pull off an epic heist for his own dark purposes?

The pacing was awesome, moving quickly, with short chapters that kept me turning the pages, ready for the next cliffhanger and the next...and the next. With action-packed scenes, unique and exciting characters and interwoven mysteries, this book is a must-read for you action lovers.

With the number of characters, the author did a really good job of giving them unique characteristics and mannerisms that helped to keep them apart. It could have easily gotten muddy and confusing, but they were all separate. The accents and different nationalities helped, as well as furthered the plot along as they traveled to all the different countries to recruit the team.

James R. Hannibal

The copy on the back cover mentions Oceans 11 and Mission Impossible-esque storylines and they were right. The Gryphon Heist offers that same high-stakes feel infused with humor, matters of the heart, and past mysteries that come back to haunt the main characters.

I really appreciated the spiritual storyline that the author included and my only critique on the whole book would be the depth of character and morals. While the main character and her struggles, background and subsequent bitterness and motivation were easily understood, I felt that they lacked a bit of depth that more time and focus could have fixed. We were so busy flying all over creation that we didn’t get a chance to fully get deep into the heart of Talia, our protagonist.

That was my only critique however and I thoroughly enjoyed this unique book! I can’t wait for the second one to come out and I only hope I enjoy it half as well, though, after this book, my expectations are high.

Book 2: Chasing the White Lion is scheduled to release in March of 2020.




Victoria Lynn is a “Jane of all trades” who seeks to master them. She runs several small businesses and is an indie author with a passion for literature and the written word. She lives in the glorious state of many lakes, Michigan, with her parents and eight siblings. She devours books and likes to say that if she could get paid for every book she has read, she would be a millionaire. Some of her favorite things to do include writing fiction, learning new things, acting, creating something with her hands and playing the piano or singing. She also is one of the founders of Ichthus Family Productions and seeks to honor the Lord in all that she does.



Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

A Distance Too Grand by Regina Scott
Lilian's Rating: 5 out of 5 bookmarks

Well, I was very impressed by this one! A Distance Too Grand, which is book 1 of the American Wonders Collection, is a charming historical romance tale with a twist of a wild frontier sort of lifestyle in it and also a gorgeous cover thrown in as well! I thoroughly enjoyed my first book from Regina Scott and will be looking forward to more!

Synopsis:

Meg Pero has been assisting her photographer father since she was big enough to carry his equipment, so when he dies she is determined to take over his profession--starting with fulfilling the contract he signed to serve on an Army survey of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in 1871. What she doesn't realize is that the leader of the expedition is none other than the man she once refused to marry.
Captain Ben Coleridge would like nothing more than to leave without the woman who broke his heart, but he refuses to wait even one more day to get started. This survey is a screen for another, more personal mission, one he cannot share with any member of his team.
As dangers arise from all sides, including within the survey party, Meg and Ben must work together to stay alive, fulfill their duties, and, just maybe, rekindle a love that neither had completely left behind.

Let's start off with the writing style. I absolutely loved Regina's writing style. It flows well with the thoughts and personality of the main female character, Meg—almost like it was written by the main character, though the book was written in the third person—and it really showed off her spunkiness, which is definitely a unique trait of hers and it was fun catching subtle glimpses of it throughout the whole book! Regina really unveils her characters' thoughts and attributes through her writing style, not only with Meg but other as well, including the main male character, Ben.

Regina Scott

I love Ben and Meg so much for different reasons. Meg for her determination, grit, and persistence to live and thrive, and Ben for his solid work ethic, his determination to succeed, and his thoroughness and attention to detail. I also enjoyed how patient and persistent he is in his attempts to win Meg...for the second time, which was a fun twist that I haven't ever seen before in a book! Regina really kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat while I tried to figure out how Ben would win Meg over. I also really, really love and admire how Meg and Ben both pursue their own passions that aren't typical or expected for them in that society; Meg with her photography and Ben with his passion for exploring and being a frontiersman.

In general, I would highly recommend A Distance Too Grand for lovers of very subtle romance as well as epic historical/frontier lifestyle novels. (And come on, a whole novel set in the Grand Canyon!!) I believe this book would be worth a try for pretty much anyone because of the values of faith and determination it conveys, and I'm extremely glad I had the opportunity to read it.




Lilian S. has been a hardcore bookworm since the tender age of 7 and a book reviewer for a couple of years. She is currently a student and in her spare time enjoys singing, graphic designing, and interacting with other Christ-minded readers. A couple of her favorite genres in both books and movies are: Christian contemporary, fantasy, and dystopian. She occasionally enjoys science and historical fiction and likes a good suspense novel as well. Lilian is also an athlete (Ultimate Frisbee, anyone?), a blogger at Green Tea With Books, and founder at reviewer site Stellae Books.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

Over the Line by Kelly Irvin
Sarah Grace's Rating: 3 out of 5 bookmarks

Kelly Irvin is the author of numerous Amish fiction books, but Over the Line marks her fourth foray into the romantic suspense genre. Released June 11, 2019, by Thomas Nelson, this book is a wild ride into the border town of Loredo, Texas. Irvin uses her experience as a reporter on the Texas-Mexico border as the inspiration for her suspense fiction.

Gabriella Benoit finds herself drawn into a dangerous scenario involving cartels, gun smuggling, corrupt law enforcement officers, and a kidnapped ATF agent who also happens to be her brother. And her ex-boyfriend, homicide detective Eli Cavazos, is not going to let her face the danger alone. As Gabriella and Eli travel to Loredo to find her brother, Gabby's sister, two children, and a friend find themselves sucked into the danger. I loved the family element Irvin includes with these two sisters; the relationship was very sweet and realistic, and Gabby's interactions with her niece and nephew were adorable as well. Deacon Alder is a friend of Gabby's, and with her sister, Natalie, in danger, he couldn't help but get involved. I loved watching Deacon and Natalie's relationship evolve over the course of the book. I honestly wouldn't have minded if Deacon and Natalie were the main characters.

Kelly Irvin Courtesy of kellyirvin.com

On that note, I have to admit I struggled greatly with understanding and liking our main characters throughout 80% of the book. Understandably so, Gabby carries a heavy load of bitterness toward Eli for past grievances. I could understand her angst, but when it saturated every single moment between the two characters--coupled with the awkward physical attraction--it just became too much and I grew frustrated with the both of them. Eli apparently has a past that haunts him, but no matter how much he tries to convince Gabby he loves her, he absolutely refuses to discuss his past or really anything personal at all. A relationship can't be built on that kind of silence, and I don't blame Gabby for trying to avoid Eli. But in the few years since they broke up, Eli practically stalks Gabby; regularly following her home, sitting in his car outside her restaurant, etc. As a side character told Eli: "If you weren't a cop, you would be considered a stalker." Eli also frequently treats Gabby like a child, telling her what she can and can't do, stealing her car keys to stop her from leaving town without him, and more. His actions and domineering attitude were more harassment than "love," although Eli claims he only wants to protect her. Sorry, that's inexcusable, and if I were Gabby, I'd be running the other way as fast as possible.

Granted, these are flawed characters, as we all are. But if I completely despise the main character...I think it might have been taken too far. Characters are everything to me in a story, so if I don't even like or am not able to relate to them, the book is not going to be a favorite of mine.

Story-wise, this one is a wild ride! Drama, suspense, mystery, and action combine throughout the book and kept me on the edge of my seat! I had no inkling of the conclusion until the end. The ending did surprise me in that the characters' arcs were wrapped up differently than I expected--but in a good way. Forgiveness and redemption are the main themes the author uses very realistically to wrap up the story. I enjoyed Irvin's vibrant writing style that describes the scene in a unique and colorful manner. One other issue I struggled with: throughout the book, there is minor swearing, abbreviations for crude language or swear words, and other rather crude phrases. These were all completely unnecessary in the context and only drew me out of the story.

All in all, if you are looking for a suspense-y read with lots of drama, give this one a shot!




Sarah Grace is a voracious reader, and if it weren’t for this crazy thing called “Life”, she’d be tempted to spend all her days in front of a woodstove, book in one hand, coffee mug in the other. A lover of learning, she finds enjoyment in many things, and has more hobbies than she knows what to do with. When not reading, spending time with her ever-growing family, or buried in a textbook, she can be found painting, playing the piano, producing music and audio dramas, web designing, fangirling with her sisters and friends, or discussing technology with her brothers. Sarah Grace inhabits the State of Great Lakes and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else.


Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

The String (Deadly Games, #1) by Caleb Breakey
JD's Rating: 4.5 out of 5 bookmarks

The String is an impressive fiction debut. The plot is intricate, the characters are well-rounded, and it is a total thrill ride. A non-stop adrenaline rush from the first page to the very last!

Synopsis:

A sociopath is running a deadly social experiment on a university campus. Markus Haas is the first to refuse to play the game. What unravels is a sequence of impossible decisions and a race against time to stop the sociopath before others pay the ultimate price.
Welcome to the string. Let's go over the ground rules.
Rule #1: Participation is mandatory.
Rule #2: If any one person refuses to play, the threats to all players will come to pass.
Since this is my game, allow me to introduce myself. I am the conductor. Just as musicians in a symphony must follow the conductor's direction, the selected students and staff of Trenton University must submit to my commands . . . or risk massive chaos and deadly consequences. Even that pesky university cop, Markus Haas, who thinks he'll find a way out of the impossible dilemma in which I've trapped him. Oh, the surprises I have for him.
Ready to play?

Whew! My goodness. I had to collect my thoughts for a moment after finishing this book! It's been quite some time since I've read such a nail-biting, edge-of-the-seat, "un-put-downable" thriller like this one. Fair warning: This is not for everyone as it's very violent. It's quite the bloodbath; frankly, I lost track of the body count. But that's sort of to be expected when you're dealing with a thriller centered around a psychopathic murderer.

Caleb Breakey

The plot is detailed, complex, and compelling. It is unveiled bit by bit and moves along at a good clip that keeps you turning pages. Our protagonist, Markus, is a well-developed and interesting character, as is his best friend Cody. They are both fully committed to taking down the antagonist, who calls themself The Conductor. Speaking of which, this villain is a truly chilling and creepy one. Almost to the point of supervillain status; very reminiscent of The Joker in many ways. The Conductor is a sinister marionette who uses blackmail, threats of violence and other tactics to force victims to do some pretty reprehensible things. And I found it interesting that Breakey does a sort of partial reveal of the villain early on rather than leaving them entirely behind the scenes until the end. I don't want to say much more so I don't spoil anything, but I just found it a nice touch that differentiates The String from other similar novels.

The book is clean, in that it contains no swearing or sexual content. Though there is one scene that depicts a fairly intimate embrace between two unmarried characters that some readers may be uncomfortable with. One of our major characters is a Christian but if you are expecting overt Christian themes, you won't find them here. This book is a thriller, first and foremost, and the mentions of faith are sparse and only there when they naturally fit into the characters' individual personalities.

I was completely engrossed in the story and thoroughly enjoyed this first effort from Caleb Breakey. Though the book does conclude at a natural stopping point, it's obvious that he left several threads dangling (see what I did there?) to continue the series. And you can bet that I'll be checking out Book 2 of the Deadly Games series when it comes out. Recommended for ages 18 and up due to the explicit descriptions of violence and some of the themes explored.




J.D. Sutter is the producer and host of the Bookworm Banquet podcast and editor of the blog. He is the founder of Porchlight Family Media, a network of quality audio programming and review websites based in Phoenix, AZ.









Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.

The Girl Behind the Red Rope by Ted Dekker and Rachelle Dekker
JD's Rating: 3.5 out of 5 bookmarks

If you've been around Bookworm Banquet for any length of time, you know that I am a big fan of Ted Dekker's books. His Martyr's Song, Blessed, and Circle series have long been favorites for me. So any time I hear of a new Ted Dekker novel, I get excited. He teamed up with his daughter Rachelle, also an accomplished author, for this book. Though I've not yet read any of Rachelle's novels, after reading the synopsis and seeing the cover for The Girl Behind the Red Rope I was really looking forward to reading it.

I want to make one thing clear at the outset; this is a current-day story set in a secluded area in the hills of Tennessee. I didn't realize this when I began reading and initially thought that it was some sort of dystopian/post-apocalyptic thriller or near-future suspense tale. It is neither of those genres though it is suspenseful. And it becomes clear in the latter half of the book that it is a contemporary setting, but it's not quite as obvious in the early chapters.

Our lead character, Grace, is a wonderful one to accompany through this suspense-filled and intriguing tale. I use the word "accompany" intentionally here as the story is written in the first-person perspective from Grace's point of view and the reader is often given a look into her thoughts. She is the unwitting catalyst to everything that begins to unfold in the tiny, out-of-the-way community that serves as our story backdrop. The action does not kick off immediately but once it starts it continues to slowly build all the way to the climactic end.

As is typical of most of Ted Dekker's books, there is a lot of symbolism and allegory woven into the plot, setting, and characters of this story. I do not want to spoil anything for you because I think that part of the appeal of the story is to uncover for yourself what the various elements represent.

Rachelle & Ted Dekker

Another common trait of a Ted Dekker novel is the overall lesson or moral that you walk away with at the end. The Girl Behind the Red Rope has this trait as well, though it becomes more and more overt as the story progresses and, in my view, it was much too heavy-handed. Subtlety goes a long way and in the case of this book, it just came across as too preachy. I don't need quite so much explanation of the allegory. In fiction that has an underlying message, I prefer books to let the reader explore the ideas and draw their own conclusions rather than having them all laid out.

And while we're on the subject of moral themes, I will say that I do take some issue with some of the theology that seems to be espoused in this book, as I did with the two volumes of the Beyond the Circle series. It's not completely clear what the specific doctrinal positions are that the authors are espousing but it was enough for me to have some qualms about endorsing it. But I don't read fiction to inform or reinforce my beliefs and perspectives on Scripture so I had no trouble overlooking those aspects of the book.

There were a few moments that contain some graphic content that some might get a bit uncomfortable with, but I didn't think it was too egregious. There are multiple deaths, one particularly evil character that makes some seductive moves on another, and the "beings" which are elements in the overall allegorical tale could be a little disturbing and dark for some. As Ted Dekker has said in the past regarding his books, they often begin very dark but the light eventually shines through and overcomes the darkness. Such is the case with this book.

In conclusion, I really enjoyed The Girl Behind the Red Rope. It was an interesting and compelling plotline for the most part with an engaging lead character. Apart from the slight annoyance with the over-explanation of the morals and themes, it's a solid suspense read and it kept me guessing to the end. Diehard Dekker fans will enjoy it as well as readers of suspense/thrillers seeking to not-so-subtly illustrate a point. I recommend it for ages 18 and up.




J.D. Sutter is the producer and host of the Bookworm Banquet podcast and editor of the blog. He is the founder of Porchlight Family Media, a network of quality audio programming and review websites based in Phoenix, AZ.









Disclosure: The publisher provided us with a free copy of this book for promotional purposes. A favorable review was not required. This post contains affiliate links.