Tell Tale Book Reviews

First Line Friday - September 17th, 2021

9/17/2021

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Streaming Series Review - Vindication: Season 1

9/14/2021

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Follow the twisted, gut wrenching, psychological crime thriller of Detective Gary Travis in the Dallas suburbs where not everything is as it seems.

Season 2 now streaming...

My Review

Finally...a Christian cop show!

Friendly warning about season 1 of Vindication, don't start it unless you have some time on your hands. I'm usually pretty picky about the newer shows that I watch but PureFlix has never steered me wrong so I decided to check this show out. I started the first couple of episodes and realized that I couldn't keep it to myself. Can anybody say binge watch?

Vindication was a winner with my all adult family. And yes, we binge watched all of season 1 in like four days. Those pesky cliffhangers at the end of each episode just demanded that we watch the next one, even when the clock was inching towards midnight. My dad was just telling me that, unlike a lot of shows that are watched and forgotten, a few days after watching some of the episodes, they are still running through his mind.

The Christian film industry has come a long way in the last two decades, both in quantity and especially in quality. Vindication is a prime example of a Christian show that keeps up with modern filming, the acting is good, and the plotlines are relevant to today's culture. The thing I like best about this show is that I don't have to sacrifice my personal standards in favor of my love of suspense. I'm happily kept on the edge of my seat while not having to worry about the images going into my mind. I'm also a big fan of any show that encourages my faith instead of mocking it.

So, boiling it all down, I liked the show, my family liked the show, and we are definitely looking forward to watching season 2...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Vindication Season 1 a 5 Bark rating.

#VindicationMIN

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E-Book Review - Hostile Intent by Lynette Eason

9/12/2021

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Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Hostile Intent
Danger Never Sleeps book 4
by Lynette Eason

-From Goodreads-

Ava Jackson entered the military shortly after high school, but her mother's illness has forced her to request an early discharge. She already lost her father while deployed, and there's no way she's going to let her mother die alone. But after a visit to the nursing facility where her mother lives, Ava is attacked walking back to her car. Fortunately, FBI Special Agent Caden Denning arrives in time to help fight off her attacker.

Caden reveals to Ava that she may hold the key to the murders of three families, and he needs her help before anyone else is harmed. The hits show a pattern, and clearly the killer has an agenda. But if Caden and Ava can't discover what it is, Ava may be next on the hit list.

Bestselling author Lynette Eason concludes her latest suspense-filled series with a bang as secrets are revealed and the guilty are brought to justice.

ISBN-13: 9780800729370

Decades old secrets just got even more dangerous...

Oh, boy! I think Lynette Eason may have saved the best for last... As much as I liked the first Danger Never Sleeps novel, Hostile Intent may just be my new favorite in the series. This book had everything you could wish for in a romantic-suspense-almost-a-thriller novel. Danger, intrigue, betrayal, romance, spies, double agents, decades old secrets that span continents, and a nail-biting showdown with a psychopathic killer! Have I piqued your interest yet?

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Lynette Eason

Author Website

I started Hostile Intent looking forward to the read ahead of me. I've not always been able to totally get into Lynette Eason's books but have had no such problem with her Danger Never Sleeps series, and several others I might add. However, I had no idea when I started Hostile Intent that I would get so engrossed and so invested so fast. Lynette Eason grabbed me right from the start and I really couldn't put the book down until I knew every secret and everything.

This is the Danger Never Sleeps book that I've been looking forward to the most. Both Caden and Ava intrigued me from the start of the series. Both of them seemed to have secrets and hidden depths that begged to be uncovered. But, not even I had any clue just how good those secrets and depths would turn out to be.

Read the Danger Never Sleeps series in order, but, DO read it! If you enjoy edge-of-your-seat romantic suspense this series, and in particular Hostile Intent, from Lynette Eason is the one for you...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Hostile Intent by Lynette Eason a 4.5 Bark rating.

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Book Review - Blue Man by John L. Moore

9/11/2021

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Genre:
Thriller / Supernatural

Ezra Riley is a hardened Montana cowboy who prefers the hills, cattle, and horses to cities, but his unique gift for dream interpretation has him secretly taken to the White House where the President is suffering from recurring nightmares. Riley's encounter with the President launches a series of attacks by the man behind the nightmares, William Anderson Hall, an elderly master spy and a pioneer in the CIA's experiments with psychic powers and hallucinogens. In his remote Virginia compound, Hall has invested 30 years and millions of dollars in creating Blue Man, the ultimate psychic warrior.

Riley's life is soon complicated by Davis Browne, a former agent with the Department of Homeland Security, and Hall's two nieces, Isabel Elizabeth Hall and Mary Margaret Hall. Riley's rough ride is balanced by his cowboy friend, the cartoonist Barney Wallace, whose loyalty follows Riley to the climactic end and the revelation of the content of the President's dream.

ISBN-13: 9781647193515

“When I read a John L. Moore novel, the word'grist' comes to mind. Grist is life experience and subject knowledge.
When mixed with a unique plot and notable characters, it produces something remarkable, like 'Blue Man'.”
—Garris Elkins Author of 'BEYOND: Exploring the Frontier of God's Expanding Revelation'--

My Review

A Montana cowboy takes on a world of darkness...

I think that Blue Man is probably the most unique book that I've read this year. It's both outside of my normal comfort zone and yet has many suspense and thriller elements that are old friends of mine. And hey, the very different title is quite attention getting, wouldn't you say?

I actually picked this book up after reading the cover blurb and discovering that not only was the hero a Montana rancher, but, so is the author! The authenticity of the characters, their thoughts and attitudes, of ranch life, and the Montana landscape is undeniable and it's refreshing. The hero of Blue Man is a cowboy and he was written by a cowboy. I liked John L. Moore's blunt style of writing, which, in my opinion would make this book appealing to male readers. Do note that there is some mild language but it's completely within context and is character accurate.

Slightly reminiscent of Frank Peretti and even a little bit Ted Dekker, Blue Man is all thriller with a mix of spiritual warfare, prophetic dreams, and the impossible. It was a fascinating read, and, if I get the chance to read another John L. Moore novel, I'll take it...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Blue Man by John L. Moore a 4 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

John L. Moore

John L. Moore is an award-winning novelist and journalist. He's published seven novels, several non-fiction books and over 2,000 articles, poems, short stories, columns and reviews. A third-generation Montana rancher best known for his western classic, "The Breaking of Ezra Riley" and a pioneer in the Christian fiction genre, he is the winner of numerous awards, including a 2015 Will Rogers Medallion Award for Western Fiction for his sixth novel, "Looking for Lynne". Active in ministry for over a quarter century, Moore has appeared in four documentaries due to his knowledge of the history of horses on the Northern Great Plains. He is a member of the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame.

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Secrets In The Mist by Morgan L. Busse (Review, Guest Post, Giveaway)

9/10/2021

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What’s lurking in the Mist is the least of their worries…

In a world where humanity lives in the sky to escape a deadly mist below, Cass’s only goal is survival. That is, until she finds a job on the airship Daedalus as a diver. Now she explores ruined cities, looking for treasure and people’s lost heirlooms until a young man hires her to find the impossible: a way to eradicate the Mist.

Theodore Winchester is a member of one of the Five Families that rule the skies. Following in his father’s footsteps, he searches for the source of the Mist and hopes to stop the purges used to control overpopulation. But what he finds are horrifying secrets and lethal ambition. If he continues his quest, it could mean his own death.

The Mist is rising and soon the world will be enveloped in its deadly embrace, turning what’s left of humanity into the undead.

Genre: Science Fiction/Fantasy
Release date: August 10, 2021

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

Her world is about the change...

OK, I'll admit it. I never thought in a million years that I would ever read a book with the undead. Zombies. Whatever you want to call them, I had no intention of picking up any book with them anywhere in the plotline. And honestly, I didn't know even know they would make their appearance until they were right there on the page. But, Secrets In The Mist IS a Morgan L. Busse novel after all, and I loved her Ravenwood Saga series, so I braved my way through. You know what? It was a good start to her Skyworld series and a really great read so I don't regret it at all.

So, before you think that Secrets In The Mist is nothing but a bunch of zombies roaming the printed page, it's not, it's also Steampunk fiction! Now, I'll be the first to tell you that I'm new to the world of Steampunk, I've only read one previously, but I couldn't believe how well Morgan L. Busse merged the whole undead theme within a Steampunk world. Seriously, she had to have guts to try this out! But, it worked, and worked very very well!

If there's one thing Morgan L. Busse is good at it's creating fantastical realms that are believable. She is a master at creating worlds and peoples that are familiar and yet completely different from anything we've ever known. Cass, Theo, The Daedalus, all of it, are direct proof of that.

Anyway.... Secrets In The Mist may be aimed at a YA audience but I sincerely enjoyed it as an adult. There is plenty of danger, adventure, mystery, and maybe even the tiniest breath of romance to come. My only real problem with the book? It ended on a cliffhanger and now I have to wait for the second Skyworld novel to release!!!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Secrets In The Mist by Morgan L. Busse a 4.5 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the author/publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

More from Morgan

I’m afraid to fly. At first, I tried to ignore it. Then the panic attacks came. And the one time I accidentally grabbed my neighbor’s arm during turbulence, which was really embarrassing. But it was when I was waiting for my flight at the airport and felt like I was going to burst into tears right there at the gate that I knew I needed help.

I didn’t want to stop flying. I love traveling! But the fear of plummeting to the ground scared me, so I talked to my doctor and was given medicine to help me calm down. The problem is it made me really groggy. But hey, at least I could fly again.

Then I started writing Secrets in the Mist. Half of this book is about flying and one third is hang gliding. You know, flying with just a kite on your back. To write realistically about hang gliding, I started studying the sport. I read all the articles I could find, watched a lot of YouTube videos, and in the end spent over 10 hours immersing myself in the sky.

As I first imagined, then wrote each scene in Secrets in the Mist, something started to happen. I started to lose my fear of flying. It wasn’t the first time I tried to read the science behind flight to help me lose my fear of flying, but this time, I was doing it in my head. I was feeling the air and wind, tilting my glider, catching the air drafts, and not just understanding how to fly in my mind, but also with my heart.

I realized a plane couldn’t fall out of the sky just like my character couldn’t fall out of the sky. That an experienced flyer understood what to do in storms and sudden gusts of wind. And should the plane actually lose its engines, the pilot would help it glide to the ground the same way my gliders eased their way to a landing.

Not only that, by creating the exhilarating feelings my character felt when she was gliding began to seep into my psyche. I felt her joy and freedom, her lack of fear, and even more, how she felt more connected to God when it was just her, the wind, and the sky. I saw the beauty of flying through my character’s eyes.

I can fly now. Without medication. I actually enjoy the takeoffs and the feeling of the plane gliding through the air. Will I try hang gliding someday? Probably not, I still hate heights. But I never dreamed that writing about flying would help me overcome my fear of it. This is the power of imagination, and the power of story.

Morgan L. Busse

Morgan L. Busse is a writer by day and a mother by night. She is the author of the Follower of the Word series and the award-winning steampunk series, The Soul Chronicles. Her debut novel, Daughter of Light, was a Christy and Carol Award finalist. During her spare time she enjoys playing games, taking long walks, and dreaming about her next novel.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Morgan is giving away the grand prize package of
Steampunk themed basket that includes a signed book, coffee by barnies,
a soy candle (so it should be safe for everyone), and a $20 B&N gift card!!

Click below to enter. Be sure to comment on this post before you enter to claim 9 extra entries!

https://promosimple.com/ps/11621/secrets-in-the-mist-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, August 31
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, August 31
Texas Book-aholic, September 1
Wishful Endings, September 2
Inklings and notions, September 2
Remembrancy, September 3
For Him and My Family, September 3
deb’s Book Review, September 4
Blogging With Carol, September 4
The Christian Fiction Girl, September 5
Locks, Hooks and Books, September 5
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, September 6
Mia Reads, September 6
Library Lady’s Kid Lit, September 7
Rebecca Tews, September 7
Aryn The Libraryan 📚, September 8
Where Faith and Books Meet, September 8
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, September 9
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, September 9
Tell Tale Book Reviews, September 10
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, September 10
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, September 11
Mary Hake, September 11
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, September 12
Simple Harvest Reads, September 12 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Through the fire blogs, September 13
Daysong Reflections, September 13

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Book Review - Alaskan Rescue by Terri Reed

9/10/2021

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Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Alaskan Rescue
Alaska K-9 Unit book 1
(Love Inspired Suspense)
by Terri Reed

-From Goodreads-

A mountain search-and-rescue mission
turns into a fight for their lives.

Sent to find a wedding party that disappeared during a hike, Alaskan state trooper Hunter McCord and his K-9 partner, Juneau, discover bridesmaid Ariel Potter hanging from a cliff. But this was no accident—she was pushed—and her hiking companions are missing. Now it’s up to Hunter and Juneau to find them…and make sure whoever wants Ariel dead doesn’t finish the job.

ISBN-13: 9781335405128

Is the source of danger closer than they think?

OK, I will tell you the truth right off. If this book wasn't by Terri Reed, one of my favorite Love Inspired Suspense authors, I would have wanted to read Alaskan Rescue anyway, because it has sled dogs, and it's set in Alaska, and did I mention it has sled dogs?

This book is the first in the Alaska K-9 Unit continuity series, and, if the rest of the series is as good as this one it will be a real humdinger. I was so caught up in the drama and action from the very first chapter I almost didn't notice how fast I was turning the pages. I just had to know if my guesses about who was perpetrating the attacks on Ariel and Hunter were correct.

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Terri Reed

Author Website

Alaskan Rescue was a great read, living up to the genre in every way. I loved the dogs in the story probably even more than the suspense and romance, though they were excellent as well. Terri Reed is a top notch Love Inspired Suspense author and I can wholeheartedly recommend any of her books, particularly this one...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Alaskan Rescue by Terri Reed a 4.5 Bark rating.

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Throwback Thursday - September 9th, 2021

9/9/2021

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An unthinkable danger. An unexpected choice. Annabel, once the daughter of a wealthy merchant, is trapped in indentured servitude to Lord Ranulf, a recluse who is rumored to be both terrifying and beastly. Her circumstances are made even worse by the proximity of Lord Ranulf s bailiff a revolting man who has made unwelcome advances on Annabel in the past. Believing that life in a nunnery is the best way to escape the escalation of the bailiff's vile behavior and to preserve the faith that sustains her, Annabel is surprised to discover a sense of security and joy in her encounters with Lord Ranulf. As Annabel struggles to confront her feelings, she is involved in a situation that could place Ranulf in grave danger. Ranulf's future, and possibly his heart, may rest in her hands, and Annabel must decide whether to follow the plans she has cherished or the calling God has placed on her heart.

ISBN-13: 9780310727613

This was the second book that cemented my love affair with Melanie Dickerson's fairytale retellings. I'd read a few secular juvenile and YA fairytale retellings over the years, and even enjoyed them, but The Merchant's Daughter and its predecessor really opened my eyes to the genre's real potential within the realm of Christian fiction.

Melanie Dickerson's particular brand of combining well known fairytales with medieval historical romance is pretty much wonderful. As with her succeeding titles, The Merchant's Daughter strikes a good balance of familiar fairytale and fresh new story. There is no doubt that this book is a Beauty And The Beast story but it's just not the Disney tale you remember, no, this is so much better.

I started reading Melanie Dickerson's books when I was an adult and well past the YA target range but I was thoroughly hooked and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them to teens or adults alike. If you like fairytale retellings and historical romance The Merchant's Daughter is the book, and the author, for you...

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E-Book Review - On The Cliffs Of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright

9/8/2021

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Genre:
Suspense

On The Cliffs Of Foxglove Manor
by Jaime Jo Wright

-From Goodreads-

1885.
Adria Fontaine has been sent to recover goods her father pirated on the Great Lakes during the war. But when she arrives at Foxglove Manor--a stone house on a cliff overlooking Lake Superior--Adria senses wickedness hovering over the property. The mistress of Foxglove is an eccentric and seemingly cruel old woman who has filled her house with dangerous secrets, ones that may cost Adria her life.

Present day.
Kailey Gibson is a new nurse's aide at a senior home in a renovated old stone manor. Kidnapped as a child, she has nothing but locked-up memories of secrets and death, overshadowed by the chilling promise from her abductors that they would return. When the residents of Foxglove start sharing stories of whispers in the night, hidden treasure, and a love willing to kill, it becomes clear this home is far from a haven. She'll have to risk it all to banish the past's demons, including her own.

ISBN-13: 9780764233906

One of this summer's MUST reads!

Oh. My. Goodness. I think I'm going to have to sleep with my light on for at least a week! On The Cliffs Of Foxglove Manor was the eeriest, the creepiest, book that I've read in months! Jaime Jo Wright is a master of her craft and it shows in every one of her novels, but she is definitely at the top of her game with this one. The Gothic overtones are utter perfection!

This Book received a 5 Bark rating.

Jaime Jo Wright

Author Website

Up until now my favorite Jaime Jo Wright book was The Curse Of Misty Wayfair but I think On The Cliffs Of Foxglove Manor is in the running to be tie for favorite status. It's just THAT good! The blend of historical and contemporary was done to perfection. Each layer and chapter of the story building on the one prior, and each one necessary for the dual timeline to come together seamlessly.

If you are looking for a story with deeply flawed characters doing the best they can with what they have, this is the book for you. These characters are some of the most real that I've read in awhile, their fears and struggles may be difficult and even a little taboo in most Christian fiction but they are about as authentic as they come.

On The Cliffs Of Foxglove Manor was so deliciously dark and spooky that I stayed up nearly all night to finish it. Some friendly advice, don't turn off the lights after reading this one. Jaime Jo Wright had me jumping at every suspicious sound, and trust me, old houses like mine have a lot of suspicious noises at 3 am. I cannot recommend this book highly enough, it's one you won't want to miss!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives On The Cliffs Of Foxglove Manor by Jaime Jo Wright a 5 Bark rating.

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I Read With Audra blog tour - Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong (Review, Interview, Giveaways)

9/1/2021

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How far would you go to find the perfect husband? All the way back to the 1950s?

In a world full of happily-ever-after love, Meri Newberg feels like the last young woman on the planet to be single, at least in her Christian friend group. So when she's handed a strange present at the latest wedding--a 1950s magazine article of "ways to get a husband"--she decides there's nothing to lose by trying out its advice. After all, she can't get any more single, can she?

Her brother's roommate sees the whole thing as a great opportunity. Not to fall in love--Kai Kamaka has no interest in the effort a serious relationship takes. No, this is a career jump start. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show. If it goes viral, his career as a cameraman will be made.

When Meri Me debuts, it's an instant hit. People love watching her lasso men on street corners, drop handkerchiefs for unsuspecting potential beaus, and otherwise embarrass herself in pursuit of true love. But the longer this game goes on, the less sure Kai is that he wants Meri to snag anyone but him. The only problem is that he may not be the kind of husband material she's looking for...

With droll comic timing, unbeatable chemistry, and a zany but relatable cast of characters, Angela Ruth Strong has created a heartfelt look at the reality of modern Christian dating that readers will both resonate with and fall for.

Paperback, 272 pages
Published: August 17th 2021 by
Publisher: Kregel Publications
ISBN-13: 9780825447105

“An irresistible hook, an unlikely (but perfect for each other) duo, and the winsome voice of author Angela Ruth Strong come together in Husband Auditions to form a sweet and funny love story readers will adore. Simultaneously an homage to and a lampoon of old-fashioned pursuits of matrimony, inspirational romance fans will gobble up this thoroughly modern tale. I was completely charmed from aloha to aloha.”
~ Bethany Turner, award-winning author of Plot Twist and The Secret Life of Sarah Hollenbeck

My Review

100 ways to catch a husband...or maybe not?

For a romantic comedy with such a silly premise, trying to snag a husband using a 60 year old list of highly questionable tips and hints, there is a lot more to Husband Auditions than you might initially suspect. Oh, sure, it was funny and romantic and quite entertaining but it was also so much more.

Angela Ruth Strong has successfully and skillfully used the power of story to impart some wisdom, whether you are a single girl in your thirties or a married woman of many years. There is just so much to unpack in this story that it's hard to know where to even start. As a single girl myself I found a lot to think about, particularly when considering marriage making sure that you yourself are ready to take on all that a real marriage means and that you are not just following fleeting emotions. Sometimes finding the right person is the same as being the right person.

I've only read one of Angela Ruth Strong's previous books but I have to say that Husband Auditions is the one I was most impressed with. The skill with which the author spun a tale that was as equally thought provoking as it was entertaining is quite something and not to be missed. Take my advice and check out Angela Ruth Strong's fun new rom-com Husband Auditions!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Husband Auditions by Angela Ruth Strong a 4.5 Bark rating.

(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)

Interview with Angela

Q: Please introduce us to your new book, Husband Auditions. Where did the inspiration for “the list” come from?
Husband Auditions tells the story of Meri Newberg who is the last single woman among her friend group. At the latest wedding, she’s handed a strange present—a 1950s magazine article with a list of “ways to get a husband.” She starts thinking about trying out a few of them because it sure couldn’t hurt.

Her brother's roommate, Kai Kamaka, sees the whole thing as a great opportunity to jumpstart his career as a cameraman. He talks Meri into letting him film every silly husband-catching attempt for a new online show in the hopes of it going viral.

I got the idea for Husband Auditions from a real article “129 Ways to Get a Husband” that was published in McCall’s magazine in the 1950s. (You may have seen it online when it was floating around Facebook a couple of years ago like I did.) Some of the suggestions were quite outlandish (ex: stand on a street corner with a lasso), and I imagined what would happen if a modern-day woman tried them out.

Q: You wrote your own list for the sake of the book. Can you share what some of your favorite activities from the list were

While a lot of the ideas from Meri’s list were definitely inspired by the original, I did set out to create my own. I went to my reader group on Facebook for inspiration. I’m so thankful for the help in coming up with some of these. I had so much fun with them all!

Here are just a few:

Wear a bandage in public and have a tale of daring to go with it.
Create suspense like Alfred Hitchcock by buying a convertible to go with your headscarf and cat-eye glasses.
Faint in front of him. Seeing a woman’s weakness awakens a man’s nature to take care of her.
Let your date do the ordering. Never directly ask the waiter for anything.

Q: What piece of advice from the list comes up again and again, making it almost a theme of the book?
When brainstorming the book at a writing conference, my friend and historical author Peter Leavell was intrigued by the idea of Meri carrying around a hatbox. I laughed and said, “Only you, Peter.” So, I had to stick him in the novel. He’s the character who gives better advice than anything on Meri’s list. He says, “A gentleman always chooses what he wants most over what he wants in the moment.”

This is what gets to Kai. At first Kai is content in not being a gentleman. Because being a gentleman would take work. And sacrifice. And patience. But the advice haunts him, and he has to ask himself what he really wants. He still tries to take a shortcut to getting what he wants, but Meri has also learned this lesson, and she’s not going to settle for a relationship with a man who chooses not to be a gentleman just so she can be in a relationship.

This line about choosing what you want most in life over what you want in the moment fits both character arcs. I also felt it perfectly blended the classy 1950s era with our modern day entitled society.

Q: What advice would you give to single women about the desire to find love and their dreams for marriage?
The best advice I ever got was this: When two people are in a relationship, they have to be relatively close in emotional health. When one person starts to grow, it creates tension in the relationship like a rubber band stretched between two fingers. With such tension, one of three things has to happen. Either the less healthy person chooses to grow, the more healthy person has to regress, or the less healthy person leaves. In all your relationships, choose to grow. If the person you want to be in a relationship with chooses NOT to grow, you are going to be healthier without them. Don’t ever choose “bad love” over no love at all. You are worth much more than that. And you are already loved more than you can even imagine. Let Jesus be your enough, and as you run towards Him, look for a man who wants to run by your side.

Angela Ruth Strong

Angela Ruth Strong sold her first Christian romance novel in 2009 then quit writing romance when her husband left her. Ten years later, God has shown her the true meaning of love, and there's nothing else she'd rather write about.

She is the author of the Resort to Love series and the CafFUNated mysteries. Her books have since earned TOP PICK in Romantic Times, won the Cascade Award, and been Amazon best-sellers. Finding Love in Big Sky was recently filmed on location in Montana and will air soon. Her latest release is Husband Auditions.

Strong also writes non-fiction for SpiritLed Woman. To help aspiring authors, she started IDAhope Writers where she lives in Idaho and teaches as an expert online at Write That Book.

Learn more at www.angelaruthstrong.com, and follow her on Facebook (Angela Ruth Strong Fan Page), Twitter (@AngelaRStrong), and Instagram (@ang_strong).

It's Time For 2 Giveaways!

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Angela Ruth Strong is doing a big giveaway for
a free roundtrip airline ticket on Allegiant Air.

Click below to enter.

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WORD Wednesday - September 1st, 2021

9/1/2021

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Monday Movie - August 30th, 2021 (The Doctor Takes A Wife)

8/30/2021

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The Doctor Takes A Wife
starring
Loretta Young ■ Ray Milland

(1940)

Here's just what the doctor ordered... To make you laugh yourself healthy!

June Cameron has written a best seller about spinsters: women are men's equals and don't need them for fulfillment. Through a series of errors and misunderstandings, the press believes she's married Tim Sterling, a university instructor she's just met. Her publisher wants to let the mistake go uncorrected for a few weeks so she can write a best seller about being married; Tim cooperates because, in hidebound academia, being married may help with a promotion. The flies in the ointment are June and Tim's instant enmity, Tim's stubbornness, and his girlfriend Marilyn, who may not let the charade play out. There's no way everyone can get what they want

I found this 1940s romantic comedy gem while scrolling through old movies on Youtube late one night. I was bored, wanted to watch something I'd never seen before, and I've liked Ray Milland is several other old rom-coms so I decided to give this movie a shot despite the fact I'm not a Loretta Young fan.

Oh, my gosh! I did not expect this movie to be so funny or to like it as much as I did. As soon as I watched it I knew it was one that I'd share with my family, all adults, my dad in particular has enjoyed some of these old 1930s and 1940s rom-coms with me. As expected they laughed just as much as I did.

One of the things I loved about The Doctor Takes A Wife is how the two main characters take turns being unreasonable, funny, and they each have a few lessons to learn before the end credits roll. I've never been a fan of movies where one person or age group is stereotyped as stupid and the other is super smart. But this movie avoids that pitfall, he and she both have some very mistaken ideas and yet both have moments where they are entirely in the right.

I may have discovered this film on Youtube but it's one that I enjoyed enough to watch twice close together and it's also one that I'd love to add to my DVD collection to watch whenever I wish. . .

89 Minutes

Principal Cast

Loretta Young...June Cameron
Ray Milland...Dr. Timothy Sterling
Reginald Gardiner...John Pierce
Gail Patrick...Marilyn Thomas
Edmund Gwenn...Dr. Lionel Sterling
Frank Sully...Slapcovitch
Gordon Jones...O'Brien
Georges Metaxa...Jean Rovere
Charles Halton...Dr. Streeter
Joseph Eggenton...Dr. Nielson
Paul McAllister...Dean Lawton
Chester Clute...Johnson
Hal K. Dawson...Charlie
Edward Van Sloan...Burkhardt

Quotes

New York Editor: Oh - they're not married? Then we'll have to print that the man in her bedroom is *not* her husband.

June Cameron: Look, Johnny. I don't know anything about marriage.
John R. Pierce: Oh, what's that got to do with it? Dante didn't have to go to hell to write his "Inferno."

June Cameron: [to Timothy] Now, listen to me, my microscopic friend, you might be able to give orders to the barnacle you're engaged to, but the last time a man tries it on me, I was six, and he was seven, and for one solid hour I beat him over the head with my all-day sucker!

Dr. Timothy Sterling: Well, gentlemen, as you well know, 75 is the passing grade, and so far you've confined all your passing to the football field.

Dr. Lionel Sterling: Have you two had a quarrel?
June Cameron: Yes. Yes, he hit me.
Dr. Lionel Sterling: You didn't?
June Cameron: Yes, he did.
Dr. Timothy Sterling: Well, I only pushed her.
Dr. Lionel Sterling: You only pushed her? Tim, I shouldn't have to remind you that this is not the Neolithic age.
Dr. Timothy Sterling: Well, how would you like it if someone said that your father was a pompous, opinionated old windbag?
June Cameron: I didn't say that.
Dr. Lionel Sterling: I would be honest enough to admit that the person was absolutely right.
June Cameron: Pop, he's lying. I never said that.
Dr. Lionel Sterling: I don't care who said it, my dear, it's true. I talk too much. Your mother always said that.

4 MOVIE DVD COLLECTION

Affiliate links used.

Thanks to IMDB.com for most of the info for this movie.

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Epic Book Launch - Wonders Of The Galaxy

8/26/2021

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A series of space tales based on parables from the Holy Bible.

Genre: Speculative Fiction
Release date: September 15, 2021

Excerpt from Wonders Of The Galaxy

The Pearl of Great Price (Part Two)
by M.B. Dah

It was Alex’s home planet, but the trees were gone. Red clay littered the dug-up remains of most of the forests. Lakes and creeks trickled with dirty water. Bodies littered the streets where rovers used to tread.

“Your mother lives, but for how much longer, we don’t know.” She leaned toward him.

“That’s why you’re here. Your home is just one planet of dozens. If we’re going to make a move, we need to make it now—before they expand their reach.”

Destination Kharis (Part One)
by L.G. Westlake

Something whizzed by my head, and sparks flew off the wing of the ship next to me.

AG fired on us again.

Yesterday I had sat in the elite seat of an AG news producer. Today I was a fugitive. I ran for the open port.

The pilot at the controls of his rogue ship started the engine. The little shuttle lifted inches off the ground.

Derric waved his arms about wildly. “No,” he yelled. “Don’t leave!”

I heard guns fire, saw sparks at Derric’s feet.

My feet pounding the rubber floor, I watched Derric jump into the side of the shuttle.

We might make it.

A bullet passed close. I could feel its heat on my cheek.

Jason William Karpf is a multitalented actor, musician, professor, and Jeopardy champion whose writing runs the gamut from true crime to speculative fiction.

Aaron Gansky is an award-winning novelist and Dungeons and Dragons whiz who lives for his children, coaching football, and watch Marvel movies.

Erica Marie Hogan’s books range from long ago historical dramas to frozen fantasies on faraway planets. Regardless of where the story originates, it comes from the heart—because Erica believes genres are transcendent.

Brett Heaston is the creator of the Message to Kings podcast and the author of The Resilience Awakening. He lives in the Pacific Northwest, a history nerd, and an adventure junkie.

Steve South is a traveler, a karaoke singer, and a profound believer in the power for stories to move people; his first novel, The Queen of Steel and Fire, won the 2019 Minnesota Author Project Award for YA fiction.

L.G. Westlake lives in the “Land of Enchantment,” but also lives a dream life in far-flung galaxies where she regularly charts the unknown; her previous novels have included award-winning fantasies and thrillers.

M B Dahl is a wife, mother, and award-winning author of dystopian adventures. She loves dressing up like a warrior and fighting dragons, imaginary or real.

T.E. Bradford is an international bestselling author, a Selah award finalist, and a self-proclaimed geek who believes her writing is “a little piece of magic” given to her by God.

Travis W. Inman has been a cowboy, a missionary, a soldier, and more in his multi-storied career, and his stories reflect his diverse background. In his spare time, he searches for hidden treasure, both financial and culinary.

Blog Stops

Excerpt One: https://blossomsandblessings.blogspot.com/2021/08/wonders-of-galaxy-collection-of-cosmic.html

Excerpt Two: https://moments-of-beauty.blogspot.com/2021/08/wonders-of-galaxy-collection-of-cosmic.html

Excerpt Three: http://montanamade.weebly.com/tell-tale-book-reviews/epic-book-launch-wonders-of-the-galaxy

Excerpt Four: https://blissbooksandjewels.com/special-book-feature-excerpt-wonders-of-the-galaxy-a-collection-of-cosmic-tales/

Excerpt Five: http://nannie3.blogspot.com/2021/08/wonders-of-galaxy-collection-of-cosmic.html

Excerpt Six: https://hookmeinabook.home.blog/2021/08/26/wonders-of-the-galaxy-a-collection-of-cosmic-tales-epic-book-launch-plus-a-sneak-peek/

Excerpt Seven: artistwriterandstudentohmy.com/posts/wonders-of-the-galaxy-book-excerpt/

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Character Interview with Cassie Wheeler & Leon Bragg from Cold Case Manhunt by Jenna Night (Giveaway)

8/22/2021

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Until she solves her husband’s murder,
she’ll stay a target…

Nothing will stop Cassie Wheeler, bounty hunter and owner of Rock Solid Bail Bonds, from tracking down her husband’s killer when new information surfaces—not even being hunted herself. Her employee Leon Bragg vows to have her back, sticking beside her as they follow increasingly dangerous leads. Because someone wants this five-year-old case to stay cold. Someone who’ll kill again to keep secrets hidden…

ISBN-13: 9781335554451

Buy

AMAZON ■ BARNES & NOBLE ■ KOBO ■ CBD ■ HARLEQUIN

Interview with Cassie Wheeler and
Leon Bragg from Cold Case Manhunt

Jasmine, here. I recently caught up with Cassie Wheeler and Leon Bragg from COLD CASE MANHUNT for a quick chat in a coffee shop in downtown Stone River, Idaho. They took some time away from chasing fugitives to answer a few brief questions. Here’s what they had to say…

Are you an introvert or an extrovert?
Cassie: Well, I’m definitely not shy. I’d have to say I’m an extrovert.
Leon: I try to be friendly, but mostly I just like to move around unnoticed. As much as is possible for a guy my size to go unnoticed. So, yeah, I’m more of an introvert.

Chocolate or Strawberry?
Cassie: Rocky Road.
Leon: (turns to Cassie) That wasn’t one of the options.
Cassie: (shrugs) What can I say? I know what I like.
Leon: Fine. Chocolate. I like chocolate.

Okay, question for Cassie. What single thing do you most like about Leon?
Cassie: (glances at Leon with a musing expression and her head slightly tilted) I like that he thinks about other people and not just himself.

What single thing really drives you crazy?
Cassie: It’s like pulling teeth to get him to dance with me. Seriously. The guy has a hard time letting his guard down and just living in the moment.

Okay Leon, now it’s your turn. What single thing do you most like about Cassie?
Leon: Everything. I like everything about her.
(Cassie appears to blush. Then, fighting to hold back a grin, she shakes her head and says, ‘Come on, play along and pick one thing.’)
Leon: I like that I don’t have to guess what she’s thinking. Because she tells me what she’s thinking. All the time.
(Cassie laughs)

Now, what single thing about her drives you crazy?
Leon: Her lack of fear. When we’re on a manhunt, sometimes she’s a little too eager to jump into a dangerous situation.
(Cassie raises her eyebrows slightly.)

What are your favorite Bible verses?

Finally, where do you two hope to be ten years from now?
(Cassie and Leon exchange glances and smiles)
Cassie: We hope to continue bounty hunting for quite a while. But at some point we’d like to work with troubled kids. Maybe even become foster parents. Leon had a tough childhood and could have used some help. As a bail bondswoman and bounty hunter, I see a lot of people who might have had completely different lives if someone had helped them when they were young. We’ve got the North Star horse ranch with plenty of room, so who knows? We’ll pray about it and let the Lord lead us.

The interview ended at this point when a young couple who I believe were Martin and Daisy Silverdeer burst into the coffeeshop, calling out to the Cassie and Leon that they had a hot lead on a bail jumper and they needed to get going …

Jenna Night

Jenna Night comes from a family of Southern-born natural storytellers. Her parents were avid readers and the house was always filled with books. Now wonder she grew up wanting to tell her own stories. She's lived on both coasts, but currently resides in the Inland Northwest where she's astonished by the occasional glimpse or a moose, a herd of elk or a soaring eagle.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

Jenna Night is generously giving away 3 print copies of Cold Case Manhunt
USA ONLY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

4 Comments

E-Book Review - The Chase by Lisa Harris

8/20/2021

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Genre:
Romantic Suspense

The Chase
US Marshals book 1
by Lisa Harris

-From Goodreads-

US Marshal Madison James may not be sure who shot her three months ago, but she does know one thing--it's time to get back out into the field. When her partner, Jonas Quinn, receives a message that a federal warrant just came in on a man connected to a string of bank robberies, Madison jumps at the chance to get back to work. What she and Jonas find is a bank robbery in progress that's gone wrong--and things are about to get worse.

For these bank robbers, it's never been just about the money. It's about taking risks and adrenaline rushes, and getting caught is not part of the game. When the suspects escape, Madison and Jonas must hunt them down and bring them to justice before someone else--someone close to them--gets hurt . . . or worse.

From Seattle to the San Juan Islands, bestselling author Lisa Harris takes you on a nonstop chase where feelings are complicated and failure isn't an option.

ISBN-13: 9780800737313

Will her first day back on the job be her last?

I'm going to start off by confessing that I read this book out of order. The Chase is the second US Marshals book from author Lisa Harris, but, not paying attention, I read it first. Oops! I kinda felt like I was dropped into the middle of a story, and technically, that's exactly what happened. But. You knew that 'but' was coming didn't you? Lisa Harris is such a skillful author that she had me completely engrossed in The Chase, pun intended, of course. I was invested in Madison and Jonas even though I didn't always know the background.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Lisa Harris

Author Website

Lisa Harris has always been good for a good action-packed romantic suspense read but I think The Chase might have had the corner on that this time around. This US Marshals novel was non-stop action and suspense right from the start, a little lighter on the romance which I appreciated, and definitely a real page-turner.

Despite reading The Chase out of turn I really enjoyed it. Lisa Harris successfully kept me entertained and intrigued while I was bored out of my mind house sitting, a person can only handle so much TV, after all. I can definitely recommend the US Marshals series, though you need to read them in order, especially if if you enjoy romantic suspense that relies more on suspense and allows to the romance to develop more slowly. Hey, you as far as I'm concerned you can't go wrong choosing any book by this author...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Chase by Lisa Harris a 4 Bark rating.