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Book Review - The Runaway by Claire Wong

6/9/2017

Genre:
Contemporary/British

The Runaway
by Claire Wong

-From Amazon-

Shortly before her eighteenth birthday, Rhiannon Morgan runs away from the remote Welsh village of Llandymna. Camping out in Dyrys Woods, she starts to make a new life for herself and she finds space for her active imagination to run wild. Weaving together the stories she loves and memories of her past, including the mother she lost thirteen years ago. Back in the village, Rhiannon's disappearance triggers a series of events that uncovers the cracks in Llandymna's quiet surface. Quick-tempered Callum finds himself reluctantly drawn into search parties, while a young police officer is forced to investigate his neighbours, and the village's elderly story-teller hints at a secret that the older generation have kept for decades...

This Book received a 3.5 Bark rating.

Her choice will change them all...

I wanted to read The Runaway as soon as I figured out it was set in Wales. There are tons of novels out there featuring England, and nearly as many of Ireland and Scotland, but very few located in the roughly 8,000 square miles that make up Wales. The last book I read set in Wales was also set around the time of William the Conqueror so getting a glimpse into a 'modern' Welsh small town was interesting.

Still waters do, indeed, run deep, and this is proven in Llandymna. One seventeen year old girl's choice to runaway effects an entire town in ways that she, and even old Meabh the storyteller, could never have predicted. But it also brings to light old secrets and brings restoration to some people who desperately need it.

The Runaway isn't an overly large book, it's easy to read, and actually reminded me much of YA book. There is a good story, I quirky characters, a person can't help but like the heroine and her resourcefulness, and there are some lessons on life, growing up, and understanding those around you...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Runaway by Claire Wong a 3.5 Bark rating.

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Book Review - Weaver's Needle by Robin Caroll

6/8/2017

Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Weaver's Needle
by Robin Caroll

-From the back cover-

TWO RECOVERY SPECIALISTS.
ONE MURDER.
A modern-day treasure hunt
becomes a race of survival.

Former Army MP Landry Parker fell into the recovery specialist role quite by accident – to help her ailing father. Now that she's on her own, she is determined to prove herself and honor her family legacy. After being shot in the line of duty, former police officer Nickolai Baptiste became a recovery specialist, and he's good at his job – maybe even the best.
A potential client pits Landry and Nickolai against one another to find the Dutchman's Lost Gold Mine map that was stolen from her murdered husband, and the potential payday is too enticing to pass up. The trail takes them from New Orleans to Weaver's Needle in Arizona where legend claims the mine is hidden. The unlikely duo quickly discover someone's after the treasure, but there are others who want the Superstition Mountains to keep the mine hidden forever.
Can Landry and Nickolai work together despite their distrust of each other to save the legend before innocent lives are lost? Will they find the real treasure isn't the gold, but something more valuable...true love and understanding?

ISBN-13: 978-1634099943

The treasure is out there...somewhere...

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

When I first saw the title it sounded sort of interesting but when I started reading the back cover blurb I only got as far as the words “Dutchman's Lost Gold Mine” and “Superstition Mountains” and that's all it took. I didn't have to read any farther, I knew I HAD to read this book. Robin Caroll is brand new author to me, though I'd seen the name before, but I've read a number of accounts of the infamous Lost Dutchman Mine.

Weaver's Needle wasn't quite what I expected, a normal mystery/romantic suspense novel, no, it was quite a bit more than that. One additional perspective, other than the hero and heroine's, came as a complete surprise to me. A surprise that was filled with rich detail and added an aspect to the story that I had never really pondered before.

Weaver's Needle may have been my first read by Robin Caroll but I strongly doubt it will be my last. Whether you love romantic suspense, treasure tales, stories with an eerie and mysterious twist, or D all of the above, you should really check out this exciting adventure set in New Orleans and the wild Southwest.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Weaver's Needle by Robin Caroll a 4 Bark rating.

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Book Review - Gems Of Wisdom by Angela Breidenbach

6/2/2017

Genre:
Non-Fiction

Gems Of Wisdom
The Treasure Of Experience
by Angela Breidenbach

-From Amazon-

Gems of Wisdom: The Treasure of Experience Discover how your past has prepared you for a beautiful future. You'll embark on a treasure hunt for unique gems of wisdom that will help you let go of past pain in spite of emotional pirates and negative people. You'll learn how to have grace under pressure in tough situations, face fears, and how to use your experiences to positively influence others. Join the treasure hunt through the stories and experiences of other women who've overcome difficult pasts, being victimized, and helplessness. Collect the beautiful gems of wisdom God created and wants you to discover. Deeply emotional, delightfully real. Excellent for group or private Bible study and book clubs. Bonus companion journal included.The first book in the new Grace Under Pressure Radio series helps you become a woman of courage, confidence, and candor. Gems of Wisdom: The Treasure of Experience is a Dove Foundation Award Recipient.

ISBN-13: 978-0982717288

Get ready to change your perspective...

Angela Breidenbach

When I first picked up Gems Of Wisdom I'll admit that I couldn't really seem to get into it. I tend to read mostly fiction and history. I believe that God can bring certain books, anything really, when you need them and I now know that the time just wasn't quite right for this book. Fast forward a few weeks and it seemed like everything in my life was crashing down on me and the stress was just too much. I was emotionally spent and didn't see an end in sight. In addition to a lot of praying, reading my Bible, and listening to praise music, I picked up Gems Of Wisdom again. Angela Breidenbach's no nonsense straightforward approach was exactly what I needed. Each night as I went to bed I would read Psalm 46 and a chapter from the book. Those first chapters were the ones that spoke to me the most. The combination of real life examples and fictional pirate stories gave me food for thought and the entire layout of each chapter really helped me put things in perspective. Not to mention Angela Breidenbach's theme of tying each chapter in with a gemstone. That was something I really liked as I'm a confirmed rock and gem lover. Do I remember all that I read? No, not really. But it helped when I needed it most and I think this is one book that I'll be revisiting when things get tough and I need a little reframing.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Gems Of Wisdom by Angela Breidenbach 4.5 Bark rating.

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Book Review - My Heart Belongs In The Superstition Mountains: Carmela's Quandary by Susan Page Davis

5/20/2017

Genre:
Historical Romance / Western

My Heart Belongs In The Superstition Mountains: Carmela's Quandary
by Susan Page Davis

-From the back cover-

A Chance for Escape Takes
Two Unlikely Allies on a Romantic
Adventure along a Desert Trail

Orphaned at age twelve, Carmela Wade has lived a lie orchestrated by her uncle, pretending to be a survivor of an Indian kidnapping and profiting from telling her made-up story. But as she matures into adulthood, Carmela hates the deceit and longs to be free. On a stagecoach in Arizona Territory, Carmela and her uncle are fellow passengers with US Marshal Freeland McKay and his handcuffed prisoner. The stage is attacked. A chance to make a new life may suddenly be within Carmela's reach...if she can survive the harsh terrain and being handcuffed to an unconscious man.
Journey now to Tuscon, Arizona, and into the Superstition Mountains of 1866, where freedom will come at a high price for two determined individuals.

ISBN-13: 978-1683220077

One mistake can kill them...

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Susan Page Davis

The art of writing westerns pretty much went out with Louis L'Amour but there are a few names out there in Christian fiction that are keeping the genre alive. Susan Page Davis is one of those authors. It's been quite awhile since I've read one of her stories but I did recently read another book in the My Heart Belongs In... series that I really enjoyed. So when I got the chance at My Heart Belongs In The Superstition Mountains: Carmela's Quandary I quickly took the opportunity.

A fun and quick read, My Heart Belongs In The Superstition Mountains, is a story that is both sweet and exciting, full of adventure. Susan Page Davis keeps readers thrilled with outlaws, Indian attacks, escaped prisoners, and a near mob.

Western fans will be sure to enjoy My Heart Belongs In The Superstition Mountains, the newest adventure from the pen of Susan Page Davis.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives My Heart Belongs In The Superstition Mountains: Carmela's Quandary
by Susan Page Davis a 4 Bark rating.

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Happy Mother's Day!

5/14/2017

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E-Book Review - Not A Sparrow Falls by Lynnette Bonner

5/10/2017

Genre:
Historical Romance / Western

Not A Sparrow Falls
Wyldhaven boook 1
by Lynnette Bonner

-From Amazon-

Schoolteacher Charlotte Brindle is relieved that her long journey from Boston to Wyldhaven is about to come to an end. And then the bullets start flying! As she sprawls on the floor of the coach and curls her arms around her head, she wonders whatever in the world possessed her to give up the civility of a Boston school for the promise of adventure on the wild frontier?!

Her fellow passenger, an elderly man named Patrick Waddell, has obviously angered the men outside. And he has no intentions of going down without a fight—or without a bargaining chip!

Sheriff Reagan Callahan grinds his teeth in frustration when Patrick Waddell emerges from the coach with the tiny slip of a schoolteacher as his hostage. Reagan's perfectly planned-out capture has just been shot to smithereens. What had the town's founder been thinking when he hired a woman like her? A petite and prim woman was not the kind of teacher Wyldhaven needed. He should be back at his desk drinking coffee! Instead, he now has to mount a rescue!

Take the next stagecoach to Wyldhaven,
where the coffee's perked hot,
the sheriff likes his apple pie fresh from the oven,
and adventure invariably waits just around the next river bend.

ASIN: B06XBTJ5BK

Can she come to love the wild west...

This E-Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Lynnette Bonner

Lynnette Bonner is one of those talented authors who can cross genres, eras, and even continents and deliver a good story every time. The first Lynnette Bonner book that I read was a western, since then I've read romantic suspense, historical romance, etc. so I was tickled to see that in Not A Sparrow Falls she had returned to the genre that first got me hooked on her stories. Everything needed for a rollicking good western romance is present and accounted for in Not A Sparrow Falls; a handsome sheriff, a sheltered Eeastern schoolmarm, nasty outlaws, and one wild stagecoach ride. Any western romance fan that loves a good story with a faith message will definitely enjoy Not A Sparrow Falls, the first book in Lynette Bonner's exciting new series set in Wyldhaven.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Not A Sparrow Falls by Lynnette Bonner a 4 Bark rating.

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Book Review - Redeeming Grace by Jill Eileen Smith

5/9/2017

Genre:
Biblical Fiction

Redeeming Grace
Daughters Of The Promised Land book 3
by Jill Eileen Smith

-From the back cover-

One devoted woman is about to discover the power of love

When famine visits Bethlehem, some hold out hope for rain, while Naomi and her family make the long journey to Moab in search of greener pastures. The harvest there is plentiful, and for a time it appears the Lord is blessing them. But when calamities strike, one after another, Naomi is left alone in a foreign land with only her widowed daughters-in-law for comfort.

Downhearted and destitute, Naomi is determined to return to Bethlehem alone. But her daughter-in-law Ruth refuses to leave her side. Despite the fact that she and Naomi will almost certainly live out their days in widowhood and poverty, Ruth holds out hope for a better future . . . and maybe even a second chance at love.

ISBN-13: 978-0800720360

Her choice to follow changed history...

The story of Ruth is probably one of the most done, redone, and overdone, Biblical accounts made into Christian fiction. But then someone comes along and brings a fresh perspective, a different take, on the well-known story. Redeeming Grace is one of those 'different' books. Jill Eileen Smith takes a story that we all know by heart and from it weaves a tale that is both familiar and new.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Jill Eileen Smith

Redeeming Grace is more than just the romance between Ruth and Boaz, though that is important. What really stood out to me was Ruth's love for Naomi and her journey, both the physical one and the spiritual, from the darkness of Moab to freedom and love in Israel. But even more than that I was really caught by the age-old question that Naomi and Boaz struggle with...why does God allow such devastating loss and pain to happen to those who genuinely seek to follow Him. I think their struggles are ones that we all face at some point in our lives...

The ancient people and places of the Bible come to life in rich detail under the skillful pen of Jill Eileen Smith as she encourages Biblical understanding through the medium of fiction. The Daughters Of The Promised Land series is a must read for Biblical fans and those that need the reminder that God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Redeeming Grace by Jill Eileen Smith a 4 Bark rating.

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Book Review - Local Poet by Paul Trembling

5/4/2017

Genre:
Drama/Suspense

Local Poet
by Paul Trembling

-From the back cover-

ROB SEATON KILLED A WOMAN.

Rob doesn't know Laney Grey. But when she steps out in front of his van and dies on impact, his life will never be the same.

He has to know who she was, why she chose to die, and why he had to be part of her death.

To understand her, he must learn to read her poetry. To know her, he must unravel the mysteries of her past.

As Laney's dark secret starts to come to light, and Rob's innocence is questioned, he must learn the full truth.

But the truth comes at a cost . . . Will Rob be the one who has to pay?

ISBN-13: 978-1782642305

Why did she have to die? Why was it him?

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Paul Trembling

This slim little book packs quite a story in just over 150 pages. Part psychological drama, part suspense, some police procedural, and with the slightest hint of romance, Paul Trembling delves deeply into the mind of man left reeling from a senseless tragedy. Each chapter covers one day, and in a little over a week the main character faces more drama and danger than he could have ever anticipated. Told in the first-person perspective Local Poet was a quick and interesting read with an ending that totally kept me on the edge of my seat. One a side note there is a little language that may or may not bother some people. Because of that, and just the tone of the storytelling, if I were to pick a single word to describe this book I would choose 'real'.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Local Poet by Paul Trembling a 4 Bark rating.

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Witch by Denise Weimer + Review & Guest Post & Giveaway

4/30/2017

Click here to purchase your copy.

The Restoration Trilogy: When Jennifer Rushmore accepts a brooding bachelor’s job offer to act as coordinator for the restoration of his family’s historic doctor’s house (WHITE), apothecary (WIDOW) and log cabin (WITCH) in a rural Georgia community, little does she know it’s her own heart that will undergo the greatest renovation. Three stories. Three centuries. Three lessons on the healing of the heart. And one buried mystery that threatens their redemption.

Witch
The Restoration Trilogy: book 3
by Denise Weimer

Having restored Michael Johnson’s ancestors’ house and apothecary shop and begun applying the lessons of family and forgiveness unearthed from the past, Jennifer Rushmore expects to complete her first preservation job with the simple relocation of a log home. But as her crew reconstructs the 1787 cabin, home to the first Dunham doctor, attacks on those involved throw suspicion on neighbors and friends alike. And while Jennifer has trusted God and Michael with the pain of her past, it appears Michael’s been keeping his own secrets. Will she use a dream job offer from Savannah as an escape, or will a haunting tale from a Colonial diary convince her to rely on the faithfulness of his love?

Genre: Modern romantic light suspense with a historical back story
Release Date: April 1, 2017

MY REVIEW

Past and present are a mirror...

I have been following this series from the first book, eagerly devouring each installment. As a history lover and an avid museum supporter, Denise Weimer grabbed me as soon as I saw the words “preservationist” and “restoration.” Through these books not only has fictional history been preserved but the heroine and her hero have been through a process of restoration in their lives.

Witch is the culmination of this wonderful series and I am very sorry to be saying goodbye to all of the characters that I've come to know and love. In this series, and Witch is no exception, Denise Weimer has really taken on some difficult and sometimes dark subjects; from prejudice to forgiveness, fidelity to grief. As Jennifer has grown and changed, Michael, too, for that matter, I've found myself by turns encouraged and convicted in my own life.

I will say that I was quite interested to see the mystery finally solved on just who was causing the strange 'accidents', I had guessed several different people but it wasn't until the last book that I began to get an inkling, and even then it was still a bit of a surprise that I was right.

Denise Weimer has a real winner in Witch and the entire Restoration Trilogy and I hope to read more by this author.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Witch by Denise Weimer a 4.5 Bark rating.

Guest post from
Denise Weimer

The first thing I want to tell you about Witch is … it’s not scary! Hang with me, and I’ll share more about the title.
The Restoration Trilogy mixes a unique tonic … the budding of a romance and friendships in a humorous, small-town community, a splash of suspense, and spiritual and emotional healing. Check out the summaries above.
The restoration my parents did on a real life doctor’s house and apothecary shop inspired this series. As I watched them work and learn about the historical line of doctors associated with their property, I realized how much a physical restoration project can mirror the spiritual work God wants to do in each of us. And that’s exactly what happens with Michael and Jennifer, who both conceal areas of brokenness from their pasts. As they come together to restore his family buildings, the stories they uncover about his ancestors reveal truths they need to apply in their own lives:

Family connection from the 1920s story of Georgia Pearl as they restore the house (White)
Forgiveness from the 1860s story of Charlotte as they restore the apothecary (Widow)
Faithfulness from the 1780s story of Verity as they restore the log cabin (Witch)

The title of each novel – and the cover – reflects that struggle of the historical heroine. Eventually each, as well as Michael and Jennifer, learn that only God, the Master Renovator and the Great Physician, can heal their broken places.

So here’s your prescription, should you choose to accept it by entering into this grand prize giveaway!

Denise Weimer

DENISE WEIMER holds a journalism degree with a minor in history from Asbury University. A former magazine writer, she is the author of romantic novella REDEEMING GRACE, The Georgia Gold Series (SAUTEE SHADOWS, THE GRAY DIVIDE, THE CRIMSON BLOOM, and BRIGHT AS GOLD – winner of the 2015 John Esten Cooke Award for outstanding Southern literature) and The Restoration Trilogy (WHITE, WIDOW and WITCH). Denise is a wife and swim mom of two daughters who always pauses for old houses, coffee and chocolate!

To celebrate her tour, Denise is giving away:

A Grand Prize Gift Basket From Durham Apothecary & Museum: Take from a homemade tea pocket one of the selection of special teas. While brewing thy favorite tea, dispense liberally from the tea cookie tin onto a china plate. Prop up thy feet and commence thy reading journey through a print copy of White, Widow AND Witch! After a goodly time of rest and reflection, take up thy quill (ahem, I mean set of decorative pens) and record pearls of wisdom in thy new journal. When thy husband and children begin to grumble, rise with fresh vigor to prepare a meal from Farmer’s Almanac Colonial Cookbook.

Second place prize: an e-book copy of Witch (or any other one book of The Restoration Trilogy)

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

Blog Stops

April 18:
Inklings and notions
April 19:
Eat, Read, Teach, Blog
April 20:
Blossoms and Blessings
April 21:
Blogging With Carol
A Greater Yes
April 22:
Jeanette’s Thoughts
April 23:
A Baker’s Perspective
April 24:
Christian Bookaholic
April 25:
Ashley’s Bookshelf
Singing Librarian Books
April 26:
Artistic Nobody
April 27:
A Room without Books is Empty
Book Love
April 28:
Pause for Tales
April 29:
Bigreadersite
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
April 30:
Tell Tale Book Reviews
Book Bites, Bee Stings, & Butterfly Kisses
May 1:
For The Love of Books

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The Sound Of Emeralds by Rachelle Rea Birthday Blog Tour - Interview + Giveaway

4/28/2017

Hello and welcome to The Sound of Emeralds birthday blog tour! I’m posting today about Rachelle Rea Cobb’s third installment in the Steadfast Love series, an inspirational historical romance set during the 16th century!

Rachelle is also the author of The Sound of Diamonds and The Sound of Silver, the first two books in the series. She has also written Write Well, a guide for writers! Last summer, she married a man with the same first name as the hero of the Steadfast Love series! I’m joining in this blog tour to tell you a little more about Emeralds and spread the news about the rocking giveaway Rachelle is hosting—make sure you enter using the Rafflecopter form to win signed copies of all three books!

The Sound Of Emeralds
Steadfast Love book 3
by Rachelle Rea

What once was blazing hatred has turned to lasting love, but could the union of a wild heart with that of a lady ever result in more than heartache?

With the help of an old friend with uncertain loyalties, Dirk inches ever closer to clearing his name. Gwyneth throws her faith into good tidings and the promise of a future as a family. But an old evil comes to call, just as tragedy rips apart a fledgling truce. Enemies from the past and grief for the future threaten to tear asunder what God had brought together…

As the date of Dirk’s trial approaches, his fate and his family hang in the balance. Will he be proven innocent of Gwyneth’s parents’ murders—or separated from her forever? How much pain does it take to erode a love steadfast?

Find The Sound of Emeralds on…
Amazon Paperback: http://is.gd/F53u5R
Kindle: http://is.gd/F53u5R
Barnes & Noble: http://is.gd/RguS9l
Books a Million: http://is.gd/NdMWGr
Goodreads: http://is.gd/zRI9dg

ABOUT The Steadfast Love SERIES

In 16th-century Europe, the Reformation rages between Protestants and Catholics. Gwyneth, half-Dutch, flees from England to Holland to escape the man who murdered her parents. When he follows her there and insists he came to rescue her, will she trust this man called Dirk? When tragedy strikes, will their steadfast love erode?

Rachelle Rea

Times gone by snatch Rachelle Rea Cobb close, so she reads and writes about years long ago--her passions include the Reformation, Revolutions, and romance. Rachelle wrote the Steadfast Love series during college. Five months after she graduated, she signed a three-book deal with her dream publisher, WhiteFire. She's a homeschool grad, Oreo addict, and plots her novels while driving around her dream car, a pick-up truck. In June 2016, she married a man with the same name as her fictional hero, and they live happily ever after in Small Town, South. She is also the author of Write Well, a guide for writers, which released on March 4th!

Website: http://RachelleReaCobb.com/
Facebook: http://facebook.com/RachelleReaCobb
Twitter: https://twitter.com/RachelleReaCobb
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/RachelleReaCobb/
Instagram: @RachelleReaCobb
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Rachelle-Rea/e/B00RZHIL1Q
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8144149.Rachelle_Rea_Cobb

Enter using the Rafflecopter form below to signed copies of
ALL THREE of Rachelle’s novels. The whole series, signed!

International friends, this giveaway is open to continental
U.S. addresses only (sorry!). But do still enter,
because one international winner will also
be chosen to receive all three e-books.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Book Review - A Lady In Disguise by Sandra Byrd

4/26/2017

Genre:
Gothic / Historical Romance

A Lady In Disguise
Daughters Of Hampshire book 3
by Sandra Byrd

-From the back cover-

After her father's mysterious death, Miss Gillian Young takes a job as the new principal costume designer at the renowned Theatre Royal Drury Lane. Gillian remembers her father as a well-respected officer of the Metropolitan Police, but she uncovers clues that suggest he led a double life.
Then Gillian meets the dashing Viscount Thomas Lockwood. Although the attraction between them is instant, a friend suggests that he was involved in her father's murder. Is Lockwood's interest in Gillian just a front for his pursuit of her newly inherited property?
Gillian is convinced that her father has left behind evidence that will prove his innocence. But as her opposition becomes increasingly dangerous, it is obvious that someone wants to stop her from discovering it. With her life on the line, Gillian takes on an ingenious disguise in the role of a lifetime to reveal her father's true killer.

ISBN-13: 978-1476717937

Is anyone truly what they appear to be?

I don't know if Jane Eyre was the first in what we would come to call the genre but it certainly is the quintessential Gothic romance. What attracts us to these over-the-top stories? But it's true, there is nothing like sitting down to read one of these deliciously dark tales complete with damsels in distress , mysterious heroes, secret hiding places, romance, and betrayal. Finding a Christian one is not the easiest at all. Enter Sandra Byrd's adventure-filled Daughters Of Hampshire series with ALL of the qualifications necessary for a good Gothic romance.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Sandra Byrd

I had a great time reading A Lady In Disguise, trying to guess who the villain or villains were, puzzling out motivations, and reveling in the misty and secretive atmosphere of 1880's Britain. As much as I was able to figure out some things there were still plenty of surprises that kept me intrigued and engrossed.

A Lady In Disguise is only the second book I've read by this author, the other being book one in this series, but I was quite pleased to find that they can be read standalone. Now I can't wait to read book two, because, believe me, I don't intend to stop with only these two titles. Sandra Byrd definitely has me hooked!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives A Lady In Disguise by Sandra Byrd a 4 Bark rating.

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Book Review - The Illusionist's Apprentice by Kristy Cambron

4/23/2017

Genre:
Historical

The Illusionist's Apprentice
by Christy Cambron

-From the back cover-

Not all illusions happen on the stage.

Wren Lockhart, apprentice to master illusionist Harry Houdini, uses life on a vaudeville stage to escape the pain of her past. She continues her career of illusion after her mentor's death, intent on burying her true identity.
But when a rival performer's act goes tragically wrong, the newly formed FBI calls on Wren to speak the truth – and reveal her real name to the world. She transfers her skills for misdirection from the stage to the back halls of vaudeville, as she finds herself the unlikely partner in the FBI's investigation. All the while Houdini's words echo in her mind: Whatever occurs, the crowd must believe it's what you meant to happen. She knows that if anyone digs too deep, secrets long kept hidden may find their way to the surface – and shatter her carefully controlled world.
Set during one of the richest, most vibrant eras in American history, this Jazz Age novel of illusion, suspense, and forgotten pasts is perfect for fans of The Magician's Lie, challenging all to find the underpinnings of faith on their own life's stage.

ISBN-13: 978-0718041502

Nothing and no one are as they seem...

This Book received a 3.5 Bark rating.

Kristy Cambron

Leave everything that you think you know at the door. Nothing is as it seems. And neither are the people as they first appear. Mystery, danger, and romance abound in the secretive, and often dark, worlds of the early FBI and that last days of real vaudeville.

I have to admit that I didn't really connect with the characters but the lusciousness of setting and detail more than made up for that. The real star of the story for me was the fascinating world of the Roaring 20's. This story has it all, the stereotypical flappers, car chases, and the lingo is just the bee's knees, but Kristy Cambron also richly layered everything, down to the tiniest detail, into a story that played out like a movie in my mind.

The Illusionist's Apprentice brings one of history's least written-about eras straight to life. It also delves into the mysterious world of vaudeville and illusion. It's a unique combination that makes for a very interesting read. And when you add in the historically accurate investigations into the claims of spiritualism and the hero and heroine's quest for the truth, well, it keeps you wondering what is real and what is just that, illusion...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Illusionist's Apprentice by Kristy Cambron a 3.5 Bark rating.

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Book Review - Dangerous Testimony by Dana Mentink

4/23/2017

Genre:
Romantic Suspense

Dangerous Testimony
Pacific Coast Private Eyes book 4
(Love Inspired Suspense)
by Dana Mentink

-From the back cover-

LAST WITNESS STANDING

Four weeks before she's set to testify at a gang murder trial, someone is determined to make sure that Candace Gallagher Andrews never takes the stand. When nowhere is safe for the private investigator or her little girl, Candace turns to the only person she can trust – longtime friend and former navy SEAL Marco Quidel. For Marco, protecting Candace is not just another duty. As the trial date nears and the killer stalks ever closer, Marco knows fear for the first time – the fear of losing Candace and her daughter. But while Marco begins seeing Candace as more than just a friend, her late husband's memory is never far from her mind. So he must keep Candace alive – and not get emotionally involved – long enough to put away a killer.

PACIFIC COAST PRIVATE EYES:
Sisters fighting crime

ISBN-13: 978-0373456994

Will the cost of testifying be too high?

I'm sorry to be saying goodbye to the Gallagher sisters. They have provided hours of spine-tingling romantic suspense and Dangerous Testimony, the last one in the Pacific Coast Private Eyes series, oldest sister Candace's story, delivered more of the same great reading.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Dana Mentink

Dana Mentink is one of my favorite Love Inspired Suspense authors and Dangerous Testimony is a perfect example of why... it features even more danger, more romance, and the cutest little girl and big dog combo...

This latest romantic suspense from Dana Mentink is a real page-turner and a must read! It's the perfect way to spend quiet evening with murder and mayhem!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Dangerous Testimony by Dana Mentink a 4 Bark rating.

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WORD Wednesday 4-12-17

4/12/2017