Category: Kregel

Just Read Review Blitz - Counterfeit Faith by Crystal Caudill (Giveaway)

6/1/2023

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Counterfeit Faith by Crystal Caudill,
hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

She's losing her faith in mankind. He's lost his faith in God. Can working together restore them both?

As matron of Final Chance House of Refuge, Gwendolyn Ellison has dedicated her life to serving the children deemed delinquents by society. She'll protect them with everything she has. So when she suspects someone is using Final Chance for criminal deeds, she's determined to investigate and put a stop to it. But villains don't like to be crossed--and they're willing to kill to get their way.
Gwendolyn knows she can't quit fighting. More than her own life is on the line if counterfeiters go free. She must find someone she can trust to help her expose the criminals and protect the children under her care.
Charming and chivalrous Secret Service operative Josiah Isaacs has never been able to turn his back on a woman in trouble--and capturing counterfeiters is his job, after all. The danger he's truly worried about is his growing attraction to Gwendolyn when his heart wants to remain faithful to his deceased wife.
As both peril and interest grow, he begins to consider whether a second love may be possible--if they can live through this case. At the same time, he's put off by her faith in a God he no longer trusts. How can a future together even be possible when their beliefs are at odds?

"Page-turning action combines with depth and richness to create a full-bodied, rewarding read."
--Jocelyn Green, Christy Award-winning author of The Metropolitan Affair
"Readers who love romance, suspense, and a graceful amount of faith won't want to miss this story."
--Toni Shiloh, Christy Award-winning author
"With a host of sympathetic and likable characters (and a few not so likable), a riveting plot that clips along at the perfect pace, and a relatable faith thread, this book [is a] completely enjoyable read."
--Kimberly Duffy, Carol Award finalist and author of A Tapestry of Light

Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: May 16, 2023
Genre: Christian Historical Romance

More Books in this Series

My Review

Can they find the answers before it's too late?

Wow, that was quite a story! It was intriguing, hard to put down, and entertaining. But there was a great deal more to it than the usual surface 'good story' value that was unexpected but very welcome.

I actually started Counterfeit Faith with high hopes as I had loved the first Hidden Hearts Of The Gilded Age book so much. And, I am most pleased to say that this third book, I somehow accidentally missed reading book two, turned out to be every bit as good book one.

The characters were just as delightful or dastardly depending on which side they happened to fall on. The Gilded Age setting came to life quite vividly in Crystal Caudill's capable hands. And the fact that it was a romantic suspense novel cleverly wrapped up in a historical romance made it all the more enjoyable for me as I am a fan of both genres.

However, as much as I liked being entertained by an excellent story it the line where the title of the book was explained really resonated with me in a way I hadn't anticipated. I really can't explain it any better than that as I wouldn't want any spoilers. You really have to read that very moving line for yourself and let yourself ponder it for awhile.

So, Counterfeit Faith, it was a great read and well worth the time spent within its pages. Now that I have read two of the three Hidden Hearts Of The Gilded Age titles I am really going to have to go back and read the second book. Once you get a taste of Crystal Caudill's first-rate fiction you won't want to miss a single one...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Counterfeit Faith by Crystall Caudill a 4.5 Bark rating.

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

Crystal Caudill

Crystal Caudill is the author of "dangerously good historical romance," with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Caudill can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio.
Connect with Crystal by visiting crystalcaudill.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

(1) winner will receive print copies of Counterfeit Love, Counterfeit Hope,
and Counterfeit Faith, a set of bookmarks, 2 stickers with quotes, and a
magnet with a QR code to a "test your Secret Service knowledge" quiz!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule
linked below. Giveaway began at midnight May 31, 2023 and lasts through 11:59 PM EST on
June 7, 2023. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48
hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

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Book Review - Shadow Of Honor by Ronie Kendig

6/27/2022

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Genre:
Sci-Fi / YA

Shadow Of Honor
The Droseran Saga book 3
by Ronie Kendig

-From Goodreads-

The war he fears may be the
very one he’s been called to start.

Held captive, tortured by monsters of a nightmarish alien race, Marco Dusan clings to a final goal: keep these beasts from the Quadrants, even if it means orchestrating his own death. But his dreams betray that singular design. In them his bonded calls to him across lightyears. Does he leave her to fight Symmachia alone, or risk bringing an unwinnable war to every planet in the Quadrants?

On board the alien dreadnought, Eija Zacdari flounders, torn amidst military machinations, prophecies, and an inexplicable bond with one of the fearsome creatures who have imprisoned her friends. Only by uncovering the truth about an ancient conflict now shrouded in deception will she find her place.

Faced with her true identity, Eija sees her purpose snap into focus, and she realizes the war Marco fears may be the very one he has been called to start.

ISBN-13: 9781621842347

The forces of good and evil are gathering...

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Ronie Kendig

Author Website

I've been following The Droseran Saga from the very beginning...and saga is the correct word for it...
Loosely in the tradition of Star Wars this series is true space opera all the way. Prophecies, betrayal, sacrifice, redemption, forbidden romance, surprise allies, family secrets, hidden identities, aliens, desperate journeys, technology that is cool and some that's terrifying to imagine, and lots and lots of explosions. As with any space opera worth its salt, Shadow Of Honor only seems to get darker and more desperate with each chapter. But, if you've ever read the fantasy Lord Of The Rings series you know that it has to seem pretty hopeless right before the tide can turn and the battle won.

Ronie Kendig is a very versatile author and it shows pretty well in this series. I've been impressed with her worldbuilding skills, the diversity of her peoples, and her ability to describe futuristic technology in a few short sentences. Not everyone can pull off YA sci-fi, especially with Christian themes that are not too preachy, but Ronie Kendig certainly does.

While, this book was a little harder to get through than the previous two and just didn't quite grab me in the same way the first one did, it was still a solid addition to the series. This third Droseran Saga novel really delved into the lead characters themselves. Those characters all show some serious personal growth in Shadow Of Honor as they slowly find their places in the universe and in the prophecies. The stakes have never been higher nor the enemies more numerous but if they follow the will of the Ancient things may just finally be put right...but not without great personal cost...

Definitely start from the beginning with The Droseran Saga, but if you or your older kid are into sci-fi it is the series to try. If you've already read the first two books you won't want to miss Shadow Of Honor. Then we will all have to wait, impatiently I might add, to find out what new losses and victories Ronie Kendig will lead readers to in this epic battle for the universe in her next book in the series...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Shadow Of Honor by Ronie Kendig a 4 Bark rating.

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I Read With Audra Blog Tour - The Songs That Could Have Been by Amanda Wen (Giveaway)

6/26/2022

1 Comment

Two couples in love. Two sets of impossible circumstances. One powerful God of grace.

After a devastating tailspin in her late teens, Lauren Anderson’s life is finally back on track. Then a chance meeting with Carter Douglas, her first love and the man who broke her heart, threatens to throw her well-balanced world out of control.

Now a TV meteorologist, Carter is determined to make amends with Lauren. After all, she still owns his heart. But his old demons are forcing him toward the same decision he faced in the past. Is he courageous enough to make a different choice this time around?

When Lauren’s elderly grandmother, Rosie, begins having nightmares about a man named Ephraim--a name her family has never heard before—a fascinating and forbidden past love comes to light. As Lauren and Carter work to uncover the untold stories of Rosie’s past in 1950s Wichita, they embark on a journey of forgiveness and second chances that will change their lives—and Rosie’s—forever. Along the way they’ll learn that God wastes nothing, his timing is perfect, and nothing is beyond his grace and redemption.

Click here to read an excerpt.

“A reading experience both heartfelt and heart-tugging, a timeless exploration of young and enduring love and the grace found in second chances. Amanda Wen is a rare and remarkable storyteller, and this is a novel I will not soon forget.” –Amanda Barratt, Christy Award-winning author of The White Rose Resists

“A stunning journey of loss, love, and yearning. . . . Past and present are deftly woven together in this dual-timeline narrative that will leave readers flying through the pages.” – Amanda Cox, author of the 2021 Christy Award Book of the Year, The Edge of Belonging

My Review

When the time is right secrets can come to light...

The Songs That Could Have Been was something of a surprise for me. Having read the first Sedgwick County Chronicles novel I knew to expect a bittersweet romance and that Amanda Wen would give equal care to both historical and contemporary threads of this dual timeline novel. I also knew that it would be a thought provoking read. And all of that held true, but, there were still some unexpected detours along the way.

I actually chose to read The Songs That Could Have Been based on the fact that I had enjoyed the previous book in the Sedwick County Chronicles. Amanda Wen's reality based storytelling has been quite fascinating. Her stories are definitely no boy meets girl and after a couple of misunderstandings they get their sweet happily ever after. Nope, these characters come from messed up families, they have problems and make mistakes, they disappoint each other, and not every single aspect is tied up in a white Hallmark wedding bow. This book had all of that, in spades...

One of the aspects that I really appreciated about The Songs That Could Have Been was the first-person POV of Rosie (Grandma) that was scattered throughout the book. Amanda Wen couldn't have been more kind and sensitive in her portrayal of a woman coping with dementia – a woman who hangs onto her faith through every stage of her life.

If you enjoy stories that take on difficult topics, where happy endings are hard won, and faith is celebrated, look no further than the Sedgwick County Chronicles series...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Songs That Could Have Been by Amanda Wen a 4 Bark rating.

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

Amanda Wen

Amanda Wen is an award-winning writer of inspirational romance and split-time women’s fiction. She has placed first in multiple writing contests, including the 2017 Indiana Golden Opportunity, the 2017 Phoenix Rattler, and the 2016 ACFW First Impressions contests. She was also a 2018 ACFW Genesis Contest finalist. Her debut novel was a 2021 Christy Award First Novel finalist.

Wen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and regularly contributes author interviews for their Fiction Finder feature. She also frequently interviews authors for her blog and is a contributor to the God Is Love blog. She is the author of Roots of Wood and Stone and The Songs That Could Have Been.

In addition to her writing, Wen is an accomplished professional cellist and pianist who frequently performs with orchestras,
chamber groups, and her church’s worship team. She serves as a choral accompanist as well. A lifelong denizen of the
flatlands, Wen lives in Kansas with her patient, loving, and hilarious husband, their three adorable Wenlets, and a snuggly
Siamese cat. To find Amanda Wen’s blog and short stories, visit www.amandawen.com. Readers can also follower her
on Facebook (@AuthorAmandaWen), Twitter (@AuthorAmandaWen), and Instagram (@authoramandawen).

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I Read With Audra Blog Tour - Midnight's Budding Morrow by Carolyn Miller (Giveaway)

6/15/2022

3 Comments

Can real love grow between a wallflower and an unrepentant rogue?

Sarah Drayton is eager to spend time with her best friend at her crumbling Northumberland castle estate. Matrimony is the last thing on her mind and the last thing she expects to be faced with on a holiday. Yet she finds herself being inveigled into a marriage of convenience with her friend's rakish brother.

When James Langley returns to his family's estate, he can't be bothered to pay attention to his responsibilities as the heir. War is raging and he wants only distraction, not serious tethers. But his roguish ways have backed him into a corner, and he has little choice but to obey his father's stunning decree: marry before returning to war, or else. Suddenly he finds himself wedded to a clever and capable woman he does not love.

Sarah craves love and a place to belong, neither of which James offered before returning to the battlefront. Now everyone around her thinks she married above her station, and they have no intention of rewarding her for such impertinence. It isn't until her husband returns from war seemingly changed that she begins to hope they may find real happiness. But can she trust that this rake has truly reformed?

When tragedy strikes, this pair must learn to trust God and his plans. Will they be destroyed . . . or will they discover that even in the darkest depths of night, the morning still holds hope?

Excerpt

About the series:

While most stories set in Regency England focus on the rich, the young, and the beautiful, award-winning author Carolyn Miller decided she wanted to give readers something different for a change. Her new Regency Wallflowers series follows the commoners, away from the hustle and bustle of 1810s London, out in the Lake District of England. She tells the stories of women who are slightly older and have few prospects for marriage, women who might be considered “wallflowers.”

Midnight’s Budding Morrow is the second book in the Regency Wallflowers series. The first book in the series is Dusk’s Darkest Shores.

My Review

Will the pain of the past drive them apart?

I discovered Carolyn Miller while reading a Regency Christmas novella collection but Midnight's Budding Morrow is my first foray into one of her full length novels. While it may seem foolish to have started with the second book in a series, I think that the Regency Wallflowers are independent enough that I never felt like I was missing something.

While Midnight's Budding Morrow was mostly historical romance with some definite Gothic overtones, can anyone say creepy old crumbling castle and hidden family secrets, I was a bit surprised at the direction that Carolyn Miller took. All around the story was much deeper than I expected. Things like grief, alcoholism, thoughts of self harm, were all realistically addressed in a most non-judgmental way. The characters deal with the emotions of loss, guilt, false blame, and rejection, but the light of faith is always there hanging sometimes by only a thread.

Call me a goody-two-shoes but I despised James for a fair bit at the beginning of this second Regency Wallflowers book. He was such a mess, much of it self inflicted, though he had very real reasons for it, that I wondered if I could ever possibly like him. Sarah was almost the complete opposite, not only in her actions but also in my response to her as a character. Though, there were a few times I just wanted to yell at her to stand up for herself and show some backbone to those unpleasant people!

Overall I enjoyed reading Midnight's Budding Morrow. It was interesting, thought-provoking, and even featured a murder inquiry which satisfied my mystery and mayhem loving heart. Carolyn Miller did a good job with this book and I'm looking forward to reading more of her Regency Wallflowers series...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Midnight's Budding Morrow by Carolyn Miller a 4 Bark rating.

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

Carolyn Miller

Carolyn Miller is an inspirational romance author who lives in the beautiful Southern Highlands of New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children.

A longtime lover of romance, especially that of Jane Austen and Georgette Heyer’s Regency era, Carolyn holds a BA in English literature and loves drawing readers into fictional worlds that show the truth of God’s grace in our lives. She enjoys music, films, gardens, art, travel, and food.

Miller’s novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers.

Learn more about Carolyn at www.carolynmillerauthor.com, or find her on
Facebook (Carolyn Miller Author), Instagram (@CarolynMillerAuthor), and Twitter (@CarolynMAuthor).

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I Read With Audra Blog Tour - Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill (Giveaway)

3/30/2022

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Can this undercover agent save the woman he loves—or is her
heart as counterfeit as the money he’s been sent to track down?

After all that Grandfather has sacrificed to raise her, Theresa Plane owes it to him to save the family name--and that means clearing their debt with creditors before she marries Edward Greystone. But when one of the creditors’ threats leads her to stumble across a midnight meeting, she discovers that the money he owes isn’t all Grandfather was hiding. And the secrets he kept have now trapped Theresa in a life-threatening fight for her home--and the truth.

After months of undercover work, Secret Service operative Broderick Cosgrove is finally about to uncover the identity of the leader of a notorious counterfeiting ring. That moment of triumph turns to horror, however, when he finds undeniable proof that his former fiancé is connected. Can he really believe the woman he loved is a willing participant? Protecting Theresa and proving her innocence may destroy his career--but that’s better than failing her twice in one lifetime.

They must form a partnership, tentative though it is. But there’s no question they’re both still keeping secrets--and that lack of trust, along with the dangerous criminals out for their blood, threatens their hearts, their faith, and their very survival.

Combining rich history, danger, suspense, and romance, Crystal Caudill’s debut novel launches this new historical series with a bang. Fans of Elizabeth Camden, Michelle Griep, and Joanna Davidson Politano will be thrilled to find another author to follow!

Excerpt

My Review

Trust is in short supply so faith will be key...

I'm usually up for a good debut novel. Sometimes they kinda miss the boat for me but many other times I find an author to add to my must read list. This book was one of the latter as I was quite impressed by Counterfeit Love from the very start. Crystal Caudill's storytelling skill is definitely not that of a beginner. She's good!

One of the best things about Counterfeit Love is its flawed characters. While that term is definitely overused it can still be very true. Crystal Caudill's characters can sometimes be naive, temperamental, slow to forgive, stick their feet in their mouths, and make decisions that in hindsight might have been a little on the stupid side. But, it's all of those things that made them seem a little more real and a lot more relatable. And because of those things I liked them all the more.

With elements of historical romance, mystery, and definite Gothic overtones Counterfeit Love may have been a 300+ page read but it went pretty fast – mainly because I didn't feel much like putting it down. I just kept being drawn back in all while telling myself just one more page or just another chapter, I'm sure you know how well that went... Crystal Caudill successfully kept me interested, engaged, and intrigued from beginning to end.

According to the cover Counterfeit Love is only the first book in the Hidden Hearts Of The Gilded Age series and based on this debut effort from Crystal Caudill it's a series that I will be following with anticipation.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Counterfeit Love by Crystal Caudill a 4.5 Bark rating.

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

Crystal Caudill

Crystal Caudill is the author of "dangerously good historical romance," with her work garnering awards from Romance Writers of America and ACFW. She is a stay-at-home mom and caregiver, and when she isn’t writing, Caudill can be found playing board games with her family, drinking hot tea, or reading other great books at her home outside Cincinnati, Ohio. Find out more at crystalcaudill.com.

Find out more at crystalcaudill.com or find her on Facebook (@crystalcaudillauthor) and Instagram (@crystalcaudillauthor). You can also join fellow readers in Crystal Caudill’s Reading Friends group on Facebook.

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I Read With Audra Blog Tour - The Debutante's Code by Erica Vetsch (Review, Interview, Giveaway)

12/5/2021

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Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes in this new Regency mystery series

Newly returned from finishing school, Lady Juliette Thorndike is ready to debut in London society. Due to her years away, she hasn't spent much time with her parents, and sees them only as the flighty, dilettante couple the other nobles love. But when they disappear, she discovers she never really knew them at all. They've been living double lives as government spies--and they're only the latest in a long history of espionage that is the family's legacy.

Now Lady Juliette is determined to continue their work. Mentored by her uncle, she plunges into the dangerous world of spies. From the glittering ballrooms of London to the fox hunts, regattas, and soirees of country high society, she must chase down hidden clues, solve the mysterious code her parents left behind, and stay out of danger. All the while, she has to keep her endeavors a secret from her best friend and her suitors--not to mention the nosy, irritatingly handsome Bow Street runner, who suspects her of a daring theft.

Can Lady Juliette outwit her enemies and complete her parents' last mission?

Best-selling author Erica Vetsch is back with a rollicking, exciting new series destined to be a hit with Regency readers who enjoy a touch of mystery in their love stories. Fans of Julie Klassen, Sarah Ladd, and Anne Perry will love the wit, action, and romance.

Click here to read an excerpt.

My Review

Her mission just complicated his case...

I have been looking forward to The Debutante's Code for months now. I was totally intrigued by the title and after enjoying Erica Vetsch's previous Regency Era series so much I was more than ready to dive into her new Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries.

What a story! It wasn't precisely what I expected and yet it was exactly what I anticipated. There were so many more threads, surprises, and even some familiar faces made an appearance or two. In keeping with the title The Debutante's Code had a bit of a younger vibe, not YA by any means, but still a touch of coming-of-age for both of its main characters.

Erica Vetsch has a real knack for blending Regency Era historical romance with all of its polite manners, graceful dances, and elegant dress with mystery and intrigue that almost comes across as romantic suspense. Those talents are on full display in this first Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery.

I definitely enjoyed The Debutante's Code with all of its charming twists and turns. It was a great start to Erica Vetsch's new Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries series and I absolutely cannot wait to find out what happens Juliette and Daniel, as well as if some of my suspicions about the past are correct....

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Debutante's Code by Erica Vetsch a 4 Bark rating.

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

An Interview with Erica Vetsch

Q: Introduce us to the new Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery series which has been described as Jane Austen meets Sherlock Holmes.

This story has been a long time in the making! It has to be almost ten years ago that I first thought up the story idea, and originally, it was set in Gilded Age New York. But when I began writing stories set in Regency England, I realized the original tale could easily be adapted to the Regency Era.

Our heroine longs to be reunited with her parents and have her debut season in London, but her plans go awry when her parents do not meet her at the docks and are, in fact, missing. She discovers that she comes from a long line of spies for the Crown, and she has a choice, either to finish what her parents started, or turn her back on her heritage and become the socialite she assumed she would be all along. Her mind is made up when murder is afoot.

Our hero is a Bow Street Runner, one of London’s earliest policemen, and he’s on the hunt for a stolen painting…then other valuables from the same shipment of rare items disappear one by one, and an art dealer is found murdered in his gallery. Each clue leads our hero closer and closer to the thief and killer, but he’s disconcerted to find that his chief suspect has become the debutante he finds so attractive.

Q: Why does Juliette not only feel abandon by her parents, but abandoned by God?

We often form our views of a Heavenly Father from our experience with our earthly parents, for good or for ill. Juliette has not been ill-treated by her parents, or at least she didn’t think she had, but if they could abandon her on the eve of her coming out in society (in what should be the most important year of her life), can she trust anything about them?

Their priorities clearly don’t line up with hers. They put their work ahead of their daughter. Is that fair? Is that right?

They’ve taught her that God is with her, that He will never abandon her, but can she trust what they have taught her when they can lie so easily?

Q: What kind of research was required to write a mystery set in the early 1800s? What are some of the methods detectives of the day would have to depend on?
There was quite a bit of research involved in this one, from police procedures to art history. Much studying of maps and the hierarchy of society, the lives of British spies, and fitting it all into the current political and social situations of the times. I had fun deciding upon the various items that would go missing, from statues to jewelry to artwork, and deciding upon different ways each piece could be acquired.

As to the police methods of the day, the Bow Street detectives didn’t have our current levels of forensic science to help identify culprits. They relied upon eyewitness testimony, circumstantial evidence, catching someone red-handed, and by following the paperwork/money trail. Some things have not changed. The main motives for lawbreaking still fall into three categories: money, power, and sex. Who has it, who wants it, who wants to deny someone else from acquiring it? And in Regency times, the detectives were still looking for motive, means, and opportunity. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

The Debutante’s Code is my first true mystery, and it’s all wrapped into a heist story, so layering those different threads together was a new adventure for me.

Q: Can you give us a tease of what to expect in the remainder of the Thorndike & Swann series?
The next book, Millstone of Doubt, begins with a bang! Literally! A grist mill on the Thames explodes, but when the rubble and dust are cleared, a man is found dead, not from the explosion, but from a gunshot! Was the mill blown up to cover the murder? Who would want the mill owner dead? Daniel and Juliette put their heads together to sort out the crime, while Juliette juggles her new career as a spy and a debutante, and Daniel uncovers many of the secrets he needs to piece together the puzzle of his past.

Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch is the author of many novellas and novels, including the popular Serendipity & Secrets Regency series and the new Thorndike & Swann Regency Mystery series

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com. She can also be found
on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

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Kregel Blog Tour - Right Cross by Andrew Huff

5/21/2021

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Genre:
Thriller / Suspense

Right Cross
A Shepherd Suspense Novel book 3
by Andrew Huff

-From Goodreads-

"First he left the CIA. Then he left pastoral ministry. Now John Cross has been imprisoned in one of Great Britain's most infamous prisons. Has he reached the end of his rope? Or is this another move in a dangerous spy game? Christine Lewis, United News Network's rising star television anchor, is determined to find out. But in her pursuit of answers, Christine finds herself at the center of a cyberterrorist plot to alter the balance of power in the world. From the English coastline to the Rocky Mountains, John must partner with the CIA and MI6 in a race against the clock to stop the threat of nuclear war and save the lives of everyone he holds dear. The concluding story in the Shepherd Suspense trilogy is a globe-trotting, action-packed adventure with threads of biblical truth woven in. Fans of high-octane thrillers will be on the edge of their seats with Right Cross"--

ISBN-13: 9780825446498

Can Christine & John manage to survive...?

Wow! What an explosive finish to an already exciting series! Take a shocking arrest, more than one daring escape, some international terrorists, a secret target, toss in a few blazing guns, and add a little romance, and you get the recipe for a wild ride of a Christian thriller!

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Andrew Huff

Author Website

As soon as I finished the previous Shepherd Suspense Novel I was desperate to read this book. How could Andrew Huff leave me hanging like that?! It just wasn't fair! Fast forward to the present when I finally got my mitts on a copy of Right Cross. Finally, those pesky loose ends get some resolution, in between John Cross and Christine Lewis dodging even more bullets, of course.

Right Cross was a strong addition to the Shepherd Suspense series and every bit as good is its predecessors. I was impressed with Andrew Huff's ability to pen a second, and now third, novel in a series and maintain the levels of danger, action, and suspense.

Whether you are a guy or a girl, if you like thrillers that entertain but don't compromise your faith, you've seriously got to try Andrew Huff's Shepherd Suspense series. Right Cross and the other two books, read them in order for the best experience, will keep you on the edge of your seat and flipping those pages as fast as you can read them. What are you waiting for?

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Right Cross by Andrew Huff a 4 Bark rating.

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I Read With Audra - The Indebted Earl by Erica Vetsch (Review, Interview, Giveaway)

4/11/2021

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Can Captain Wyvern keep his new marriage of convenience all business--
or will it turn into something more?

Captain Charles Wyvern owes a great debt to the man who saved his life--especially since Major Richardson lost his own life in the process. The best way to honor that hero's dying wish is for Wyvern to escort the man's grieving fiance and mother safely to a new cottage home by the sea. But along the way, he learns of another obligation that has fallen on his shoulders: his uncle has died and the captain is now the Earl of Rothwell.

When he and the ladies arrive at his new manor house in Devon, they discover an estate in need of a leader and a gaggle of girls, all wards of the former earl. War the new earl knows; young ladies and properties he does not. Still wishing to provide for the bereaved Lady Sophia Haverly, Charles proposes a marriage of convenience.

Sophie is surprised to find she isn't opposed to the idea. It will help her care for her betrothed's elderly mother, and she's already fallen in love with the wayward girls on the Rothwell estate. This alliance is a chance to repay the captain who has done so much for her care, as well as divert her attention from her grief. When Wyvern returns to his sea commission, she'll stay behind to oversee his property and wards.

It sounds so simple. Until the stalwart captain is arrested on suspicion of smuggling, and Sophie realizes how much he's come to mean to her. Now she'll have to learn to fight, not only for his freedom but also for his love.

Click here to read an excerpt.

My Review

Can they both find a new dream...together?

I have to admit that the title of this book really made me curious. Why would they choose to call it The Indebted Earl? What did he owe and to whom? But, as Spencer Tracy said in the movie Desk Set, “Never assume!” And my initial guesses were quite charmingly proven wrong.

I've now read all of the stories, 3 novels and a Christmas novella, in the Serendipity & Secrets series. I've enjoyed them all, how can you not love an Erica Vetsch story, but I think The Indebted Earl might just be one of my two favorites. It's fun, it's romantic, it's entertaining, and it even has a delightful dash of mystery. What secrets will come to light when the new, and unwilling, earl takes up residence, hmmm?

One thing I'd like to touch on was Erica Vetsch's gentle portrayal of one of my favorite characters, Mamie. If you've ever had a parent or grandparent with age-related memory problems you'll know the pain and joy that can come with it. That's Mamie in this book, but she never lets it stop her and it certainly doesn't prevent those around her from falling for her sweet charm. I know that the hero and heroine are supposed to be your favorite characters but I will confess that Mamie, as well as little Thea, quite stole my heart away.

I loved this third novel in the Serendipity & Secrets series and I was a bit sorry to say goodbye when I turned that last page. This entire Regency era series from Erica Vetsch is well worth reading so don't miss out on The Indebted Earl!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Indebted Earl by Erica Vetsch a 4.5 Bark rating.

An Interview with Erica Vetsch,
Author of The Indebted Earl

Erica Vetsch brings her much beloved Serendipity & Secrets series to a close with the highly anticipated release of The Indebted Earl (Kregel Publications). This latest installment tells the story of Lady Sophia Haverly, the free-spirited and energetic younger sister of Marcus Haverly readers will remember from The Gentleman Spy, and Captain Charles Wyvern, a longtime naval officer trying to find his footing on dry land.

Q: Both Lady Sophia Haverly and Captain Charles Wyvern feel a responsibility to care for someone that is left behind. From where does that sense of duty come?

Lady Sophia’s care of her fiancé’s mother is born out of her love for him. She was also instilled from birth with the social customs of noblesse oblige. As a woman of noble birth, she has an obligation to live up to that nobility by behaving nobly. While her fiancé is at war, he has entrusted her with the care and companionship of his mother, Lady Richardson. Sophie is delighted with the responsibility, because it allows her to demonstrate her love, and it gives her a bit of freedom that living in her older brother’s household would not afford.

Captain Wyvern naturally shoulders responsibility for his ship and his crew. As the leader, everyone under his command is also under his care. This responsibility extends to the dependents of his crew, including the fiancée of his late best friend. Charles feels he bears the blame for his friend’s death, and he must attempt to make some sort of amends. His natural leadership abilities cause him to throw his mantel of responsibility over Lady Sophia, Lady Richardson, the three waifs who wash up on his shore, and the estate and community he’s inherited.

Q: Marcus tries to get Sophie to come back to Haverly Manor with him after her fiancé dies. Would a single woman in her situation during the Regency period have the choice to live on her own?

It would be difficult for an unmarried woman in the Regency era to live on her own. Though Sophie had the financial means to live independently, it would have been considered improper for her to live alone. However, for her to continue to live with Lady Richardson, as her companion and friend, was entirely proper.

Though Marcus is acting out of an abundance of compassion and brotherly concern, Sophie is reluctant to return to his home. She’s reluctant to give up the freedom she’s gained, as well as reluctant to live in a house where everyone will be watching her grieve. She wants to remain at Primrose Cottage with Lady Richardson.

Q: Can you give us a quick lesson in peerage and the hierarchy of society during this time period?

There are five ranks of nonroyal peerage in Britain: duke, marquess, earl, viscount, and baron, in descending order of rank. Most titles were entailed, meaning they passed from father to son, or to the next closest male in the lineage. Often a peer would also hold subsidiary titles at the same time, and his heir would be given use of one of the lesser titles as a courtesy. For example, an earl may also hold the subsidiary title of viscount, and while the earl is alive, his son would use the lesser title of viscount until he came into his inheritance.

The British aristocracy during the Regency period was quite small compared to the entire population of England. The government was divided into the House of Lords (where one must be a member of the peerage to have a seat) and the House of Commons, which was open to any elected official. Land was most often owned by members of the peerage. As the Industrial Revolution gained momentum, more and more commoners became wealthy, which caused some friction. As the wealth of a member of the peerage declined, they might look outside their exclusive set to marry some of that new money.

Q: All of your leading men in the series end up with titles and responsibilities they weren’t expecting. Within moments of arriving at his new home, Charles’s new responsibilities multiply. Can you tell us about the surprise he receives?

Charles finds himself as the guardian to three young girls, sisters who were born on the estate. His uncle, the previous earl, had, for reasons of his own, taken on the orphaned girls as his wards and paid for them to go to boarding school. But at his death, the girls were returned to the estate.

The eldest is nearing womanhood and is a romantic, eager to fall in love and bewildering to Charles. The second is a daredevil, tomboy, and adventuress in whom Charles sees glimpses of his younger self. And the third is a girl barely six summers old, who is fascinated by Charles and imitates him at every turn. He’s not certain which of the girls scares him most, and as a collective, they have that crusty old sea captain shaking in his boots.

Q: Charles is comfortable leading a ship full of men but finds himself in a house full of women. Does the very stern military officer become a softy?

As a captain in the Royal Navy, Charles has been trained to show no softness, no weakness. Conditions were harsh aboard ship, discipline strict, and the dangers of nonconformity very real. In addition, he’s not spent much time around women in general and none at all around girls. He mistrusts their giggling, crying, emotion, and, above all, what he sees as their lack of discipline.

But as he is exposed to them and their bewildering array of emotions, they each in their own way begin to break down those walls of sternness and discipline, teaching him that kindness and love will not make him vulnerable but, instead, make him stronger than he’s ever been.

Q: Will you be sad to let this trilogy—your first Regency series—go? What can readers look forward to next?

There’s such a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction in seeing this series completed, but to answer your question . . . YES! I am so reluctant to let these stories and characters go that I’m bringing some of them back in my new series, the Thorndike & Swann Regency Mysteries!

The first book, The Debutante’s Code, should arrive in the fall of 2021 and features Lady Juliette Thorndike and Bow Street Runner Daniel Swann in a fast-paced tale of intrigue, espionage, and art thievery!

Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

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Celebrate Lit Blog Tour - Dawn Of Vengeance by Ronie Kendig (Review & Guest Post & Giveaway)

12/23/2020

1 Comment

A haunting prophecy upended his identity.
Now it demands his life.

Once a formidable bounty hunter, Marco Dusan is plagued by insecurity as he tours the realm he now rules. This quiet, backwater planet is not as untouched as he’d once thought. Evidence of collusion between Droseran factions and the powerful Symmachians with their forbidden technology litters his encounters. Worse, all signs indicate Xisya, the alien who tortured him, is still snatching Kynigos Brethren—but to what end?

Lance Corporal Eija Zacdari works hard to win a coveted place on the Symmachian hyperjump program, but instinct tells her their intel is flawed. Despite nearly failing the tests, she is assigned to the team-and lands in the middle of a bewildering conspiracy.

Haunted by a prophecy that promises pain and war, Marco forges alliances to protect the primitive world against Symmachia’s devastating influence. But one truth becomes painfully clear: the biggest threat to their world may be much, much closer to home.

Genre: FICTION / Science Fiction / Space Opera
Release Date: December 8, 2020

Click here to get your copy!

My Review

The fate of galaxies rests on his shoulders..

Once upon a time in a galaxy far far away there was a little girl who didn't enjoy sci-fi but really liked the original 3 Star Wars movies (on VHS, of course). That little girl grew up and still wasn't into sci-fi but on very rare occasions would give the genre a chance, usually because of the author. So, that's why I decided to give Ronie Kendig's space opera series The Droseran Saga a go. Dawn Of Vengeance is the second book in the series but I enjoyed it almost as much as the first one.

You know what? I honestly think I like The Droseran Saga better than couple of other books that I've read by Ronie Kendig. Go figure. Dawn Of Vengeance was pretty much as strong as its predecessor and added many more richly detailed layers to the vast overarching story.

So, my only real negative about this book, and the series, is that it's sometimes hard to follow the rather vast array of characters and their complicated connections to each other. But, that's also where the story shines. It's amazing how many peoples, their customs, and landscapes, are so vividly painted. Ronie Kendig's worldbuilding skills are truly exquisite.

I was completely caught up in the story right from the start, though some things took a bit of remembering from reading the first Droseran Saga title last year. The author had my emotions engaged as the characters struggled to find their place and to come to terms with themselves. I was by turns sad, amused, excited, mad, and flat out curious. Well, now that I've read Dawn Of Vengeance I guess I'll have to impatiently wait for the next book...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Dawn Of Vengeance by Ronie Kendig a 4 Bark rating.

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

More from Ronie

Throughout the Droseran Saga, Marco Dusan—our much-loved hero—enjoys his favorite drink, warmed Cordi. The inspiration for his citrusy-spiced drink came from a favorite family holiday tradition—“Christmas punch.” My mother-in-law received this recipe while they were stationed in Germany from a colonel’s wife. We make this every Christmas (okay, I make it a lot starting in about late October because it’s so delish). The piquant scent of cranberry, cloves, and orange fills our home every fall and holiday.

The scent of this is apropos for Marco, who tracks by scent. And, interestingly, our noses and smells are connected to memories, which just seemed to demand I come up with some way to create “Marco’s Cordi” for readers. So, this year, I used Adagio Tea’s custom-blend feature to craft a more citrusy blend of Marco’s drink. Now, that’s tea—something Marco doesn’t really enjoy—but add a quarter cup of warmed orange juice, and you’re starting to hit the sweet spot. Marco would be proud!

Ronie Kendig

Ronie Kendig is an award-winning, bestselling author of over twenty titles. An Army brat, Ronie lives a short train ride from New York City with her husband, twin sons, and two fur-sons, VVolt N629, a retired military working dog, and Benning the Stealth Golden. Described as an empath by her literary agent, Ronie has used her degree in psychology to write books that have won the coveted Christy Award, RomanticTimes Reviewers’ Choice Award, The Realm Award, HOLT Medallion Award, and more. Her books have also hit the CBA Bestseller List multiple times.

It's Time For A Giveaway!

To celebrate her tour, Ronie is giving away the grand prize package
of an “Isaura” themed candle, “Marco’s Cordi” Custom Blend Tea from Adagio,
a signed Hardcover of Dawn of Vengeance, and Isaura’s amulet!!

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

https://promosimple.com/ps/104a8/dawn-of-vengeance-celebration-tour-giveaway

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, December 12
April Hayman, Author, December 12
Texas Book-aholic, December 13
Book Love, December 13 (Guest Review from Donna Cline)
Worthy2Read, December 14
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 14
Sara Jane Jacobs, December 15
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 15
Where Faith and Books Meet, December 16
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 16
Wishful Endings, December 17
Mypreciousbitsandmusings, December 17
deb’s Book Review, December 18
Simple Harvest Reads, December 18 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Artistic Nobody, December 19 (Guest Review from Joni Truex)
Ashley’s Bookshelf, December 19
For Him and My Family, December 20
Mia Reads, December 20
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 21
Adventures of a Travelers Wife, December 21
Through the Fire Blogs, December 22
Rachael’s Inkwell, December 22
Tell Tale Book Reviews, December 23
Inklings and notions, December 23
Inside the Wong Mind, December 24
Blogging With Carol, December 24
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 25
Mary Hake, December 25

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Just Read Tours - Burying Daisy Doe by Ramona Richards (Review & Giveaway)

12/11/2020

7 Comments

Welcome to the Blog Tour & Giveaway for Burying Daisy Doe by Ramona Richards, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!

No cold case is more important than the
one that destroyed her own family.

Every small town has one unsolved case that haunts its memory, festering for generations below the surface with the truth of humanity's darkness. Star Cavanaugh is obsessed with the one that tore her family apart.
Over sixty years ago, Daisy Doe was murdered and discarded outside Pineville, Alabama, buried without a name or anyone to mourn her loss. When Star's father tried to solve the case, he was also killed. Now a cold-case detective with resources of her own, Star is determined to get to the bottom of both crimes. But she'll have to face an entire town locked in corruption, silence, and fear--and the same danger that took two other lives. The only people in the town she can trust are her grandmother and the charming Mike Luinetti, and both of them trust a God Star isn't sure she believes in. Can Christians so focused on the good really help her track down this evil?
With an irresistible combination of sharp suspense, faith, humor, and authentic regional flavor, Burying Daisy Doe will draw fans of Terri Blackstock, Margaret Maron, Jaime Jo Wright, and J.T. Ellison.

Publisher: Kregel Publications
Release Date: November 17, 2020
Genre: Christian Suspense

*NOTE: This post contains affiliate links.

My Review

The past and present merge in a terrifying way...

Well, I have to admit that this was not exactly the story I was expecting when chose to read Burying Daisy Doe. I was initially intrigued by the idea of the heroine solving a fictional 65 year old cold case. I've also read one or two of Ramona Richards's Love Inspired Suspense books so I decided to give it a whirl.

So, Burying Daisy Doe is not one of those stories that you can just read lightly. Yes, there are many elements of a typical romantic suspense, there is a love interest but the romance angle develops slowly as this is only the first Star Cavanaugh Cold Case book, but there is a lot more to be told within the pages. Ramona Richards touches on racism, abuse of power, murder, corruption, tragedy, and loss. She also touches on the power of fear and intimidation that leads to desperation and crushes resistance to evil. While reading this book that old quote from Edmund Burke about 'the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing' kept running through my mind. But that's not where the story ends because Burying Daisy Doe is also about justice, redemption, and ultimately doing the right thing no matter the cost.

It's an emotional story and Ramona Richards really runs her characters through the ringer before the final page is turned. But there is also an entertaining element to the story. The town is populated with some pretty quirky characters with surprising secrets, one of my favorites was a certain Miss Snopes. I did have some fun trying to figure out who actually killed Daisy Doe, and I was right! My concluding thoughts that are if you want a fluffy story better stick to cozy mysteries, but if you like gritty suspense with an emotional kick this is one book to check into...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Burying Daisy Doe by Ramona Richards a 4 Bark rating.

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

Ramona Richards

Ramona Richards is the award-winning author of 12 books, including 9 novels. She has also worked as an editor in Christian publishing for forty years, and is now the associate publisher for Iron Stream Media. She lives in the Birmingham, Alabama, area.

CONNECT WITH RAMONA: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

It's Time For A Giveaway!

(1) winner will receive a $20 Visa card and
a signed copy of Burying Daisy Doe and Murder in the Family!

Be sure to check out each stop on the tour for more chances to win. Full tour schedule linked below. Giveaway will begin at midnight December 8, 2020 and last through 11:59 PM EST on December 15, 2020. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.
USA only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Kregel Blog Tour - Joy To The World by Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, Erica Vetsch

11/18/2020

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Genre:
Historical Romance / Holiday

Joy To The World
by Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, Erica Vetsch

Inspirational Regency romance with a Christmas twist from three best-selling authors

In Joy to the World, three popular romance authors come together to offer a heartwarming collection of holiday Regency romance. Based on lines from a beloved Christmas carol, these three novellas have depth, faith, and satisfying stories all packed into the perfect length for readers to curl up and take a brief break from their holiday busyness.

"Heaven and Nature Sing" by Carolyn Miller
Two music lovers, deeply devoted to each other, were on the brink of engagement when family circumstances drove them apart. How can they ever overcome both their obligations and their fears to find their way back into each other's arms?

"Far as the Curse Is Found" by Amanda Barratt
One winter night, a woman struggling to provide for her illegitimate child encounters a scarred veteran of the Napoleonic Wars on the streets of London. Can love conquer the darkness of two broken pasts?

"Wonders of His Love" by Erica Vetsch
A Scots portrait painter finds work at a noble manor house over the holidays. He never imagined he'd fall in love with the emotionally frozen widow there. Now he wants nothing more than to thaw her heart.

9780825446696 | $16.99 | Paperback | 336 pages

Step into the rich tradition of Christmas long ago...

I've been anticipating Joy To The World for months now as I really wanted to read Erica Vetsch's story in this three novella collection. But, just as I knew I would, I enjoyed Carolyn Miller's and Amanda Barratt's stories every bit as much.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Carolyn Miller

Website

Amanda Barratt

Website

I'll confess that Regency is not an era that I usually favor because the portrayal is frequently boring and silly. However, there are many exceptions to that and Joy To The World is one. It's true that the novellas in the collection are full of romance and holiday cheer but there is a lot more to each one. There's also a dash of danger and adventure woven into these tales of forgiveness, hope, redemption, and faith.

I found quite a bit within the pages of Joy To The World. Heaven And Nature Sing introduced me to a new author for me to enjoy. Far As The Curse Is Found gave me my favorite story in the book. And Wonders Of His Love was the tale that I most looked forward to finally reading.

If you are looking for a charming jaunt into Christmas past during this holiday season I would definitely recommend this novella collection from the talented pens of Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, and Erica Vetsch. Grab a fuzzy blanket and cup of hot cocoa or tea and simply enjoy...

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Joy To The World by Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, and Erica Vetsch a 4 Bark rating.

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I Read With Audra Blog Tour - The Gentleman Spy by Erica Vetsch + Review & Interview & Giveaway

8/15/2020

2 Comments

He only wanted a duchess for a day--but she's determined to make it a marriage for life...

When his father and older brother suddenly pass away, the new Duke of Haverly is saddled with a title he never expected to bear. To thwart the plans of his scheming family, the duke impulsively marries a wallflower. After all, she's meek and mild; it should be easy to sequester her in the country and get on with his life--as a secret agent for the Crown.

But his bride has other ideas. She's determined to take her place not only as his duchess but as his wife. As a duchess, she can use her position to help the lowest of society--the women forced into prostitution because they have no skills or hope. Her endeavors are not met favorably in society, nor by her husband who wishes she'd remain in the background as he ordered.

Can the duke succeed in relegating her to the sidelines of his life? When his secrets are threatened with exposure, will his new wife be an asset or a liability?

ISBN-13: 9780825446184

My Review

He's stubborn..She's opinionated..the sparks fly!

Another charming, delightful, romantic, and deliciously suspenseful tale from Erica Vetsch! After enjoying the first book in the Serendipity & Secrets series I had high hopes and expectations for The Gentleman Spy, which, I am pleased to say it lived up to and exceeded them.

While it did take me a couple of chapters to get into the story, namely because the shabby treatment of the heroine from the people who should have loved her most made me so mad, but when the hero and his lady met for the first time...BAM! I was so intrigued by the story I couldn't put it down. I read it until I couldn't keep my eyes open any longer. I read it first thing after waking up. I read while I was eating. And I read while the family was watching a movie. Needless to say, I finished in less than a day. That's about as fast as I can read a 300+ page book and still get a few things done.

I, of course, loved the suspenseful threads in The Gentleman Spy but I also enjoyed that fact that much of the book features the hero and heroine as a married couple. They both have misplaced expectations when they get married and they both come with a lot of emotional baggage. It was fun, and sometimes frustrating, watching them tentatively learn about each other, slowly adjust to their new normal, and ultimately fall in love.

I've probably said it before but I'll say it again, Erica Vetsch has most successfully jumped eras with her historical romance. I wouldn't hesitate to say that she is now one of my favorite Regency authors. You really can't go wrong reading her Serendipity & Secrets series!

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Gentleman Spy by Erica Vetsch a 4.5 Bark rating.

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

An Interview with Erica Vetsch,
Author of The Gentleman Spy

A woman who loves reading and everything about books meets a handsome, mysterious duke, gets married, and falls in love in Regency England. He even gives her a library! How can a story get better than that? In her much-anticipated follow-up to The Lost Lieutenant, The Gentleman Spy (Kregel Publications), Erica Vetsch offers readers a story they won’t be able to resist.

Q: For those who haven’t read The Lost Lieutenant, give us an introduction to Marcus Haverly.

Marcus was such a fun character in The Lost Lieutenant because he always seemed to know more than one would think, pop up when he was needed, and be so comfortable in his own skin. He could move in a variety of circles, both high society and those of lower rank. He was mysterious, intriguing. A handsome stranger who always seemed to be in control of his situation.

I knew that in the second book, I wanted to disturb Marcus. He was much too comfortable in his role in The Lost Lieutenant, and I knew he would need to be pushed out of that to reveal more about his character. Marcus needed to learn that control is an illusion, and that when it comes to dealing with people, relationships can be untidy.

Q: Being the second son and single meant that no one paid much attention to Marcus’s comings and goings, which was ideal for his life as a spy for the Crown. What did his work as Crown agent entail?

Marcus is involved in both intelligence and operations for the Crown. With England engaged in a protracted war with France, the need for intelligence was great. And the home front was no different. Marcus keeps tabs on various people’s activities.

I created Marcus to be a sort of “eyes and ears” of a fictional branch of the Home Office. He has a network of informants, and he has the ability to go undercover and interact with individuals who are socially distant from the salons and ballrooms of society.

Upon occasion, Marcus has worked as a spy, infiltrating France to gather intelligence, but now that he’s the Duke of Haverly and his actions are scrutinized more closely, he fears his work as a spy is in jeopardy.

Q: Why was it so scandalous for a woman to read books, and especially read a newspaper, during this period in history?

Chivalry and the protection of women were a large part of proper English society during the Regency, and it was feared that too much academic work or exposure to the more, shall we say gritty, elements of life were both improper and could be dangerous to the “weaker female mind.” I’d like to think the men of the era had women’s best interests at heart, or at least thought they did, but I suspect it was because they were afraid of just how smart women are!

Of course, Charlotte thinks this notion that reading is dangerous to women is a load of twaddle, and she reads as much as she can, even though she has to hide her books from her father. When she faces a problem, she turns to books to find the answers. And when she marries, she finds joy in being given run of the house library.

Q: A major part of the story involves coming to the aid of women involved in prostitution. That’s not a popular subject in Christian fiction. Tell us more about this aspect of the story and why you decided to make it a part of The Gentleman Spy.

Charlotte discovers early in the story that she has a half sister, the product of her father’s long affair with his mistress, and that both her sister and her sister’s mother have been tossed out to fend for themselves. Her sister, Pippa, makes the difficult choice to become a high-class prostitute in order to survive. Charlotte wants to help her newfound sister and forge a relationship with her, but Pippa doesn’t trust anyone, especially not a half sister who has all the advantages she never had growing up.

Portraying social issues like prostitution in Christian fiction is tricky. The last thing I want to do is write an “issue book” where I’m expounding my views on a particular theme or social situation. I don’t want my story to feel as if I’m standing on a soapbox on a street corner and shouting about how the reader should sit up and take notice of my cause and my views and do something! Any social issue, whether it is the treatment of veterans as in The Lost Lieutenant or the world of prostitution and exploitation of women and the double standards of society as in The Gentleman Spy, must be organic to the story and grow out of the characters’ lives and actions.

As Christians, we cannot be blind to these issues, but for me, as a novelist, the issues must be an integral part of the story I’m writing rather than something inserted with the purpose of preaching to the reader. If one of my stories gets someone thinking about what they could do regarding a social issue, that’s great. But it isn’t the primary reason for writing the story.

Q: What can readers look forward to in the last installment of the series, The Indebted Earl?

Between the release of The Gentleman Spy and The Indebted Earl, there will be a bonus novella! Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection releases in October of this year, and my novella, “Wonders of His Love,” is included. This novella takes us to Haverly Manor, the home of Marcus and Charlotte, for the Christmas season. Cilla Haverly, widow of the former heir, is wondering what her next step in life should be. Is she doomed to be the dowager’s companion forever, with no real place in society any longer? When an intriguing Scottish painter arrives to paint the portraits of the new Duke and Duchess of Haverly, he ignites in Cilla a spark of independence that has the dowager’s feathers ruffled and Cilla thinking thoughts of revolt . . . and love.

And finally, in March of 2021, the last installment of The Serendipity & Secrets series, The Indebted Earl, arrives. The story of Sophie Haverly, younger sister of the duke, The Indebted Earl takes the reader to the Devon coast as Sophie and Captain Charles Wyvern navigate grief, survivor’s guilt, rambunctious orphans, a dear woman suffering early dementia, smugglers, and a growing love that neither is sure is proper.

Erica Vetsch

Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling and ACFW Carol Award–winning author. She is a transplanted Kansan now living in Minnesota with her husband, who she claims is both her total opposite and soul mate.

Vetsch loves Jesus, history, romance, and sports. When she’s not writing fiction, she’s planning her next trip to a history museum and cheering on her Kansas Jayhawks and New Zealand All Blacks.

A self-described history geek, she has been planning her first research trip to England.

Learn more about Erica Vetsch and her books at www.ericavetsch.com.
She can also be found on Facebook (@EricaVetschAuthor), Twitter (@EricaVetsch),
Instagram (@EricaVetsch) and Pinterest (Erica Vetsch).

It's Time For A Giveaway!

2 Comments

I Read With Audra Blog Tour - Cross Shadow by Andrew Huff + Review & Giveaway

6/13/2020

4 Comments

All journalist Christine Lewis wants is the truth. All pastor John Cross wants is to avoid it.

Former CIA agent turned evangelical pastor John Cross is busy caring for the small community of believers he ministers to in Virginia. Journalist Christine Lewis is busy with the demand for her talents from top news agencies in New York City. Neither has any time left for their relationship, which began eight months before when they paired up to prevent the detonation of a chemical bomb in the nation's capital.

But when Christine hears that her stepbrother has been arrested for murder in Texas, they team up again to discover the truth about the crime. Untangling a web of conspiracy, the couple finds themselves in the center of another dangerous situation-and in trouble far deeper than they expected.

With an assassin on the loose, a trusted colleague acting as a double agent, and unreliable artificial intelligence connected to mercenaries who have Cross on their hit list, these two may not get out of the Lone Star State alive.

ISBN-13: 9780825446450

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

“In the tradition of Ted Dekker and Frank Peretti, Cross Shadow is a strong, taut thriller that retains a Christian sense of optimism and hope while acknowledging the existence of great evil in the world. Huff raises the stakes on every page all the way through the white-knuckle finale—like watching an action movie through the written word.”
~ Kyle Mann, editor in chief of The Babylon Bee and author of How to Be a Perfect Christian

“Andrew Huff’s writing is as fast-paced and tight as his enticing story lines. Masterfully balancing a well-developed plot with a cast of characters you feel like you’ve known forever, Huff creates one page-turner after another in his Shepherd Suspense trilogy. He may be a new author, but his talented word-spinning is anything but novice and will linger long in the reader’s subconscious.”
~ Betsy St. Amant Haddox, author of All’s Fair in Love and Cupcakes

My Review

The stakes are higher than ever in Dallas...

Once again author Andrew Huff delivers a rip-roaring thriller that will leave you gasping and your pulse pounding. Both John Cross and Christine Lewis are back, and, yet again, they will have to try and trust each other as they dodge both bad guys and the law. Betrayal is just around the corner and flying bullets are only a breath away. But, this is pretty much everyday stuff for the small-town preacher and the big city reporter.

I've been looking forward to Cross Shadow since reading the first Shepherd Suspense Novel last fall. While action thrillers are not my movie of choice I do like to read the occasional well written book. And, Cross Shadow IS well written. Andrew Huff keeps up the breakneck pace of the action all while his characters grapple with some tough questions.

I read this book in pretty short order. I couldn't put it down. Like John and Christine I HAD to know the truth. Did her brother really commit murder? What about the shadowy company he worked for and what are they hiding? What will happen to John and Christine? Can they survive intact?

I really enjoyed Cross Shadow. Andrew Huff more than kept me engaged and anxiously turning the pages of this action thriller. Though the ending was a little bittersweet, the promise of more to come in next Shepherd Suspense Novel contented me.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives Cross Shadow by Andrew Huff a 4 Bark rating.

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

Andrew Huff

Huff spent ten years in local church ministry as a youth pastor and creative arts pastor before pursuing God’s calling into creative storytelling and media production as the product director at Igniter Media, a church media company (ignitermedia.com).

He is a two-time finalist in the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) Genesis Contest for unpublished authors (2014, 2017) and also won the best screenplay award at the 2015 48 Hour Film Festival in Richmond, VA. A Cross to Kill and Cross Shadow in the Shepherd Suspense series are his first releases.

Huff holds a bachelor of science in religion degree from Liberty University and a master of arts in Christian education from Dallas Theological Seminary. He resides in Plano, TX, with his beautiful wife, Jae, and their two boys.

Learn more Andrew Huff and the Shepherd Suspense novels at www.andrewhuffbooks.com.
He can also be found on Facebook (@huffwrites), Twitter (@andrewjohnhuff) and Instagram (@andyhuff).

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4 Comments

Book Review - A Cross To Kill by Andrew Huff

10/25/2019

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Genre:
Suspense / Thriller

A Cross To Kill
A Shepherd Suspense Novel book 1
by Andrew Huff

-From Goodreads-

A gripping debut thriller pits a man of God
against terrorists--and his own deadly past

John Cross is a small-town pastor, bent on leading his flock to follow God's calling. He's not the sort of man one would expect to have a checkered past.

But the truth is that the man behind the pulpit preaching to his sheep was once a wolf--an assassin for the CIA. When John decided to follow Christ, he put that work behind him, determined to do penance for all the lives he took. He vowed never to kill again.

Now someone wants the peaceful pastor to pay for his sins with his own life. And when a terrorist out for revenge walks into the church, John's secrets are laid bare. Confronted with his past, he must face his demons and discover whether a man can truly change. Can he keep his vow--even when the people he loves are in mortal danger? Will his congregation and the brave woman he's learning to care for be caught in the cross fire? In the end, John's life may be the only sacrifice he has left to offer.

ISBN-13: 9780825422744

He's called back...for one more mission...

This Book received a 4.5 Bark rating.

Andrew Huff

Author Website

OK, so totally new author to me, I see that this is Andrew Huff's debut novel, but I've come to like some of the publisher's other books so I figured I'd give it a whirl. I've found Kregel's suspense/mystery books to be a bit edgier which can be a good thing. When I read the blurb for A Cross To Kill I was intrigued, I mean, a CIA assassin turned preacher?

So, this book is non-stop action from the prologue to the last page. If this were a movie I'd call it a PG-13 action thriller. Seriously, it has car chases, explosions, fist fights, gun and knife battles, daring stunts involving everything from cars to helicopters to boats to trains, terrorists, kidnapping... Call me sexist, but, I felt that this book really benefited from having been written by a man. It just seemed more believable for its genre.

While A Cross To Kill may be Andrew Huff's debut I have to say that it didn't feel like a debut novel at all. The characters were as fleshed out as they can be in this type of story and I found myself sympathizing with John Cross's struggles to separate himself from the violence of his past. Though, his attempts to atone for his perceived sins, sorry I have a hard time feeling bad for the deaths of terrorists etc., are a bit misplaced. But I think many people can understand the blocks we place in our own minds that keep us from fully accepting God's grace and forgiveness.

Anyway, A Cross To Kill was a good read, one that I was definitely in the mood for when I started it, and I'm greatly looking forward to finding out what Andrew Huff has in store for John Cross, Christine, and readers in the next book in the series.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives A Cross To Kill by Andrew Huff a 4.5 Bark rating.

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Book Review - The Cover Story by Deb Richardson-Moore

7/20/2017

0 Comments

Genre:
Mystery

The Cover Story
A Branigan Powers Mystery book 2
by Deb Richardson-Moore

-From Amazon-

A fatal crash involving two college students heading home for the holidays seems like an unfortunate accident. But when the surviving girl wakens, she tells a curious story of the vehicle that forced them off the road – an old-fashioned, 1950s-style hearse. Reporter Branigan Powers delves into the mystery that takes her to the college campus, and leads her into dangerous fraternity and sorority pledge parties. Reunited with the homeless Malachi Martin, who is so adept at seeing what isn’t there, rather than what is, Branigan must uncover what is really going on at the college, before other students are put in danger.

ISBN-13: 978-1782642404

Innocence or sinister...?

I think it was the catchy cover that first grabbed my attention but it wasn't until I started the story that I realized what was actually depicted on that cover...a hearse! What does a hearse have to do with two college students being run off the road? Everything....

The language in this story is a little gritty for typical Christian fiction, but, it's also a little Christian for the typical secular cozy mystery, making The Cover Story even more of an interesting read. I enjoyed how Deb Richardson-Moore led readers on a merry chase, with plenty of distractions, while trying to solve who-done-it. I had guessed some of it correctly but totally didn't see the full extent of the seeming 'accident' coming at all.

This Book received a 4 Bark rating.

Deb Richardson-Moore

Author's Website

Looking for mystery that delves into some of the darker elements of life on the streets while still maintaining a true Southern charm, want to try to solve a mystery where no one is exactly as they first appear, where murder and betrayal are only a breath away? You just might want to try Deb Richardson-Moore's newest mystery, The Cover Story.

Tell Tale Book Reviews gives The Cover Story by Deb Richardson-Moore a 4 Bark rating.