Review: Fatal Code

 Fatal Code

"In 1964, a group of scientists called the Los Alamos Five came close to finishing a nuclear energy project for the United States government when they were abruptly disbanded. Now the granddaughter of one of those five scientists, aerospace engineer Elinor Mitchell, discovers that she has highly sensitive information on the project in her possession--and a target on her back.

SNAP agent and former Navy cryptologist Kekoa Young is tasked with monitoring Elinor. This is both convenient since she's his neighbor in Washington, DC, and decidedly inconvenient because . . . well, he kind of likes her.

As Elinor follows the clues her grandfather left behind to a top-secret nuclear project, Kekoa has no choice but to step in. When Elinor learns he has been spying on her, she's crushed. But with danger closing in on all sides, she'll have to trust him to ensure her discoveries stay out of enemy hands."

Author: Natalie Walters

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Series: SNAP Agency (book 2)

MY KEKOA! MY KEKOA! Oh I just love that Hawaiian man! 😍

I’m not the biggest beach gal - the open ocean actually scares me quite a bit. But this book just made me want to jump on a plane and go to Hawaii!

Y’all know how much I ADORED the first book, and prequel novella - and the obsession continues! This team, this OHANA! It holds a piece of my heart. Natalie created a beautifully diverse and unique team. Each one has strengths and weaknesses - and they have each other’s back’s through every fail or success!

I LOVED Kekoa! I was ANXIOUSLY awaiting his story and it did not disappoint! His character was funny in book 1, but we really got the see the depth that he had in this story. The things that made him tick, the things that made him who he was. I loved loved loved seeing his vulnerable side in addition to his fun loving, carefree side!

The scenes between Kekoa & his dad made me tear up! The emotion was so raw, I could feel it!

Elinor was just wonderful too! I loved seeing her really open up and flourish throughout the book. Coming to face her hurts and vulnerabilities. Elinor’s nerdiness made me smile, and her jokes made me giggle!

One thing I LOVE about Natalie’s girl characters is that they are BRILLIANT and strong! But they still know when they work better in a partnership than alone.

This book dealt with some pretty smart people stuff, and I have never claimed to be quick when it came to math & science. (Probably a good thing I didn’t become a veterinarian 😅)
But I never felt like I was totally lost, I was able to keep up with the plot lines and once the curtain was raised on the bad guys I was still able to separate everything.

I’ve really enjoyed the unique villains & suspense lines Natalie has taken with this series!
I’m SO SO SO looking forward to Lyla & Garcia’s story. It’s going to be AMAZING - I’m sure of it!

4.5/5 stars
*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Review: Sir Andrew and the Authoress

 Sir Andrew and the Authoress

"As the daughter of a duke, Lady Josephine has a long list of responsibilities, and an even longer list of things she must never do to dishonor the family name. Josephine knows exactly which side becoming an author falls upon, but she's determined to try her hand at it anyway. For months she has worked on her novel in secret, writing chapter after chapter of intrigue and romance.

Unfortunately for Josephine, her sworn enemy stumbles upon her secret.

Sir Andrew Wycomb's close relationship to the Duke of Montfort's family and heir gives him more than one advantage in life. His loyalty to the family is absolute, even if he finds at least one of its members an annoyance. He and Lady Josephine have never seen eye-to-eye. But when he discovers that she's written a novel upon a subject she knows nothing about, he cannot help but sympathize with her dream. This creates an unlikely ceasefire between them.

But things at the castle are always changing, and when a determined suitor arrives to court Josephine, Andrew has to decide which secrets he's going to keep. Especially when he discovers the one he's kept even from himself - that perhaps he doesn't find Josephine an annoyance at all. In fact, she is quite charming. The more time they spend together, the more he hopes she will realize they aren't enemies, and they could be so much more..."

Author: Sally Britton

Genre: Regency Romance

Series: Clairvoir Castle Romances (book 3)

While this is my first book by Sally, it will not be my last.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story! It was a quick and light regency romance that had me smiling from ear to ear.

I ADORED the banter between Andrew & Josephine! Every time they were together fireworks were going off like CRAZY, and I was eating it up with a spoon!

While I never really completely understood Josephine’s annoyance with Andrew, I’m not complaining about it because we got some adorable moments between the two of them! 💥😍

The romance was so noticeable to everyone around, especially the reader, but I would still consider it a slow burn since it went from “irritation to love”. And I loved every minute of it! 👏👏

ALL of the characters were great! I loved the tight knit family. It was beautifully done and felt authentic!!

I wish Josephine’s “author” journey would’ve been talked about a little more. Since it wasn’t really an acceptable thing to pursue back then I did enjoy the bits we got. I wish we would’ve gotten Andrew’s “thoughts” about it.

Overall it was an adorable read! And I’m anxious to get the other books in the series (and watch for the ones coming after this)
I rated it 4/5 stars
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*

Review: Jerusalem's Daughter

 Jerusalem's Daughter

"Having grown up in the impoverished lower city of Jerusalem, Shamira is no stranger to injustice at the hands of the Pharisees and Sadducees. Her family is shunned by many in the Jewish community who believe that their misfortune in life is the result of a secret sin. Rumors are spreading of a nearby healer with incredible abilities; if the stories are true, then the Messiah may be near, and Shamira will stop at nothing in the pursuit of a miracle.

Asa spends every day at the temple under the tutelage of his strict father, an elite Levite priest who enforces the laws without mercy. Between the growing demands of the Roman government and the threats of the Zealots, tensions are high. When Shamira, the girl who stole his heart years ago, asks him to help her find the healer called Jesus, he must choose to either follow in his father’s footsteps or forge his own path.

Shamira knows that both her life and the lives of her loved ones could be changed forever, but only if she can find a way to speak to the man called Jesus of Nazareth before it's too late."

Author: Jenna Van Mourik

Genre: Biblical Fiction

Series: Generations of Faith (book 1)

EXPERIENCE THE PASSION WEEK

I took my sweet precious time reading this story. I’m a huge mood reader, and I knew based on the subject matter that I would have to be a SPECIFIC mood to truly get into this story.

Passion week from a different perspective.

Shamira was stubborn, quick to speak, a bit of a “bull in a china shop” kinda gal. Which during this time was not taken very well. 😅 But I loved how her family corrected her with love and patience and after she encountered Jesus her character truly begins to grow and change. But she loved FIERCELY! When she believed in something she believed with her whole heart. And she found ways to use her “rougher qualities” for the Lord. She was a very realistic young teenage women!

I love how Asa changed throughout the story too. He followed along with Shamira for a while because he liked her, but then his eyes were truly opened and he saw the Messiah and truly believed and his life was changed.
Asa’s family was so broken, but he found peace and love in Shamira’s home and I loved their welcoming hearts!

I loved being in Jerusalem during passion week, the crucifixion, and the resurrection!! Jenna did a wonderful job telling that story while still telling us the story of Shamira and her family. There definitely is a powerful story within these pages!!

I know so much research, prayer, and heart went into this book and it definitely paid off! It was beautifully done! I am anxious for our sweet Libi’s story next!
I rated it a 4/5 star

Review: Malicious Intent

 Malicious Intent

"Dr. Ivy Collins, founder and CEO of Hedera, Inc., is ready to begin clinical trials of her company's cutting-edge prosthetic. Her work has been heralded by government, medical, and advocacy groups and everyone hopes the device will be a success. Well, almost everyone. Someone is trying to sabotage Hedera and the launch, but to what purpose--and how far will they go to get what they want? 

Meanwhile, U.S. Secret Service Agent Gil Dixon can't believe he's finally been reunited with Ivy, his childhood best friend. Now that he's found her again, Gil intends to spend the rest of his life with her. But it will take all his skill to uncover the truth in time to save Ivy's life's work, her own life, and the innocent lives caught in the crossfire."

Author: Lynn H. Blackburn

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Series: Defend and Protect (book 2)

***

Woah…this book didn’t slow down. From page 1 until the last we were blasting!
The story was SO good! Even with all of the moving parts I was so engaged and invested in the outcome!

Ivy & Gil were ADORE! ABLE! I loved them so much! Their history was the sweetest thing, and I LOVED that even after 15 years they just fell back into a rhythm that was indicative of soulmates!
They had open communication with each other and I loved every interaction they had! They both relied on God and turned to prayer and I loved that about them as well!

THE TEAM CHEMISTRY.
Y’all! Lynn is AMAZING at writing a team that truly feels like a family and I adored this team SO MUCH!

GUYS! We got to see the Carrington dive team again! 🤩😍 I ADORED that series and I love that the author is keeping the series in the same universe!

I enjoyed having a few chapters from the “bad guy’s” perspective! And I loved that even though I wasn’t surprised by the bad guy, it wasn’t a cut & dry find either.

I did pick up the second book in the series without reading book 1. (It was a bit of a necessity) But I didn’t feel like I missed anything, the characters actually talked a bit about what happened in the first book. Personally it just made me really excited to pick up and read book 1! So while it can be a standalone, I would DEFINITELY recommend reading the series in order so you get the FULL experience of the team chemistry and some insight on their thought process during this story.

I really really enjoyed this story! Lynn H. Blackburn has QUICKLY become a favorite suspense author for me! Definitely going on my “auto buy author” list.

I do have a few questions about some loose ends I’m not 100% sure if they were purposely left untied or if they were kind of forgotten/glazed over in the sheer size and constant movement of the story…
Nothing crazy or glaring, but enough that if it showed up in the next book I wouldn’t be taken aback at all.
Overall it didn’t take away from the experience or the most adorable last chapter! I loved the story and CANNOT wait to be back in this world!

4.5/5 stars
*I received this book from the publisher **All opinions are my own*