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*

Review: Unknown Threat

Unknown Threat

"US Secret Service Special Agent Luke Powell is lucky to be alive. Three of his fellow agents have died in unusual circumstances in the past ten weeks. Luke is devastated by the loss of his friends and colleagues, and his inability to locate the killer feels like a personal failure. He's an expert at shielding others, but now the protectors are in need of protection.

FBI Special Agent Faith Malone is driven to succeed and confident in her ability to solve every case she's assigned. She's been put in charge of the investigation into the unprecedented attacks, and with Luke's life in danger, the stakes have never been higher. But it's hard to know how to fight back when you don't know who the enemy is.

As more agents are targeted, Luke and Faith will have to work together to bring a killer to justice and prevent any more names from joining their fallen brothers and sisters on the Secret Service Wall of Honor."

Author: Lynn H. Blackburn

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Series: Defend and Protect (book 1)

***

Lynn is amaze balls! I’m obsessed with this new team and I CANNOT wait for Zane & Tessa’s story. It’s sure to be an interesting one!!

I loved Faith & Luke! They had the type of chemistry you could cut with a knife. (Not spicy, just enough to know they would be a good fit for each other)

I loved that Faith fit right in with the secret service team, and they all treated each other with respect! Even though they were dealing with a unTHINKABLE tragedy, they gave the FBI time to work the case. And didn’t truly blame anyone when things went wrong.

Luke was a DOLL! I mean, he was a hunk, but a true gentleman! Though he had his reasonings for distrusting the FBI he learned to trust Faith and didn’t let his misgivings affect how he treated her.

I really enjoyed the story! Though all the deaths made me sad…even fictional it’s terrible when a good person looses their life. I will never understand the mind of a bad guy, or why they think what they’re doing is acceptable. (Fictional or not)

The romance was *chef’s kiss*! I’ll take kisses in the rain, in a car, any day. 😉 And the final chapter made me all smiley/giddy! *major heart eyes*

I read this one after Malicious Intent (don’t judge me too much…) and I can say that I didn’t feel like I missed anything, but I’m so glad I have the full picture of the team now! (Well-I have questions about Zane & Tessa, but doesn’t everyone?!)

I got through this book so fast! It was action packed from the beginning, and Lynn is such a talented author it was so easy getting lost in this world.

I rated it a 4/5 stars

Review: Active Defense

 Active Defense

"As a former field surgeon in Afghanistan, Heather Fontaine is used to life-or-death situations. She just didn't expect them to follow her home. When she returns from a party to find that someone has broken into her house--and threatened her friends--she assumes it is the stalker who has been following her and creeping her out. She hopes to find safety and peace of mind by leaving the city and hiding out in a small town. But trouble has followed her even there.

Luckily, a stalker isn't the only one watching Heather. Travis Walker has been secretly watching out for her for weeks. As owner of his own security agency, it's what he does. Together, Travis and Heather must figure out who wants her dead--and why--before it's too late."

Author: Lynette Eason

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Series: Danger Never Sleeps (book 3)

***

WHAT A WHIRLWIND!!
I was enthralled from the first page, and I was a bit reluctant to set it down to eat dinner.
This was SUCH a fast paced story that had me spinning.

While Heather’s character was a little hard for me to completely connect with, she was written very well! She grew tremendously throughout the story. I did enjoy the fact that it wasn’t an instant change, she really had to work each moment to open up and let other people help her. I loved that she relied on God in every moment though!

Travis was great! In his own words he was easygoing, never lost his temper, and was an all-around perfect guy. 😉
But really his character was great for Heather and I loved their interactions.

Both characters were super honest with each other & communicated with each other and I LOVED it! (Y’all know how I feel about that)
I loved that they were friends first, but still had a hum of romantic chemistry before their whole world got turned upside down. It didn’t feel like they fell in love because of shared traumatic experiences - it felt like a real connections.

This was the first one I’ve read of the series, and it is the third one. While it can be read as a standalone (I didn’t feel all that lost) I definitely would recommend reading the books in order so you can really get to know the full cast of characters in their proper timelines.

I really enjoyed the twists and turns this book took me on! The writing, chemistry, romance, family, and bad guys were all great! I’m excited to back read the first two, and pick up book four!
4.5/5 stars
*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Review: Lights Out

 Lights Out

"CIA analyst Brynn Taylor developed a new program to combat terrorism, and she invited members of foreign intelligence agencies to America to foster cooperation between countries. Now one of them, Egyptian spy Remon Riad, is missing.

Jack Hudson has been working for the Strategic Neutralization and Protection Agency (SNAP) for almost nine years and takes the lead in hunting down the missing spy. But he isn't at all pleased to find out Brynn is involved. It's hard to trust a woman who's already betrayed you.

Every lead they follow draws them dangerously deeper into an international plot. Kidnapping, murder, explosions, poisoning--the terrorists will do anything to accomplish their goal of causing a digital blackout that will blind a strategic US military communications center and throw the world into chaos.

Can Brynn surrender control to a man who doesn't trust her? And can Jack ever get over what she did to him? The fate of the world--and their hearts--hangs in the balance."

Author: Natalie Walters

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Series: The SNAP Agency (book 1)

***

I don’t even know where to start…
I’m OBSESSED with these characters & this new series!!

This book was so fast paced! A LOT happened and though there were a few moments my head was spinning from trying to keep up, I never missed a beat or anything important.

The chemistry between the SNAP team made me want to hug this book to my chest! I LOVE teams that are more like family. It makes my heart so happy! 💗

Brynn & Jack had history which worked in this story because of how fast it went down. While I feel Jack holding onto the hurt and “not being able to trust Brynn” for 8 years was a little ridiculous (they were both in training for the CIA…they knew their weaknesses would be exploited) I’m glad they had an actual discussion about it and worked to make a relationship work.

I enjoyed them together, though the SNAP team (and Kekoa) took center stage for me. 😍

The “suspense” plot line was one I don’t normally read. Cyber crimes and terrorism (at home & internationally) is not my normal thing. (It kind of freaks me out a bit because it is SO realistic nowadays) BBBUUUUUTTTTT!!! I really enjoyed the behind the scenes look at how our wonderful brains keep our country safe DAILY!

And even though this is a work of FICTION, it did give me an extra appreciation for everyone in any kind of service for this country!

I don’t know what else I can say…I was HOOKED from the beginning! I finished it almost in one sitting and I’m ANXIOUSLY awaiting book 2! This is my favorite Natalie Walters book so far. 😍😍

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

Review: On Schedule

On Schedule 

"Avery:

I’m a simple woman. All I want is for my wedding planning business to thrive. That’s it. I don’t want some annoying photographer (Okay, I'll admit it. He's attractive. In a guy-you-want-to-hate kinda way) that tries with moderate success to get under my skin. I don’t need some adorable stray puppy that’s just dying to make me a dog mom. I don’t want any of it. All right?

Tyler:

I mean, am I attracted to Avery? Sure. If you're into the big brown eyes and full soft lips kinda thing. She may or may not have sneaked her way into my film roll more times than I can count this week. But as enticing as Avery is, she has a bite to go with it. Like a tiger, just waiting for you to come close and count its stripes so it can attack. But what if there's more to her than the human checklist vibe she gives off? And what if I'm drawn to that part?"

Author: Summer Dowell

Genre: Romantic Comedy (clean read)

Series: The Wedding Business (book 3)

"I’m a huge fan of love and marriage and all that gushy stuff. 

Just for other people. Not me."

Someone get me a fainting couch because I’m about to swoon! 😍😍
This one is definitely my favorite of the series and I could totally see myself grabbing it for a reread in a few months just so I could relive this book hugging feeling!

My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard! I don’t think I stopped grinning or giggling the whole time. My romance loving heart was dancing the whole time!

I loved Avery & Tyler! They were SO CUTE together. They were so much a like, but it worked so well for them! They just meshed - even their beginning “hate” phase was just well placed banter and I was FOOORRR IIITTT!!!
I loved how they fed off each other. Their dialogue was my favorite!

Avery was a little uptight, but her upbringing really affected who she was. But at her heart of hearts she loved people and was a sweet character.

Tyler was a flannel clad dreamboat! Loved him from the moment I met him. 😉 But I loved how thoughtful and patient he was.

There were a few hiccups through their relationship (as it always goes) but they communicated with each other and didn’t harbor anything for too long.

I loved seeing all three girls together again, mostly through text, but those were some of my favorite parts. The group chat dynamic is something I can relate to. 💕

I don’t know what else to say other than I loved every moment of this story! From the hate, to the obvious matchmaking, to all of the love!

I’m sad to see this cast of characters go, but I’m excited for the next project from Summer!
5/5 stars
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*

Review: Amanda

 Amanda

"“The devil made me do it” is a phrase that will never pass my lips. Why would it when I have Delores, my undiagnosed autoimmune disorder, to make all my decisions for me? (Yes, I named her myself since the doctors couldn’t do it for me.) A get together with friends? Delores says no. I’ll have my prescheduled daily afternoon fever and fatigue at that time.My two biggest regrets with having Delores direct my fate? One, my family thinks my illness is all in my head. And two, I set the love of my life, Peter Reynolds, free from my anchoring tether so he could fly. I never thought I’d see him again, but five years later he’s soaring in the limelight as one of the most talked-about defensive players in professional football. Oh, and did I mention he also happens to play for the team my boss just assigned me to as a social media manager? Meanwhile, nothing much has changed for me. Delores still bosses me around, and I’m still hopelessly in love with Peter. What’s a girl to do?"

Author: Sarah Monzon

Genre: Romantic Comedy
Series: Sewing in SoCal (book 4)

***

Y’all, I didn’t know I needed this second chance romance until I got it!
Amanda & Peter were the cutest couple and it was rooting for them the whole time.

Sarah has this ability to make me loose myself in the stories she pens. I sit down and finish her books in one sitting, and normally grin like a buffoon the entire time. It happened again with this one!

I loved getting to be in the Sewing in SoCal group again! Though life is changing and taking them all different places they are still as close as family! Always there NO MATTER WHAT!

I loved that family is more than DNA was a theme used in this book! While it broke my heart that neither of the characters had very good/almost nonexistent relationships with their families, I loved that they found people who loved them for who they were. Every single piece of them!

Amanda was a strong character! Anyone who has gone through an autoimmune disorder is so incredibly strong!! (Diagnosed or undiagnosed)
She put up walls because of people not believing her and her pain. It was easier to “fake it til she made it” with a mask on than be honest and get unfriendly remarks.

Until Peter…MAN I LOVED THIS DUDE!! *SWWOOONNN* He was such a great guy! I loved that he kept loving Amanda, even after all their years apart. He loved every piece of her and showed her that she was whole, even with Delores attacking her body. He showed her the power of your chosen family, what their reactions should really be.
He had a pretty rough upbringing too, and he never lost sight of who he was or where he came from. He showed God’s love in every aspect of his life, and I just really enjoyed his character a lot. THE MP3 PLAYER SCENE…my heart might’ve exploded.

I loved that we got to see the SoCal girls again, and their romances are all blooming wonderfully! 🏈
I’m looking forward to Betsy’s story! I’m sure that one is going to be a trip!

It was just a sweet story that still had a lot of REAL LIFE woven throughout the pages! I really enjoyed this addition to the series. It might be my favorite! *insert all of the heart eyes*
I rated it 4/5 stars
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*

Review: The Key to Love

 The Key to Love

"The only thing Bri Duval loves more than baking petit fours is romance. So much so, she's created her own version of the famous Parisian lovelock wall at her bakery in Story, Kansas. She never expects it to go viral--or for Trek Magazine to send travel writer Gerard Fortier to feature the bakery. He's definitely handsome, but Bri has been holding out for a love story like the one her parents had, and that certainly will not include the love-scorned-and-therefore-love-scorning Gerard.

Just when it seems Bri's bakery is poised for unprecedented success, a series of events threaten not just her business but the pedestal she's kept her parents on all these years. Maybe Gerard is right about romance. Or maybe Bri's recipe just needs to be tweaked.

Novelist Betsy St. Amant invites you to experience this sweet story of how love doesn't always look the way we expect--and maybe that's a good thing."

Author: Betsy St. Amant
Genre: Contemporary Romance

***

I was prepared for a story to woo me this Valentine’s Day! In the season of love I thought this would be the best time to read this book. You can’t go wrong with a baker & a travel writer right??

The setting and plot intrigued me! It pulled me in, but the characters didn’t keep me.

Bri was not my favorite…
She was so incredibly immature & naïve. She had on rose colored glasses about love and life and she held her mom (and love) on this pedestal. She was also unnecessarily rude to Gerard from the moment he stepped into the bakery. It wasn’t even like a cute, flirty sassiness. It was just snarky with no reasoning. She didn’t even know anything about him before spouting off. Her character didn’t start to change or mature until the last 20 or so pages…

Gerard actually felt like he grew THROUGHOUT the story. He came into town guarded and wanting to be anywhere but there but he did his job. (And fell in love in the process *wags eyebrows*) As he got to know Bri, and see how she interacted with the townspeople, showing what real love, God’s love, looked like he started to soften.

As a reader it was hard for me to read this book because while I knew what was going on since I had a bird eye view, and was in both of their heads. They didn’t ever really have a full meaningful conversation with each other until 2/3 of the way into the story. Everything felt slightly unfinished. And after a while the story just felt long and drawn out, bits of it unnecessary and other pieces felt missing.

I’m glad the characters worked it out because they were good for each other. Bri kept Gerard rooted and Gerard reminded Bri to fly. They were COMPLETE opposites, but in a way that did attract.

The romance and chemistry was definitely there! And I didn’t feel like that was overrunning the pages. It did feel like they were getting to know each other and not just focused on physical attraction (though it was definitely there which I didn’t mind at all)

I’m stuck on my rating honestly. Because I did enjoy aspects of the story! Enough to give the author another try. But not enough to swoon and giggle over it. There were things that really made me want to just set the book down at some points.
*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Review: It's Just Business

 It's Just Business

"Having grown up with a mom who had more boyfriends than a flower has petals, Haley Lane has zero fairy tale aspirations of true love. It doesn’t exist. But when a charming man with an annoyingly perfect smile and a habit of volunteering keeps running into her, she wonders if she was wrong all along.

That is until she realizes he's the one that stole her flower shop.

Austin Ryder is one of those nice guys, the people pleasers that genuinely want to help. So when he makes an underhanded business move that affects a random, beautiful stranger, he feels more than a little guilty. Good thing he’ll never see her again. Until he does.

Will Haley let things go and accept her feelings for? Or will revenge be her only solution. In the end, it's all just business, isn't it?”

Author: Summer Dowell
Genre: Romantic Comedy (clean read)

Series: The Wedding Business series (book 2)

"If I wasn't careful, I would lose my heart to this dreamy, business stealing man."

This book made me smile, sigh, and slightly cringe all at the same time.

The smiling & sighing are pretty self explanatory since it’s a romance! *insert heart eyes here*
The cringing probably needs the explanation…The sabotage/pranks were fun to read, but I was waiting for someone to find out and press charges. Eeekk. It made me anxious, though in my heart of hearts I knew it had to work out because…ROMANCE. Duh!

This book definitely shows you the true lengths of real friendships though! The girls were ready and willing to take down Austin and the restaurant because he stole Haley’s dream. I loved all their little powwow meetings! (And all the snacks involved!)

Haley was a character! She was the extroverted mess that everyone needs in their life. Her POV always made me chuckle because I know people like her and they just always bring a smile to my face. They’re little balls of sunshine!

Austin was great! He was tall, dark, handsome, and great with people. (And he spent his free time hanging out with kids) The perfect hallmark hero! He had a huge heart and he saw the good in everyone. He was just a really good guy!

Haley & Austin together made me smile & sigh! They had such an easy chemistry and banter that I love!

The ending was adorable too! 🎕
Though it wrapped up a little too perfect I’m glad that Austin could forgive Haley for her role (her whole plan really) in getting back at him. Again, it’s a fictional romance of course it ends in a happily ever after. I would have it no other way. 😉

Overall it was an enjoyable rom-com! I’m really looking forward to Avery’s story!
4/5 stars
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*

Review: A View Most Glorious

 A View Most Glorious

"Reluctant socialite Coraline Baxter longs to live a life of significance and leave her mark on the world. When her local suffragette group asks her to climb Mount Rainier to raise awareness of their cause, she jumps at the chance, even though she has absolutely no climbing experience. If she can do it, any woman can do it. And after her mother issues an ultimatum--that Cora marry the man of her mother's choosing if she is not successful--Cora must do it. But she can't do it alone.

Noted mountain guide Nathan Hardee initially refuses to help Cora, but has a change of heart when he sees what is at stake. He knows enough about the man Cora's mother has chosen to know that the headstrong young woman should have nothing to do with him, much less marry him.

Climbing Rainier will require all of Cora's fortitude and will lead her and Nathan to rediscover their faith in God and humanity. These two loners make unlikely partners in righting a wrong and may just discover that only together is the view most glorious."

Author: Regina Scott

Genre: Historical Romance

Series: American Wonders Collection (book 3)

This one was interesting. The mix of society & wild wilderness was intriguing. The reason for Cora climbing the mount was revolutionary for its time. (I’m thankful for real women in history who made their mark for us today)

While I enjoyed quite a few aspects of the book, I found some parts/characters growing tedious. I read the book quickly, as it was an easy story to read but at times the book felt long and drawn out.

I enjoyed Cora, most of the time! I loved how direct and straightforward she was, but not rude or heavy handed. She knew what she wanted, and knew how to stand for what she believed in. Until her mother started talking…
I understand respecting your parents, but it start to wear on me how much Cora changed and shriveled up when her mom was involved. I cheered her on when she finally spoke up for herself once and for all.

Her stepfather was A DEAR! Though he also cowered a bit to Cora’s mom, he had such a love for Cora and he protected her and supported her in everything she did. He was such a great father role!

Nathan was a great character too! He found his purpose and his calling and he was sure of himself. He loved God’s creation, and was never slow to praise God for it. I really enjoyed him paired with Cora.

I wish the topic of faith had been discussed more between the main characters since it was such a huge part of Nathan’s life and Cora was newer to a real relationship with God. It would’ve been nice for them to talk a bit more about it.

I feel like we met a lot of characters whose stories I would’ve loved to hear more about. Even more “screen time” with Nathan & his mother. I just felt like there were some things that were talked about a lot, and others that I wish would’ve made the page a bit more.

I did enjoy all the characters we met on the journey - minus our slimy Mr. Kincaid. But overall it was a nice, quick read with threads of forgiveness, true love, faith, and courage.
It was a solid 3.5/5 star!
*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Review: The Heiress's Convenient Husband

 The Heiress's Convenient Husband

"The magistrate over a little Regency coastal village, James Howland, takes pride in protecting Grace-by-the-Sea from ne’er-do-wells, including his distant cousin, the Earl of Howland. So, when he discovers a young lady hiding in the family’s castle, his heart cannot decide which comes first—her rescue or his duty.

Outspoken Eva Faraday has been exiled to the castle for refusing to marry the man the earl picked for her. Her late father appointed the earl trustee over her considerable inheritance, which she cannot access until she turns twenty-five or marries. And if she marries, her husband controls the money. She’s not about to trust any Howland, but James seems ripe for rebellion. To thwart the earl’s power, the two agree to a marriage of convenience, only to discover there are others intent on using the earl’s castle for nefarious purposes. Eva and James must work together to solve the mystery and stop the earl once and for all so they can make a marriage that is far more than convenient."

Author: Regina Scott

Genre: Historical Fiction

Series: Grace-by-the-Sea (book 2)

Will a marriage of convenience protect her future?

Falling back into Grace-by-the-Sea was easy! The close knit family type village, the romance, and even the threat of Napoleon’s invasion.

While this isn’t my most favorite time period, I am enjoying the continued threat of suspense if you will. We’re all sitting with bated breath learning more about the French spies and the war.

I loved James when we first met him in book 1! He was closed off, as any good regency hero starts off . But we see how a outspoken, spunky, curly haired brunette takes his life and flips it upside down. His loyalty, honor, and love for his family is admirable!

Eva was a pistol! I really loved that she had a mind of her own, and she was SHARP! Always had an answer ready, and it was normally a really good one that made sense. I loved that she spoke her mind and she was unapologetically herself!

I loved how Eva & James were honest and upfront with each other. Though I definitely wish we had gotten more of their romance - getting to really know each other. I felt like the spent a lot of time with each one of them separately, or spending a lot of time with the village people. It was nice, but I’m a romantic at heart so I just wanted a little more romance since the characters did have chemistry.

I did love that this book used one of my favorite troupes - marriage of convenience!

I was excited about the hints we got about the next couple, its sure to be an adventure!
4/5 stars
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*

Review: To Disguise the Truth

To Disguise the Truth

"When a man arrives at the Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency, anxious to hire them to find a missing heiress, Eunice Holbrooke realizes her past has finally caught up with her . . . and that she may no longer be able to hide under the disguise that has kept her safe for so long.

Arthur Livingston's goal in life is to make his mark on the world as a mining industrialist, but after the man who could help him achieve his goal is murdered, Arthur feels compelled to seek justice for the family--but he's left with more questions than answers after the eccentric Bleecker Street Inquiry Agency refuses to take on his case.

Desperate to conceal her real identity and avoid the irritatingly handsome Arthur, Eunice takes on a different case that requires her to go deep undercover and entangles her in one troublesome situation after another. When other secrets come to light, Eunice has no choice but to confront her past, hopeful that it will set her free but knowing it could very well place her life--and the lives of those she loves--in jeopardy."

Author: Jen Turano

Genre: Historical Romance

Series: The Bleeker Street Inquiry Agency (book 3)

Aaahhh!! Be still my romantic heart! *swoon*

We got Eunice’s story, and it was so worth the wait. 😍

I LOVED finally seeing all of Eunice’s mystery revealed! I loved getting to see more of HER, and not just the persona she put on before. She was such a fun character who possessed more feelings than she showed. She was strong, but not so strong that she couldn’t accept help when needed.

I adored Arthur! He was such a sweetheart and I loved how he cared for Eunice from the beginning. (Whether he knew it or not)
He was a wonderful lead, and was perfect for Eunice. (As she was for him)

I loved how they admitted to purposely getting on each other nerves just to get a debate out of each other! But when it mattered they were honest with each other and leaned on each other for help.

The “mystery/family drama” aspect was fun for me! I enjoyed all the secrets and twists. I did see part of it from the beginning, but not all so it was still a fun revelation.

I loved seeing ALL the Bleeker Street girls getting their happily ever afters. It just made me all smiling and happy!
I literally sat pretty much the whole time I was reading with a grin on my face. (Which happens any time I read a Jen book 😝)

This book - this series - just made me happy! I’ve enjoyed every story and every moment. I’m anxious to see what Jen has for us next!
4.5/5 stars
*I received this book from the publisher**All opinions are my own*

Review: As Easy as Cherry Pie

 As Easy as Cherry Pie

"Maggie Petten has perfected the perfect pie—at least that’s what everyone who tastes her confections says. After years of hard work and thousands of pounds of sugar and flour, she’s presented with an opportunity to see her business grow. One that might just be too much for her tiny shop to handle.

Fletcher Knight can’t say no to those in need. When his father died, he found himself not only in charge of the family’s contracting business but also his younger brother. Certain he was prepared for the challenge, Fletcher learns the hard way that his kindness might be his weakness. After a few financial hits, the family business and his life are close to ruin, but once again, he finds it impossible to resist Maggie Petten.

Maggie isn’t in a position to be picky, but is she ready to work with Fletcher? After all, he was her worst (and best) first date experience a year ago, but his silence since then speaks volumes. Can she risk a few weeks of discomfort working with the man who might still own a slice of her heart if it gets her closer to her dream? Or is it safer to let the dream go?

When the project begins, discomfort is only the beginning. Things turn from awkward to disastrous leaving Maggie and Fletcher questioning their working relationship and more. As they work to overcome the difficulties and setbacks life and business throws at them, they begin to realize their differences make them a great team and together their success may cross from professional to personal.

Journey back to the small, coastal town of Justin Harbor, Oregon and let the warm, salty air surround you as this couple trips and stumbles into love."

Author: Bell Renshaw

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: Justin Harbor (book 2)

I loved being back in Justin Harbor! I love small town romances and this was a just as sweet as pie!

Fletcher was the perfect mix of awkward and self assured. He fumbled a bit with Maggie, but as time went on his character grew and changed.

Maggie was sweet, if not a little pushy. But when it was finally brought to her attention she made active changes to better that flaw.

They were both awkward together, but in the end they were each other’s perfect match.

I loved that Maggie, Viv, and Emma were together a bit in this one! LOVE ALL THE FRIENDSHIPS! It was sweet!

I really loved Jackson & Fletcher’s dynamic too. You could see that Fletcher was trying so hard to be a brother and a parent but their love was still evident! It was a bittersweet touch to the story.

There were a lot of the “hallmark interruptions” through out the story and I wish they had been able to sit down and actually have a full conversation. But it added to the story line in the end. I did love that when they actually did talk they were super honest with each other and they listened and learned from one another.

Overall it was a sweet story!! (Like cherry pie 😉)
4/5 stars
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*