Happy Friday! It’s a great day, because Heart of Stone (the final book in the True Lies of Rembrandt Stone series) is about to be released. Get ready for a fantastic conclusion to this series!

“They say that without hope, people perish.

I say hope crushes the soul.”

Heart of Stone by David James Warren

The Basics

Title: Heart of Stone

Author: David James Warren (James Rubart, Susan May Warren, and David Curtis Warren)

Series: The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone

Publication Date: November 23, 2021

Genre: Time Travel Thriller/Suspense

My Rating: 5 Stars!!

From the Back Cover:

Rembrandt Stone has nothing left to lose…or does he?

Detective Rembrandt Stone doesn’t recognize himself in the mirror. Doesn’t recognize the world he’s returned to. Doesn’t even know his own name. But he knows one thing…living in this world is impossible.

Good thing he has an ally—an unexpected friend from the past. And together, they just might be able to unravel the entire mess. But first…Rembrandt will have to return to the past one final time and intercept himself before he makes a lethal mistake.

Time has outwitted him. It’s time for him to outwit time. Can he reconstruct a past he just destroyed or is there nothing left of his world to save?

My Review

“My life is full of true lies, that I tell just to keep up.”

What a wild, nail-biting, heart-pounding, nerve-wracking ride this series has been! Heart of Stone brings Rem’s story to a perfectly satisfying conclusion, although he definitely has to work for it. His growth and transformation culminate in this book, as he comes to grips with the past in order to create a future he can live with. This time, with help from some unexpected places, Rem doesn’t have to go it alone anymore – and he just might pull it off.

One of my favorite parts of this book is the conversational writing style – I love the way Rem’s inner narrative draws the reader into the story and helps us keep track of all of the timelines he has lived in past books. While the action and intrigue keep the story moving, some of my favorite moments are Rem and Eve’s quieter moments of reflection and conversation. Everything about this book (and the series) is incredible – with compelling characters and intricately woven storylines, it is the perfect combination of romance, action, and “I-can’t-believe-that-just-happened” moments. I was on the edge of my seat and holding my breath from beginning to end!

The True Lies of Rembrandt Stone is, without a doubt, my favorite series of 2021. Drop whatever you’re doing and read these books – you won’t regret it!

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Reading is My Superpower to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher as part of the launch team. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Happy Friday! Today I’m linking up with First Line Friday, hosted by Reading is My Superpower, and featuring Crosshairs – Patricia Bradley’s newest release.

“Come on! It was almost midnight, and the light in Cora Chamberlain’s bedroom blazed like a neon sign.”

Crosshairs by Patricia Bradley

The Basics

Title: Crosshairs

Author: Patricia Bradley

Publication Date: November 2, 2021

Series: Natchez Trace Park Rangers (Book 3)

Genre: Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover:

When evil just won’t quit, good must prevail

Investigative Services Branch ranger Ainsley Beaumont wishes the visit to her hometown of Natchez, Mississippi, was under better circumstances. When she arrived to investigate the murder of a pregnant teenager, she never imagined that she would become the killer’s next target–or that she’d have to work alongside an old flame.

After he almost killed a child, former FBI sniper Lincoln Steele couldn’t bring himself to fire a gun, which had deadly consequences for his best friend. Crushed beneath a load of guilt, Linc is working at Melrose Estate as an interpretive ranger. But as danger closes in on Ainsley during her murder investigation, Linc will have to find the courage to protect her.

The only question is, will it be too little, too late?

My Review

Patricia Bradley brings us back to the Natchez Trace in Crosshairs, the third book of the Natchez Trace Park Rangers series. While characters from the earlier books are mentioned, the storylines aren’t connected and can be read alone.

The romance in this book develops in a natural, authentic way, given Ainsley and Linc’s past. They are both likeable from the start, and the secondary characters (especially Ainsley’s grandmother and great-aunt) add depth as well as some fun moments. There are multiple threads to the suspense that keep the story moving – and kept me guessing until the end!

I have really enjoyed this series so far, and I am looking forward to the next book. I highly recommend Crosshairs and the entire series for fans of romantic suspense!

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Reading is My Superpower to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!

Happy First Line Friday! Today I’m sharing a new book that just came out this week – The London House by Katherine Reay.

17 October 1941

“Caro hugged Martine, whispering close to her ear.”

The London House by Katherine Reay

The Basics

Title: The London House

Author: Katherine Reay

Publication Date: November 11, 2021

Genre: Historical/Split-Time

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover

Uncovering a dark family secret sends one woman through the history of Britain’s World War II spy network and glamorous 1930s Paris to save her family’s reputation.

Caroline Payne thinks it’s just another day of work until she receives a call from Mat Hammond, an old college friend and historian. But pleasantries are cut short. Mat has uncovered a scandalous secret kept buried for decades: In World War II, Caroline’s British great-aunt betrayed family and country to marry her German lover.

Determined to find answers and save her family’s reputation, Caroline flies to her family’s ancestral home in London. She and Mat discover diaries and letters that reveal her grandmother and great-aunt were known as the “Waite sisters.” Popular and witty, they came of age during the interwar years, a time of peace and luxury filled with dances, jazz clubs, and romance. The buoyant tone of the correspondence soon yields to sadder revelations as the sisters grow apart, and one leaves home for the glittering fashion scene of Paris, despite rumblings of a coming world war.

Each letter brings more questions. Was Caroline’s great-aunt actually a traitor and Nazi collaborator, or is there a more complex truth buried in the past? Together, Caroline and Mat uncover stories of spies and secrets, love and heartbreak, and the events of one fateful evening in 1941 that changed everything.

In this rich historical novel from award-winning author Katherine Reay, a young woman is tasked with writing the next chapter of her family’s story. But Caroline must choose whether to embrace a love of her own and proceed with caution if her family’s decades-old wounds are to heal without tearing them even further apart.

My Review

I have enjoyed all of Katherine Reay’s books, but I was not expecting to love The London House as much as I did! I was drawn into the characters and the story from the first page. Caroline’s discovery of her family history is a profound story of love, loyalty, betrayal, and courage. There is a suspenseful twist too, as we discover alongside Caroline the truth about the role her great aunt played during World War II. Ms. Reay’s thoughtful, insightful writing style gives her characters such depth and gives the reader insight into their hearts and the depth of the generational pain their choices caused. Rich with historical detail, intrigue, and compelling characters, this book will appeal to readers of historical fiction, especially fans of authors like Sarah Sundin and Patti Callahan.

Now it’s your turn! Please share the first line of the book you’re reading in the comments below. Don’t forget to head to Reading is My Superpower to see what first lines other bloggers are sharing, or to share your own!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.