First Line Friday | The Premonition at Withers Farm

Happy Friday! Today I am linking up with Reading is My Superpower for First Line Friday. The book I’m featuring is perfect for this weekend!

August 1910

“When death came to visit, no one ever prepared tea and cookies.”

The Premonition at Withers Farm by Jaime Jo Wright

The Basics

Title: The Premonition at Withers Farm

Author: Jaime Jo Wright

Publication Date: October 11, 2022

Genre: Christian Suspense/Thriller

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

The voices of the past cannot stay silent forever.

In 1910 Michigan, Perliett Van Hilton is a self-proclaimed rural healer, leaving the local doctor convinced she practices quackery. It doesn’t help that her mother is a spiritualist who regularly offers her services to connect the living with their dearly departed. But when Perliett is targeted by a superstitious killer, she must rely on both the local doctor and an intriguing newcomer for assistance.

In the present day, Molly Wasziak’s life has not gone the way she dreamed. Facing depression after several miscarriages, Molly is adapting to her husband’s purchase of a peculiar old farm. A search for a family tree pulls Molly deep into a century-old murder case and a web of deception, all made more mysterious by the disturbing shadows and sounds inside the farmhouse.

Perliett fights for her life, and Molly seeks renewed purpose for hers as she uncovers the records of the dead. Will their voices be heard, or will time forever silence their truths?

My Review

I was enthralled with this story from the very first line! There’s definitely a creepy factor, and dark themes are addressed, but always through a redemptive light, bringing us back to important spiritual truths. Jaime Jo Wright never ceases to amaze me with her ability to deftly weave the two timelines together through a shared mystery. She has such a way with words that makes you think and brings you beneath the surface of the plot, into the characters’ minds and hearts. Perliett and Molly are both captivating heroines, strong and brave in their own ways. The sparks of suspense keep you turning pages, but it’s the characters and powerful storytelling that really shine.

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.

A Place to Land | Book Review

Happy Monday! Ready for another week? If you are looking for a great book to read, check out Lauren K. Denton’s newest book, A Place to Land!

The Basics

Title: A Place to Land

Author: Lauren K. Denton

Publication Date: October 4, 2022

Genre: Southern Women’s Fiction

My Rating: 4.5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Violet Figg and her sister Trudy have lived a quiet life in Sugar Bend, Alabama, since a night forty years ago that stole Trudy’s voice and cemented Violet’s role as her sister’s fierce and loyal protector. Now Trudy spends her days making sculptures from found objects and speaking through notes written on scraps of paper, while Violet runs their art shop, monitors bird activity up and down the water, and tries not to think of the one great love she gave up to keep her sister safe.

Eighteen-year-old Maya knows where everyone else belongs, but she’s been searching for her own place since her grandmother died seven years ago. Moving in and out of strangers’ houses has left her exhausted. After seeing a flyer on a gas station window for a place called Sugar Bend, Maya chooses to follow the strange pull she feels and finds herself on the doorstep of an art shop called Two Sisters.

When a boat rises to the surface of Little River in the middle of the night, the present and no-longer-buried past collide, and the future becomes uncertain for Maya, Violet, and Trudy. As history creeps continuously closer to the present and old secrets come to light, the sisters must decide to face the truth of what happened that night forty years ago, or risk losing each other and those they’ve come to love.

My Review

A Place to Land is a moving story of sacrifice, second chances, belonging, and the powerful bond between sisters. Lauren K. Denton’s signature Southern style shines through in Violet and Trudy’s story, in the charm of the small Alabama town, and in the way the sisters’ acceptance of Maya brought much-needed healing to all three of them. This story was a little heavier than I was expecting, but it was handled gracefully and with excellent storytelling. I was almost holding my breath at the end, and was so relieved at the beautiful ending! If you are looking for a story that is simultaneously heart-wrenching and heartwarming, you have found it in A Place to Land.

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

First Line Friday | Body of Evidence

Happy Friday! For today’s First Line Friday linkup, hosted by Reading is My Superpower, I’m featuring the final installment of Irene Hannon’s Triple Threat series, Body of Evidence.

“Someone was in the mortuary prep room. Someone besides her and the body in the cooler awaiting tomorrow’s autopsy.”

Body of Evidence by Irene Hannon

The Basics

Title: Body of Evidence

Author: Irene Hannon

Series: Triple Threat (Book 3 of 3)

Publication Date: October 4, 2022

Genre: Christian Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Forensic pathologist Grace Reilly has seen her share of unusual deaths in rural Missouri. But when she begins to notice a curious pattern in autopsies of older residents whose demises appear to be natural, she takes her concerns to Sheriff Nate Cox.

Nate is skeptical about the link Grace is seeing between the deaths, as well as her suspicions of foul play. But her persistence is compelling. And once they join forces to investigate, danger follows close behind. Because exposing the truth could destroy several lives–including Grace’s.

My Review

Body of Evidence is the final book in Irene Hannon’s Triple Threat series, featuring the third Reilly sister, Grace. This was definitely my favorite of the series! I was hooked on the down-to-earth, relatable characters from the beginning, and I loved catching up with the sisters we met in the first two books. Grace and Nate’s romance was refreshingly uncomplicated and straightforward, although they had to overcome quite a few obstacles before they made it to their first date! The intricate plot was full of unique twists, red herrings, and clues that wrapped up by revealing an unexpected killer. This gripping story is one that suspense fans will love! I am looking forward to Irene Hannon’s next series, as her books just keep getting better and better.

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.

Word of Honor | Book Review

Happy Tuesday! Today I’m sharing my review of the second book in a series I have been loving. Word of Honor by Hallee Bridgeman came out a couple of weeks ago, and it’s the perfect blend of military suspense, faith, and romance!

The Basics

Title: Word of Honor

Author: Hallee Bridgeman

Series: Love & Honor (Book 2 of 3)

Publication Date: October 4, 2022

Genre: Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

FBI Special Agent Lynda Culter is investigating an ecoterrorist organization in the Alaskan wilderness when she and her partner are taken captive and he’s murdered before her very eyes. The only person who can identify the key players, Lynda gets assigned to take part in a joint operation in Istanbul to take the organization down.

As a woman in a Muslim country, she’ll find it much easier to move around undetected with a fake husband. Unfortunately for her, the one assigned to play the role is none other than Army weapons specialist Bill Sanders–the man who crushed her heart in college.

With a cargo bay’s worth of hurt and baggage between them, these two consummate professionals must play their parts perfectly if they hope to stop those responsible for bombing oil pipelines, which has killed innocent civilians and threatened to destabilize the oil markets. Protecting Lynda becomes Bill’s primary focus–but love long buried has a way of resurfacing at the most inopportune times.

My Review

Don’t start reading Word of Honor unless you are ready to stay up late! This book is full of action and high-stakes suspense, and almost impossible to put down! While this story also features the Special Forces soldiers we met in Honor Bound, the addition of Lynda, an FBI agent, makes it feel a bit more like traditional romantic suspense.

Lynda is a strong heroine, full of the grit and determination it takes to work with the elite group of warriors. The hurts that resurface when she reconnects with Bill, the man who broke her heart, make her story relatable. They both have to earn each other’s friendship and trust again in order to work together. I love how the author works the spiritual themes into the story in such a compelling and authentic way. This book is one that will capture both your mind and your heart! I highly recommend both Word of Honor and the Love & Honor series to fans of authors like Ronie Kendig and Susan May Warren.

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

First Line Friday | The Secrets of Emberwild

Happy First Line Friday! For today’s linkup with Reading is My Superpower, I’m featuring The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H. McGee.

“Freedom rushed through Nora Fenton’s veins, erupting with each breath. Invisible shackles didn’t bind out here.”

The Secrets of Emberwild by Stephenia H. McGee

The Basics

Title: The Secrets of Emberwild

Author: Stephenia H. McGee

Publication Date: October 4, 2022

Genre: Historical Romance

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover:

A gifted trainer in a time women are not allowed to race, Nora Fenton prefers horses to men. They’re easier to handle, they’re more reliable, and they never tell her what to do. After her father’s passing, Nora is determined to save her struggling horse farm, starting with entering her prize colt into the harness races at the 1905 Mississippi and West Alabama Fair. If she wins, she may have a chance at independence. But when a stranger arrives and starts asking disconcerting questions, she suspects he may have other motives than unseating her in the training job that is rightfully hers.

Silas Cavallero will do whatever it takes to solve the mystery of his father’s death–even if it means training an unwieldy colt for Nora, who wants nothing more than to see him gone. But when mysterious accidents threaten their safety and circumstances shrouded in secrets begin unlocking clues to his past, Silas will have to decide if the truth is worth the risk of ruining everything for the feisty woman he’s come to admire.

My Review

I grew up reading a steady diet of horse books like the Heartland series, Saddle Club series, and Phantom Stallion series, so reading The Secrets of Emberwild felt a little bit like returning to my reading roots! Stephenia H. McGee was a new-to-me author, and I enjoyed the story she crafted centered around a horse farm in the early 1900s. Nora’s colt, Arrow, really made the story shine – he had just as much personality as any other character!

While this is a horse story, it is also so much more. It’s the story of Nora, a gifted, feisty heroine constrained by the cultural expectations of her time. It’s the story of Silas, the kind, patient hero she never knew she needed. It’s the story of a mother and daughter finding their voices and independence after the man they trusted betrays them. And of course, there is enough mystery mixed in to keep you on the edge of your seat! I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy historical fiction.

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.

To Win a Prince | Book Review

Happy Monday! If this is a long weekend for you, I hope you have plenty of reading time! 🙂 Today I am sharing my review of Toni Shiloh’s latest book, To Win a Prince.

The Basics

Title: To Win a Prince

Author: Toni Shiloh

Publication Date: September 13, 2022

Genre: Contemporary Romance

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover:

As a fashion aficionado and best friend of the queen of the African island country Ọlọrọ Ilé, Iris Blakely dreams of using her talent to start a sustainable clothing line to help citizens in impoverished areas and honor the country’s resources. But when she discovers that Ekon Diallo–the man who betrayed her best friend–will be her business consultant, the battle between her desires and reality begins.

Ekon Diallo has lost everything: his princely title, his material possessions, his friends, and the respect of his fellow Ọlọrans. To pay for his actions against Ọlọrọ Ilé, he’s forced to assist the charismatic Iris Blakely–but he can’t allow his heart to distract him from regaining his status.

Though they come from vastly different worlds, Iris and Ekon are both determined to reach their goals, and the only way to do that is to work together–if they can just keep their hearts from getting in the way . . .

My Review

Get ready for another delightful royal story by Toni Shiloh! To Win a Prince picks up where In Search of a Prince left off – I was so glad that Iris got her own book! Ekon is also familiar to anyone who read the previous book, but he was not a likable character, so I was interested to learn more about him in this one. Ms. Shiloh did a fantastic job of showing the transformation he went through, along with his backstory and the motives behind his actions in the first book. His journey to faith felt natural and authentic, which can be hard to pull off in Christian fiction. Iris was the perfect upbeat, truth-telling, faithful friend he needed, and their friendship brought a lot of growth in both of their lives. Fans of inspirational contemporary romance with heart will fall for Iris and Ekon in To Win a Prince!

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

First Line Friday | Concrete Evidence

Happy Friday! Today for First Line Friday, the weekly linkup hosted by Reading is My Superpower, I’m featuring DiAnn Mills’ latest release – Concrete Evidence.

“Avery Elliot spurred her horse across one of the thirty-five thousand rolling acres of the Brazos River Ranch in the blazing heat.”

Concrete Evidence by DiAnn Mills

The Basics

Title: Concrete Evidence

Author: DiAnn Mills

Publication Date: October 4, 2022

Genre: Romantic Suspense

My Rating: 3.5 Stars

From the Back Cover:

On the family’s Brazos River Ranch in Texas, Avery Elliott helps run her grandfather’s commercial construction business. Raised by Senator Elliott, Avery has never doubted her grandfather is the man of integrity and faith she’s always believed him to be …. until the day she finds him standing with a gun over the body of a dead man. To make matters worse, Avery just discovered a billing discrepancy for materials supposedly purchased for construction of the Lago de Cobre Dam.

Desperate for answers, Avery contacts FBI Special Agent Marc Wilkins for help. As Marc works to identify the dead man Avery saw, threats toward Avery create a fresh sense of urgency to pinpoint why someone wants to silence her. With a hurricane approaching the Texas coast and the structural integrity of the Lago de Cobre Dam called into question, time is running out to get to the bottom of a sinister plot that could be endangering the lives of not only Avery and her loved ones but the entire community.

My Review

Concrete Evidence is classic DiAnn Mills – fast-paced suspense with a unique plot that will keep you turning pages late into the night! I loved the Texas ranch setting, and the issues with the dam the Elliot family’s company built provided a sense of urgency that kept the story moving. There were so many potential bad guys, I found it a little difficult to keep track of them and their motives at times, but everything came together in a satisfying conclusion.

Some of my favorite moments featured Marc’s mother and sister, who added depth to his character and to the overall story. I also enjoyed seeing the authentic growth in Avery and her grandfather, as they struggled with doubts but ultimately grew in their faith and in their relationship. This story will delight fans of DiAnn Mills and anyone who enjoys 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 via NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Beneath the Bending Skies | Book Review

Happy Tuesday! Hope you are having a great week so far! If you are looking for a good book to enjoy on a cool fall day, check out Beneath the Bending Skies by Jane Kirkpatrick!

The Basics

Title: Beneath the Bending Skies

Author: Jane Kirkpatrick

Publication Date: September 6, 2022

Genre: Historical Fiction

My Rating: 4 Stars

From the Back Cover:

Mollie Sheehan has spent much of her life striving to be a dutiful daughter and honor her father’s wishes, even when doing so has led to one heartbreak after another. After all, what options does she truly have in 1860s Montana? But providing for her stepfamily during her father’s long absences doesn’t keep her from wishing for more.

When romance blooms between her and Peter Ronan, Mollie finally allows herself to hope for a brighter future–until her father voices his disapproval of the match and moves her to California to ensure the breakup. Still, time and providence are at work, even when circumstances are at their bleakest. Mollie may soon find that someone far greater than her father is in control of the course of her life–and that even the command to “honor thy father” has its limits.

My Review

Jane Kirkpatrick is known for highlighting little-known historical figures and eras through her stories, and Beneath the Bending Skies brings a fantastic heroine to life in Mollie Sheehan. The reader experiences the rugged beauty of Montana through Mollie’s eyes, and Ms. Kirkpatrick does a beautiful job of honoring the pioneers and settlers as well as the Native American culture and traditions. Rich with authentic historical detail, this is a poignant story of faith, courage, family, and the sometimes complicated relationships between fathers and daughters. Fans of historical fiction, especially during the Gold Rush era, will enjoy this one!

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