After a brutal attack, US marshal Riker Kastell regains consciousness only to find a murdered gang member in his mudroom. Even worse, Eliana Daines—his ex-sweetheart—has a DNA program that pinpoints him as the murderer. And Eliana’s technology has them both targeted by criminals. Now he and his K-9 must protect Eliana…and find the killer who looks just like Riker before they become the next victims.
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
About the Author
Colorado native Sharee Stover lives in Nebraska with her real-life-hero husband, three too-good-to-be-true children, and two ridiculously spoiled dogs. A self-proclaimed word nerd, she loves the power of the written word to transform, ignite and restore. She writes Christian romantic suspense combining heart-racing, nail-biting suspense and the delight of falling in love all in one. When she isn’t writing, Sharee enjoys reading, crocheting and long walks with her obnoxiously lovable German Shepherd. Visit her at https://www.shareestover.com/.
My Rating: 4 Stars!
I love suspense and this one was an action-packed ride. Sharee Stover has written a wonderful story with believable characters and a very intriguing plot. I enjoy the DNA aspect of the story very much. And the plot twist in that regard was great. Very interesting. Not to mention the best cover! Well done!!
My thanks to the publisher and author for a copy of this book. The opinion here is my own.
About The Book Where there’s smoke, there’s fire. And where there’s fire, there’s a killer…
FBI profiler Vera Gilmore has the scars—both outside and in—to remind her how deadly fire is. Now homicide detective Brooks Brawley—her once sweetheart—needs her help with a serial arsonist and murderer in his small Texas town. But almost immediately, Vera becomes a target. Will staying at Brooks’s ranch with him and his daughter keep them all safe…or put them right in the killer’s path?
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
Quantico Profilers
Book 1: Texas Cold Case Threat Book 2: Cold Case Killer Profile Book 3: Texas Smoke Screen
About Jessica R. Patch
Publishers Weekly Bestselling author Jessica R. Patch is known for her dry wit and signature twists whether she’s penned a romantic suspense, a cold case thriller, or a small-town romance. When she’s not getting into fictional mischief with her characters, you can find her cozy on the couch in her mid-south home reading books by some of her favorite authors, watching movies with her family, and collecting recipes to amazing dishes she’ll probably never cook. Sign up for her newsletter “Patched In” at http://www.jessicarpatch.com. Jessica is represented by Rachel Kent of Books & Such Literary Management.
My Rating: 4 Stars!! I love Jessica Patch’s books! She can write a suspense story that captures your attention and just won’t let go. Here we have book three in this Quantico Profilers series and I could barely tear myself away. I missed a nap to finish this book. And not, was there a knock out surprise at the ending! I thought I knew who the culprit was. I was wrong. Again. Patch keeps her readers guessing, that is for sure. Well done! My thanks to the publisher and author for a copy of this book. The opinion is my own in this review.
When a plane carrying a federal witness crashes in the Montana backwoods, Officer Kelly Wayne and her K-9, Nico, track it down—and discover Ethan Harrigan injured with amnesia. Now with the mafia on their trail, Kelly must protect the man she thinks ruined her career. But nothing’s as it seems, and trusting the wrong person could get them all killed.
From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.
K-9 Search and Rescue
Book 1: Desert Rescue by Lisa Phillips Book 2: Trailing a Killer by Carol J. Post Book 3: Mountain Survival by Christy Barritt Book 4: Search and Defend by Heather Woodhaven Book 5: Following the Trail by Lynette Eason Book 6: Dangerous Mountain Rescue by Christy Barritt Book 7: Wilderness Hunt by Lisa Phillips Book 8: Alaskan Mountain Search by Sarah Varland Book 9: Alaskan Avalanche Escape by Darlene L. Turner
About Lisa Phillips
Lisa Phillips is a USA Today and top ten Publishers Weekly bestselling author of over 50 books that span Harlequin’s Love Inspired Suspense line, independently published series romantic suspense, and thriller novels. She’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.
Lisa is a British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London and attended Calvary Chapel Bible College, where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). As a worship leader for Calvary Chapel churches in her local area, Lisa has discovered a love for mentoring new ministry members and youth worship musicians.
Enjoy inspirational suspense? Thus author has one for you that will tick all the boxes. How about running from killers in the woods? Yep. And the action moves on from there. And there is a dog!!! Grab this one.
My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book.
I read. A lot. This past year I’ve read over 250 books. Now, most readers pick their top ten books, maybe a few will do their top twenty-five. Nope. Not me. I can’t pick that few out of the many I’ve read. So, I decided a few years ago to just do my favorites from different genres. That’s what I’m going to do again this year. And let me tell you, it was hard even at that.
Another thing I’ve never done is choose a very favorite book from all the books I’ve read. This year I did pick a BEST! This book was so special, so heart-grabbing and impactful that I read it twice in just a few months. And will again. Keep on reading and you’ll discover it. I’m saving it for the last here in my blog. So…here are my favorites. I hope you will find a few in there that you loved, too. One more thing: I normally do synopses for all the books I read and buy link, along with author photo and bio, but with so many, I’m skipping that. You can look them up if you want. Here we go!
And now for the Best Read of the Year in 2022: It’s The Heart of the Mountains by Pepper Basham. Sometimes you read a book that just touches you so deeply that it’s hard to convey your feelings adequately. This was that book. I’ve read it twice already. I will read it again. It calls to me from my shelves. It takes the reader back to a simpler time in life, but also a much harder time. People were upstanding, loyal, and honest. Their lives crowded into mine, their hurts, their struggles, their joys, all became mine. I settled into this book and didn’t want to leave. Basham is stunning here and her hearts shines through. This book will remain one of my favorite books of all time. I’ll include my original review here:
‘Prayin’ is where we admit we ain’t the lord of our own lives.’
Where do I begin to leave a review adequate enough to convey my thoughts on what a powerful story this was? Pepper Basham is always good; I’ve never read a bad book by her, or even a mediocre one. But this. This wonderful story of the Appalachian people in the time period immediately after the Great War is so full of grace, forgiveness, and the mercies of God, that I found myself crying through parts of it, gasping at others, laughing some, too.
The story takes place in Maple Springs where Basham set another book earlier and this one features some of the same folks but can totally be read as a stand alone. It was so good to read how these folks lived, their way of life, their superstitions and love. There were times the reading hurt, because people don’t always do the right thing, but Basham handles it so well.
The hero of this story, Jebediah McAdams, is perfect. I totally fell in love with his sweet heart and concern for others. And I loved his ‘itchin’ lips’. You’ll have to read the story to get that one. I promise you’ll like it, too. Jeb is totally unprepared for the English woman who literally falls into his arms when she runs away from home to escape an arranged marriage. And Cora is determined to be a help to these precious people as ‘Nurse Woman’. Having served at the Front during the Great War, she is sure she can provide help to them. IF she can get these backward and leery folk to trust her.
Set in a simpler time in a beautiful place, this story will stay with you long after you read the last word. It will be a treasure for any keeper shelf. I know it will mine. Basham’s descriptions of the mountains will have you longing to see them for yourself. This was a powerfully moving book and I adored every minute. It’s the kind of book that, when you read the last word, you want to flip to the beginning and start over again. It’s that good. Well done!
My thanks to the publisher and author for a copy of this book. I was not required to leave a positive review and the opinion expressed here is entirely my own.
There you have it. These are the very best. I read a lot of wonderful books and wish I could include them all, but I had to force myself to limit it. I hope you will read some or all of these.
About The Book A fresh sensation fills the air. What is this strange new smell out there? Join April, a blind girl, in this charming rhyming picture book as she discovers the wonderful—and not-so-wonderful—smells of spring and answers questions like, “Does rain really have a smell?” The Smell of Spring shows children how we experience the world around us through the sense of smell. Kids will enjoy her many interesting pets and have fun with the activities at the end using the sense of smell.
About the Author
Mary Ann Hake has loved learning, reading, and writing for as long as she can remember. She has been scribbling stories and poems since she first learned to write and has published hundreds of stories, articles, poems, puzzles, devotions, and more for both children and adults plus written hundreds of book reviews. She loved working in a bookstore and as a librarian and enjoyed reading to children at story times and conducting summer reading programs. She has also taught writing to children and at writers’ conferences. In addition to writing, she continues to work as a freelance editor. Visit her website, http://www.maryannhake.com, and sign up for activities for children and updates on future books. Also visit her author page on Facebook at Mary A. Hake author.
My Rating: 5 Stars!
An absolutely delightful book about a little blind girl experiencing spring through the smells of the season. A beautifully illustrated story every child should own
My thanks to the author for a copy. I was not expected to leave a review.
About The Book BOOK SEVEN in the bestselling BARKS & BEANS CAFE cozy mystery series!!
Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java…and where murder sometimes pays a visit.
After much cajoling, Macy gives in to her neighbor, Vera, and agrees to come to her book club’s Christmas party so she can share about the cafe. While public speaking isn’t Macy’s thing, she wants to brighten Vera’s lonely holiday season…and she can sell a little house blend on the side.
When a lively book discussion spirals into a public roast of the mayor—who happens to be sitting in their midst—things get uncomfortable. Soon afterward, the mayor shows up dead in Vera’s bathroom, and no amount of gingerbread cookies or eggnog can restore Vera to the club’s good graces. ‘Tis the season for Macy to find the murderer, or else Vera might be taking a long winter’s nap in a jail cell.
Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.
The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series in order: Book 1: No Filter Book 2: Iced Over Book 3: Fair Trade Book 4: Spilled Milk Book 5: Trouble Brewing Book 6: Cold Drip Book 7: Roast Date
About the Author Award-winning novelist Heather Day Gilbert enjoys writing mysteries and Viking historicals. She brings authentic family relationships to the page, and she particularly delights in heroines who take a stand to protect those they love. Avid readers say Heather’s realistic characters–no matter what century–feel like best friends. When she’s not plotting stories, this native West Virginian can often be found hanging out with her husband and four children, playing video games, or reading Agatha Christie novels. Find all her books and her newsletter signup at heatherdaygilbert.com.
My Rating: 4 Stars! Heather Gilbert brings us another great cozy mystery in her popular Barks and Beans series. And, as usual, she is very adept at keeping the culprit a mystery. I so much enjoyed visiting with Macy’s lovable Great Dane, Coal, again. I just want to meet him so much! I also enjoyed seeing all the regulars again. Gilbert leaves us a bit in the lurch at the ending, where it seems Bo and Macy’s old nemesis I once again throwing a wrench into things. I can’t wait for the next one!
My thanks to the author for a copy of this book. The opinion here is my own.
About The Book Mazy dreams of independence. Sir Berenger longs to play the hero. But in each other, they may find the secret to happily ever after. Mazelina of Wexcombe has always dreamed of traveling with her father to lands beyond the confining walls of their castle. But his sudden death deprives her of the future she imagined. Abandoned by her eldest brother, Mazy is soon forced to seek help from her beloved brother Sir John at the great estate of Strachleigh. Her visit leads to a friendship with the dashing and noble Sir Berenger of Dericott. He has notions of rescuing a damsel in distress. But Mazy is brave enough to defend herself—and has proven that her skills in archery and knife throwing rival that of a knight’s. So when he is called away to Prussian lands, Sir Berenger looks to distinguish himself in battle. When Sir Berenger returns, he and Mazy meet again on the streets of London, where she is making a living selling goods in the market. Meanwhile, he has been summoned by the king to receive a reward for his service. But the recognition comes with a price: He must marry a wealthy, titled widow to please the king. But when Mazy begins to suspect treachery, she embarks on a journey to the fortress of snow to warn the brave knight—and secure her own fairy-tale ending. In this fourth novel set in the Dericott universe, Melanie Dickerson weaves an exciting reimagining of the Snow Queen tale. “When it comes to happily-ever-afters, Melanie Dickerson is the undisputed queen.” —Julie Lessman, award-winning author Sweet historical medieval romance Part of the Dericott series: Book 1: Court of Swans; Book 2: Castle of Refuge; Book 3: Veil of Winter; Book 4: Fortress of Snow Book length: 85,000 words
About Melanie Dickerson
Melanie is the Christy award-winning author of Regency and Medieval fairy tale romances.
Growing up about 50 miles from Harper Lee’s hometown in rural Alabama, Melanie wrote stories in notebooks for her friends, who passed them around in class as soon as she finished a scene. (And no, they didn’t get in trouble—much.) These stories always involved adventure, danger, and a hero and heroine falling in love, with a happily-ever-after ending. She’s been a romantic for as long as she can remember!
Melanie lives in North Alabama with her husband and sometimes her two young adult children, who have (mostly) flown the nest. You’ll find her sprint-writing with her friends on video chat, sipping hot tea at a local coffee shop, hanging out with her handsome husband, watching movies with her oddly calm Jack Russell terrier, or daydreaming about her book-in-progress.
4 Stars!
I have always loved Melanie Dickerson’s retelling of fairy tales. A delight to read, they are such wonderful stories with good characters. They never fail to delight me. Fairy tales were a big part of my life as a child and Dickerson brings them all back to life.
My thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley.
About The Book Ambitious influencer Georgina Havoc and her designer beau Lance Broussard have been dubbed the next Chip and Joanna Gaines, but their happily-ever-after falls apart when Lance blindsides her with a “pause.” The show must go on, so Georgina takes on the task of renovating a forgotten cottage in the tiny, tight-knit town of Tarragon, Tennessee on her own.
Georgina has a plan to save her relationship–and her show–but a surprise drop-in from her troubled twin sister makes things extra messy. That, and the presence of rugged ex-sniper Cassidy Stokes, who throws a wrench in all her plans.
As she salvages her shattered life, will Georgina retreat to the familiar or embrace a new design?
About Carmen Schober
Carmen Schober writes inspirational romance for the modern woman.
My Rating: 3 Stars I heard the buzz about this book before I decided to read it. I figured with all the good things that were being said about it would make it a great read. I was sadly disappointed. I’m in the minority, I guess. The writing was good, but I could not connect with the characters. I consider that the main point in reading a book if the characters are well fleshed out and believable. This did not ring true to me. I was also disappointed at the beginning when the two characters were living together and the female one drank so much alcohol that she didn’t even remember falling asleep one night. This was a Christian fiction story but that bothered me. I know God redeems and the book ends differently, but it was just a deal breaker for me. As was the swearing and steamy scenes later. I want something different, I guess, from a Christian story. Sadly, this wasn’t it. My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book. The opinion is my own.
About The Book “There had been grace. Great grace . . . The kind of grace that changed a life. His life.”
Kevin and Helen Murphy have seen good times, and they’ve gone through dark valleys. In their nearly forty years of marriage, they’ve raised seven boys, built two thriving businesses, and witnessed time and again the wonder of God’s faithful love.
When a health crisis puts the entire family on high alarm, the memories begin to flow.
Witness their story—the highs and the lows—as the Murphys walk through this tender and poignant season of memories.
About Jennifer Rodewald
Jennifer Rodewald/J. Rodes lives on the wide plains somewhere near the middle of Nowhere. A coffee addict, chaser of teenage activities, and storyteller, she also wears the hats of mom, teacher, and friend. Mostly, she loves Jesus and wants to see others fall in love with Him too.
Ah, these Murphy Brothers. I have read these books, each brother has one, and one brother has two, with such heartfelt joy. These seven men whose stories were so impactful. I disappeared into each one and was blessed over and over again. Jennifer Rodewald knows exactly how to plumb the absolute depths of human emotion, which includes heartbreak, pain, joy, praise, and more. It’s like nothing I’ve experienced when I dive into one of her books.
These seven Murphy brothers are amazing men. One reason is because they were raised by amazing parents, Kevin and Helen Murphy. Now, in this powerful book, we get to meet the parents in more depth. These parents who raised seven sons to love God and do the right thing. These parents whose faith was rooted deeply in Jesus Christ. And….we find out that these parents didn’t always have it together. Oh my goodness, this book just did me in. In fact, as I sit here typing this review, I have tears in my eyes. It is so incredibly good. This is one of my most favorite series of all time. Truly it is. Rodewald is a master at what she does. Spiritually impactful seems a mediocre way to describe it, but it is stunning. I very highly recommend not only this book, but this entire series. They are destined to be read over and over again. They will enrich your walk with Christ. Well done!
My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book. I also bought a copy because it was that important.
About The Book Some guests have come for a holiday, others for hidden reasons of their own . . .
When their father’s death leaves them impoverished, Sarah Summers and her genteel sisters fear they will be forced to sell the house and separate to earn livelihoods as governesses or companions. Determined to stay together, Sarah convinces them to open their seaside home to guests to make ends meet and provide for their ailing mother. Instead of the elderly invalids they expect to receive, however, they find themselves hosting eligible gentlemen. Sarah is soon torn between a growing attraction to a mysterious Scottish widower and duty to her family.
Viola Summers wears a veil to cover her scar. When forced to choose between helping in her family’s new guest house and earning money to hire a maid to do her share, she chooses the latter. She reluctantly agrees to read to some of Sidmouth’s many invalids, preferring the company of a few elders with failing eyesight to the fashionable guests staying in their home. But when her first client turns out to be a wounded officer in his thirties, Viola soon wishes she had chosen differently. Her new situation exposes her scars–both visible and those hidden deep within–and her cloistered heart will never be the same.
Join the Summers sisters on the Devonshire coast, where they discover the power of friendship, loyalty, love, and new beginnings.
About Julie Klassen Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also won the Minnesota Book Award, the Midwest Book Award, and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. Julie is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit http://www.julieklassen.com and talesfromivyhill.com for more information.
My Rating: 4 Stars! I have been a fan of Julie Klassen since I read her very first book, which remains on my shelves to this day, having been read twice. I love a good Regency, and Klassen does this genre incredibly well. She is so adept at forming bonds between her characters and digging deep into their lives and relationships.
This series started well and promises to be so very good. I really enjoyed spending time with this family and their lodgers. I can’t wait to see what happens with each sister. Well done!
My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinion here is my own.
Simply Susan 