book review

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One Last Shot kicks off with a bang and only gets more intense throughout the story! Warren has more than proved that she has the writing chops to take on any hero – or heroine – and she fully does so in this action-packed story.

Yet as they take a breath – they don’t get much more than that! – between each action sequence, Warren’s signature wisdom characterizes every page. Oaken and Boo are not just muscled people in capes, riding in to save the day and taking off again; they grow real right before your eyes, with deep hurts, hard problems, and fears for the future. The lessons they need to learn, all penned in Warren’s signature style, will resonate with each reader because they’re grounded in scripture and real life both. I’m just happy that we can learn these lessons along with Oaken without having to jump out of any helicopters!

One Last Shot is the perfect way to kick off the new Alaska Air One Rescue series. It connects loosely to previous characters and stories but brings to the forefront new heroes. It’s full of high-octane action and loveable characters who will keep you entertained all while quietly speaking to your soul. If you’re a fan of the romantic suspense or high adventure genre at all, then pre-order your copy today. This one needs to be in your collection.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. All opinions are my own.

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Wow! Kristy Cambron really penned a zinger of a story in The British Booksellers! This novel has the makings of a classic: unrequited love, mysteries flowing through every chapter, and enough suspense to keep you on the edge of your seat.

I really didn’t want to put this one down, and I read the whole thing in a day. I simply couldn’t wait to find out what would happen to Amos and Charlie! They were characters you just have to love – though nobody in this story is quite whom they seem to be.

And that’s part of the fun of it. There isn’t just one big mystery – there’s that plus lots of little ones that Cambron trickles out as you read, just at the perfect pace to keep you longing for answers.

Cambron’s writing skills are masterful: lyrical and quotable and full of wisdom, I found myself highlighting much throughout the story – and I’m not typically one to mark up a book.

Give it a read, though, and I think you’ll see why. Whether it’s to answer the questions about what all is real – because The British Booksellers is based on real events – or because you need all the answers now, or merely because the writing is that beautiful, you won’t be able to put this book down, either.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

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Kimberley Woodhouse’s 8 Down is a surprise a minute – it’ll keep you guessing from the first page to the last! This book has the fastest pace and the highest stakes of any I’ve read in 2023 yet. 8 Down starts with a bang and doesn’t let up until the end.

I love the way that Woodhouse gives the reader glimpses into the mind of the villain without revealing exactly who he is or what the exact plan is. Even though you’re getting to know more about that character, you still can’t pull it all together.

And the plot? The murder and mayhem in this book is definitely a step – or two or three – above the typical shoot’em-dead kind of story. Woodhouse credits a cyber-security relative with research help, and it’s clear that she’s done it. You won’t find these dastardly deeds anywhere else.

As if that weren’t enough, I couldn’t help but like the nerdy quirkiness of the main characters. Carrie isn’t afraid of a burger and fries, nor to let her temper show when she’s stressed and upset. Scott can’t get a full sentence out in a logical order when he’s nervous. It’s nice to read about characters who aren’t necessarily skinny, beautiful, and rich (though these two are lookers) but whose value lies in their character and their wisdom first.

8 Down has a lot going for it. For high-stakes action, it’s my top pick of 2024 so far. If that’s your kind of book, pre-order yours now so you’re ready to go on February 20.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

–> 8 Down is the second book in Kimberley Woodhouse’s Alaskan Cyber Hunters series. If you haven’t read the first one, 26 Below, now’s a great time to do so – it is important to read this series in order.

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Put on your mittens, because it’s about to get frigid: Cold Threat is the winter story you won’t be able to put down! The second book in the Ryland and St. Clair world, this book advances their story in every possible way – and you’re going to love it. There’s character growth, there’s honesty and betrayal and hints of future sizzle, and there’s enough mystery and suspense to stop a weak heart. Seriously, this is not a story for a kid, but if you can handle a bit of pulse-racing mixed up with life lessons and glimpses into a psychopathic mind, this is definitely the story for you.

Cold Threat is a perfect suspense story. Sure, there are a few serial killers in the mix, but the story focuses on catching them. It’s about the sincere heart of the investigators to stop evil and the difference between right and wrong. This is the kind of book that makes you want to cheer for the heroes and shout down the evildoers – the kind that makes you believe in knights and dragons. That’s why I can’t wait for the next one.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions are my own.

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What would it be like to visit a royal palace? Even better, to meet a prince? Find out with Missy Hanson in The Cost of the Crown, because she could tell you all about that after her visit to Andelar, a small Asian country steeped in tradition.

Missy’s desire to reunite with her distant father and willingness to take on a challenge make her an admirable leading lady, and I enjoyed reading about the way that she tackled the obstacles in her way. The way that she looked for ways to overcome them made me a fan, and I think there’s much to learn from her.

Adrian Waverly is no slouch, either. As a man who’s had an incredibly difficult life and is now faced with an impossible choice, his wisdom and kindness shine through with amazing brightness.

Those are my some of my favorite kinds of characters to read about – ones who you’d really like to know in person. Missy and Adrian have that in spades. That makes it hard to watch them face their troubles and grow personally, but that’s also what makes the story so great – that they face them and grow and we know that we can do the same.

The Cost of the Crown is a fun story – just the kind I’d like to read at the beach. If you enjoy royal romances with depth of character and lessons, this is just the book for you!

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Ronie Kendig is one of those authors whose books I automatically want each time she releases one – and Havoc is the epitome of why. Her writing is like nobody else’s – it’s tight, it’s provocative, and she’ll keep you on the edge of your seat from the first page to the last.

Havoc is the first book in the new A Breed Apart: Legacy series being created with Sunrise Publishing, and this one is by Kendig herself. It shows. The level of military knowledge, terminology, and operations sets this series apart. It’s clear that Kendig knows what she’s writing about, and while that military slang may take some getting used to, it also makes the story more intense.

Which it is. Havoc himself is a beast of a working dog, and his sergeant Crew Gatlin is the kind of hero everyone wants on their team. He’s battle scarred and battle weary but also not bitter, which I think is pretty amazing, and his continued determination to serve and protect just ups my admiration of him.

Vienna Foxcroft hasn’t had it easy, either, and she’s chosen to fight her way through hardship literally. Trained in MMA and working in Hollywood as a stunt double, she doesn’t run away when the going gets hard, and that’s what makes this story so very exciting. Can these two people, who come from such totally different backgrounds, learn to put their personal fears aside and fight the enemy together? I love that Vienna isn’t a powderpuff girl but is instead the kind who will stand and fight, because really, whether you’re fighting physically or whether your battles are mental or emotional, it’s hard not to turn away from trouble. It’s hard to face it head on and with determination, and that’s what Crew and Vienna show readers how to do: they teach us that we, too, can be brave and face our fears.

Isn’t that what we need heroes for? To remind us that while monsters (of sorts) do exist, we can face them and be victorious? And even that sometimes it’s okay – and even encouraged – to ask for help, to work as a team, to know when to fight and when God is asking us just to acknowledge Him and be still?

That is what really makes Havoc great: it’s like a fairy tale for adults, modernized for our current world. It’s fast-paced, exciting, and suspenseful, with characters I want to know and a plot that reminds us that even though we’re adults, we can still dream of being heroes.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

If you’re a fan of Lynette Eason’s Elite Guardians universe, you can’t miss Christmas in the Crosshairs. Full of action-packed stories that update you on each couple since their original books released, this set of sweet stories packs a powerful punch.

In a way, the book is based on the premise that each couple needs to relearn their primary lesson from their main story – they need to be tutored to overcome their fatal flaw again, so to speak, and isn’t that right in tune with human nature? Don’t we doubt, and fear, and self-talk ourselves right out of God’s good-but-not-yet-understood plan? This basic foundation in human nature makes each story relatable to everyone in some way.

While the Elite Guardians are a romantic-suspense series, containing both elements, I think this book is definitely higher on the suspense and lower on the romance. It’s there, for sure, as each couple figures out how to overcome their fears to make things work; but while there’s still tingly tension between them, the fast pace and high stakes keep them primarily focused on survival. Each story takes place in a very short time span, keeping the action moving. This works well for me, and I think it will for people who maybe want a good story with less of the romantic angles.

So, then, can it stand alone? I think it could, though the cast of characters might get a bit confusing, especially since their backstories are referenced at times. Personally, though, I’d just start rereading the previous books so you’re ready when Christmas in the Crosshairs drops on October 3rd – because you won’t want anything to delay your reading pleasure when this book hits your hands.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are my own.