Red Cicada

Posted on by Cathy

About Red Cicada

Red Cicada

Twenty-eight-year-old Lana Baker knows the signs: the intense flashes of light and building pressure in her head herald yet another migraine. But this time, the unavoidable pain lands her in the hospital, where her unusual past raises more questions than answers. Her medical history is a complete mystery. Stranger still, her battery of tests reveals a shocking secret: Lana has a metal disk embedded in her skull—but she has no idea how it got there. Even more disturbing is the fact that the disk is etched with words—in Russian.

Lieutenant Lance Kipling has been tracking down information on a former marine he believes may have had ties to Cold War biological weapons. So when that man’s daughter turns up in a hospital with a metal disk in her skull, it does not go unnoticed. But Lance has competition for the information stored in Lana’s head—dangerous individuals with Soviet ties. 

Together, Lance and Lana follow a trail of clues her father left, bits of information that reveal Lana’s past and paint a deadly picture of a weapon that has the potential to wreak havoc on the planet’s entire population.

My review

This is one of those books that starts off so intense and stays that way! Gregg Luke is a master at writing this way. The way he writes leaves me not wanting to put the book down. In a good way.

This book starts off with Lana having to go to the hospital because of a migraine and seizure situation. She soon finds out that she has a piece of metal in her head. And apparently people are willing to kill over it. Lana isn’t sure who she can trust. Especially after she is kidnapped from the hospital.

Lance is looking into her father’s life. And he saves Lana, several times. I loved the way he was always there, right when Lana needed him to be there. Lance was really good at spotting traps and figuring out the puzzle.

There is so much danger in this one. I was on the edge of my seat from the very beginning. It was fun trying to solve the puzzles with Lance and Lana!

I got an e-copy of Red Cicada from Netgalley. All opinions are my own.

Purchase links

Amazon (affiliate link) – Deseret Book

Giveaway

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What to read after Red Cicada (affiliate links)

Complex

Posted on by Cathy

About Complex

Complex

Tiny Little Lie #1: I want the new resort in Turks and Caicos to open on schedule.

Tiny Little Lie #2: I’m not falling for Luke McKenna.

Unfortunately, those tiny little lies snowballed into something bigger. Much bigger. Now I’m stuck.

It sounds bad. But I’m not a bad person. I’m doing the right thing…I think. I’m telling myself I’m a superhero in heels, saving people I care about.

But the grumpy onsite contractor isn’t making things easy. The more I lie and try to stall the hotel opening, the harder he works to complete the project.

Did I mention he’s handsome?

And moody?

And brooding?

And my complete opposite in every way?

If the truth about what I’ve done comes out, Luke will never forgive me. Then I’ll have to face another truth: my attraction to him might actually be something more—something worth fighting for.

Complex is a grumpy/sunshine, and opposites attract romance with witty banter that will keep you laughing. The love story is charged with sizzling chemistry while keeping the romance closed-door.

Complex is the second book in The Sweet Rom “Com” series but can be read as a standalone.

Trigger Warning: Complex deals with themes of infertility. There are discussions throughout about not being able to become pregnant and bear children.

My review

I loved Compared by Kortney Keisel. So I was super excited to see this one coming out. And I was not disappointed. This author knows how to write a good rom-com. And I didn’t want to put this one down.

Tessa is a complex character. She kind of seems like she’s one way, but she’s really another. And those around her have a hard time figuring her out. At least, Luke did. I loved the way she was able to push his buttons with ease. I loved all of the little things that Tessa did to annoy Luke, she made me laugh. But I also loved that she was able to see when she was wrong. And go out of her way to fix her mistakes.

Luke was pretty grumpy, especially at Tessa. And that was funny by itself. Luke wasn’t really how he seemed to Tessa either. He seemed like a stuffy guy who only wanted to work. But, I guess we all show others what we want them to see. And Luke was a really great guy underneath it all.

I loved the beach setting of this one! It’s the perfect read for a rainy day. Or a beach read. Just make sure you read it!

I was sent an e-copy of Complex as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.

Purchase link

Amazon (affiliate link)

What to read after Complex

Horses, Hounds and Happily Ever After

Posted on by Cathy

About Horses, Hounds and Happily Ever After

Horses, Hounds and Happily Ever After

Escape with over 20 Historical Romance stories

✔ Horses, animals and love, oh my!

✔ Happily ever afters

This sweet historical romance collection contains over 20 original historical romance novellas from best-selling authors.
All proceeds benefit animal rescue All Seated In A Barn. Don’t miss this limited edition box set, featuring some of your favorite authors.

A few of the stories included…

The Wolf of Heathrow Manor Clarissa Kae
When wolves threaten her home, Lady Josephine rides through Lord Fennyson’s woods, a man as wild as the wolves.

Della and Archie’s SecondChance Jo Perry
One awful mistake separated Della and Archie. Can they return to love or be doomed to always wonder, what if?

The Connecting Door Josi S. Kilpack
Norman has spent years devoted to his reputation at the expense of his marriage. Can he change his course before it’s too late?

Pride and Pedigree Jennifer Moore
When Alastair Rutherford III’s prized dam fraternizes with a mongrel, he meets Nora. Perhaps pedigree is not as important as love.

Wuthering Hounds Nancy Campbell Allen
Clementine and Mr. Baskerville are stranded in the moors, finding love amidst a most unexpected circumstance.

Connall’s Return Martha Keyes
Connall is tasked with protecting Anabelle’s cattle, but it’s her heart she’s most worried about.

Yours Sincerely, Rose Jess Heileman
Rose is determined to marry her friend, Colin. He is resolved to see her marry someone who can give her the life he can’t.

A Midnight Ride Jen Geigle Johnson
Ella hides in her own home from a prince who wants to marry her.

A Midsummer Day’s Scheme Rebecca Connolly
While visiting Sir Bramwell’s estate, Hattie hatches a plan to get everything she wants and more.

Maria’s Perfect Gentleman Penny Fairbanks
The last thing Maria expects is to be rescued by a charming dog—and an even more charming gentleman.

Waiting for Willard Chalon Linton
Charlene begs Willard for help selecting a spouse, only to learn the man beside her is her ideal match.

Floods and Foes Julie Daines
When Beatrice’s dog pulls a man from the flood, she is shocked to find it’s the man who betrayed her.

A Heart’s Quest Julia Ridgmont
Can Camilla, a mail-order bride, help an anguished father and his little girl overcome a tragedy and catch a killer?

Sir Jack and Lady Jill Anneka R. Walker
When Sir Jack loses his memory, can Lady Jillian convince him to love her before it returns?

The Duchess Contract Samantha Hastings
Lady Selina marries for convenience. As she gets to know Theophilus, she wants a new bargain…for love.

Falling for Felicity Tiffany Odekirk
Felicity is determined to free the fox. Her older brother’s best friend joins the hunt, jeopardizing everything.

The Stable Master’s Son Julie Wright
Clara must distract Holden from hindering her sister’s engagement. She doesn’t count on falling in love.

Miss Bird’s Desperado Brittany Larsen
A disfigured recluse finds love when his guard dog becomes smitten by an adventurous pastor’s daughter.

Love Among the Brambles Rosalyn Eves
When a prickly widower takes on a practical governess, neither expects to bond over kittens.

All of Beauty Kaylee Baldwin
When Rosalie falls for Theo Bradshaw, she doesn’t realize he’s the detective investigating her brother.

Walking Lady Guinevere Mindy Burbidge Strunk
Mariah hates dogs. But could a simple walk in the park change everything?

May the Best Earl Win Gemma Stuart
His manor house, a noble title—to love Bethany, Lord William Cottrell has to choose or lose it all.

My review

I’m loving this collection! There are so many great books by so many great historical authors. I’ve only read two of these, but I want to read each and every one of the books.

Pride and Pedigree by Jennifer Moore was so great! I loved the dogs in this one. Lulabelle, Alistair’s dog made me laugh a little bit. That little dog kept outsmarting him and getting away from Alistair. Alistair was pretty great too. I loved how much he cared for his dog. And his library. That was the best! I need a library like his!

Nora and her dog, Major was great too. I loved the sweet relationships between Nora and Major and Major and Lulabelle. The author did such a great job making all of them jump off the page. That was so great!

The other one I read was Wuthering Hounds by Nancy Campbell Allen. I loved the feel of this one. Kind of dark and broody. And the author included a bit of a mystery. I loved that!

Clementine and her little dog, Heathcliff, were funny together. Heathcliff is only a puppy and he was constantly into something or doing something he shouldn’t. Clementine loved him anyway.

Ethan is a London lawyer who is helping his grandfather take care of his inn. I like that about him. He knows that family is important to him. Ethan didn’t love Heathcliff, but he goes out of his way to help Clementine catch him.

I loved how these two work together to solve the mystery!

If you love regency romances, this will be a great collection for you!

I was sent a copy of Horses, Hounds and Happily Ever After as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.

Purchase link

Amazon (affiliate link)

What to read after Horses, Hounds and Happily Ever After (affiliate links)

Falling for Nash

Posted on by Cathy

About Falling for Nash

Falling for Nash

Emery is trapped. Nash wants to save her. It would help if they got along.

The youngest Dawson brother is funny on the outside and tender on the inside. He has a drive to succeed and a passion for the rodeo. The family thinks he’s outgrown them, but really, he has dreams of his own, and they’re all about the Dawson Ranch. But first he has to either move on from Emery Banks or convince her to be the woman in his life.

A talented new barrel racer steps into the rodeo scene and takes the world by storm. And immediately gets under Nash’s skin. She’s too good, too opinionated. And too dang beautiful for him to simply ignore. And she’s being pursued by the man who controls everything that side of town—the so called rodeo boss himself and one of Nash’s biggest sponsors.

She’s hard to win for any man, but she seems to appreciate the attention from the sponsor. Nothing is easy in this last-ditch effort to impress her before he retires from the rodeo scene altogether and returns home to the Dawson Ranch.

Read this not quite enemies to lovers romance, the last of the Dawson family ranch romances, and get hooked on a few more characters while you’re at it.

My review

I loved everything about this book! The author did a great job with the characters, the plot and everything. I love the Dawson family so much. I did not want to put this one down!

This book is mainly about Nash and Emery. I loved that there were parts that feature Nash’s Mama. She is just the kind of woman that I wish I knew. Mama is down to earth, salt of the earth, Christian, and such a strong woman. I love her! And it was fun to see her get some happiness.

Nash is the brother that I’ve wanted to get to read about since Coming Home to Maverick, the beginning of this series. His niece, Grace, loves him so much that she named her pig after him. I loved the way he was concerned for Emery. Those two are just so great together. They fight a ton. And it’s really kind of funny.

Emery is another strong woman. She’s a barrel racer who had to raise her sister by herself. I loved getting to know where she came from. And seeing where she ended up. And I really loved getting to see her journey as she reads the Bible. Seeing how she noticed the hand of God in her life was really special.

I loved this book so much! You need to read it!

I borrowed a copy of Falling for Nash with my Kindle Unlimited subscription. All opinions are my own.

Purchase link

Amazon (affiliate link)

What to read after Falling for Nash

Murder Hosts an Event

Posted on by Cathy

About Murder Hosts an Event

Murder Hosts an Event

You’re invited to join Esther and Sophie at The End, a mysterious event that’s supposed to be a really killer party. But murder is on the agenda, and these two best friends must figure out who’s behind it all before the killer finds his plus one.

Esther and Sophie want to stay in their small town by the sea and volunteer in Oceanside High’s historic library forever, but it’s time to grow up, apply for college, and protect the library from demolition. While the adults argue about the library’s future, the girls investigate the intriguing invitation, but they’re the only ones who believe The End may be someone’s final event. Every student at Oceanside High has marked themselves as going to the dance party slated to be held at a Stonehenge replica high on a cliff over the ocean.

As the mystery host leaves disturbing clues, Esther and Sophie soon realize the dance party and the crimes surrounding it are just the beginning of the end. Will it be their last dance, or will they be able to put the spotlight on a killer?

My review

I enjoy a good cozy mystery. I feel like this series by Shannon Symonds just keeps getting better and better. This is my favorite book in the series yet. It had me on the edge of my seat trying to figure out the mystery before it was revealed!

I’m loving Esther. The author did a great job telling the story through her eyes. She’s your normal high school girl. She loves books, and her BFF, Sophie and her boyfriend. As well as her family. I love that her family seems real and that they care about Esther.

The mystery in this one really got me. There were tons of characters that could have been the villain. And the author did a good job hiding who it was. I didn’t want to put the book down until I found out.

This book is so great! You…and your teen will love it.

I was sent a copy of Murder Hosts an Event as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.

Purchase link

Amazon (affiliate link)

What to read after Murder Hosts an Event (affiliate links)

The Rent Collector

Posted on by Cathy

About The Rent Collector

The Rent Collector

Based on true events. Sang Ly lives at Cambodia’s city dump and is grateful she can help earn a living for her family by sifting through the trash for recyclables and things which can be repaired and sold. On a good day, she can earn enough to buy food for her family. She needs enough good days so she can pay the rent collector, Sopeap–a grumpy old woman who shows no mercy and who is willing to evict any tenant who can’t pay their rent on time.

When Sang Ly is unable to pay her rent for the month, she fears her family will have to leave the dump and their shanty home–a place where her only possessions can be carried in two hands. Little does she know that a discarded children’s book found among the mounds of trash would save her. When Sopeap sees the book lying on Sang Ly’s cardboard bed, her mood changes. Sang Ly offers her the book if she is allowed to keep her family at the dump.

An unlikely friendship develops between the two women, and Sang Ly learns that Sopeap knows how to read–something Sang Ly has always wanted to learn. Being able to read could transform Sang Ly’s world beyond the predictable confines of the dump and lead to a future with possibilities and hope. But the rent collector has a secret and tragic past, one that will not be easy for Sang Ly to navigate. With the help of her supportive husband, Ki Lim, and a helpful and humorous boy, Lucky Fat, Sang Ly embarks on a life-changing journey to give her young son, Nisay, a better life and future.
 
The Rent Collector is about the power of literacy, the influence of the past, and finding hope, resiliency, and empowerment in the face of seemingly endless hardship.

My review

The Rent Collector is one of my all time favorite books. It’s one of the first books that really touched me, and taught me something about our world. I was really excited when I saw that it was being adapted for young readers. And they did a really good job with the adaptation.

I love Sang Ly. How can you not love a woman who works as hard as she does to learn to read? Sang Ly lives in a dump in Cambodia with her husband and young son. They have to pay rent to live in the dump, believe it or not. And that’s kind of how the story starts.

Sopeap Sin is the rent collector. A woman that most people who live in the dump make fun of. But she sees a book in Sang Ly’s home and it touches her. Sang Ly asks Sopeap Sin to teach her to read. And she learns so much more from her than how to read.

I loved the way learning to read helped Sang Ly learn to make sense of the world around her. And it taught her more compassion for those that were around her as well. It made her brave. And helped her through the hardest things she had done in her life.

I love how this book teaches the huge importance of literacy in each and every one of our lives. And now a whole new generation can learn that lesson!

I was sent a copy of The Rent Collector as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Purchase links

Amazon (affiliate link) – Deseret Book

What to read after The Rent Collector (affiliate links)

Trusting True North

Posted on by Cathy

About Trusting True North

Trusting True North

“A heartfelt and touching middle-grade book, where map-making serves as a wonderful metaphor for navigating relationships with family, friends, and community during the traumatizing start of the pandemic. Readers will love True and her X-marks-the-spot heart!” ―Lee Edward Födi, author of Spell Sweeper

True North Vincent is struggling after spending months in lockdown because of a virus. With her mom stuck across the border in Canada and her dad working long hours as a nurse at the hospital, True feels responsible for making sure her family stays safe, especially her grandma and her younger brother, Georgie, whose asthma makes him more vulnerable to the virus. She also wishes her older sister, Rose, would be friends with her again instead of texting on her phone.

True finds escape and comfort in working on her maps, a skill she learned from her mother. To keep Georgie entertained, True creates an elaborate treasure map for him to follow that spans the forest beyond her backyard. While exploring, they find a litter of newborn kittens in an old barn. The smallest kitten looks sickly and has been abandoned by the mama cat. True names her Teacup; she knows exactly how it feels to not have a mom around when you need her the most.

True also meets Kyler, who wants to care for the kittens, and True realizes he might not be the bully everyone thinks he is. But when both Teacup and Kyler get sick, True is afraid she won’t be able to help everyone all by herself.

Running out of her own fixes and remedies, True reaches out and realizes that her family does care about her and wants to offer support and guidance to help her find her way through the unexpected challenges the virus and life bring.

My review

This is the first book I’ve read that is set during the pandemic. I loved the way the author, Gina Linko, showed a bit of the way the kids felt. Kind of confused and maybe even a little bit rebellious toward all of the rules that the adults put in place for them.

I loved True. She is a young girl just trying to do her best. She wants to be the best sister she can to her little brother, Georgie. And that has her concocting adventures for him. Which include going to the barn, where they used to go before the life became crazy. I loved how she wanted to make him a treasure map. What a cute, creative girl True is.

But she gets in trouble with her dad and her grandma for going to the barn. Life gets more and more crazy. And soon True must make a very hard choice. Does she follow the rules she knows she’s supposed to. Or does she follow her heart to help someone in need.

I loved the way her mom talked to her at the end. And let her know that her family would always be by her side. This is such a great book! I enjoyed reading it.

I was sent a copy of Trusting True North as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Purchase links

Amazon (affiliate link) – Deseret Book

What to read after Trusting True North (affiliate links)

Women Who Believe

Posted on by Cathy

About Women Who Believe

Women Who Believe

High in the hills overlooking Galilee, Jesus Christ provided a multitude of listeners with a roadmap to holiness in His Sermon on the Mount. At the heart of this message were the Beatitudes, lessons designed to guide His followers through the highs and lows of this mortal life. But when the path feels too long and the journey too treacherous, how can we truly apply the words of the Savior and rely on His strength to carry us? 

Readers need look no further than to the women of the scriptures for the answer. In Women Who Believe, follow the experiences of eight scriptural women who faced shattering trials of faith and endurance. Witness the ways in which they found strength amid suffering and discover how the experiences of these sisters from long ago are applicable to those we face today. By witnessing the trials and triumphs of these strong women, we can likewise discover a wellspring of courage as we press forward on our own journeys of spiritual refinement.

My review

This book is amazingly beautiful! I love the cover and the illustrations within the book. The whole thing is just so pretty.

I also love the way the authors picked amazing women from the Bible. These are women who have something to teach us in our day. And I loved reading about each and every one of them. I love that there is a trend toward learning as much as we are able to learn about the women of the Bible. And the way this book is done by using the Sermon on the Mount is very unique. The authors did it so well.

This book would be a fabulous gift for any woman in your life for Mother’s Day!

I was sent a copy of Women Who Believe as a gift from the author. All opinions are my own.

Purchase links

Amazon (affiliate link) – Deseret Book

What to read after Women Who Believe (affiliate links)

Facing the Enemy – Blog Tour

Posted on by Cathy

About Facing the Enemy

Facing the Enemy

Lady Elise Henderson lives two separate lives. At home in Scotland, she’s the titled daughter of the Marquess of Roxbury, an heiress in her own right. In London, however, she’s Elise Taylor, a top MI6 operative for the “home office.” But when a devastating accident threatens to end her career, Elise is left with far too much time for self-reflection and the regret of a decision made long ago that features one man: fellow MI6 agent Harry Benson.

Harry Benson, the son of servants, has loved Elise for the better part of a decade. But life took them on separate journeys until their worlds converged once more. An immediate assignment to the Scottish Borders leaves Harry little time to make provisions for his small, rambunctious son, Sammy. Harry knows only one person he can rely on for the boy’s care—Elise. When Elise brings Sammy to her ancestral estate, she never imagines that a nemesis from her past looms in the shadows, hungry for revenge. Stalked at every turn, Elise and Harry discover that fighting their feelings for one another is futile, but can they survive long enough to get another shot at true love?

My review

This book was one I didn’t want to stop reading. It was so well-written. And I just got sucked in. Plus I didn’t want to leave the characters in peril any longer than I had to.

I loved Elise. She has some hard news at the beginning of the book. And that really effects her through the whole thing. It’s something she constantly thought about. There was a certain part of the book where she decided that she would be okay with whatever was in store for her. And I loved that. We all need to figure out that we are going to be okay, even though things aren’t ever going to be perfect.

Harry is the kind of guy who wants to do whatever he can for his country. That is such a great thing. But he also has a little boy who needs a normal family life. I loved reading the parts with him and Sammy. He really was a great dad. I loved the way he cared for Elise, even when she didn’t want him to.

Sammy was so funny! I loved watching Elise trying to figure out what to do with him. And her family saying how like her he was.

The plot of this one is intense. It kept me interested and wondering just what was going to happen next. I loved this book! And I can’t wait for more.

I was sent an e-copy of Facing the Enemy as a gift from the publisher. All opinions are my own.

Purchase links

Amazon (affiliate link) Deseret Book

Giveaway

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What to read after Facing the Enemy (affiliate links)

Double or Nothing

Posted on by Cathy

About Double or Nothing

Double or Nothing

My best friend’s older brother is back in town.

Do I care? Not one bit. Logan may have been my childhood crush, but I’ve always been little Tessa to him. Not to mention, he’s turned into a shallow flirt and I’m not looking to get played again.

What’s the problem, you ask? (Besides all the flirting.)

Thanks to a scheming mutual friend, Logan and I find ourselves embroiled in a bet of absurd proportions. Now, instead of ignoring Logan and keeping my heart safely locked away, we have a date every Saturday night and a kiss looming on the horizon.

And the line between us is getting… muddy.

As long as Logan stays the shallow flirt, I’ll be fine. My heart is safe from the player. It’s the man underneath giving me a run for my money.

My review

This is my favorite kind of book! I loved the way the author wrote the comedy. It was so, so funny! I loved the characters. And the love story. It’s really the best! If you haven’t read That Fine Line, it’s okay. But you’re going to want to!

I was so glad to see that Tessa was getting her own story. And what a story it is. I loved that the reader is taken back 10 years to what happened between Logan and Tessa as teens. It’s so funny. I can’t tell you, you’re going to have to read it yourself. The meet cute when they are adults is the best! I love the flirting.

You’ve got to love Logan. I loved his nickname for Tessa, Jailbait. It made me laugh every time he used it. Their dates were fun. And he was the best guy, even though he tried hard not to be.

I’ve got to have Jake’s story! I kind of understand why he wants to bet his really expensive truck. But what’s up with him wanting to be a matchmaker. There’s got to be a story there.

You really need to read this one if you love rom-com books!

I borrowed a copy of Double or Nothing using my Kindle Unlimited subscription. All opinions are my own.

Purchase link

Amazon (affiliate link)

What to read after Double or Nothing (affiliate link)