"Breach of Trust" by Rachel Dylan --Book Review

About the Book

Corporate litigator Mia Shaw suffers the shock of her life when she finds her colleague and friend brutally murdered. Grief-stricken and furious, Mia vows that she will do anything to seek justice and make the killer pay. 

The man accused of the murder is a friend of security tech guru Noah Ramirez, but the evidence just doesn't add up. To save his former ATF partner, Noah needs to convince Mia that the real killer is still on the loose.

Mia soon has more than the criminal prosecution to worry about, however. She is tasked with taking over her friend's last case and learns he was hiding secrets about his client. She thinks she may have stumbled upon corporate espionage that has turned deadly, but she has no idea of the danger involved. Her only ally is Noah, despite their difference of opinion on the homicide case. Can he win Mia over to his side and protect her from ever-growing threats?

My Thoughts

"Breach of Trust" is the third book in the Atlanta Justice series and tells the story of Mia Shaw and Noah Ramirez, the last pair of two sets of friends to get together. I enjoyed getting to read their story and to get to know them each better. I liked Mia's strength, but also her struggles to deal with things and figure out her new faith. Noah was steady and dependable. Their discussions about faith were well placed and fit the flow of the story. The mystery in the book kept me guessing as I only figured the obvious answer was too obvious, but didn't know how things really went down. I liked how the series wrapped up and tied all together. I look forward to reading Rachel Dylan's next series.


About the Author    
Rachel Dylan writes legal thrillers and legal romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for over a decade including being a litigator at one of the nation’s top law firms. She enjoys weaving together legal and suspenseful stories. Rachel writes the Atlanta Justice Series which features strong, female attorneys in Atlanta. Deadly Proof, the first book in the Atlanta Justice series, is a CBA bestseller, an FHL Reader’s Choice Award winner, a Daphne du Maurier Finalist, and a Holt Medallion Finalist. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and five furkids--two dogs and three cats. Rachel loves to connect with readers. You can find Rachel at www.racheldylan.com


"Breach of Trust" is available in paperback:

• Series: Atlanta Justice (Book 3)
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 5, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764219820
• ISBN-13: 978-0764219825
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inches

and in Kindle edition:

• File Size: 7017 KB
• Print Length: 306 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (February 5, 2019)
• Publication Date: February 5, 2019
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• ASIN: B07F39CLFS

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

"On the Rails" by Linda Shenton Matchett --Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Title: On the Rails

Author: Linda Shenton Matchett

Genre: Historical Romance

Release date: February 6, 2017

Warren, Ohio, 1910: Katherine Newman loves being a teacher, but she loves Henry Jorgensen more, which is why she’s willing to give up her job to marry him. But instead of proposing, Henry breaks up with her. Devastated, Katherine seeks to escape the probing eyes and wagging tongues of her small town. A former Harvey Girl, Katherine’s mother arranges for Katherine to be hired at the Williams, Arizona Harvey House. Can she carve out a new life in the stark desert land unlike anything she’s ever known?

Henry Jorgensen loves Katherine with all his heart, but as the eldest son of a poor farmer can he provide for her as she deserves? The family’s lien holder calls in the mortgage, and Henry must set aside his own desires in order to help his parents meet their financial obligation. But when Katherine leaves town after their break up, he realizes he’s made the biggest mistake of his life. Can he find her and convince her to give their love a second chance?

My Thoughts

I enjoyed reading "On the Rails". I found the historical details interesting and while I'd heard the term "Harvey Girl", I didn't know anything about them and I want to learn more about the Harvey Girls now. The faith thread was very apparent and the gospel and way of salvation is clearly given. I was sometimes frustrated with Henry and Katherine and wanted to just tell them to talk to each other and they'd realize that what they assumed the other was thinking was wrong. I enjoyed seeing the characters grow and mature.

About the Author

Linda Shenton Matchett is an author, speaker, and history geek. A native of Baltimore, Maryland, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry and has lived in historic places all her live. Linda is a member of ACFW, RWA, and Sisters in Crime. She is a volunteer docent at the Wright Museum of WWII and a trustee for her local public library.

Guest Post from Linda

My husband and I were fortunate to be able to take a trip to Arizona several years ago. Having been born and raised on the east coast, I was enamored with the distinctive beauty of the state, from the saguaro cacti of Phoenix and red rocks of Sedona to the volcanic landscape of Flagstaff and multi-colored bands of the Grand Canyon.

But what intrigued me just as much as the area’s beauty were the stories about the women who migrated to the state to work for the Fred Harvey Company. Upon our arrival at the Grand Canyon we came upon the El Tovar Hotel, one of the few remaining Harvey Houses. We were given a bit of literature explaining the history of Mr. Harvey and his restaurants, and the more I read, the more I wanted to know.

As it turns in the late 1800s, food was not available to travelers riding the railroad lines, so when the trains made extended stops, passengers would get off and eat at the restaurants located near the stations. From all reports, the dining experience was sketchy at best, with frequent stories of indigestion and food poisoning.

Enter English immigrant and restauranteur, Fred Harvey. Securing a contract with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad, he began with two facilities. However, finding reliable employees proved to be difficult. A high percentage of the employees (all men) would use their paycheck to purchase liquor and then did not return to work for several days. At his wits end, Fred decided to hire women to act as his waitresses, but the concept was a tough sell. The only women in the hospitality industry worked in saloons and had scandalous reputations.

Fred set up dormitories overseen by a House Mothers and implemented a set of rules that included curfews, restrictions on dating, and dress codes. He ran advertisements in the large east coast newspapers. It was not long before candidates came knocking. The reasons they gave for wanting to be a Harvey Girl were as diverse as the girls. Some were looking for adventure, others needed to help fill the family coffers, while a number of them needed to get out of difficult situations ranging from domestic abuse to failed engagements.

Thanks to Fred and his restaurants, most of the 100,000 Harvey Girls found financial stability, confidence, happiness, and/or love. It is my hope that On The Rails commemorates these gals and their intrepid spirits.

Blog Stops

Just the Write Escape, January 31

Blossoms and Blessings, February 1

Mary Hake, February 1

Bibliophile Reviews, February 2

Texas Book-aholic, February 3

Connie’s History Classroom, February 4

Janices book reviews, February 5

The Mimosa Blossom, February 6

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, February 6

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, February 7

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, February 7

A Baker’s Perspective, February 8

Moments, February 9

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, February 9

Vicky Sluiter, February 10

Through the Fire Blogs, February 11

Carpe Diem, February 11

Godly Book Reviews, February 12

margaret kazmierczak, February 12 (Interview)

Maureen’s Musings, February 13

Bigreadersite, February 13

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Linda is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d8a4/on-the-rails-celebration-tour-giveaway

"On the Rails" is available in paperback:

• Paperback: 106 pages
• Publisher: Linda Shenton Matchett (February 7, 2017)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0998526517
• ISBN-13: 978-0998526515
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.2 x 9 inches

and in Kindle edition:

• File Size: 985 KB
• Print Length: 130 pages
• Publication Date: February 6, 2017
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• ASIN: B01MUYAGU3

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review. 

Month in Review- January

Wrote words

Sculpted  babies

Tatted  crosses

Sewed  sock monkeys  

Knit 3 pairs of socks

Exercised  days

Read in the Bible  days

Wrote up 2 backlogged book reviews 

"Lone Witness" by Rachel Dylan -- Book Review

About the Book

When prosecutor Sophie Dawson is the lone witness to a gang-related double homicide, her world is turned upside down. Private security guard Cooper Knight is hired to protect Sophie from the gang, but shes more concerned about prosecuting her latest case than the threat to her life. Sophie wants to stand for whats right, but can Cooper keep her safe?






My Thoughts

"Lone Witness" is the second book in the Atlanta Justice series. The first book introduced a group of three women who were friends and a group of three men that were friends. It also told the story of one of the guys and one of the girls falling in love. "Lone Witness" is the story of another of the women and another one of the men. (Book three will tell the story of the remaining guy and girl). So it may help to read "Deadly Proof" before reading "Lone Witness". I liked Sophie and her determination to prove she isn't just using her family money to get ahead in life. Cooper was someone I'd like to know. There were two "reveals" in the story about what was going on. I was right about one (the later one) and totally thrown by the other (the first one revealed). There was suspense and drama and I wasn't sure what was going to happen next. I am always frustrated by the underhanded/shady dealings that go on behind the scenes and root for justice to prevail. I look forward to reading the last book in the series.

About the Author    

Rachel Dylan writes legal thrillers and legal romantic suspense. Rachel has practiced law for over a decade including being a litigator at one of the nation’s top law firms. She enjoys weaving together legal and suspenseful stories. Rachel writes the Atlanta Justice Series which features strong, female attorneys in Atlanta. Deadly Proof, the first book in the Atlanta Justice series, is a CBA bestseller, an FHL Reader’s Choice Award winner, a Daphne du Maurier Finalist, and a Holt Medallion Finalist. Rachel lives in Michigan with her husband and five furkids--two dogs and three cats. Rachel loves to connect with readers. You can find Rachel at www.racheldylan.com

"Lone Witness" is available in paperback:

• Series: Atlanta Justice (Book 2)
• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (May 1, 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764219812
• ISBN-13: 978-0764219818
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.5 inche

Kindle edition:

• File Size: 7829 KB
• Print Length: 320 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Publishers (May 1, 2018)
• Publication Date: May 1, 2018
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• ASIN: B079C26JLT

and in hardcover:

• Series: Atlanta Justice (Book 2)
• Hardcover: 313 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House Pub (May 1, 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764231987
• ISBN-13: 978-0764231988
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 0.8 x 8.8 inches

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

"A Love to Behold" by Sharlene MacLaren -- Book Review, Blog Tour, and Giveaway

About the Book

Title: A Love to Behold

Author: Sharlene MacLaren

Genre: Christian romance, historical

Release date: January 8, 2019

Publisher: Whitaker House

Two years after the Civil War, Lydia Albright, 27, is an established teacher in Boston when she senses God’s call to leave the comfort and security of her job and go south. She accepts a position to teach in a school for former slaves in Charleston, South Carolina. A church there that’s affiliated with the American Missionary Association offers support, along with room and board at the parsonage.

The Ku Klux men are hell-bent on seeing that the new school fails. Lydia’s life is threatened, and the parsonage, church, and school are vandalized.

But they haven’t contended with a strong, determined woman like Lydia before. It also helps that she has a couple potential suitors on her side.

A Love to Behold is a tale of people who grow strong in the face of adversity and a church that learns love, compassion, and acceptance, even in the face of cruelty and hatred.

My Thoughts

"A Love to Behold" is the third book in the Forever Freedom series. Characters from the first two books are mentioned, but I don't think it is entirely necessary to have read them before reading this book. I found the book well written and felt it was easy to read. I liked Lydia and her spunk and determination to do what God had called her to do. I also liked Reese's quiet faith and resilience. I liked the amount of spiritual content it had and it felt natural and fit well into the story. It is hard to read about the hatred and anger that some people in the South had in the years following the Civil War. I already knew that people from all walks of life were members of the Klan, having typed up membership roles of Ku Klux Klan chapters as part of my job in the historical library I worked at during college, but getting a glimpse into hatred and acts of violence was disheartening.

About the Author

Born and raised in west Michigan, Sharlene MacLaren attended Spring Arbor University. Upon graduating in 1971 with an education degree, she taught second grade for two years, then accepted an invitation to travel internationally with a singing ensemble for one year. In 1975, she came home, returned to her teaching job, and married her childhood sweetheart. Together, they raised two lovely daughters, both of whom are now happily married and enjoying families of their own. Retired in 2003 after thirty-one years of teaching, “Shar” loves to read, sing, travel, and spend time with her family—in particular, her adorable grandchildren!
A Christian for over fifty years, and a lover of the English language, Shar always enjoyed dabbling in writing. She remembers well the short stories she wrote in high school, and watching them circulate from girl to girl during government and civics classes. “Psst,” someone would whisper from two rows over, always when the teacher’s back was turned, “pass me the next page.”
In the early 2000s, Shar felt God’s call upon her heart to take her writing pleasures a step further, and in 2006, she signed a contract for her first faith-based novel, Through Every Storm, thereby launching her writing career. With eighteen published novels now gracing store shelves and being sold online, she daily gives God all the glory. She dedicated her last novel, Their Daring Hearts, to Jesus.
Shar has done numerous countrywide book signings and made several television appearances and radio interviews. She loves speaking for community organizations, libraries, church groups, and women’s conferences. In her church, she is active in women’s ministries, regularly facilitating Bible studies and other events. She and her husband, Cecil, live in Spring Lake, Michigan, with their beautiful white collie, Peyton, and their ragdoll cat, Blue.
Shar loves hearing from her readers. If you wish to contact her as a potential speaker for a church function or would simply like to chat with her, please feel free to send her an e-mail at sharlenemaclaren@yahoo.com. She will do her best to answer in a timely manner. You may also find her on Facebook.

Guest Post from Sharlene

My dear readers,

It has indeed been my great privilege and pleasure to write this series set in Civil War times. What a thought-provoking, amazing, and heart-wrenching era in American history.

If you read all three books in the “Forever Freedom” series—Summer on Sunset Ridge, Their Daring Hearts, and A Love to Behold—you will have gotten some history lessons regarding the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers; Abolition; the Underground Railroad, which the Quakers were instrumental in launching; life as a Union soldier in the Civil War; the Freedmen’s Bureau; and Reconstruction, that period following the war when the south had fallen into great dis-repair. Also prevalent in this third book is a bit of history regarding the origin of the Ku Klux Klan, a hate group that formed during the Reconstruction period.

Although I did not appreciate history as a young girl, as an older adult, I’m quite fascinated by it. History itself is a great teacher. Learning about it can be everything from exhilarating to depressing, challenging and yet exciting. It is my prayer that as you read my books, you’ll not only find them entertaining, but also inspiring and uplifting. I aim to encourage, not discourage. Much of history—if we dwell on it—can be disheartening, but focusing our hearts and minds on Christ gives us courage and confidence. Let us learn from history, but let us look to the future with hope in our hearts.

With love and a prayer for God’s best blessings,

Shar

Blog Stops

Reading Is My SuperPower, January 22

Maureen’s Musings, January 22

Jeanette’s Thoughts, January 23

Genesis 5020, January 23

Jennifer Sienes: Where Crisis and Christ Collide, January 24

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, January 24

Splashes of Joy, January 25

Blossoms and Blessings, January 25

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, January 26

Mary Hake, January 26

Godly Book Reviews, January 27

Daysong Reflections, January 27

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, January 28

Robin is Bookish, January 28

My Devotional Thoughts, January 29

Locks, Hooks and Books, January 29

The Becca Files, January 30

For the Love of Literature, January 30

Texas Book-aholic, January 31

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, January 31

Abba’s Prayer Warrior Princess, February 1

Janices book reviews, February 1

A Baker’s Perspective, February 2

Bibliophile Reviews, February 3

Carpe Diem, February 4

Bigreadersite, February 4

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Sharlene is giving away a grand prize of a $20 Starbucks gift card!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter. https://promosimple.com/ps/d8d2/a-love-to-behold-celebration-tour-giveaway

"A Love to Behold" is available in paperback:

• Series: Forever Freedom Series (Book 3)
• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Whitaker House (January 8, 2019)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1641230983
• ISBN-13: 978-1641230988
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.9 x 9 inches

and in Kindle edition:

• File Size: 3966 KB
• Print Length: 336 pages
• Publisher: Whitaker House (January 8, 2019)
• Publication Date: January 8, 2019
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• ASIN: B07C5Y14QY

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.

"The Saturday Night Supper Club" by Carla Laureano--Book Review

About the Book

Title: The Saturday Night Supper Club

Author: Carla Laureano

Genre: Christian fiction/romance fiction

Release Date: February 6, 2018

Denver chef Rachel Bishop has accomplished everything she’s dreamed and some things she never dared hope, like winning a James Beard Award and heading up her own fine-dining restaurant. But when a targeted smear campaign causes her to be pushed out of the business by her partners, she vows to do whatever it takes to get her life back . . . even if that means joining forces with the man who inadvertently set the disaster in motion.

Essayist Alex Kanin never imagined his pointed editorial would go viral. Ironically, his attempt to highlight the pitfalls of online criticism has the opposite effect: it revives his own flagging career by destroying that of a perfect stranger. Plagued by guilt-fueled writer’s block, Alex vows to do whatever he can to repair the damage. He just doesn’t his interest in the beautiful chef to turn personal.

Alex agrees to help rebuild Rachel’s tarnished image by offering his connections and his home to host an exclusive pop-up dinner party targeted to Denver’s most influential citizens: the Saturday Night Supper Club. As they work together to make the project a success, Rachel begins to realize Alex is not the unfeeling opportunist she once thought he was, and that perhaps there’s life—and love—outside the pressure-cooker of her chosen career. But can she give up her lifelong goals without losing her identity as well?

My Thoughts

This is the first book I have read by Carla Laureano, and will not be my last. I sat down in the morning with the "Saturday Night Supper Club" and finished it by that evening. It was well written with likable characters and realistic feelings and emotions. I wished I could meet up with Rachel, Ana, and Melody and chat with them. I liked Alex and his desire to do the right thing. There was a spiritual/faith element that was woven through the story and the characters grew and changed by the end of the book. I am glad that this is the first book in a series so I can get to go back and read more about these characters. 

About the Author

Carla Laureano is the RITA® Award-winning author of contemporary inspirational romance and Celtic fantasy (as C.E. Laureano). A graduate of Pepperdine University, she worked as a sales and marketing executive for nearly a decade before leaving corporate life behind to write fiction full-time. She currently lives in Denver with her husband and two sons, where she writes during the day and cooks things at night.

Guest Post From Carla Laureano

I’ve got a confession to make: I have a cooking problem.

It started early and innocently enough, flipping through my mom’s cookbooks and marking things I wanted to try. Making cakes and muffins from a mix. Flipping frozen steak patties. Doctoring canned spaghetti sauce.

It wasn’t long before I got into the hard stuff: muffins from scratch, slow-cooked marinara, cast-iron seared and oven-finished rib eyes. Over the years, I tried to kick the habit numerous times, but every time things got tough, I found myself falling off the wagon and heading back into the kitchen. Even hosting dinner parties. Yes, dear reader, I pulled my hapless friends into my madness. To my shame, I even got some of them hooked with their own addiction.

Before I knew it, my obsessions started creeping into my day job. No longer was it enough to write contemporary romance about normal people who order take-out. No, I had to write chefs and passionate home cooks and describe the food in the books just as lovingly as I did a first kiss. And then the final straw—a book series centered entirely on food and the culinary profession, beginning with The Saturday Night Supper Club.

All joking aside, cooking really is an addiction that I haven’t been able to kick. As a writer, I spend hours locked in my own imagination, creating things out of words and ideas. And while it’s immensely fulfilling, it’s a long, painstaking process that takes months, even years, before I can release the final product into the world. While there’s a large amount of planning and analysis involved in creating a book, the work is still mostly in my head.

Which is why I find cooking to be such a relaxing creative pursuit. Dicing a pile of vegetables into perfectly uniform cubes may take the same concentration and precision, but it’s concrete and measurable. It becomes a personal challenge to do something better than last time, improving by tiny, nearly imperceptible increments. It’s the closest to meditation that my always-on brain ever experiences, clear of all thought except for my activity at the present moment.

And yet, simultaneously, food is ephemeral. Mistakes last only as long as it takes to eat them or toss them directly into the trash can, depending on the nature of the mistake. If a sauce breaks, I toss it and start over. If I burn something, I either cut off the burned part or I order takeout and try again the next day. There’s an element of experimentation and instinct and whimsy that isn’t hampered by the pursuit of perfection. Let’s face it, a mediocre chocolate chip cookie beats a perfect celery stick any day of the week.

It was natural, then, to write a chef heroine who had dedicated her entire life to the pursuit of culinary perfection and explore all the ways that food makes our lives and relationships richer. How it anchors our memories. How we nurture others by feeding them. How a simple meal becomes meaningful not because of the food, but because of the connections we form with others over the dinner table.

In the end, I guess my cooking problem isn’t that much of a problem after all. If you need me, I’ll be in the kitchen.

"The Saturday Night Supper Club" is available in paperback:

• Series: The Saturday Night Supper Club
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (February 6, 2018)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1496420241
• ISBN-13: 978-1496420244
• Product Dimensions: 5.4 x 1 x 8.2 inches

and in Kindle edition:

• File Size: 7631 KB
• Print Length: 380 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1496420241
• Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. (February 6, 2018)
• Publication Date: February 6, 2018
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC
• Language: English
• ASIN: B073RS3TT1

I got a free copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own and given voluntarily. No compensation was received for my review.