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Saturday, June 30, 2018

Review: The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron (#MyTBRL)


About the book:
Broken-down walls and crumbling stones seemed to possess a secret language all their own.

What stories would they tell, if she finally listened?

Ellie Carver arrives at her grandmother’s bedside expecting to find her silently slipping away. Instead, the beloved woman begins speaking. Of a secret past and castle ruins forgotten by time. Of a hidden chapel that served as a rendezvous for the French Resistance in World War II. Of lost love and deep regret . . .

Each piece that unlocks the story seems to unlock part of Ellie too—where she came from and who she is becoming. But her grandmother is quickly disappearing into the shadows of Alzheimer’s and Ellie must act fast if she wants to uncover the truth of her family’s history. Drawn by the mystery surrounding The Sleeping Beauty—a castle so named for Charles Perrault’s beloved fairy tale—Ellie embarks on a journey to France’s Loire Valley in hopes that she can unearth its secrets before time silences them forever.

Bridging the past to the present in three time periods—the French Revolution, World War II, and present day—The Lost Castle is a story of loves won and lost, of battles waged in the hearts of men, and of an enchanted castle that stood witness to it all, inspiring a legacy of faith through the generations.

My rating:
4 stars
(View my rating system)
My thoughts:

Friday, June 29, 2018

Weekend Wrap-Up (June 29) / Kindle Deal Spotlight


Weekend Wrap-up is where I share what I read this past week, am currently reading, and my reading plans for the coming week. 

Feel free to join along and post your own Weekend Wrap-up on your blog/site (if you do, please leave the link in a comment so I can stop by) or, in a comment, share what you've read this past week. :)

Thursday, June 28, 2018

Review: Troubled Waters by Susan May Warren


About the book:
With their past tearing them apart, it will take a storm to bring them together . . . 

Billionaire Ian Shaw can have everything he wants--except a happy ending. Or at least that's what it feels like with his fortune recently liquidated, his niece missing, and the woman he loves refusing to speak to him. Despite her love for Ian, Sierra Rose knows he has no room in his life for her as long as the mystery of his missing niece goes unsolved. Sierra has solved it, but a promise to the girl to keep her whereabouts secret has made it impossible to be around Ian.

When Sierra needs funds to repair the damaged PEAK chopper, Ian offers a fundraising junket for large donors on his yacht in the Caribbean. But the leisurely excursion turns into a nightmare when a rogue wave cripples the yacht and Ian and Sierra find themselves washed up on a strange, empty shore.

It will take guts for the PEAK team to rescue the duo. But it will take a miracle to rescue Ian and Sierra's relationship.


My rating:
5 stars
(View my rating system)
My thoughts:

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

I Can't Wait for... Every Wicked Man by Steven James (Can't-Wait Wednesday/Waiting on Wednesday)

Can't-Wait Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Wishful Endings, to spotlight and discuss the books we're excited about that we have yet to read. Generally they're books that have yet to be released. It's based on Waiting on Wednesday, hosted by the fabulous Jill at Breaking the Spine.

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About the book:

A criminal mastermind's chilling terrorist plot forces FBI Special Agent Patrick Bowers to the brink in the latest thriller from bestselling novelist Steven James.

When a senator's son takes his own life and posts the video live online, Agent Bowers is drawn into a complex web of lies that begins to threaten the people he loves the most. As he races to unravel the mystery behind the suicide and a centuries-old code that might help shed light on the case, he finds a dark pathway laced with twists and deadly secrets that touch a little too close to home.

A fast-paced, intelligent thriller, Every Wicked Man will have readers racing through the pages to its thundering conclusion.

Series: The Bowers Files (Book 11)
Pages: 560 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date:  (September 4, 2018)
ISBN-10:  1101991593
Find the book on Amazon: https://amzn.to/2yJCrpK

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I love Steven James' thrillers and the Bowers Files is my favorite series. I am so excited about this release and cannot wait to read it. It sounds amazing!


This post may contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.

Monday, June 25, 2018

Review: Lone Witness by Rachel Dylan


About the book:
She's the Only Witness to a Brutal Crime. Now She Can't Outrun the Target on Her Back.

Prosecutor Sophie Dawson has taken a new role at the Fulton County DA's office, and her first case involves a local bank employee who may be cheating customers. She's determined to bring justice to those who've lost their savings . . . but her life is turned upside down when she becomes the only witness to a double homicide involving a vengeful gang.

With her life at risk, friends and family convince her that she needs protection, and private security guard Cooper Knight is hired as a bodyguard. But as threats escalate, neither Cooper nor Sophie knows whom they can trust.

Unwilling to back down on either case, Sophie pursues the truth at any cost. But her bank litigation gets more complicated by the day, and the gang will stop at nothing to keep her from taking the stand. With all sides closing in, steadfast Cooper is the only man she can lean on. But drawing close may be the distraction that costs both of their lives.


My rating:
4 stars
(View my rating system)
My thoughts:

Thursday, June 21, 2018

Seasonal TBR Challenge: Summer Edition + Spring Wrap-up



Welcome to the SUMMER edition of my Seasonal TBR Challenge. The goal is to create a list of certain books you want to read this summer and get those books off your TBR pile by the end of the challenge. :)

Wednesday, June 20, 2018

Review: Fatal Recall by Carol J. Post


About the book:
Amnesia stole her memory—

a killer wants her dead

When Paige Tatem loses her memory, she knows just two things: she has a target on her back, and police officer Tanner Brody is the only man she trusts to protect her. As they piece together her past, Tanner wonders what lies hidden in Paige’s mind. And as the truth begins to emerge, it becomes clear that a ruthless enemy wants certain secrets to stay buried.

My rating:
4.5 stars
(View my rating system)
My thoughts:

Tuesday, June 19, 2018

Review: A Cowboy of Convenience by Stacy Henrie


About the book:
Groom by Agreement

A real home—it’s what Vienna Howe dearly wants for her young daughter. Yet the ramshackle property she just inherited hardly qualifies. She can’t afford the repairs—until foreman West McCall suggests they start a dude ranch together. For propriety’s sake, they’ll need a marriage in name only…a practical solution for two wary hearts.

Years ago, West convinced Vienna to marry a man of means, never realizing how cruel her husband could be. Guilt-ridden, he intends to secure the lovely widow’s future. But despite his reluctance to get close to anyone, this union might do more than fix Vienna’s ranch. It could open the door to a warm, loving future…



My rating:
5 stars
(View my rating system)
My thoughts:

Monday, June 18, 2018

Review: Where the Fire Falls by Karen Barnett


About the book:
Stunning Yosemite National Park sets the stage for this late 1920s historical romance with mystery, adventure, heart, and a sense of the place John Muir described as "pervaded with divine light."

Watercolorist Olivia Rutherford has shed her humble beginnings to fashion her image as an avant-garde artist to appeal to the region's wealthy art-collectors. When she lands a lucrative contract painting illustrations of Yosemite National Park for a travel magazine, including its nightly one-of-a-kind Firefall event, she hopes the money will lift Olivia and her sisters out of poverty.

    After false accusations cost him everything, former minister Clark Johnson has found purpose as a backcountry guide in this natural cathedral of granite and trees. Now he's faced with the opportunity to become a National Parks Ranger, but is it his true calling?

    As Clark opens Olivia's eyes to the wonders of Yosemite, she discovers the people are as vital to the park's story as its vistas--a revelation that may bring her charade to an end.


My rating:
4 stars
(View my rating system)
My thoughts:

Saturday, June 16, 2018

Stacking The Shelves [2]


http://tyngasreviews.com/2012/05/staking-shelves-official-launch.html


Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks!
If you want to find out more about Stacking The Shelves, please visit the official launch page!


Friday, June 15, 2018

DVD Review: I Can Only Imagine


About the movie:
Dennis Quaid and Trace Adkins star in this inspiring true story behind MercyMe’s beloved hit song. Running from a troubled home life and a broken relationship, Bart Millard (Finley) found escape in music. Hitting the road in a decrepit tour bus, Bart and his band MercyMe set out on an amazing journey none of them could have ever imagined, in this uplifting, music-filled movie that beautifully illustrates the power of forgiveness and God’s love. The home entertainment release of I Can Only Imagine features over 3 hours of extras including 7 deleted scenes, 7 in-depth featurettes, an audio commentary, and more!

Trailer: https://youtu.be/gUbO3oALRYA
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/icanonlyimaginemovie/
Instagram: @icanonlyimaginemovie
Twitter: @onlyimaginefilm
Buy Link: https://icanonlyimagine.com/buy

My rating:
5 stars
(View my rating system)
My thoughts:

Thursday, June 14, 2018

Interview: Janette Foreman ~ Author of Last Chance Wife!

I recently read and reviewed Last Chance Wife (check out my review here). I really enjoyed the book and am excited to share this interview with the author -- Janette Foreman! I hope you enjoy it and please leave her a comment below. :)




Welcome to Christian Bookshelf Reviews, Janette!! Will you tell us a little about yourself? 
Hey, Melanie! I’m a former high school English teacher, turned stay-at-home mom. I’m passionate about inspirational, God-centered romances and teaching people to see themselves as having worth in God’s eyes. I’m also a proud member of American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW), secretary of the ACFW Dakotas chapter, and am represented by Tamela Hancock Murray at the Steve Laube Agency. When I sneak in time for my extra hobbies, I love to read, quilt, make cloth dolls, and draw. I make my home in the northern Midwest with my amazing husband, polydactyl cat, bird-hunting dog, and the most adorable baby twin boys on the planet.

What is your novel, Last Chance Wifeabout?

Last Chance Wife is my debut historical romance from Love Inspired Historical. It’s a mail-order bride story but not with the typical plot you normally see. I tell people it’s like You’ve Got Mail in the Wild West! Here is the back-of-the-book synopsis:

When six-time mail-order bride Winifred Sattler is stranded in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, she’s grateful to find a temporary position at Mr. Ewan Burke’s business until she can return home. Ewan is handsome, but stuffy and serious—her complete opposite. Unlike her new anonymous correspondent, Mr. Businessman, who appreciates her bubbly optimism.

To keep his mining company afloat, Ewan can’t be distracted by Winifred’s vivacious beauty. He needs a no-nonsense wife. Someone like Miss Thoroughly Disgruntled, the only respondent to his recent ad with whom he truly connected. In person, Winifred and Ewan don’t get along, but in their letters they’re falling in love. Will they discover a perfect match in each other?

When did you first realize you wanted to be a writer? 

When I was in second grade. My teacher assigned a story and mine was three pages long (including large pictures). We even went through an editing process (where I learned things like "quotation marks"). I had such a blast that I never stopped writing after that. I was always a writer, but my desire to be a published author started right there.

What would you say is your most interesting writing quirk? 

When you turn in a manuscript to a publisher, they oftentimes prefer it to come in Times New Roman font. But often, when I write, I'll change the font to something fun and indicative of the manuscripts' mood. It helps me stay in the story world. Or I'll make it a fancy cursive font that I can't read...it keeps me from re-reading and editing when I should be writing!

Where do you like to write? 

Coffee shops or the library are favorites. But with young kids at home, I also have places in the house where I like to write—like the living room recliner.

What do you like to do when you're not writing? 

Playing with my sons. But if it's something for myself, I love to read, draw, quilt, and garden.

What is your favorite genre to read and why?

Historical romance has always been a favorite, but contemporary romance is quickly becoming another! Books (and movies) touch me when there’s a romance plot to them. Historicals are rich with texture and facts while contemporaries (at least the ones I like) are lighter and fun/whimsical. I enjoy switching between the two.

What is your least favorite genre to read?

Horror. I just don’t.

Is there a place you'd like to visit, but haven’t yet? 

Probably Hawaii, or oppositely, a snowed-in cabin in the mountains of Colorado. Somewhere I can escape and read/write/dream.

Do you have a favorite Bible verse? 

Romans 5:8 – “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Do you have a favorite song and/or movie? 

Waaay too many songs to name just one. Anything that strikes an emotional chord in me is a favorite. But my favorite movies are While You Were Sleeping and Ever After (just ask my husband…I’ve watched WYWS so many times, I wore out the DVD and had to get a replacement!).

What is your favorite holiday? 

Christmas. I love family getting together, playing games, watching movies, and sharing lots of laughter.

Some this-or-that questions:

Snowstorms or Thunderstorms? Snowstorms! I love staying inside as the snow piles up, writing or reading in my favorite recliner and sweatpants.

Chocolate or Vanilla? Vanilla. I’m boring that way, haha!

Tea or Coffee? Coffee. I’ll have chamomile tea with stevia on occasion, but generally dark coffee with some flavored creamer.

Call or Text? Text!

Cats or Dogs? Cats.

Introvert or Extrovert? Introvert. Very much so! I love people, and love communicating online or in person, but when it’s done, I need alone time to recharge my batteries.

Are you currently working on any new novels? If so, could you give us a hint? 

I have a couple of new projects I’m working on. Since Love Inspired’s historical line is closing in June, I’m taking advantage of the opportunity to try writing a romance for their contemporary line. I’m in the process of it right now and really enjoying it! Historical romance is always near and dear to my heart, though, so I also have a trade length series I’m working on, which deals with romantic suspense/mystery set in the West (1890s). It’ll be exciting to see what becomes of these projects!

Thank you so much for being here! Is there anything else you’d like to tell readers and where can we find you on the web?

Sure! You can find me at these places:
Website: www.JanetteForeman.com (where you can sign up for my newsletter to stay up to date)


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This post may contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.

Wednesday, June 13, 2018

Review: The Rancher's Secret Child by Brenda Minton

About the book:
Can he cowboy up for fatherhood?
He had no room for love...until now.

After meeting the son he never knew he had, Marcus Palermo’s simple life turns upside down. Complicating things further is Lissa Hart, the boy’s lovely guardian. She’ll help him become a parent—but falling for a gruff cowboy is not in her plans. Will she realize her future lies in Bluebonnet Springs with the rugged rancher?


My rating:
3 stars

(View my rating system)
My thoughts:

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Review: Bound by Duty by Valerie Hansen



About the book:
Assignment: Single Mom Surveillance

The Military K-9 Unit series continues

Her serial killer brother’s escaped—and it’s single mom Zoe Sullivan who’s under suspicion! Sgt. Linc Colson trusts two things: his instincts and his Rottweiler K-9 partner, Star—and certainly not the pretty face he’s assigned to monitor. He’s done everything to keep her from getting under his skin—now he must stop those who want to put her six feet under.


My rating:
3.5 stars
(View my rating system)
My thoughts:

Monday, June 11, 2018

Review: Sons of Thunder by Susan May Warren



About the book:
Markos Stavros wants to be a man of honor…

The last thing Markos Stavros expects on the eve of his brother’s wedding is to say goodbye to the land—and family--he loves. But a tragic event forces him to flee his beloved Greece, taking with him his younger brother Dino and the girl he loves, Sofia Frangos. With promises to care for both of them, Markos must trust a man he’s never met—his uncle Jimmy, the owner of a café during the bootleg era of Al Capone’s Chicago. Suddenly Markos is in a world he doesn’t understand, forced to make sacrifices he can’t live with. When he’s forced to choose between family and the woman he loves, he makes a desperate attempt at freedom…

Dino Stavros longs to forget the promises he broke…

The last promise Dino made to Markos was to watch over Sofia. But ten years later, Dino has put the tragedies of Chicago behind him, diving into his new life as a medical resident in Minneapolis, his promises forgotten. The world is not large enough, however, to keep him from reuniting with Sofia, and the reminders of all they lost together. When Pearl Harbor destroys his dreams, he turns to the one woman who truly knows him for comfort and redemption, only to find himself in the middle of a terrible betrayal. His only chance for honor comes in the battlefields of France—but is it too late to keep his promises?

Sofia Frangos heart has been broken twice…

Sofia can’t believe she’s lost both the men she loved, but she will have to put her grief behind her if she hopes to survive the German occupation of Greece. More, she’s become a link to the OSS agents helping to plot a British invasion. But what will freedom cost her? And can Markos and Dino finally keep their promise to protect her?

From the sultry Chicago jazz clubs of the roaring twenties to the World War II battlefields of Europe to a final showdown in a Greek island village, the Sons of Thunder will discover betrayal, sacrifice and finally redemption.
My rating:
5 stars
(View my rating system)
My thoughts:

Saturday, June 9, 2018

My To-Be Read List (#MyTBRL) -- And The Winner Is... June


 Hosted by Because Reading. On the first Saturday of the month you pick three books from your TBR list and ask for help from your followers and the people on the linky to help you choose which book to read that month. Then, on the second Saturday, you announce the results and get to reading. :) The goal is to review said book on the last Saturday of the month.



Last week I picked these three from my NetGalley shelf. You guys voted and the one with the most votes is...

The Books:


The Lost Castle by Kristy Cambron with 57% of the votes. I am so excited about this read! Thanks for voting.

Check back the last Saturday of this month to see my review.


This post may contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.
Some of the links in my blog posts, tweets, social media posts, etc. contain “affiliate links.” This means if you click on a link with my affiliate code and purchase an item(s), I will receive an affiliate commission. You won't be charged extra, I'll just receive a small percentage of the purchase price. See my disclosure page here.
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