Monday, November 26, 2018

Book Review: Stratagem by Robin Carroll

What if Someone Was Controlling Your Life?

About the Book

Book: Stratagem

Author: Robin Caroll

Genre: Christian Suspense

Release Date: November, 2018

A High-Stakes Simulation Adventure Leaves Grayson Thibodeaux the Prime Suspect. . .for Murder

Deep in the gritty underbelly of New Orleans, psychologist Grayson Thibodeaux loses everything when his wife leaves him to climb her company’s corporate ladder. He buries himself in his job of creating mind-bending adventure games for businesses as team-building explorations. When his ex-wife’s company hires Grayson’s to create an elaborate game, he doesn’t see how things can get worse. Until she dies during the course of the game he created…making him the prime suspect for murder.

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Review

What if Someone Was Controlling Your Life?

Stratagem by Robin Carroll is a phenomenal book that attempts to answer this question. Readers who have read other books by this author will recognize New Orleans and the Darkwater Inn from her previous book. I love a good mystery and this book delivers. Years ago, I remember loving the young adult book called The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin. This book reminds me of that book in so many wonderful ways. It is full of manipulation and deceit, heartbreak and hope. It is like a riddle to solve with pieces falling slowly into place. Grayson and his partner have built a successful business out of escape room puzzles or games. Suddenly, it seems that his own life is in a game that he does not control and he is in a race to prove his innocence and solve the crime before his own life is taken. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery or thriller. It is a well written mystery and I think it would appeal to readers of many genres. I received a digital copy of this book from the author with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

About the Author

“I love boxing. I love Hallmark movies. I love fishing. I love scrapbooking. Nope, I’ve never fit into the boxes people have wanted to put me in.” Robin Caroll is definitely a contradiction, but one that beckons you to get to know her better. Robin’s passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others and come alongside them on their faith journey—aspects Robin weaves into each of her twenty-five-plus published novels. When she isn’t writing, Robin spends quality time with her husband of nearly three decades, her three beautiful daughters and two handsome grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home. Robin gives back to the writing community by serving as executive director/conference director for ACFW. Her books have been recognized in such contests as the Carol Award, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, RT Reviewer’s Choice Award, Bookseller’s Best, and Book of the Year.

You can find out more about Robin by visiting www.robincaroll.com.

Guest post from Robin

Behind the Scenes: Robin Caroll Shares Her Inspiration for Writing Stratagem Dear Reader, Thank you for journeying to New Orleans in a web of deceit and confusion with me. Sharing a place that has such connection for me was a pure joy. South Louisiana offers such a laid-back attitude that I often miss “home.” I hope you’ll enjoy sampling a taste of the flavor of Louisiana. Years ago I watched the movie The Game with Michael Douglas and Sean Penn and was enthralled. There’s just something grabbing about messing with a person’s mind and life by using their own feelings and instincts against them. When this story of Stratagem first began forming, I wanted to use all that intrigue to mess up the game master’s life. The end result is quite the ride! As the characters came alive to me, I found the theme of forgiveness and acceptance coming out in the story. Some of the emotions within this story are very personal to me, and I’m honored I was able to share them with you. It is my wish that you may be touched by Grayson’s faith journey as well. Until next time. . . -Robin

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 17

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 17

Midnight Bookaholic, November 17

Back Porch Reads, November 18

Rebekah’s Quill, November 18

Real World Bible Study, November 18

By The Book, November 19

Reading Is My SuperPower, November 19

Genesis 5020, November 19

All-of-a-kind Mom, November 19

Lighthouse Academy, November 20

Inklings and notions, November 20

D’S QUILTS & BOOKS, November 21

Splashes of Joy, November 21

Moments, November 21

Just the Write Escape, November 22

Mary Hake, November 22

Simple Harvest Reads, November 22 (Guest post from Mindy Houng)

Bigreadersite, November 22

Aryn The Libraryan , November 23

Multifarious, November 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 23

Bibliophile Reviews, November 24

Remembrancy, November 24

amandainpa, November 24

Margaret Kazmierczak, November 25

Pause for Tales, November 25

Book by Book, November 25

Livin Lit, November 26

Ashley’s Bookshelf, November 26

Baker kella, November 26

Daysong Reflections, November 27

Texas Book-aholic, November 27

Painting with Words, November 28

Maureen’s Musings, November 28

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 28

Janices book reviews, November 29

Carpe Diem, November 29

A Baker’s Perspective, November 29

Godly Book Reviews, November 30

Tell Tale Book Reviews, November 30

Reader’s Cozy Corner, November 30

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Robin is giving away a grand prize of a $25 Amazon gift card and a copy of Stratagem!!

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/d629/stratagem-celebration-tour-giveaway

Sunday, November 25, 2018

Book Review: The Edge of Peril by Christy Barritt

Phenomenal Thriller-- It'll Keep You Up Reading Late at Night!

The Edge of Peril by Christy Barritt is book 1 in the Fog Lake Mysteries series. I have long been a fan of this author and her fun mysteries with interesting plots and realistic characters. This book sets her apart on another level altogether as a writer of thrillers. Meet Fog Lake-- a place with weather as chilling and mysterious as the events that lead to one death after another. Harper is safe working as a reporter far from this place. But when she hears of the murders taking place, she thinks she knows who it is and goes to Fog Lake only to face her deepest fears. Don't start this book until you have time to read it all in one sitting, because trust me, you will want to do that. I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a good mystery or thriller. It will grab you quickly and will not let you go. I cannot wait for the next book in this series!! I received a digital copy of this book from the author with no obligations and would have purchased it regardless. These opinions are entirely my own.

Wednesday, November 7, 2018

Book Review: Wait for Me by Susan May Warren

Wait for Me by Susan May Warren is book 6 in the Montana Rescue series. And boy did I wait for this one!! No, I didn't wait forever because the book was delayed or anything like that. No, I've just been waiting for the resolution of Pete's story for, well, what seemed like forever. Sound melodramatic? That's because Susan May Warren has the talent to create a cast of characters and place so real that it feels like they are real characters, friends in fact, that you can't wait to revisit and meet again. This book is the last in the series, sadly, and I do hope that this team reunites in future books. Well, Pete and Jess finally have their story and it is one full to the brim with danger, excitement, and suspense. Will it all work out in the end? And will the team come to the rescue once again? You'll just have to read this book to find out! It is an amazing read and I highly recommend it, along with all the other books in this series. Now's the perfect time to pick up this series if you have not yet read it, since all six books have been released and you can read them all at once. Hang on, it's an amazing ride! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Thursday, November 1, 2018

Book Review: Kingdom Files: Who Was David? and Who Was Esther? by Matt Koceich

I loved reading the Kingdom Files: Who Was David? and Who Was Esther? by Matt Koceich. These books are perfect children ages 8-12, but I think they would be enjoyed by younger children if read with an adult. I love how these books bring the Biblical people to life in a fun, easy to read format. these chapter books read as case files with clues along the way to help kids understand who these people really were. Books like this are more important than ever. Children truly need strong heroes to follow these days, and the people of the Bible are a great fit for this. They were deeply flawed but greatly used by God. I highly recommend this series for Christian families. I received a copy of these two books from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Book Review: Love Does for Kids by Bob Goff and Lindsey Goff Viducich

Love Does for Kids by Bob Goff and Lindsey Goff Viducich is such a precious treasure to read to your children. In this book, Bob Goff, the author of such beloved books as Love Does and Everybody Always teams up with his daughter to write a similar message designed just for kids. I read through this book with my seven year old son, and I loved seeing the message of God's love and transformative power come alive for him. Bob Goff has a gift for telling a story that stays with you, and this is exactly what happened with my son who kept reminding me of the stories long after reading. I highly recommend this book to parents of elementary aged children. It is the perfect book to pick up and read together at the end of a long day. I loved it. I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

My Brilliant Writing Planner by Susan May Warren

Susan May Warren

I'm just starting to dive into this amazing resource, but already I can tell that Susan May Warren and My Brilliant Writing Planner is life changing. This resource provides all that you need to organize your writing goals, examine past pitfalls, and plan to succeed. Susan has planned this in such detail-- this planner includes calendars, dates, personal lists, devotions, and writing resources designed to help you dive further into your craft. She has thought of everything! I'll be posting more soon as I use even more of this planner. But make sure to pick it up now before the $20 off sale ends on October 31st! I think it is well worth the investment. Also, check out Susan's latest novel that comes out November 6th! Wait for Me is the latest novel in the Montana Rescue series and it looks like the best in the series. I received a digital copy of this planner for my review with no obligations and would have purchased it anyway. These opinions are entirely my own.

Tuesday, October 16, 2018

Book Review: This Courageous Journey by Misty Beller

About the Book

Book Title: This Courageous Journey
Author: Misty Beller
Genre: Christian Historical Romance
Release date: October 9, 2018

As the fifth daughter in a family of nine children, Noelle Grant has spent her life working to be unique. Her love of stories helps define her goal—to be known around the country as one of the top news correspondents of her time. And what better way to uncover sensational stories than to travel through the mountain wilderness to visit the brother she hasn’t seen in years? The trip comes together perfectly as she plans to journey with family friends who will be settling in the same area. Her first inkling that things may not be as perfect as planned comes in the form of the mountain man they hire as their guide for the final leg of the journey. When Daniel Abrams agrees to guide the small group of easterners along his usual journey northward to the Canadian mountains, his gut tells him he’s making the wrong decision. But if he doesn’t take them, who will? The man in charge refuses to consider turning back. As they start out, Daniel can’t help but notice the woman traveling under the care of her friends. Though she appears too genteel to last long in these mountains, she soon reveals a strength that draws him more than he should allow. As the dangers of this wilderness become more than the group bargained for, Noelle is faced with the choice to delay her journey northward or proceed alone with the man she’s come to trust against all reason. She never imagines her decision will place her—and the man she loves—in a situation more hazardous than any story her imagination could conjure.

Click here to purchase your copy!

My Review

This Courageous Journey by Misty M. Beller is book 4 in her Heart of the Mountains series. In this book, Noelle is an aspiring journalist on her way to visit her brother in Canada. The journey to reach her brother is a treacherous one and her small group has to rely on each other for everything. This was the first book that I read in this series and it made me wish I had read the others. If book 4 is this good, I can only imagine how good the other books in this series are. Ms Beller completely transports readers back to the 1800s with a plot that keeps you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Don't read this book until you can read it in one sitting, because it is that great a read! I highly recommend this book to readers that love historical fiction and to readers that love action stories. You won't regret picking up this book! I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher with no obligations. These opinions are entirely my own.

About the Author

https://www.amazon.com/Misty-M.-Beller/e/B00MRIPXD2/ref=dp_byline_cont_ebooks_1

Misty M. Beller writes romantic mountain stories, set on the 1800s frontier and woven with the truth of God’s love. She was raised on a farm in South Carolina, so her Southern roots run deep. Growing up, her family was close, and they continue to keep that priority today. Her husband and daughters now add another dimension to her life, keeping her both grounded and crazy. God has placed a desire in Misty’s heart to combine her love for Christian fiction and the simpler ranch life, writing historical novels that display God’s abundant love through the twists and turns in the lives of her characters.

Guest Post from Misty

Ever Been Struck by Lightning? One of the fun things about being a writer is the crazy topics I get to research. Without giving away too much of the story, part of my research for This Courageous Journey included uncovering what happens when lightning strikes a person. It turns out anything can happen! Surprisingly, about nine out of ten people struck by lightning live to tell their story. Each person’s experience seems to be different—some are knocked unconscious, while others are horribly aware of everything happening. One person who was struck said it seemed as if time slowed to a crawl and a white haze surrounded him like a bubble, as excruciating pain shot through him. People usually try to determine the path the lightning traveled through them, based on where burn marks appear on both skin and clothing, but sometimes that can be difficult if jewelry or coins were touching the body. Survivors might suffer a variety of short- and long-term effects, including—but not limited to—cardiac arrest, confusion, seizures, dizziness, muscle aches, deafness, headaches, memory deficits, distractibility, personality changes, and chronic pain, among others. That may sound like an awful list, but it does beat the alternative! As I considered the possible effects of a lightning strike when I was writing This Courageous Journey, I was reminded once again how magnificent God’s creation is. Both the incredible power contained in one streak of lightning, and the beautiful inner workings of the bodies He created for us. As the Psalmist said, we are “fearfully and wonderfully made!”