Told You Twice by Kristen Heitzmann

• File Size: 3497 KB
• Print Length: 417 pages
• Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
• Publisher: bHd Books (August 11, 2016)
• Publication Date: August 11, 2016

About the Book:

Alexis Murphy is done messing with the wrong kinds of men. She could not be happier planning a personalized Grace Evangeline wedding with her fiancé, Jeffrey, who is so right for her. Or is he? 

Stage star and spokesmodel, Bo Corrigan, could be the ultimate disruption. Alexis—Exi—is caught by his talent and sexual magnetism. Yet under the glow, she senses trouble, not only danger from Bo’s past mistakes, but something inside tearing him apart. 

From the moment Bo sees Exi, he knows she’s special, but not only that—she’s real. Unlike the theater scene he’s been immersed in, she sees the man he is and won’t stop until she’s reached inside and brought that person from despair to life … if only they have time. 

With violent forces against them, can they get beyond the damage to love that heals and restores? 

My Thoughts:

To be honest, I have mixed feelings about this one.  I've read many novels by Kristen, and I've enjoyed them all (my favorite is still Halo).  With "Told You Twice" and her previous book ("Told You So"), her writing takes on a realism that could make some readers uncomfortable.

And I don't know how I feel about that.  Exi (cute nickname) is drawn to Bo, and he is a total bad boy.  He's seen things and done things that could make your hair curl.  Still, Exi sees the true man inside the bad boy, and she's determined to help draw him out.

Bo, intent on feeding his wild side, also feels drawn to Exi, but he knows he isn't good for her.  He turns up the volume on his badness, and the consequences finally catch up with him.  This is when the book really drew me in.  The transformation is real and powerful, and the realism is chilling.

But the detail is gritty (not explicit or gratuitous), so it's definitely not your mama's romantic novel!  If you crave romance that feels more anchored in the real world, then this is your kind of book.  If you choose your reading as more of an escape, you might want to find different reading material.  I encourage you to sample "Told You Twice" and see what you think.

My thanks to Kristen for an advance copy of "Told You Twice" in exchange for an honest review.  This is definitely "one to watch".  Until the next review,

Mark Your Place,
Deena

Sit, Stay, Love by Dana Mentink

• File Size: 765 KB
• Print Length: 226 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0736966072
• Publisher: Harvest House Publishers (April 1, 2016)
• Publication Date: April 1, 2016
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

About the Book:

Take one abrasive professional athlete, a quirky out-of-work schoolteacher, and an overweight geriatric dog, and you're ready for a lesson in love...Tippy style.

Pro baseball pitcher Cal Crawford is not a dog guy. When he inherits his deceased mother's elderly dog, Tippy, he's quick to call on a pet-sitting service.

Gina isn't thrilled to be a dog sitter when her aspirations lie in the classroom. Furthermore, she can't abide the unfriendly Cal, a man with all the charm of a wet towel. But with no other prospects and a deep love for all things canine, she takes the job caring for Tippy.

As Gina travels through Cal's world with Tippy in tow, she begins to see Cal in a different light. Gina longs to show Cal the God-given blessings in his life that have nothing to do with baseball or fame. When her longing blooms into attraction, Gina does her best to suppress it. But Cal is falling in love with her too...

Discover the charming story of Tippy, the dog who brought a family together.

My Thoughts:

What a fun story!  This was a great summer read, and "Sit, Stay, Love" will have you giggling on one page while tearing up on another.  Tippy is hilarious!  I wouldn't mind a pup like her!  The story reflects on judging someone without really knowing them first.

Cal tries to come across as a typical professional jock, but he has more layers than even he realizes. And Gina seems like a scatter-brain, but her heart is huge, and she draws the real Cal out for us to fall in love. If you have ever known you were more than you appeared and just wanted a chance to show your real stuff, this is a story that will resonate with you.

My thanks to my friends at Harvest House Publishing for an advance copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.  I'm giving "Sit, Stay, Love" my 'One to Watch' award.  This book is available now, and the sequel "Fetching Sweetness" is up on my to-be-read list.  I'll review that one soon, but until then...

Mark Your Place,

Deena

Throw Back Thursday: The Last Con by Zachary Bartels

About the Book:

Former con man Fletcher Doyle is finally home after six years in the pen. He’s working a menial job, regaining his bearings in the world, and trying to revive his relationships with his wife and twelve-year-old daughter. No easy feat.

But when Fletcher and his family go on a mission trip to Detroit—in the company of the condescending church leader who also happens to be his landlord—Fletcher finds his old life waiting for him. Within hours of arriving in the city, he’s been blackmailed into doing a job for a mysterious criminal who calls himself The Alchemist.

A series of relics hidden by the Knights of Malta, as ancient as they are priceless, are in the sights of The Alchemist. What he needs is a gifted grifter with a background in ecclesiastical history . . . what he needs is Fletcher Doyle.

Between hiding his reawakened criminal life from his wife and trying to hide her from their relentless landlord, Fletcher is ready to give up. But when his family is drawn into the dangerous world he can’t shake, Fletcher is forced to rely on his years in the game to save the only people who mean more to him than the biggest con in history.

My Thoughts:

Attention all fans of Leverage, The Sting, The Italian Job, or The Librarians!!!!!

This is a book you MUST. NOT. MISS.  Zachary Bartels exploded on the fiction scene with his debut novel, "Playing Saint".  Now, his sophomore novel is head and shoulders one of the best of the current offerings today.

Imagine you are a career criminal in the art of fraud.  You finally get convicted, do your time, and then try to redeem your family's trust.

But then, the deal of a lifetime comes by you, and it's for good, not for evil.  What do you do??  That's the basic premise of "The Last Con".  Yes, there is some ancient church history, cloaked in 'Da Vinci Code' type mystery.

But, oh, the twists!  The turns!  The mind-bending loop-di-loops!  My heart races through the entire book, and it was better than any thrill ride you can find.  What a movie this would make!

For now, it's a true movie for the mind, and one you do not want to miss.  My thanks to my friends at NetGalley for an advance copy.  This one is so good I plan on getting my own, even though I received a copy in exchange for my review.

Highly, highly, highly recommended.

Seriously.

Why are you still here??  Get thee to a bookstore immediately!  Until then...

Mark Your Place,

Deena

Disillusioned by Christy Barritt

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Waterfall Press (August 9, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1503934799
• ISBN-13: 978-1503934795

About the Book:

Nikki Wright is desperate to help her brother, Bobby, who hasn’t been the same since escaping from a detainment camp run by terrorists in Colombia. Rumor has it that he betrayed his navy brothers and conspired with those who held him hostage, and both the press and the military are hounding him for answers. All Nikki wants is to shield her brother so he has time to recover and heal.

But soon they realize the paparazzi are the least of their worries. When a group of men try to abduct Nikki and her brother, Bobby insists that Kade Wheaton, another former SEAL, can keep them out of harm’s way. But can Nikki trust Kade? After all, the man who broke her heart eight years ago is anything but safe.…

Hiding out in a farmhouse on the Chesapeake Bay, Nikki finds her loyalties—and the remnants of her long-held faith—tested as she and Kade put aside their differences to keep Bobby’s increasingly erratic behavior under wraps. But when Bobby disappears, Nikki will have to trust Kade completely if she wants to uncover the truth about a rumored conspiracy. Nikki’s life—and the fate of the nation—depends on it.

My Thoughts:

Full disclosure:  I received a copy of "Disillusioned" from Waterfall Press via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fuller disclosure: I am employed as Christy Barritt's personal assistant.

However, allow nothing I've disclosed to cause you to disregard this review...because this is by far one of Christy's best stories yet.  And it's timely as well.  We live in the age of 'see something, say something.'  But what if what you see...isn't what is really there?

Imagine you or someone you love is labeled a terrorist.  The government has just enough information that, even though you know this person so well, even you wonder if it could be true.  Now imagine that you are pulled into the crime, and labeled a danger to society, with a bounty on your head.

Chilling, isn't it?  And it could happen so easily...that is the truly frightening part.  In "Disillusioned", you'll meet Nikki Wright, struggling to overcome the aftereffects of a horrifying marriage.  You'll also meet her brother, Bobby, who suffers from PTSD...or does he?  Then there is Kade, and Ten Man, and Marti...you'll have a host of characters to love!

As you read, imagine this story is happening to you.  You won't be able to not think about it.  Christy has crafted a thriller that could truly be 'ripped from the headlines', and it just might keep you up all night long.  It did me.

My thanks again to Waterfall Press for my copy in exchange for a review.  "Disillusioned" is available now, and receives my "For Such a Time" rating.

Top Ten Tuesday: Ten Favorite Novels

Hope you all had a wonderful Labor Day weekend!  I decided to take a holiday, and it turned into to sick leave...so forgive me for posting late today!

Here are my Top Ten Favorite Novels...these are the stories that have lingered in my imagination for a long, long time..the unforgettable stories...

1) Sophie's Heart by Lori Wick--this book makes me cry, and I used to read it at least once a year!  But reviewing keeps me from re-reading unfortunately.  Sophie is from Europe, seeking life here in the United States.  Circumstances lead her to work as a nanny for a recently widowed man, caring for his three children.  Powerful story!

2) Riven by Jerry B. Jenkins--true confession time: I never read the Left Behind Series.  Didn't care for them much, because I grew up with prophecy taught 24/7/365 so I avoided anything to do with Revelation!  BUT, I fell in love with the story of a convict and a preacher, both struggling to find hope and meaning in their callings...this is Jerry's reason for writing!

3) The Mark of the Lion Series by Francine Rivers--nothing has ever come close to the epicness that is this trilogy.  My husband read it, and he agrees.  Ancient Rome and modern day America are so similar it is frightening, and viewing the Biblical events through fictional eyes is powerful.  No wonder the series is once again celebrating a huge anniversary!

4) The Blood of Kings Trilogy by Jill Williamson--when I read this series I discovered an entire genre of books to love!  I never really cared much for inspirational fantasy fiction until I read these books.  So very good, and now I'm reading her new series, The Kinsman Chronicles, which is loosely based on this series.

5) The Eyes of E'veria duology by Serena Chase--if ever there was a series I wish I hadn't read, just so I could have the joy of discovery, it would be this one.  Serena's books are laced with playfulness, danger, intrigue and are so engaging...I wouldn't mind living in the pages for a couple of months, at least!

6) The Shadow of Your Smile by Susan May Warren--actually, I love all of her Deep Haven novels, but this one really captured me.  A rough patch in a marriage, an accident, and a loss of memory...all converge to create a captivating tale.

7) The Great Christmas Bowl by Susan May Warren--this little Christmas novella had me laughing, crying, and wishing I was next door neighbors with Susan!  It's a quick read, but so much fun!

8) The Wedding Dress by Rachel Hauck--I'd been a fan of Rachel's novels before this, but when she started pouring her creative heart into all things wedding, I was captivated.  The Wedding Dress started it all, and each subsequent book gets better and better.

9) Secrets of a Charmed Life by Susan Meissner--imagine if details from your life today were somehow connected with a life lived in the past.  A request for an interview leads to a story about war torn England where the bombs feel like they are being dropped on your neighborhood, the separations tear at your heart, and seeing the tapestry of a life lived brings appreciation for your own masterpiece.

10)

Just waiting to fill the final slot...I know the book is out there.  Until then...

Mark Your Place,

Deena

When Jesus Was a Green-Eyed Brunette by Max Davis

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Worthy Publishing (November 1, 2016)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 161795800X
• ISBN-13: 978-1617958007

About the Book:

When Jesus Was a Green-Eyed Brunette weaves heartwarming and miraculous stories of Jesus showing up in ordinary people, revealing that He knows us and is fully present in our everyday circumstances, especially in our difficulties. As best-selling author Max Davis puts it, "When we are born again, Jesus lives inside each of us. He is very much alive today and still does incredible things -- sometimes supernatural things -- through us!"

Davis's own life was dramatically altered when he first came face-to-face with Jesus living inside a green-eyed brunette. That encounter started a forty-plus-year journey where Jesus became his best friend. 

When we see others as God sees us we will love them as God loves us.  Those hurting and weary from worn-out religion are longing for a fresh touch from the living Jesus. By letting Jesus live through us we become a conduit of His love. Authentic Christianity is not about religion but a relationship with Jesus. 

Davis challenges us to do more than simply receive His grace -- we need to allow grace to soften, change, and shape us. As you read this book, you will laugh, cry, and come face-to-face with the living Jesus.

My Thoughts:

As an avid reader and passionate reviewer, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the massive number of books available in today's market.  How do I decide what to read?  What to review?  How?  Sometimes I'm attracted to a book simply from viewing the cover design.  You have to admit, the layout and the title are rather attention-grabbing!  But I've read Max's work before, so I requested an advance copy of his latest book from Worthy Publishing via NetGalley (thank you!).  

It's a book like this one that makes my work so enjoyable.  "When Jesus Was a Green-Eyed Brunette" is a memoir, but it's not.  It's a book of theology, but it's not.  It's a collection of heartwarming stories illustrating the power of Christ that lives in each of us when we come to Him and believe.  Okay, that it is...

But it's so much more.  Max shares about meeting this green-eyed brunette, and how Jesus living in her 

made a huge impact in his life.  He tells about finding faith in Jesus, and about his adventures in living out his faith in real and tangible ways.  What Max doesn't do is preach.  He doesn't lecture.  And he doesn't 'talk above our heads'.

He writes from his heart and his genuine belief that allowing Christ to work through us changes our world in powerful, but sometimes unnoticed ways.  Many of us know the story of Todd Beamer on Flight 94, crashing into the field rather than the White House on September 11, 2001.  But did you hear the story of Norman Williams?  His life was changed on a flight as well...and it is amazing.

Or Bobby Funderburk, a man who cared for his wife as she battled cancer.  Caught in the overwhelming tide of grief, what God did for him will astound you.  It shouldn't, but it will.  Because we often don't take the time to think of the impact Jesus has through us, His children.  Our world has grown so bleak, cynical and jaded I think we forget to look for the pearls of great price that God places all around us.  And that He still uses believers to impact our world for His glory.

Max grabbed me with his clever title, but he held me with his words.  This man is a powerful storyteller, both fiction and true life stories, and you'll appreciate his words as they soak into your parched and thirsty soul.  We're all looking for a move of God...the move we're looking for could be right in front of us, if we could just look for Jesus in a Green-Eyed Brunette...or a brown-eyed book reviewer...

Again, my thanks to my friends at Worthy Publishing for my advance copy.  "When Jesus Was a Green-Eyed Brunette" releases this November, so put it on your list and get your pre-order in now.  This is a book 'For Such a Time'...don't miss it!  And don't forget to...

Mark Your Place,

Deena

Throwback Thursday: Southern Fried Sushi by Jennifer Rogers Spinola

So, this is the day of the week when I bring you a review from yesterday...and my old review website!

Back Cover Blurp:

Ride the rollercoaster of Shiloh Jacobs’s life as her dreams derail, sending her on a downward spiral from the heights of an AP job in Tokyo to penniless in rural Virginia. Trapped in a world so foreign to her sensibilities and surrounded by a quirky group of friends, will she break through her hardened prejudices before she loses those who want to help her? Can she find the key to what changed her estranged mother’s life so powerfully before her death that she became a different woman—and can it help Shiloh too?

My Thoughts:

I LOVE SHILOH P. JACOBS!  Her life is an adventurer's dream, working for the Associated Press in Tokyo, Japan.  And she does love her all things Japanese...a bit too much!  Even her best friend Kyoko isn't as enamored of Japan and her culture quite as much as Shiloh.

Unfortunately, a very unwise choice costs Shiloh everything, and plunges her into a world so very foreign to her...Virginia.  Returning to settle her estranged mother's estate, Shiloh encounters 'red neck' culture at its very finest...and learns more than she'd bargained for about her mom, her life, and just what she, Shiloh P. Jacobs, is truly made of.

The characterization is rich, the dialogue is snappy, and the humor is witty and delightful.  Jennifer has found a place on my 'must read' list of authors, and I'm in love with the "Southern Fried Sushi" series.  

I received an advance copy via NetGalley from Barbour Publishers in exchange for my honest review, and I'm posting in support of the "Road to the Christys" blog tour.  If I had a vote, Jennifer would win her category hands down...highly recommended.

Mark Your Place,

Deena