Whiteout ~ Review

Whiteout

By Lynette Eason

  and Dani Pettrey

The cold isn't the only killer...

Can I just start out by saying WOW! Whiteout gives two times the reading suspense in this two-in-one book! We get Buried in Shadows from Dani Pettrey and Snowbound Secrets from Lynette Eason. Both stories are set in Colorado on a mountain when an avalanche cuts all concerned parties off from the outside world. Yes, this bad but soon an even greater danger is revealed when not one, but two killers are discovered among them.  

In Buried in Shadows Cassandra Parker had begun to think that her stalker had finally quit checking an eye on her, it's been a year since she was forced to back out of her wedding. But a friend's destination wedding finds Cassandra in Colorado with the man she jilted, Joel Brunswick, and her stalker. When an avalanche strands the entire wedding party in an abandoned cabin, the stalker lets Cassandra know exactly how far he'll go to keep her away from the man she loves. 

So, this story is suspense filled and just a little creepy as we get a glimpse into the stalker's POV. Okay more than a little creepy, more like a whole lotta creepy. And everyone's lives are in danger as the stalker makes his presence known while staying hidden in the background while a big old snowstorm rages outside. Not a before bedtime read, unless you want a reason to stay up late into the night.

In Snowbound Secrets Maya Sullivan is reunited with her past when she decides to take a few days at a Colorado ski resort. When an avalanche cuts the resort off from all contact from the outside world, she's surprised to find Gideon Price also there. She had crushed on Gideon when they were younger, but time and their pasts have left a mark on them both. But when someone decides to target Maya, Gideon offers to help protect her. But why someone would decide to do so is unclear. And until they can discover a motive they can't figure out who is after her.

This story kept me guessing until the villain was revealed, and it was definitely a page-turner and a late night read.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own. 

About the Book:

Brace yourself for double the suspense in these snowbound adventures as an avalanche forces two couples to face down their enemies in a ski resort shut off from the outside world.

In Buried in Shadows by Dani Pettrey, Cassandra Parker arrives at her best friend's destination wedding, praying her stalker hasn't tracked her to Colorado. Also part of the wedding party is Sheriff Joel Brunswick, the man she stunned by leaving at the altar to hide a dangerous truth. When an avalanche strands their ski group in an abandoned lodge, it becomes chillingly clear that Cassandra's stalker has followed her . . . and he's willing to kill to make her his.

In Snowbound Secrets by Lynette Eason, Dr. Maya Sullivan fully intends to escape her past and finish planning a retreat for military veterans at the ranch she's inherited. Unfortunately, her plans go sideways when an avalanche traps her in a Colorado ski resort. An unexpected reunion with her high school crush forces her to confront past wounds, but she soon realizes someone is targeting her, and their search for a shadowy enemy becomes a matter of life and death.

A gripping romantic suspense novella collection from bestselling authors Lynette Eason and Dani Pettrey featuring second-chance romance, trapped together forced proximity, military and law enforcement heroes, a small-town destination wedding, and snowbound survival at a Colorado ski resort.

Falling for the Winged Witch ~ Review

Falling for the Winged Witch

To Win a Dark Heart #3

By Sarah Beran

Being a stepmother to children nearly your own age is not what Lindy wanted for her life. And apparently neither did her stepsons. But as a now unnecessary heir to the throne, her father needs to make way for her brother. Lindy's been trained to be a queen, and this is an excellent way to be done with her. So what if the king she is to marry is on the older side?

Lindy has an unfortunate reputation, and when the elderly king she's married to dies, she's blamed. Okay, maybe she did turn a prince into a frog, but that was years ago. She didn't kill the king, and she has no aspirations to the throne. Not that anyone believes her.

When her stepsons play yet another prank that goes too far, Lindy is left heartbroken and accidentally curses her stepsons, including the crown prince. The only way to set everything right is to flee the castle and the charges of murder being brought against her. She needs to break the curse, and to do so will take time.

As she works, she comes across another victim of her stepsons' "fowl" prank, a giant looking for his stolen goose. Yikes! But Atlas is determined to wait until the curse is broken. Yes, he wants his goose back that much. And he can't get much from Lindy. During the daylight hours, Lindy cannot speak; it's all part of the curse-breaking process. 

This was a cute mash-up of Jack and the Beanstalk and The Wild Swans. The story was a unique and engaging read. Perfect for a late-night reading treat.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

A widowed queen trapped by her past.

A giant who just wants to be left alone.

A fowl curse that could cost them both everything.

Lindy never wanted to get married or have children—especially not seven stepsons old enough to be her brothers and a doddering royal husband. Just when it seems like things couldn’t possibly get any worse, the king suddenly dies, and her sinister reputation for casting curses means that all eyes and fingers are pointed at her. Rather than support their new mother, her stepsons seem determined to do everything they can to make her life miserable. When the youngest fills her room with water fowl as a prank, Lindy finally decides to take things into her own hands—and everything goes wrong.

Atlas lives with his head in the clouds, and he likes it that way. His ancestral home is hidden away so high in the mountains that it’s practically inaccessible. But somehow the secret has slipped, and he keeps chasing away unwanted visitors. After the latest break-in ends with his prized goose missing, Atlas is forced to do the one thing never wanted: climb down the beanstalk.

Unfortunately, the scoundrel who took his goose is now a swan, and the only way to get him to tell Atlas where she is is to help the witch who cast the curse in the first place. The nettlesome woman won’t give him the time of day, refusing to speak until the sun goes down. When she does, it’s to instruct him in the most ridiculous task he’s ever heard of.

But Atlas really wants to get his goose and go home, and if knitting is the way to achieve that, so be it. If only the task didn’t threaten to knit his heart to hers in the process…

Falling for the Winged Witch is a combined retelling of Jack and the Beanstalk and The Wild Swans, featuring tropes such as Unlikely Allies, Found Family, and Opposites Attract. It is the third book in the To Win a Dark Heart series, which retells fairy tales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending.

Target for Abduction ~ Review

Target for Abduction

Lone Star Defenders #4

By Virginia Vaughan

Five years ago Deena Thompson's life changed and she hasn't seen him since. Not until she thwarted a kidnapping attempt. Now she and her son are being targeted. Is it related? That's a question Deena and John Pearson, the FBI agent assigned to the case want to know. 

Did Deena come to the attention of the kidnappers because she rescued one small boy? Or was she already a target? A target they wish to eliminant.

Target for Abduction takes the reader on a journey of emotions as Deena and John are forced to confront the past while working to determine if the attacks and the kidnappings are related. 

As long held truths come out the danger increases and emotions grow. How do you separate your job from your family? If Deena and John can't figure out the balance they may lose everything they hold dear.

This was an intense and engaging read. This wasn't your typical kidnapping read. No, it was targeted and darker. It wasn't just about the children; it was about manipulation and undermining what is. As with all Love Inspired Suspense books there was nothing graphic and the language won't make you cringe. Perfect for those wanting their suspense and romance in the clean zone.

I was provided a complimentary copy of the book with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.                                

About the Book:

The search for missing children

reveals a dangerous enemy.

Thwarting a kidnapping attempt places Sheriff Deena Thompson in the crosshairs of a child-abduction ring, and now they want her son—and want her dead. To track down the vanished children, she teams up with FBI agent John Pearson, who’s determined to make up for his rocky past…and unaware that he’s the father of her child. When their investigation uncovers a sinister cult bent on brainwashing their young victims, Deena and John know they need to close in fast. With danger coming from all sides and threats against their son escalating, they race to dismantle this menacing scheme…before more innocent lives are taken.

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

Lone Star Defenders

Book 1: Dangerous Christmas Investigation
Book 2: Missing in Texas
Book 3: Protecting the Texas Witness
Book 4: Target for Abduction

Severed Ties ~ Day Review

Severed Ties

Dauntless Defenders #3

By Taylor S. Newport

First off, you can enjoy and follow this book without reading the first two, though you will be missing parts of the backstory that is referenced in the book.  Alex Romanova has a difficult past and is having trouble finding her way back into the life that was ripped away from her. Her family is limited to a grandfather whose health is failing and cousins she doesn't know. But when she learns that a drug her late mother developed has been stolen and about to be misused, she knows she has to recover it. Unfortunately, she must work with the man who she hasn't heard from in over a year.

Tyler Reid doesn't get close to anyone. He can't afford to, as a mercenary, they'd just be used against him. He's satisfied that Alex is safe in Russia living the life she was supposed to. The last thing he wanted was to be pulled into a dangerous situation with her. But with the director of the CIA pulling the strings they have no choice in the matter.

As Tyler and Alex face the dangers of rescuing a missing doctor, each step forward pulls them deeper into the net that Rawlings has tightening around them. Can they determine Rawling's end game before it is too late? 

This is an action-filled book that took this reader from Russia to Australia to Washington, D.C. to India, as danger and a dangerous threat threaten all. Tyler and Alex have some definite issues to work through. I'd suggest talking but a mercenary who wants to keep his distance from everyone and a woman who is haunted by her past and appearing weak already have a lot going against them. There are faith elements in this book, no in your face preachy moments. No, it centers on Alex and her desire to move beyond her past. When she feels moments of weakness she reaches out in prayer, asking for help and strength.

Overall, this was a good read and one I'd recommend to those who want action but not all of the graphic violence and language that come from mainstream publications.

I was provided a complimentary copy with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

He’s left the past where it belongs. But then it comes knocking at his door.

The silence following Tyler Reid's last mission has him eager for the next job. So when a woman from his past shows up on his doorstep with a new task—extracting a kidnapped Indian doctor from rival mercenaries—he’s ready to move. It’s dangerous. It’s fast-moving. It’s exactly what he wants. The only problem is Alexandra Romanova is going too—the one person who sees the cracks in his armor he's trying to hide.

Alexandra “Alex” Romanova has returned to Russia, but she’s not ready to step into her father’s legacy. So she seizes the chance to delay that future. Especially when she learns who’s missing—and who’s going after him. But working alongside Tyler again tests more than her training. He’s different. More guarded. And something in him is unraveling.

From Libya to India to Morocco, the team races to find the missing doctor while avoiding the trap the enemy has set. But every step closer to the truth puts more pressure on the cracks already forming. And as the mission begins to spiral, Alex realizes the real danger may not be the enemies chasing them—but the severed ties Tyler leaves behind when he decides the mission is over.

Falling for the Trickster ~ Review

Falling for the Trickster

To Win a Dark Heart #1

By Lucy Tempest

Falling for the Trickster is a Rumpelstiltskin/Goose Girl mashup that focuses on the maid who tried to usurp her princess. In this retelling, the princess is awful, and no one can blame Ottoline for wanting a better life, considering Princess Gertrude's abuse. 

When she is offered the chance to switch places and get the life Gertrude is assured of, Ottoline takes it. It will only cost her an unknown favor to Roderick. What could it truly cost if he can switch things up so easily?

Yeah, it's never a good choice to make a bargain without knowing the costs. But nothing is as Ottoline, Gertrude, and Roderick expected because the king of Orcage demands that the "princess" turn objects to gold. Her upcoming marriage to the prince is not enough to dispel the debts owed to Orcage. 

Does anyone else see the problem? 

With the assistance of Roderick again, for the price of a kiss, everything will be great. Not so, the king is not so easily satisfied, and Roderick's gold-turning abilities are limited. Everyone needs a reset, but nope, not happening. What follows is a sweet yet dangerous attempt to stop the king and get what both Ottoline and Roderick truly want.

I loved how various aspects of the Goose Girl and Rumpelstiltskin played out. There is a lovely interweaving that allows both tales to be fully present while offering something new and fresh. The villains get their day, and in this retelling, you will be rooting for them to succeed. 

I was provided a complimentary copy with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Rumpelstiltskin meets The Goose Girl.

An opportunistic maid.

A manipulative faerie.

A gilded deal that binds them both.

Ottoline has had enough. After years of enduring Princess Gertrude’s cruelty, the maid’s patience snaps during their voyage to the foreign kingdom of Orcage, where the princess is to marry the crown prince to settle a royal debt. There, she crosses paths with a silver-haired, silver-tongued man with a penchant for deals and deception.

Cunning and ambitious, fae nobleman Lord Roderick von Ravenstock offers Ottoline the opportunity of a lifetime: to switch places with her tormentor and claim the life of a princess.

With a snap of his fingers, she is set to live the life she had dreamed of at the glimmering court of Orcage...until its superstitious king demands she fulfill her kingdom's debt by turning everything into gold.

Trapped by her own masquerade, Ottoline turns to Roderick again, and he offers to save her, in exchange for a kiss.

One kiss. One favor. One step closer to ruin.

As the king’s demands escalate, so do Roderick’s bargains, each adding another layer to his plot against the royal family, and drawing her deeper into a deadly game of magic and court intrigue. But when the king’s greed spirals beyond control, Ottoline has no choice but to escape into Faerie where she falls from one monster’s grasp into the next.

Risking his plans, Roderick saves her and, as she recovers under his watchful gaze, the forced proximity begins to crack their defenses, revealing who they are underneath their roles as the trickster and the fraud. Villains in the lives of others, but heroes of their own stories.

Together, they plot one last con to bring the king to his knees. But nothing ever goes to plan, especially when hearts are on the line.

Falling For the Trickster is the first book in the To Win a Dark Heart series which retells fairytales as old as time, but this time it’s the villain’s turn to get a happy ending.

Author Interview with Katherine Weda

 Today, I'm thrilled to share with you, my recent interview with Katherine Weda, one of the authors in the upcoming book Love & Loyalty.

Who is your favorite comfort read author?

Gosh, this is a hard one, but I'll try to give a straightforward answer. I love Joy Jenkins, who is the author of a contemporary novel, A Secret Service, along with the companion series, Open Case File, which is comprised of three one-shot collections following the characters from her novel. I have read A Secret Service at least once a year since purchasing it back in 2022. Joy and her characters never get old, and I hope she writes more someday.

Who, past or present, is one author you would like to mentor you?

Madisyn Carlin is an author I would love to have mentor me. She is an author who has written so many amazing, wonderful non-magical Christian fantasy novels and novellas and I wish I could pick her brain for how she delivers such complex and gripping stories that keep readers turning pages without the magic.

If you could have a cup of tea with anyone, who would it be?

I would love to have a cup of tea with a number of people, including three well-known British authors, but I think what I would enjoy most is sitting down with both sets of grandparents (3/4 have passed on now) and talk to them about what life was like as they were growing up. 

Who is your favorite character in your novella?

Do I have to pick just one? Fine, I'd have to say I enjoyed writing Malakai's character, even though I relate to Esther. I don't know how to explain it, I just really enjoyed writing Malakai's perspective scenes, and seeing things unfold from his point of view. Again, I do relate to different aspects of Esther and Malakai's characters, as both represent parts of me, Malakai is just, somehow, more relatable.

What is a favorite part of writing your novella?

My favorite part is including pieces that link back to the original fairy tale. I have, of course, taken liberties in this retelling, such as the fact that Malakai is not the crown prince (as he is often portrayed) and the fact that Esther's father is still alive (whereas he is dead before or dies soon after the start of the story in the original and many retellings). 

Also, I really enjoyed working with sibling bonds/dynamics, especially since I have a younger brother and wanted to portray an active sibling relationship (whereas other works in progress don't have such strong of a sibling element). I am giving a disclaimer now: any and all interactions between the royal children are inspired by but not directly copied from, my own interactions with my brother. 

Is there a specific line or scene from Project Dance that you feel pointed the entire story in a specific direction?

Without giving too much away, I think that the scene between Malakai and his brother, Adam, right before the first ball, is very powerful and after I added it, I went back to earlier chapters and tweaked some things to make it even more meaningful.  

What one question would you like to be asked, and how would you answer it?

I would love to be asked "what's next?" by my readers, since I have so many ideas yelling at me for attention that it's hard to keep track.  

The funny thing is, when I thought up Esther and Malakai's story, I didn't intend for there to be more in this world…but then I met a whole cast of characters along the way and began to learn their stories, several of which we begin to see hints of in this novella. School is, at the moment, my priority, but I am already hard at work plotting and brainstorming the next book(s). 

I'm keeping most of it under wraps for now, but my newsletter subscribers will be the first to know any updates. However, one thing I can share is that almost all of the books I have planned in the Kingdoms of Havengard have at least one main character introduced in my Love & Loyalty novella. 

Thank you, Katherine, for taking time to let us get to know you. I know I'm looking forward to reading Love & Loyalty. If anyone wants to preorder the book you can find it at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0F9S4975F

Want to keep up on Katherine Weda? You can connect with her online at the following links.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/author.k.weda/

Newsletter Signup: https://author-katherine-weda.kit.com/a7455e0a4e

Of Dawn and Embers ~ Release Day and Review

Of Dawn and Embers

The Fireborn Epic #3

By Gillian Bronte Adams

This book was so good. I love how it builds on the previous book, Of Sea and Smoke. The fallout from rescuing Ceridwen is still being felt. Rafi has been captured and comes face-to-face with the past he has been running from. Jakim is returning home to his people, a people his sister long ago whispered he was destined to save.

But the land and the people are under attack from the empire and its usurper emperor. These three, separated, must somehow reunite in their efforts to stop the empire's push for an ancient power long dormant. But victory is not assured, with the numbers decidedly against them.

This book captures one's attention and holds it throughout. The future is in doubt. Throughout our heroes are faced with choices that could potentially lead to their deaths. But they are determined to free themselves, their people, and their lands from the sadistic cruelty of a ruler who will destroy them all in his quest for dominance. 

I loved how these characters all grew throughout the series yet still grappled with weaknesses as we all do. They weren't perfect but they were relatable. And I absolutely love all the Solborn horses. I so want one of each!

I enjoyed this book in both print and audio. The book is read by the author, and it is excellent, however you decide to enjoy it. I love the audio because the unique names and places are presented as the author envisioned them being pronounced. 

I was provided an early ARC with no expectations. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

He rides a dawnling, a steed of light and glory, destined to restore.

Jakim Ha’Nor will save his people, or so says the prophecy that upended his life and drove his brothers to betray him. Now, he has returned as the dawnrider to fulfill his purpose and reconcile with his brothers—only to find himself embroiled in a war.

Captured in the fallout of a deadly attack, Rafi grapples with the ghosts of the past. His brother is alive but no longer himself, and Rafi will stop at nothing to save him. Farther up the coast, Ceridwen strives to reignite the embers of the rebellion to burn the empire down. When Rafi is sentenced to execution before the imperial court, Ceridwen must rally every spear and steed she can for a blistering strike at the heart of the capital.

But the empire’s schemes are already in motion, and Jakim’s two missions collide when an unexpected encounter with one of his brothers reveals the true threat behind the imperial thirst for ancient secrets. Hidden forces intend to unleash a cataclysmic power, spurring Ceridwen, Rafi, and Jakim to challenge the full, crushing might of the empire for the fate of the world.

Stars weep and ash falls as the tides of battle propel the Fireborn queen, the Sea-Demon prince, and the Dawnrider priest toward a meteoric clash in this thunderous series finale.