Enthralled: steamy romance with drama, passionate love and sweet emotional moments

Enthralled is the first book in The Tribute series by J. Akridge. Cole Barker is a rockstar who is used to having any woman he wants. He had made some bad decisions in the past, decisions that caused the deepest pain. Feeling unworthy of real love for past transgressions, Cole is determined to close his heart to all. Why does Mia fill his thoughts like no other? Mia is a florist after inheriting her grandmother’s shop. She thought she was happy. She thought she knew what the rest of her life would be like. Even if she is settling for familiarity, for comfort instead of love. She never imagined how her life would turn upside down when Cole walked into her shop. She never imagined she would discover what she has been missing. Together, they will discover that healing and forgiveness is possible and a passionate love they have only dreamed of. 

From the opening chapter to the closing epilogue, this story takes hold and does not let go. Filled with drama and sweet emotional moments, Enthralled is a fast paced story. I enjoyed Cole and Mia as individuals and as a couple. There are people and circumstances that try to keep them apart but they are destined to be together. There are a few spicy scenes. There are intense moments of danger and there are moments of shock that left my jaw on the floor. I also loved the family and found family aspect with the secondary characters. Even the villains of the story were worthy of the scorn the readers will feel and the comeuppance they receive in the story. I could not put this book down! I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series. I highly recommend Enthralled. 

Enthralled is available in paperback and eBook

Good Girl, Bad Blood: the clock is ticking when a local man goes missing

Good Girl, Bad Blood is the second book in the A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder trilogy by Holly Jackson. With the help of Ravi Singh, Pippa “Pip” Fitz-Amobi released a true crime podcast detailing their investigation into the disappearance of Andie Bell and the death of Sal Singh. As the podcast has gone viral, she makes a promise: no more investigations. However, she is about to break that promise. On the night of the memorial for the sixth year anniversary of the case, Jamie Reynolds disappears. The police won’t take his family’s pleas for an investigation, Connor, Jamie’s brother, turns to Pip. As she starts her investigation, she begins to uncover more of the town’s dark secrets but this time, everyone is listening. Can she find Jamie before it’s too late? 

Good Girl, Bad Blood opens as the trial begins on the Bell-Singh case. From the opening chapter to the closing epilogue, this case was a fast paced race against time as Pip knows every minute counts in a missing person case. I found Good Girl, Bad Blood to be much more engaging than the first book. Pip is my favorite character and loved her vulnerability and dogged determination to see a positive outcome to this case, even though logic and statistics would tell her otherwise. I also enjoyed Ravi, her boyfriend, as the calm to her storm. They are a great team. Overall, I enjoyed this story and I am jumping into the third book soon. If you enjoy a young adult detective story, I highly recommend A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder. If you enjoyed the first book, I highly recommend Good Girl, Bad Blood. 

Good Girl, Bad Blood is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Between the Shady Groves: sometimes going home is the path to happiness, love and forgiveness

Between the Shady Groves is the tenth book in the Raspberry Ridge Sweet Beach Romance series by Jessie Gussman. Twelve years ago, Lauren left the small town of Raspberry Ridge for the glittering city life and full of ambition. Now, she is married and life isn’t what she imagined. After a series of devastating miscarriages, the death of her mother and her emotionally unaware husband, Lauren returns to her hometown and the family bakery, desperate to find herself again and find the healing she desperately needs. With every familiar sight and scent, stirs memories of heartbreak, anger and abandoned dreams, Lauren takes up her mother’s legacy and opens the bakery once again. As friendships renew and blossom, Lauren finds the sense of belonging she is looking for. What she doesn’t expect is her husband, Cannon, arriving in town with pleads of forgiveness. Lauren must learn that true happiness is not escaping the past but embracing love, family and forgiveness. 

I have not read the earlier books in the Raspberry Ridge series; however, the story sounded promising, so I took a chance. From the very beginning Lauren is a shell of herself and desperate to feel comfort and love from those around her. I empathized with Lauren as someone who has experienced multiple miscarriages as others around me were having babies; however, where I couldn’t sympathize with her is her attitude toward her husband. She expected Cannon to read her mind and know what is wrong, what she wants and needs. Her favorite repeated line was he’s smart, he can figure it out. Men, and people in general, need to be told point blank, "I need this or that.” Overall, I did not like Lauren or Cannon and even though they came to a resolution at the end, I didn’t find myself cheering for them. If you are a fan of the Raspberry Ridge series, I recommend Between the Shady Groves. 

Between the Shady Groves is available in paperback and eBook. 

Matthew: from hated tax collector to gospel writer; from an old life to a new purpose

Capernaum was a key military center for Roman troops with a thriving business community as several major highways passed through bringing merchants as far away as Egypt and Mesopotamia. Matthew was a tax collector in Capernaum who was called by Jesus, left his booth and followed Jesus, observing and taking notes. His observations would become the Gospel of Matthew. There is not much known about Matthew. In the other gospels, Matthew is referred to as Levi, son of Alphaeus. The name may reflect his Jewish heritage as Levi is one of the tribes of Israel. The name, Matthew, may be the name he used when dealing with the Romans. It was common for people to have more than one name especially if they interacted with both Jewish and Roman cultures. Why is Matthew’s occupation an important note? What is special about Matthew’s gospel? What can we learn about the two major changes in Matthew’s life?

Tax collectors were collecting taxes from citizens and merchants passing through town. They were expected to take a commission on the taxes they collected. Tax collectors developed a reputation for overcharging in order to take a greater profit. It was financially profitable, albeit corrupt, therefore, tax collectors were hated among the citizens for cheating as well as their support of Rome. Matthew was a Jewish man, appointed by the Romans to be the area’s tax collector. Matthew may have been hated more as a Jewish man, taking taxes, and handing it over to the Romans, the pagan occupiers. When Jesus called Matthew to follow him, Matthew did more than just follow. He left his wealth (Luke 5:28). He left a lucrative career, guaranteed unemployment. Matthew would not have a job to go back to, unlike the other disciples like Peter and John, who had a trade to fall back on. The first thing Matthew does after he answers Jesus’s call, he invites friends to his home to meet Jesus (Matthew 9:10; Mark 2:15; Luke 5:29). He didn’t waste any time to witness. He was a changed man and he wanted others to see the reason for that change and hopefully be changed as well. 

The purpose of Matthew’s gospel is to prove that Jesus is the Messiah, the eternal King, particularly for the Jewish audience. The gospel opens with the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:1-16). The purpose of this genealogy was to show Jesus in the kingly line from the connection Abraham to King David to Jesus. Matthew’s genealogy also includes four women: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth and Bathsheba. Three of these four women were involved in sexual scandals: Tamar and Judah in Genesis 38:15-19, Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho (Joshua 2:1) and Bathsheba committed adultery with King David (2 Samuel 11:1-4). Ruth was a Moabite (Ruth 1:4). Why is this important? It is an example that God works through all people, ordinary people, for his purpose. His work is not limited to human failures or sins. The gospel of Matthew is also the only gospel to record the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7). As Matthew is writing for the Jewish audience in mind, this sermon serves as the fulfillment of the Torah as Jesus reveals the true spiritual intent of the Law that is more than simply observance. It is a deeper righteousness and call to true discipleship through love, humility and purity of heart. 

When Jesus called Matthew, there were two changes. First, a new life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says that we are new creations in Jesus as the old has gone and the new has come. Matthew went from hated to accepted. He was a despised outcast because of his job; but in Jesus, he has a new life. In Jesus, hope is restored and death is reversed like a new bud on a dying plant, God gives us new hearts to love, new eyes to see Him and new minds to bear witness to His miracles. Romans 6:4 tells us that God gives us a new life just as He raised Jesus from the dead. Second, a new purpose. When he decided to follow Jesus, Matthew wasted no time introducing other Jesus. Sometimes new believers are taught that they need to wait for spiritual maturity before introducing others to Jesus. However, believers can and should share their faith regardless of where they are in their journey because God can use whatever knowledge, skill or experience they already have for those in their lives at the moment. There is always an opportunity to share the gospel whether you are a new believer or a lifelong believer. 

In conclusion, little is known about Matthew beyond a handful of mentions in the gospel and his presence at the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-13) with no substantial record on his role in the early church. Christian tradition honors Matthew as a martyr; although, there is no record of where or how he died. Some traditions say he was stoned, beheaded, burned or stabbed. Other traditions suggest he died of natural causes like John. However, the important lesson from Matthew’s life is that Jesus accepts people from every level of society. Jesus eating with sinners at Matthew’s home shows that God’s love and message is for everyone. The Gospel of Matthew emphases Jesus’s compassion for sinners, the sick, the outcasts and the ignored. Being a follower of Jesus is not for people who think they are already good or righteous. It is for people who know they have failed and need a Savior. 

A Girl Called Samson: an unsung Revolutionary War hero

A Girl Called Samson by Amy Harmon is a fictionalized story of a real life Revolutionary War hero. In 1760, Deborah Samson is born in Plympton, Massachusetts. When her father abandons the family and her mother is unable to support Deborah and her siblings, she is bound out as an indentured servant. She lives and works with the Thomas family, she yearns for a life of freedom and adventures. As the colonies are battling for their independence, Deborah disguises herself as a soldier and enlists in the Continental Army. With her height and lanky build her transformation is persuasive and soon she finds herself witnessing the horrors of war. As Deborah fights for her country’s freedom, she must protect her secret at all costs and finds something she did not expect: love. Will she survive the war? Will her secret be discovered? 

I love history and especially American history. I have never heard of Deborah Samson. A woman born ahead of her time, Deborah fought with bravery, ingenuity and courage. Amy Harmon’s story is a fast paced story, told through letters and from Deborah’s point of view, readers will witness battles and the fight for freedom with Deborah. I found myself cheering for her, urging her on and holding my breath that she wouldn’t be caught. I also enjoyed seeing more Revolutionary War figures than the usual suspects. I learned about real life General John Paterson and Agrippa Hull, a freeman. After I finished this story, I immediately looked up the individuals and read more into their lives before, during and after the war. If you enjoy strong women characters and history, I highly, highly recommend A Girl Called Samson. 

A Girl Called Samson is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Falling for You Again: an ex-husband, a marriage of convenience and rules made to be broken

Falling For You Again by Kerry Lonsdale is a story of family, love and a marriage of convenience. Meli Hynes is a furniture artisan, raised by her uncle Bear and takes his truisms to heart. After a twenty four hour marriage during a Las Vegas fling, Meli gave marriage a shot and decided that her family’s wood crafting shop was the legacy she wanted to live for. When she learns that her uncle decides to sell to a competitor, the promised inheritance is threatened and Meli is ready to right for it. The competitor just happens to be her ex-husband’s family business and she approaches him to stop the deal. His idea? A marriage of convenience. With his own controlling family, Aaron Borland proposes a marriage in name only with public displays of affection and living together as happy newlyweds. And most importantly, never let real feelings get in the way. It may be the hardest rule of all. 

I was very excited to read the newest story by Kerry Lonsdale and when I won a copy, I immediately jumped in. From the opening page to the closing chapters, Meli and Aaron’s story was filled with heart, growth, humor and love. Overall, I liked Meli’s growth through the book. She was certainly a character I wanted to shake some sense into. However, I loved Aaron’s character from his introduction and throughout the story. Meli’s friend, Emi, was a great supporting character. A very direct, someone who will call you out on your nonsense. I loved the scene where Emi meets Aaron for the first time and gives him the “If you hurt her” speech! A few characters had a lot of jaded opinions about marriage, which I get as many haven’t had pleasant or great marriage experiences. Overall, Falling for You Again was a good, entertaining story. I was not able to put it down. I highly recommend Falling for You Again. 

Falling for You Again is available in paperback, eBook and audiobook

Now and Then: an innocent man behind bars? Graystone Investigations is on the case

Now and Then is the thirteenth book in the Hart’s Ridge series by Kay Bratt. Taylor traded her badge, and alongside her husband Sam, launched Graystone Investigations. A private detective agency fueled by grit, intuition and the pursuit of justice. Their latest case is a chance to overturn a decade old conviction when new evidence puts further doubt on the case. A man spent ten years in prison for a brutal crime, a crime he insists he did not commit. The only person who stands by his side, his wife. Taylor and Sam begin to dig into the case and discover missing evidence, unfollowed leads and truths buried. At the same time, Anna has finally found purpose in her nursing career. When a chance encounter with a new patient puts her face to face with her ex-husband, Anna finds herself falsely accused of a crime and begins the uphill battle to clear her name. 

The Hart’s Ridge series has grown to a wonderful story of family and resilience with suspense and the journey to justice. Now and Then is a story that starts slowly like a fire you didn’t know was there until it burns into a raging inferno. A man convicted by a shortsighted investigation, a wife who never gave up hope and Taylor and Sam fueled by a drive to find the truth seemingly lost in time. Anna’s story was equally engaging as I wanted to wring her ex-husband’s neck. The story does end with a cliffhanger, a heart stopping cliffhanger that I am eager to see resolved in the next book, coming soon. I loved this story as I could not put it down. If you have not read the Hart’s Ridge series, I highly, highly recommend it. If you are a fan of the Hart’s Ridge series, you will love Now and Then. 

Now and Then is available in paperback and eBook