Monday, January 29, 2024

BOOK REVIEW- The Royal Game by Linda Keir

 

General Fiction (Adult) | Mystery & Thrillers | Romance 

American pop singer Jennie Jensen is ready to marry the love of her life, England’s Prince Hugh, but someone is determined to keep her from becoming a princess—any way they can. To give her fairy tale a happy ending, she’ll have to play the royal game.

Jennie Jensen is touring Europe, already living her dream, when Prince Hugh of Wales—the future King of England—appears at a gig and requests his favorite song. He’s already smitten and soon, so is she. After a secretive, whirlwind romance, Hugh proposes, and when Jennie accepts, her world changes overnight. She’s still learning to navigate the minefield of constant scrutiny, barbed social interactions, and royal protocol (there are rules about pantyhose), as she learns that not everyone in England is excited about the prospect of an American princess.

When Jennie receives a threatening note, she can’t help but see the parallels between herself and another young woman who struggled to adjust to royal life: Hugh’s mother, Princess Penelope, who was killed in a mysterious plane crash. And as the threats to Jennie grow more serious, she digs into Penelope’s past, discovering a woman who also suspected someone in the palace was out to get her. Was Penelope murdered? And is Jennie next? With the eyes of a nation on her as the royal wedding approaches, she’s in a race against time to save her marriage … and her own life.

Both a charming love story and a thrilling mystery, The Royal Game reveals one woman’s determination to find happily ever after—on her own terms.

AMAZON LINK 

3.5 STAR

The young lovers, Jennie and Hugh I liked.  I just wish the story had pulled me in more than it did.   I do have to give the author credit for the depth of information that was shared about the life of the royals.  The rules and pomp that was so part of their rigid,regulated life.

There is more than one mystery that plagues Jennie. And yes, the one about Princess Penelope, Hugh's mother was a big one.  While well written, I am not a fan of switching back and forth between past and present.  Sure, seeing the past of what Penelope was dealing with shared a lot of secrets.  I still didn't enjoy the way it was presented.  Just my personal preference.  

The ending will be a stunner though, as Jennie's digging for the truth shocks even her !  Good ending in my opinion. 

 

 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”

- NETGALLEY-

Saturday, January 13, 2024

+BOUGHT/ Kindle/ BOOK REVIEW- Glory Warfare: How the Presence of God Empowers You to Destroy the Works of Darkness by Rebecca Greenwood

 
 
It’s time to engage in spiritual battle - and win!

When it comes to spiritual warfare, many Christians have thrown in the towel after repeated defeat. But take heart! You can be victorious!

Glory Warfare offers a powerful revelation on waging spiritual warfare from the place of triumph, God’s manifest Presence. Featuring revelatory teaching and powerful miraculous testimonies, you will discover how victory comes—not through formula or principle—but through Divine encounter!

Respected prayer leader, Becca Greenwood shows all believers how cultivating a lifestyle of encountering the Holy Spirit is the secret to victory. In His presence, you will receive God’s assignments and directives for the specific challenges you are facing. Then, you can march into battle with the assurance of His victory on your behalf.

Glory Warfare will show you how to:

  • Enter the glory realm of God to receive warfare assignments for the challenges and opposition you face.
  • Fight with boldness and confidence because you are fighting as God has directed you.
  • Pray, prophesy, and engage spiritual battle from the glory realm.
  • Activate warfare weapons: the power of worship, prophetic decree, and the roar of the Lion of Judah!
  • Operate as the Ekklesia, using Jesus’ keys of authority to bind the forces of darkness from the people, places, regions, industries and geographies they occupy.

Ignoring the war doesn’t make it stop. Don’t let the forces of darkness gain any more ground.March forth in the power of God’s Presence and wage Glory Warfare!

KINDLE VERSION AMAZON LINK
5 STARS+

glory warfare rebecca greenwood


 
 
 
What a great book this turned out to be.  So much of it resonated with me.  There were also parts that were a bit beyond me.  However, more than enough was so good. Otherwise I wouldn't have highlighted what I think must have been close to half of the book.  I enjoyed not only her personal experiences backed up with plenty of scripture.  Other people were also introduced into the book with their experiences with and without the author.  Also backed up with plenty of scripture. 

One of my favorite things is that the Strong's was used to reference the different definitions of Hebrew meanings of words. I enjoyed both the Hebrew references AND Strong's causing it to go deeper in meaning.  That alone will cause me to go back time and again to study it out more.
Because of it being such a full study, it did take me a bit longer to finish. I took my time. It was worth it.


Sunday, December 17, 2023

+BOUGHT/ BOOK REVIEW- Love Me Like You Do (A Calamity Falls Small Town Romance Novel # 11) by Erika Kelley


How did the hottest hockey player in the NHL wind up braiding hair and hosting tea parties?

Because someone was foolish enough to name him co-guardian of their children. That's how.


Cole Montgomery's living his best life--until he gets a call from an attorney letting him know he's been entrusted with the care of two little girls. He can't imagine why anyone would think he was a good role model. He can't even keep a plant alive.

Lingerie designer Hailey Casselton grew up with a free-spirited mother. So, when she finds out she's the temporary co-guardian to two children, she's determined to give them the best Christmas they've ever had. Unfortunately, she has to live with the jerk from high school who ruined her senior year.

But she gets a glimpse of the man behind Cole's larger-than-life persona, and she likes what she sees. He might be used to living for himself, but he works hard to change his ways and meet the needs of these lost and scared girls. It doesn't take long for her to enter dangerous territory--falling for a guy who's never going to settle down.

Except...as much as Cole keeps saying he can't wait to get his freedom back...he can't deny these girls--and okay, even Hailey--have become the very best part of his life.

And he's not quite sure what to do about that.
5 STARS
 This story hits all the high marks for me ! Hailey and Cole are outstanding characters with great depth to them.  I couldn't not like them.  And as different as their upbringing was (she was poor and he was rich) they still had a thing or two in common.  For one thing although their parent loved them, they didn't meet their basic needs as they were growing up.  This was well done on the emotional level without descending into mush to my way of thinking. 
Those two little girls?  Paisley and Evvie were the added sparkle in the story. I enjoyed them so much and it was fun and touching to see how easy it was for Cole and Hailey to fall in love with them. 
Cole's father Trevor was a famous, very well liked actor.   This is where the riches came from although Cole was making big bucks as a great hockey player. I was so glad Trevor was included in the story. Not only was he bigger than life fun but he also adds more emotional connection as time goes on.
Did I like how the story ended ? Yes, and I'm so glad that I bought this book.  I had high hopes for it and those hopes were met. 

 By the way, this book cover was the first thing that caught my attention and caused me to slow and take another look.  So, for me it was a good cover choice !

Sunday, December 3, 2023

BOOK REVIEW- The Edge (6:20 Man Book 2) by David Baldacci

   

The 6:20 Man is back, dropped by his handlers into a small coastal town in Maine to solve the murder of a CIA agent who knew America’s dirtiest secrets—can Travis Devine uncover the truth before his time runs out?
 
When CIA operative Jenny Silkwell is murdered in rural Maine, government officials have immediate concerns over national security. Her laptop and phone were full of state secrets that, in the wrong hands, endanger the lives of countless operatives. In need of someone who can solve the murder quickly and retrieve the missing information, the U.S. government knows just the chameleon they can call on.
 
Ex-Army Ranger Travis Devine spent his time in the military preparing to take on any scenario, followed by his short-lived business career chasing shadows in the deepest halls of power, so his analytical mind makes him particularly well-suited for complex, high-stakes tasks. Taking down the world’s largest financial conspiracy proved his value, and in comparison, this case looks straightforward. Except small towns hold secrets and Devine finds himself an outsider again.
 
Devine must ingratiate himself with locals who have trusted each other their whole lives, and who distrust outsiders just as much. Dak, Jenny’s brother, who’s working to revitalize the town. Earl, the retired lobsterman who found Jenny’s body. And Alex, Jenny’s sister with a dark past of her own. As Devine gets to know the residents of Putnam, Maine, answers seem to appear and then transform into more questions. There’s a long history of secrets and those who will stop at nothing to keep them from being exposed. Leaving Devine with no idea who he can trust... and who wants him dead.
5++ STARS
 The title for this book is Perfect !It's so fitting in more than one way.  But first off, The Edge has quite the edge to it.  I so enjoyed the descriptive way that this author writes.  One great example was when Travis was confronted by three men meaning to hurt him. This was written, "his senses did the preliminary calculations and ran it through the combat computer under his skull." Who writes like that ? I loved it !
Also the combat breathe was another thing worth mentioning. Inhale for a 4 count, hold for 4 count, exhale for 4 count, hold for a 4 count. Repeat. 
This story will definitely keep you on your toes, thinking you've got it figured out.  Right.  Too many secrets that are hidden for you to figure it out right out of the gate.  So well woven, making me have a suspicion here and there but so much more to the story.  I thoroughly enjoyed it and Travis was such a great main character too.  I liked him not only for his skill but also his goodness to other people as well.  He wasn't just a hardened warrior but he was also well able to relate to people in their pain.  He was sent as a "Fed" but he just kept surprising people.  They expected one thing and he just kept throwing them off balance.  Travis has a small unexpected romance that I hope will be revisited. But not sure that it will be
The ending was great and I hope there are more stories with Travis leading the way.
 
 “I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.”