BOOK REVIEW- DEL'S CHOICE by Shirleen Davies

Delaware “Del” Macklin has made a lot of choices in his life. Becoming a deputy, then sheriff instead of working full-time at the family ranch was a difficult decision…but it had been his to make. The one choice that mattered most was taken from him when the girl he’d fallen for left Burnt River, creating a hole in his life and his heart.

Amy Peterson is on a mission, one leading her back to Burnt River after years away. Certain her mother’s death wasn’t an accident, she refuses to allow threats or intimidation to stop her search for the truth. Encountering Del Macklin, the boy she fell for in school, could either be an answer to her prayers or a distraction she can’t afford.

Finding Amy after all these years is a welcome surprise. Discovering the reason she’s in town, and the danger surrounding her, isn’t. As sheriff, he’s required to follow the law, even if it means sending her to jail. As a man, his protective instincts roar to life, urging him to guard her in every way possible.

As the mystery of her mother’s death unfolds, feelings they’d both ignored when younger come thundering back, complicating a situation already thick with emotion.

Can Amy find the courage to risk her heart for another chance?

Will Del ignore the warnings and seize the choice taken from him years before?  
AMAZON 4.5 stars

I really liked this one.  Interesting main characters with good secondary ones too. Early on, I began to care about the outcome for Del and Amy. The story just flowed. Kull was just one of those good secondary people; he seemed to be The Keeper of Many Secrets.  
The Macklin "boys" each have an interesting story and I was glad to read Del's.  I also am looking forward to the story of the youngest brother, Boone.  I checked Amazon and I didn't see it yet, so I hope one is coming.  
Now onto more about this book.  I enjoyed the fact that Amy and Del had a history of sorts, so it wasn't exactly insta-love.  But they definitely never forgot each other and Del pretty much knew that he loved her.  
Good mystery and danger when it came to digging in the mystery of Amy's mom's death.  That does get resolved but there still is a mystery or two.  So the story can continue without making the reader feeling like they were left hanging.  At least that's how I felt about it. 
I have to add that I have read a few of the stories in the Burnt River Series. I have enjoyed other books by this author as well but this one series is quickly becoming a favorite.


I received a copy of this book and this is my honest thoughts about it. 

BOOK REVIEW- DUKES PREFER BLONDES by Loretta Chase

Biweekly marriage proposals from men who can't see beyond her (admittedly breathtaking) looks are starting to get on Lady Clara Fairfax's nerves. Desperate to be something more than ornamental, she escapes to her favorite charity. When a child is in trouble, she turns to tall, dark, and annoying barrister Oliver Radford.

Though he's unexpectedly found himself in line to inherit a dukedom, Radford's never been part of fashionable society, and the blonde beauty, though not entirely bereft of brains, isn't part of his plans. But Clara overwhelms even his infallible logic, and when wedlock looms, all he can do is try not to lose his head over her . . .

It's an inconvenient marriage by ordinary standards, but these two are far from ordinary. Can the ton's most adored heiress and London's most difficult bachelor fall victim to their own unruly desires?  

AMAZON 3 STARS

No.  I was kind of disappointed with this book.  I had hoped for better.  The main characters WERE different which was a plus.  But the book was so slow in the beginning and so wordy that it was hard to stay with it.  Some of the verbal sparring was smile worthy but after a while, not so much.    At times I despaired of finishing it.  So while there were some good parts, over all it really wasn't my cup of tea. 

Prophetic Prayer: MEGA Justice Poured Out | Taking Back What the Devil S...

BOOK REVIEW- NICHOLAS: Lord of Secrets by Grace Burrowes

Nicholas Haddonfield has something to hide...

After a wild youth, Nicholas Haddonfield, Viscount Reston, has promised his ailing father he'll finally take a bride, though doing so will force Nick to make impossible choices and face old, painful wounds.

Leah Lindsey is glad to find refuge from her own desperate situation in a marriage of convenience with the gallant viscount. But soon convenience is not enough, and Leah can't understand why Nick remains so distant. What is he hiding, and will he never all ested and fears overcome. Once you enter the lush Regency world of award-winning New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes, you'll never want to leave.  AMAZON  3 STARS

I was kind of disappointed with this book and it had so much potential to it.   It was so slow it made me want to scream.  I wasn't even sure that I was even going to finish it.  Nicholas and Leah were both good main characters.  Both had a lot of depth to them and had met in an interesting, secretive kind of way.  But, even though the story was developing and I know the foundation had to be built by Chapter 10 I wondered if anything at all was going to happen.  A lot of trouble and angst was there too, on both sides.  Although Leah seemed more direct about most things while Nicholas did have a lot secrets.  He was also misinformed about some things, and that made him his own worst enemy.  I did like how kind, tender and charming that the very LARGE Nicholas was.  He was very protective of those he cared about.

Leah was absolutely HATED by her father and he actually was kind of delighted if he could put her in harms way.  He was evil selfish and greedy.  Also vindictive, because when her two brothers lovingly tried to protect her, he punished them.  They were adult men but held the purse strings and for the most part all of the power.  

There does end up being several unexpected surprises that I didn't see coming and I did enjoy as they unfolded.  Still the pace of the book didn't speed up much until towards the end of the book.  Where there is a H.E.A. and some justice is served. 

Knitting Short Rows: The Twin-Stitch Method - Interweave

Knitting Short Rows: The Twin-Stitch Method - Interweave: What are short-rows? They’re exactly what they sound like: partial rows in the knitting that create curves, soft angles, and depth. Short-rows are an invaluable technique that allow the knitter to create modern, seamless knitwear that is both engaging to knit and flattering to wear. In this series, we’ll show you how to work some …

BOOK REVIEW- CODENAME OMEGA: OMEGA RISING by Jessica Meats

Jenny Harding has no money, no qualifications and no career history. A job working security for a big tech firm seems too good to be true. Maybe it is. 

She is tasked with hunting down a group of thieves who have been stealing sensitive technology. Caught up in a battle involving alien forces, Jenny has some important questions to answer: 
Who are the thieves? 
What's their real purpose? 
And is she on the right side?


AMAZON  3.5 STARS

On the plus side,  I found the story a bit different.  Jenny was an everyday type of person just trying to survive.  Well she does have some martial arts skills which puts her in a place she never dreamed she would be in.  A dream job comes her way because of it.  But is everything truly as good as it appears?  At first Jenny is cool with everything but she begins to be uneasy and some of the questions mentioned in the book blurb start cropping up.  Some of the story is also written from the perspective of if only I'd known what I know now.

I also like the smart, kind, friend she found in Dr. Swinson.  There are secondary people in the story, who aren't shown real deeply.  I think mainly because they were still feeling their way around and just trying to stay alive.   This book has the feel of a introductory book, just setting things up.  It was a clean story, one that I like YA readers would enjoy.

On the downside is the fact that I didn't like how the book ended.  Although it did end with some things solved, for now.  There was hope, a maybe,  when it came to Jenny and the man she finds she really likes. 
It looks like more adventures are coming... 


I received a copy of this book via Netgalley and these are my honest thoughts about it.

BOOK REVIEW- THE HIGHLANDER SERIES 3 BOOK BUNDLE by Maya Banks

IN BED WITH A HIGHLANDER

Ewan McCabe is poised to take back what is his—until a blue-eyed, raven-haired temptress is thrust into his life. The illegitimate daughter of the king, Mairin is wary of love. But her attraction to her ruggedly powerful new husband makes her crave his surprisingly tender touch. And as war draws near, Mairin’s strength, spirit, and passion challenge Ewan—a man who dreams only of revenge—to confront his demons and  conquer the strangest territory of all: his heart.

SEDUCTION OF A HIGHLAND LASS

Fiercely loyal to his family, Alaric McCabe is prepared to wed for duty as well. But on his way to claim the daughter of a neighboring chieftain, he is ambushed and left for dead—only to be saved by the soft touch of a Highland angel. An outcast from her own clan, Keeley McDonald is drawn to the wounded warrior and his strong, lean body. As forbidden love draws them into pleasures of the flesh, conspiracy and danger circle closer. Alaric must make an impossible choice: Will he betray his blood ties for the woman he loves?

NEVER LOVE A HIGHLANDER

Caelen McCabe’s young, reckless heart nearly destroyed his clan—now he must marry to salvage an uneasy alliance. But Caelen trusts no woman, especially not the beauty who torments him with white-hot longing. Rionna McDonald had vowed to protect her heart—until she finds herself craving the sensual delights of a husband who guards his emotions as fiercely as his clan. When the ultimate battle for the McCabe legacy is upon them, Rionna risks her life to prove to Caelen that their love is too precious to lose. AMAZON Over all 5 STARS

Book 1- IN BED WITH A HIGHLANDER
Loved it and probably mainly just because of Mairin! Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed the whole book. It was really good. But Mairin was fierce, loyal, has a big heart, not easily subdued and she speaks her mind often without meaning to. It's so funny when things pop out of her mouth that she thought that she was only thinking. She's often horrified and at times Ewan is amused by it as he gets used to her ways. She'd been warned by Mother Superior that it could get her in trouble sometime and that was spot on. Ewan was a good character; a man of honor who loved his son and his clan, but he is way over his head when it comes to Mairin!
I see where "the enemy" Duncan Cameron comes in and the what and the why of his hatred and greed. He is a formidable enemy but he is also a sneaky one too. There will be action and battles fought to keep Mairin safe and with Ewan.
I read the third book in the series first but that didn't seen to hurt anything because I still enjoyed this one a lot too.
Marital sex will be a part of this book as well.

Book 2- SEDUCTION OF A HIGHLAND LASS
I liked the main characters and the struggle that they went through as they came to really know each other. True caring and then love came to both of them, complicated by Alaric having to do his duty and marry to form an alliance. You could feel the agony as they tried to deal with it. People from Book 1 show up in this one and add to the story in good ways. And we will get some answers to some questions, one of them being what happens with Alaric and Keeley. The final pulling down of Duncan Cameron doesn't happen in this book but it doesn't really come off as a cliffhanger. But I do think that this one could be read as a stand alone book with no problem.
While this was a good book, I think that I liked Books 1 and 3 the most. There is danger and sex in this one but I think this one was more about the forbidden love between Alaric and Keeley. Oh, they still have enemies out there, that hasn't let up though.

Book 3- NEVER LOVE A HIGHLANDER
Great main characters, which I really liked and really interesting story line. I first saw this Book 3 so of course I started backwards when it came to reading these books. But you know what? It kept me so interested that I wanted to read the rest of them in the Series.
Rionna was considered strange by many because of her mannish ways. But she had good reasons for that as you understand when other parts of the story come out. Her father, the Laird is one despicable selfish creep. She knows and says often that he is a man without honor and wow is that ever true. She on the opposite hand is someone of great caring and honor. I felt so bad for her being rejected 2 times when her betrothed fall in love and marry others.
Caelen is a harsh man and as we read we begin to see why. He is bound and determined to make Rionna a lady according to his standards. Well, you know that means war..a personal battle of wills.
There is a evil villain in this book, Laird Duncan Cameron; he shows up in all three books. And he is really active once again in this book!

There will be marital sex in the book and I believe it was mentioned in the book blurbs that it would be a steamy novel.

BOOK REVIEW- SEDUCTION OF A HIGHLAND LASS #2 by Maya Banks

Maya Banks, the New York Times bestselling author of romance and romantic suspense has captivated readers with her steamy Scottish historical novels, perfect for fans of Julie Garwood. In Seduction of a Highland Lass, an indomitable Highland warrior is caught between loyalty and forbidden love. 
Fiercely loyal to his elder brother, Alaric McCabe leads his clan in the fight for their birthright. Now he is prepared to wed for duty, as well. But on his way to claim the hand of Rionna McDonald, daughter of a neighboring chieftain, he is ambushed and left for dead. Miraculously, his life is saved by the soft touch of a Highland angel, a courageous beauty who will put to the test his fealty to his clan, his honor, and his deepest desires.

An outcast from her own clan, Keeley McDonald was betrayed by those she loved and trusted. When the wounded warrior falls from his horse, she is drawn to his strong, lean body. The wicked glint in his green eyes ignites a passion that will follow them back to Alaric’s keep, where their forbidden love draws them deeper into the pleasures of the flesh. But as conspiracy and danger circle closer, Alaric must make an impossible choice: Will he betray his blood ties for the woman he loves? AMAZON 4 STARS


I liked the main characters and the struggle that they went through as they came to really know each other.  True caring and then love came to both of them, complicated by Alaric  having to do his duty and marry to form an alliance. You could feel the agony as they tried to deal with it.  People from Book 1 show up in this one and add to the story in good ways. And we will get some answers to some questions, one of them being what happens with Alaric and Keeley.  The final pulling down of Duncan Cameron doesn't happen in this book but it doesn't really come off as a cliffhanger.  But I do think that this one could be read as a stand alone book with no problem.
While this was a good book, I think that I liked Books 1 and 3 the most.  There is danger and sex in this one but I think this one was more about the forbidden love between Alaric and Keeley.  Oh, they still have enemies out there, that hasn't let up though.    The evil Laird Cameron doesn't show up so much personally in this book but his influence is still felt.

Michael Van Vlymen: 'Singing in Tongues and Visiting Angels'

Michael Van Vlymen: 'Singing in Tongues and Visiting Angels'

One of the great blessings of the day that we are in is the fact that the veil between the seen and the unseen is getting thinner and thinner. More people every day are encountering God's angels in visitations and in dreams and visions. It is a huge encouragement that God is ever-present in our lives!

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you" (Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV).

Some of my favorite encounters with angels have been when they appear as men. Often when angels interact with us in this way, we don't even realize they are angels. Many times we believe that they are just nice strangers that God has sent to help us or encourage us. 

"Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it" (Hebrews 13:2 NIV).

One of my favorite encounters happened when I went to pick up my wife Gordana from work.

My Prayer Walk Around the Mall and Singing in Tongues

My wife Gordana used to work at a salon in a shopping mall about twenty minutes from our house. One day I borrowed her car to use for the day. I figured that I would just pick her up at the end of her day. The only variable in this was, if my wife had more clients or customers show up after I got to the mall, I would either have to wait for her to finish the extra work, or leave and make a return trip.

Wouldn't you know that this day was one of those days. I had actually gotten to the mall about a half an hour early, and then I found out that my wife had just committed herself to two more hours of work. I was looking at a two and a half hour wait. I didn't really want to drive home and waste the driving time or the gas, yet I didn't really want to hang out in the mall for two and a half hours. You can only cruise the food court for free samples so many times before they start looking at you funny. What was I to do? 

I suddenly got a brilliant idea! Why don't I do a prayer walk around the mall! That would kill a lot of time and I would actually be doing something useful—changing the spiritual atmosphere. So I set out on my prayer walk. I walked around the interior of the mall, praying out loud in tongues. Sometimes I walked into the various stores and sometimes I did not. I sang in tongues a lot as I went along. People sing right?

Well after one lap, I still had loads of time, so I did another lap. After the second lap, I still had way too much time left, so I decided to move my prayer walk to the outside of the building. I then began walking around the outside of the mall. I didn't realize until I began that going around the outside of the mall would be considerably more walking! But I had committed myself. I did my prayer walk around the mall and made it back to the main entrance...a little tired but spiritually refreshed.

The Angel Over the Mall

I still had about twenty minutes of free time, so I headed to the food court. I figured I could use the facilities and get something to drink. As I walked into the food court, a handsome young black man in his mid-thirties approached me. He smiled and held out his hand and shook mine and said, "I want you to know that I appreciate you being here today."

I was a little confused at that point. There was something in the way he spoke that carried something more than just his words. Then he spoke again, but this time he spoke to my mind and all confusion was immediately cleared up. 

He said, "I am the angel over this mall," and he turned and walked away. I have since done many more prayer walks at the mall, but have not seen him again.

As Hebrews 13:2 tells us, "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares."

For those who hear testimonies such as this and also desire to have more interaction with the things of Heaven, this is the time. Ask the Lord for a greater awareness of the Kingdom in your life! (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

Michael Van Vlymen
River of Blessings International Ministries
Email: info@riverofblessingsinternationalministries.org
Website: www.riverofblessingsinternationalministries.org

Michael Van Vlymen is an author and speaker who teaches about the supernatural things of God. It's Michael's passion to share that everyone can learn to see in the spirit realm and walk in the supernatural. Michael travels the world sharing and teaching the revelation God has given him and equipping Believers to fulfill their destiny in Christ. Michael is the author of several books including "How to See in the Spirit" a best-seller on the subject of spiritual sight.

Shawn Morris - Sid Roth - It's SupernaturalSid Roth – It's Supernatural

Shawn Morris - Sid Roth - It's SupernaturalSid Roth – It's Supernatural

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Circumstances Do Not Dictate - Dawna De Silva, Bethel Church

BOOK REVIEW- IN BED WITH A HIGHLANDER #1 by Maya Banks

 
Maya Banks, the New York Times bestselling author of romance and romantic suspense has captivated readers with her steamy Scottish historical novels, perfect for fans of Julie Garwood. In Bed with a Highlander is the start of a beguiling trilogy featuring three unforgettable brothers risking everything to save their clan and their legacy—and to surrender their hearts to love. 
Ewan McCabe, the eldest, is a warrior determined to vanquish his enemy. Now, with the time ripe for battle, his men are ready and Ewan is poised to take back what is his—until a blue-eyed, raven-haired temptress is thrust upon him. Mairin may be the salvation of Ewan’s clan, but for a man who dreams only of revenge, matters of the heart are strange territory to conquer.

The illegitimate daughter of the king, Mairin possesses prized property that has made her a pawn—and wary of love. Her worst fears are realized when she is rescued from peril only to be forced into marriage by her charismatic and commanding savior, Ewan McCabe. But her attraction to her ruggedly powerful new husband makes her crave his surprisingly tender touch; her body comes alive under his sensual mastery. And as war draws near, Mairin’s strength, spirit, and passion challenge Ewan to conquer his demons—and embrace a love that means more than revenge and land.  AMAZON 5 STARS

Loved it and probably mainly just because of Mairin!  Don't get me wrong, I still really enjoyed the whole book.  It was really good.  But Mairin was fierce, loyal, has a big heart, not easily subdued and she speaks her mind often without meaning to.  It's so funny when things pop out of her mouth that she thought that she was only thinking.  She's often horrified and at times Ewan is amused by it as he gets used to her ways.  She'd been warned by Mother Superior that it could get her in trouble sometime and that was spot on.  Ewan was a good character; a man of honor who loved his son and his clan, but he is way over his head when it comes to Mairin!

I see where "the enemy" Duncan Cameron comes in and the what and the why of his hatred and greed.  He is a formidable enemy but he is also a sneaky one too. There will be action and battles fought to keep Mairin safe and with Ewan. 
 I read the third book in the series first but that didn't seen to hurt anything because I still enjoyed this one a lot too.  

Marital sex will be a part of this book as well.  

BOOK REVIEW- NEVER LOVE A HIGHLANDER #3 by Maya Banks

Maya Banks, the New York Times bestselling author of romance and romantic suspense has captivated readers with her steamy Scottish historical novels, perfect for fans of Julie Garwood. In Never Love a Highlander, the youngest McCabe brother uses sword and seduction to save his clan—and seal his heart.  
Caelen McCabe’s young, reckless heart nearly destroyed his clan. Now, putting family loyalty above all else, he steps up to marry his older brother’s jilted bride and salvage the uneasy alliance between two clans. While beautiful Rionna McDonald is a fit wife for any man, Caelen trusts no woman, especially not this sweet temptress who torments him with white-hot longing.

As the sacrificial lamb in her father’s power game, Rionna will do her duty but vows to protect her heart and her pride from humiliation. Despite everything, though, the heat in Caelen’s touch melts her defenses, and she craves the sensual delights of a husband who guards his emotions as fiercely as his clan. But when the ultimate battle for the McCabe legacy is upon them, Rionna’s true warrior spirit emerges. She will risk the wrath of her father, the fury of her enemies, and her life to prove to Caelen that his wife’s love is too precious to lose.  AMAZON 5 Stars

Great main characters, which I really liked and really interesting story line.  I first saw this Book 3 so of course I started backwards when it came to reading these books.  But you know what?  It kept me so interested that I wanted to read the rest of them in the  Series.  
Rionna was considered strange by many because of her mannish ways.  But she had good reasons for that as you understand when other parts of the story come out.  Her father, the Laird is one despicable selfish creep.  She knows and says often that he is a man without honor and wow is that ever true.  She on the opposite hand is someone of great caring and honor.  I felt so bad for her being rejected 2 times when her betrothed fall in love and marry others.  
Caelen is a harsh man and as we read we begin to see why.  He is bound and determined to make Rionna a lady according to his standards.  Well, you know that means war..a personal battle of wills.  
There is a evil villain in this book, Laird  Duncan Cameron; he shows up in all three books.   And he is really active once again in this book!


There will be marital sex in the book and I believe it was mentioned in the book blurbs that it would be a steamy novel.  

Katie Souza- battle for the soul

BOOK REVIEW- THE SURROGATE'S SECRET by Mimi Barbour

Surrogate mother, Sheri O’Connor, loves her adorable twins. Since the donor parents were killed before their birth, she’s gladly taken on the responsibility to raise them herself. When their Chilean Uncle, Miguel Rivera, arrives with no warning, expecting to take them back to his country, she unravels and coldly informs him that isn’t going to happen. After all, they were her eggs used in the In Vitro process. Consequently, her claim supersedes anyone else’s. Never in a million years does she dream that the South American heartstopper wants her babies so much that he will force her to marry him by threatening to withhold the money she needs for an operation for her tiny son. 

Miguel knows women aren’t to be trusted. Didn’t his devious fiancé give him up for dead and marry someone else while he spent months being held hostage in the jungles of Columbia? If his mother hadn’t brought a team to save him and end up getting shot during the rescue, he wouldn’t be alive. Therefore, if the only thing that can help his Mamacita from succumbing to her wounds is to adopt his dead brother’s surrogate children, then he will do anything to see that happen. Even marry the ditzy blonde whose saving grace, beside her gorgeous body and beautiful face, is her absolute devotion to her babies. AMAZON



I liked this story; the uniqueness of it caught my eye.  I also liked both Miguel and Sheri.
When it comes to Miguel, I have a question.  How do you say Idiot in Spanish?  Although to be honest, in some ways Sheri wasn't too smart either. They both suffered unnecessary pain because they didn't communicate very well.  Of course, I could see why Sheri withheld one piece of information when she learned it .   But if either of them had communicate better, this would have been a much short book wouldn't it?

I enjoyed Miguel's mother and his nanny was a bit of a hard woman to deal with.  But it did make them good secondary people in the story.  Charly  caused several different problems without even know it.  She was just busy being Sher's best friend.  She had a interesting personality and I wouldn't mind reading more about her too!

This book also had some twists and turns; some surprises that added enjoyment to the story.


I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion of it.

BOOK REVIEW- THE BAD BOY'S GOOD GIRL by Kylie Knight

My brother & I started a gaming and software company.

Now, we’re the biggest damn thing in the country.

The papers call me the Bad Boy Billionaire.

Women will do anything for a night in my bed.

What they’ll do for a longer stint is up to my imagination.

My imagination never lets me down.

Then sexy little Nola Boudreaux makes an offer I can’t refuse.

I can’t refuse her a damn thing.

So, I’ll keep my distance.

I won’t think about her soft feminine curves under my hand.

Only now that I’ve had Nola, all I want is another taste.

Another night.

When she ends up in the hospital, I know she’s more than a hot piece.

She’s everything.

I can only hope she’s ready for what comes with being everything for a bad boy billionaire.

AMAZON- 4 STARS

I liked the story of the twin brothers coming up from nothing.  Bronx and Brooks, twins but who were also so different is many ways.  Still working together they came up with some genius ideas that mad them ultra rich.  Nola was good friends with her boss Brooks.  And she keeps things on an even keel because she is great at her job.  The same can't be said for Bronx's assistant...Gabriela.  As things kept happening or not happening, I kept wondering why they didn't fire her butt?  She was basically getting a paycheck for not doing her job. That made me scratch my head more than once.  Doesn't sound like good business to me.

Brooks has been a good friend to Nola but he can't help her with everything although he would like to.  There's just some things she can't share with him.  Including her crushing on his brother Bronx.  The man went through women, most who were nicknamed Weekly's, because that is about how long they last.   You can almost guess where this is going because how long can Nola hold out against her attraction?  It does make for some interesting conversations.                           I would have liked to see a little bit more of Nola's friendship with Max.  Why?  Because she was an interesting, fun, tough new friend.  I kept thinking wouldn't be fun if she met up with Brooks?

There is a HEA with no cliffhanger but there will be sex of course.

I received a copy of this book and this is my honest opinion of it. 

BOOK REVIEW- SEASIDE SECRETS by Daana Mentink

IN THE LINE OF FIRE 

Navy chaplain Angela Gallagher wants to put the past behind her, but she's still haunted by the wartime death of her assistant. So when his brother claims he's in danger and pleads for her to use her family's private detective company's resources to help him stay alive, she can't turn him down. But someone will stop at nothing—even murder—to keep her from revealing their secrets. She'll have to depend on a military colleague to keep her head above water. Dr. Dan Blackwell was in the field with her when her assistant died, and he's determined to keep her safe. Can they sift through the web of lies to find the truth without losing their lives? 

Pacific Coast Private Eyes: Sisters fighting crime  AMAZON  4 stars

Good main characters, good story lines.  Not only is Angela dealing with PTSD but she is also dealing with what is feels is a crisis of faith.  She doesn't even feel like God is anywhere near her.  She feels like not only can she NOT help anyone else, she's sure she can't continue as a Chaplin.  Dan has already gone through some of the things that Angela has since he was also in Afghanistan although he of course served differently.  He still sorrows over those he couldn't save surgically.   That is a challenge he is dealing with and as he is recovering from an accident to his hand, he's holding back about continuing as a surgeon.  

There are good secondary people as well, who are pulling for and praying for Angela.  

But hold on, that's not the whole story, there are some strange and dangerous things happening Cobalt Cove.  And it quickly becomes confusing on who they (Angela and Dan) can trust.  There are a lot of unsavory motives floating around.  And it reminds them uncomfortably like when they were in the war zone in Afghanistan.  

That part of the story was well done as well.  

On a side note,  thought the author did a good job of including us in the feelings and some of the daily challenges that people with PTSD deal with.  A lot of things that we take for granted as normal life. 

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You are my sunshine [lyrics]

IVORY SOAP- Shoes Boxes for Operation Christmas Child

Do you know what makes Ivory soap a great item to include in a shoebox gift? 
It floats! 
Kids who have to bathe in rivers and other bodies of water don’t have to worry about losing their soap because it will float right back to the surface!

BOOK REVIEW- BEAUTY AND THE SPACE BEAST by J.M. PAGE

Beauty 

Mara Duport has always dreamed of home, a place where she belongs. She knows that she has one, but ever since she was a kid, her dad’s been keeping the secret of her origin locked away, refusing to give her any information. 

Dad’s been keeping more than one secret. He’s in debt — a lotof debt — and the ruthless pirates he borrowed the money from are coming to collect. 

The pirate captain is renowned the galaxy over for his brutishness and cruelty — but when Mara sees his stoic face, her heart races, her mouth goes dry… and she offers herself as payment.

Space Beast

Torak of Basniel has a fierce, uncaring, ruthless reputation to live up to. So when a beautiful, innocent woman offers herself up to him on a platter, Torak doesn’t think twice. What does he care about stealing away this man’s precious daughter? 

But Torak gets a more than he’s bargained for. Mara’s more than just innocent — she’s also intelligent, skilled, beautiful — and she can see right through him, past the thorny exterior, down to the heart he thought died long ago. 

Being vulnerable was never part of the plan. Love was never part of the plan.

Torak knows he’s an irredeemable monster, but with Mara he feels different. He sees the opportunity to be more than what’s always been expected.

Mara knows that there’s something beautiful and redeemable inside Torak, and she won’t leave him until he finds it. 

Not until she can tame the beast. 

Beauty and the Space Beast is 50,000 words of exciting, page-turning, romance with strong themes of self-discovery and adventure. This book contains NO harsh language, explicit violence, or graphic romance scenes. It is an adult romance, but is suitable for older YAs as well. I hope you enjoy!AMAZON   4 STARS


I enjoyed this book; which had good interesting main characters.  It also had a "crew" of secondary people who added to the story.  It also had a twist that I didn't  see coming and I always like that.  Torak's struggle of rejection was easy to tap into to and understand and feel.  He was hated all his life for something outside his control.   The planet he came from; his race was known to be harsh and hard to deal with.  So Torak spent most of his life living down to that image. He inspired terror to all those around him, until Mara, that is.  He didn't even think the people he came from could love, so just imagine how confused he starts to be when he's around Mara.  Mara isn't any more clearheaded than Torak because she begins to see things to like about him.  And that shocks her because she has heard how ruthless a pirate he is and the Basniel race is known to be pretty ruthless too! 
Plenty of misunderstandings to go around and Mara has a dangerous secret. One so secret that even she doesn't know what it is.  But there are 2 other people who do know if only she can shake the truth loose before its too late.

I was surprised to learn that there was a Bonus Book included, "The Prince and the Cyborg".

THE CYBORG
Celine Velmann’s never seen the sky. Her entire life, she’s lived in the Wastelands, where brutal dust storms that fill the sky are a way of life. She’s always dreamed of the stars that she’s only seen in pictures, but even her infallible robotic arm can’t craft the technology to get into orbit, so she’s stuck on the ground.

When she sees a ship crash, Celine’s drawn toward it like a magnet — maybe this is the chance she’s always hoped for, the chance to escape her dusty life for something more. But when the hatch opens to reveal a half-dead but handsome human, she thinks twice.

After all, her father’s warned her that humans are dangerous. That, if they could, they’d kill every last one of Celine’s kind.

THE PRINCE
Ben’s never been good at anything but flying, but in the air, he’s the best there ever was. When the King — Ben’s father — orders all flights in the city grounded, he’s left stir-crazy and starved for action. Crazy enough to steal a ship and volunteer for a desperate, doomed, last-resort mission straight into the gaping maw of the Wasteland.

A day later he wakes up in a hospital bed, broken and bruised. The only thing he can remember about the Wasteland is a beautiful woman with vivid eyes, a soothing voice... and a mechanical arm.

Everyone knows cyborgs are just a legend, something parents tell their kids about to keep them in line. But when a beautiful, familiar woman shows up in the City, Ben finds her veryintriguing. Things go off the rails quickly when Ben’s city is exposed to the punishing dust and Celine realizes her family is in the crosshairs of a vengeful alien.

Can Ben and Celine overcome age-old prejudice to discover happiness together and save the planet, or will fear and suspicion get the best of them and doom them all?

The Prince and the Cyborg is 51,000 words of thrilling, page-turning, romance with strong themes of self-acceptance and adventure. This book contains NO harsh language, explicit violence, or graphic romance scenes. It is an adult romance, but is suitable for older YAs as well. I hope you enjoy! (less)

I really enjoyed this one a lot; I think maybe even more than the other one.  It was more out of the box was some interesting world building and unique people.  I found it easy to get into to. There was those people who were privileged to live above ground in a walled protected city.  And another group of people had hidden away in tunnels just scraping out a life.  They did have some progress when it came to building things and working around the fact that the swirling dust in their area of the planet could be a killer.   And if not killing someone or something, it still was quite destructive. 

Both Ben and Celine were interesting main characters with frustrated dreams.  One that most people around them didn't understand.  But they were both people of honor. As time goes on they begin to appreciate each other more and more.  Until that appreciation, understanding and attraction builds to something much more!
And they will get their H.E.A. and a good Epilogue.  Such a good Epilogue that there was also a Bonus Epilogue, which was good  surprise.  I wasn't expecting that either.

You are Entering into a Red Neck Area Picture

Electric Rainbow Picture

BOOK REVIEW- ROYAL PAIN by Tracy Wolff

Being rich opens a lot of doors. When you’re rich and royal, those doors lead to a new bedroom every night. I should know. The tabloids call me His Royal Hotness, Prince Kian of Wildemar. Women across the world see me as a naughty fairy tale, an image I’m happy to indulge. As the spare to the heir, I’m the prince with none of the power . . . and all of the perks.

Then my twin brother is kidnapped, and suddenly I’m the one who could be king. The crown chasers start circling—and yet it’s a luscious waitress who catches my eye. With a smart mouth and the curves to back it up, Savannah Breslin is as brazen as I’d expect an American commoner to be.

But Savvy’s not interested in playing Cinderella. As sexy as she is, she’s no stranger to heartbreak. Besides, a nice guy wouldn’t drag her into all the drama that comes along with royalty. Lucky I’m not a nice guy. And, as it turns out, I might not even be her first prince. . . .AMAZON 3.5 STARS


It was a good story when there was a story.  There was a Ton of sex; it almost felt like an overload of it.  It was an emotional story as well and that part was done well.

The twins father, the King was one cold dude.  I can see where he would care about his country but his caring about his sons for themselves is almost non-existent.  There was only one time when he  was even remotely likable but then he reverted to form.  So the main characters were good and so was the struggles that they went through too.  Even Kian's brother, Garrett wasn't haven't it so good either.  It remains to see how long he will be in captivity, who has him, what do they want and will he make it back ..alive?  Is he going to be the future King or not?

Even the emotional struggle between Kian and Savvy was pretty good.  He wanted Savvy to really see him and not as a second best choice or no choice at all.  Savvy is having a hard time with taking him seriously because of that very bad reputation that he has as His Royal Hotness.

I think that story had the potential to be even so much better but it didn't FULLY get there.



I received a copy of this book through Netgalley and this is my honest opinion of it.

Chainless Foundation Half Double Crochet- Pic Instruction

BOOK REVIEW- UNDETECTED by Dee Henderson

Commander Mark Bishop is deliberately low-key: "I'm in the Navy." But commanding the ballistic missile submarine USS Nevada, keeping her crew trained and alert during ninety-day submerged patrols, and being prepared to launch weapons on valid presidential orders, carries a burden of command like few other jobs in the military. Mark Bishop is a man who accepts that resposibility, and handles it well. And at a time when tensions are escalating around the Pacific Rim, the Navy is glad to have him.

Mark wants someone to come home to after sea patrols. The woman he has in mind is young, with a lovely smile, and verysmart. She's a civilian, yet she understands the U.S. Navy culture. And he has a strong sense that life with her would never be boring. But she may be too deep in her work to see the potential in a relationship with him.

Gina Gray would love to be married. She has always envisioned her life that way. A breakup she didn't see coming, though, has her focusing all her attention on what she does best--ocean science research. She's on the cusp of a major breakthrough, and she needs Mark Bishop's perspective and help. Because what she told the Navy she's figured out is only the beginning. If she's right, submarine warfare is about to enter a new and dangerous chapter. AMAZON 4 STARS

I liked it but also with some reservations. In some ways it was a bit of a mixed bag for me.   It's clear that the author did her homework when it came to the Navy, submarines and the sea patrols.  But for me it was a little too heavy with some of those Naval details. I probably would have liked it even better if some of that had been dialed back a bit.  It was a good look though into how tough it is for those out on patrol for months; both those serving and those waiting for their return. That was pretty well done in my opinion.  

Gina was quite the surprise both with her genius and her flaws.  Her occasional speech freeze was something unique and I liked how people supported her and helped her when it happened.  
She went from hoping for one man who would be seriously interested in her to later having two men who were .  It presented a whole lot of challenges.  But I liked how honorably both men dealt with each other as they tried to win her heart.  

Mark was older, had been married before; he was a widower with a past really good marriage beneath his belt.   And he wanted it again; he saw who Gina really was but it took him awhile to realize they COULD be a team.  A really good one, Another plus was that he was an man who was active in his faith as was Gina.  God plays an integral part in this story, but I think that fact is a well written strand that adds to it. 
There are also some good supporting people in the story as well.  

Things do become heated and intense when clashes start happening internationally.  And it places both Mark and Gina's brother, Jeff right in the middle of it.  Will Gina's scientific discoveries help or not come in time?  You can feel the tension of those questions.  

An Invitation from the Heart of God to the Prophets (FIRE) by Lana Vawser

AN INVITATION FROM THE HEART OF GOD TO THE PROPHETS.. ‘WILL YOU EMBRACE MY FIRE?’

Lana Vawser

I recognise this is a long word, but I encourage you to take some time to read this word. I have been sitting on this prophetic word for quite a while now. I felt the heart of this word is not condemnation, for God’s heart is never to condemn, but this is an invitation to embrace the fire that He is increasing upon the prophets and the prophetic movement right now. His heart is to bring us up higher and to a place of stewarding His heart with great care, purity and integrity in this new season. We have and have had some amazing examples in the body of Christ of this very thing. I am so thankful for the prophets who have gone before me and have prepared the way and continue to do so and set such a beautiful example for me of how to steward His heart with wisdom, purity and integrity. I am releasing this prophetic word below as I heard it, and my prayer is that as prophets of God we will embrace the fire that the Lord is increasing to continue to bring us to a place of greater pure articulation of His heart and Word.

"My prophets, I love you, My heart burns with ferocious love for you. This is a time of purification. This is a time to come up higher. This is a time of positioning. Out of My love for you, I am calling you, I am challenging you, I am inviting you deeper and higher than you have ever been. I do not condemn you, I embrace you. This call being released from My heart is bringing a deep cleansing to you and the prophetic movement. This word from My heart as you embrace My fire, will bring you deeper into My heart and knowing My secrets like you have ever seen. The privilege and awakening of hearing the whispers that stir within My heart. Oh how I love you My prophets and am longing and yearning for you to embrace the fire I am releasing upon you.

"I am cleansing the prophetic movement. I am cleansing where there has been mixture. I am cleansing where there has been impurity in prophetic words released. I am cleansing where there has been a mixture of striving, flesh and competition contaminating My flow. I am guarding My flock and I am guarding My Bride, and the enemy is attempting in various ways in this season to hinder the prophets, to lure the prophets into temptations, compromises, fleshly feasts and competition, jealousy and striving in order to hinder what I want to release.

Prophets think it not strange the increase of My fire coming upon you, firing your heart. Do not fight it, embrace it, for it is positioning you for greater promotion and favour to release My Word with greater purity of prophetic flow, void of contamination and mixture.

Prophets who continue to tickle ears with words not flowing from My heart will be brought low in this season. Those prophets who steward My heart and what I speak, allowing My fire of conviction, purification and all consuming fire to purge their hearts and their lips, will be exalted into high places to proclaim the pure word of My heart. My fire as it is embraced is birthing a fire of resolve and conviction within them to come deeper into the place of stewardship of My Word.

In My fire that I am releasing upon the prophetic movement, those that embrace the fire will move to a whole new level of divine strategy, revelation, insight, wisdom and weightiness in the words that I entrust them with to release and equip My Church with and the nations of the world. A complacency has entered many hearts regarding the words of My heart. There has been a loss of value of the weightiness of My Word that I am releasing to the prophets in this season as the enemy attempts to cause them to fall into these areas of striving and competition. I am shifting gears in the prophetic movement. I am changing the guards.

There is a whole new realm of revelation and supernatural insight opening up to the prophets and they are leading My people into this new level of revelation, strategy and insight of the words of My heart, but the fire must fall upon the prophets before it can be released into the Church. This is a groundbreaking season. This is a season where I am doing something completely new, My Spirit is going to be poured out in ways that no eye has ever seen, nor has ear ever heard, and in preparation for what I am pouring out, room must be made for the new. In My fire that has been released upon the prophets and the prophetic movement, I am RESTORING the revelation and manifestation of living in awe of Me upon the prophets and the Church. Like Isaiah when he had an encounter with Me in My Glory, and he was face down before Me as He saw Me in reverence and awe, I am bringing My prophets into greater encounters like Isaiah, to restore the awe and reverence in places where it has been lost.

Embrace the fire My prophets, embrace the fire I am releasing. For what I am releasing cannot be contained by hearts that are attempting to manufacture words, manufacture opportunities, manufacture positioning, manufacture increasing. What I am releasing can be contained by those who linger in My presence. Those who are laid down, who are living with a LOUD YES before Me and have a heart cry to release only that which I am speaking. That live as DIVINE ECHO’S of My heart. Those that only speak that which I speak. Those that will speak when no one else is speaking. Those that will speak My message when it may not tickle ears, but challenge, convict and call higher. Those that are sold out to carrying My heart and the secrets of My heart with purity, integrity and humility.

I am looking for those prophets who will do whatever it takes, pay whatever it costs, to carry My heart not for the praises of men, but for the praise of My heart.

My prophets, I love you! I am calling you higher! I am calling you higher! I am a ferocious lover! I am a passionate pursuer! I am the shepherd of My flock, and what I am releasing to My people and into the nations will not be contained by agenda, it will not be contained by competition, it will not be contained by compromise. It will not be contained by striving or envy. It will be contained by the laid down lovers, who have one heart motive and that’s to know Me, hear My heart and release it with purity and integrity. I am not looking for perfection, or ability, I am looking for the laid down lover prophets, who are saying “YES, I am ALL IN, I am sold out to You and Your Word, and I will not operate and be contained and led by the praises of men, or compromised by the displeasure of men, but led by Your heart and Your praise of me.”

Prophets of My heart, embrace My fire and receive a greater revelation of My heart. You must embrace this fire in order to carry the weightier words of My heart. Are you willing? Are you willing to lay down your agendas? Lay down your competition, lay down your ‘boxes’ and offences, allow Me to come in with My furious all consuming love and heal you, strengthen you, and burn away anything that would contaminate? The guards are changing. The new positioning is taking place, but in order to receive the new, you must allow Me to make room. As you embrace My fire, and move through by My Spirit, you will see Me position you in ways you never expected. Positions of favour and increase like you never imagined. Standing before kings and those of great influence to release the Rhema word of My heart. That anything that would come to lure you to compromise My Word would not even be a temptation as you stand burning in conviction and awe of who I am and the privilege that it is to steward and carry My heart. You will carry My fire in a way you have never carried it before and into areas and places you never imagined watching as signs, wonders and miracles manifest all around. I am taking you to a new level of being marked by fire and releasing My fire. In order to release My fire, you must embrace it and allow it to consume you.

The fire upon you My prophets and the prophetic movement is FOR YOUR GOOD. I want My prophets to represent My heart well and many who have gone before you have done that, but I see the lures, I see the contamination creeping into many hearts and lives of the prophets in this season, and as a loving Father, I will embrace, challenge, convict, discipline and call you higher, so you may walk in all that I have called you to.

A new level of the manifestation of awe of Me, holiness, purity, humility and fire is about to explode upon prophets and the prophetic realm in significant ways.

But you must be ready!

Are you willing to embrace My fire to carry My heart no matter the cost?

The invitation is upon you My prophets, and the greatest reward is upon you. Knowing Me and My heart in a way you have never known before.

The choice is yours!

In the embracing you will find a greater awakening to My love. How I love you!! You will burn with the fire of My love and the all consuming nature of My fire within you.